I took the test today so now I just wait to see what my results will be for this pregnancy. Of course, the way the doc talked last week even if my results are negative for gestational diabetes, I might still have a problem. Oh well, just going to wait and see first.
I went to the OB/GYN yesterday. I actually have to see a different one almost every time because it’s one of those group practices where you don’t know who will be on call when you go into labor. That makes sense and I’m sure it’s better for their work life balance, but it can get a bit confusing and inconsistent for the patient. Anyway, yesterday I finally saw Dr. Q, whom I’d been trying to see for a couple months already. Every time I had an appointment with her I would wait for ages and then end up seeing someone else. So I finally met her and she wanted to ask about my previous babies. They were a bit on the big side (Isaac was 8lb 14oz and Ewan as 9lb 11oz) but she noted I had never been diagnosed as having gestational diabetes (which is often a link to gestational diabetes). I told her, “No, those tests always came out negative.” Then I also told her I had excess amniotic fluid both times, which she said was another common sign of diabetes. Huh. Then she asked about family history and of course we’ve got more than our fair share of diabetes on my mom’s side of the family. And lots of fat people, to be honest. As far as this pregnancy goes, I haven’t had my screening yet (will be doing it next week) so I don’t know yet what that will say, obviously. However, she told me that with my previous pregnancies I may have had something “very like” gestational diabetes but just not caught by the testing (not quite strong enough or something, I guess). So she thinks I may want to follow a sort of diabetic diet even if the tests are again negative. I’m willing and eager to do so if it could give me a chance of having a baby smaller than Ewan. Lord knows if it’s any bigger I won’t be able to deliver in the usual way (not that I’ve ever delivered in a very usual way – never had anything remotely like an easy birth).
What’s weird is no one ever said anything before about “You know, even though these tests are negative maybe you have an issue anyway?” This is my third baby, after all. Of course, I had the first one in Houston and the second one in London and this one will be born in New York, so it’s not like I’ve seen the same doctor or midwife every time (and have I mentioned lately how much I miss my British midwives? ‘Cause I do). Anyway, it never occurred to me that I might have an issue since my diabetes screenings were always negative, in spite of the large-ish size of my babies. I always thought it was just a fluke or genetics or luck or something. Maybe I still don’t have an issue, but it makes sense to be cautious just in case. Maybe I shouldn’t worry about it until after my screening next week, but it sounds like this doctor thinks I should be concerned even if my screening comes up negative again.
So, time to at least think about it. I’m wondering if I should just go ahead and find a nutritionist (and wondering how I’ll squeeze in visits with one, especially now that my kids will be out of school later this month).
Anyone had experience with gestational diabetes out there? Or anyone else ever hear something like “yeah, the tests have been negative but you may have so-and-so anyway?”
I have a new shop on Etsy called Fig’s Frippery. You can find it at http://lainiefig.etsy.com Right now all I have on there are pillows but eventually I’ll be adding bags and who knows what else. Come check it out!
When I say “Please STOP” I’m talking to those of you who like to tell pregnant ladies things like “You’re huge!” and “Are you sure you’re not having twins?” I would also like to tell you to stop if you say things like “I’m sorry” or “Guess you’ll have to try again after this” when you hear someone is having a third boy (or girl). Seriously, these things are NOT acceptable. They at least completely irritate me. Maybe it doesn’t help that I’m a walking giant belly full of hormones like a 14-year old boy with a premature beer gut.
I’m only in my 6th month and yet I’m already getting these comments. Of course, in spite of my hormonal cranky issues I still generally smile back at people and laugh it off, but inside I want to claw their eyes out.
First I want to address those of you who dare to point out my sizable belly and comment that my baby will be huge (it probably will be a bit large with my history) or that I’ll have twins (trust me, it’s not twins and the comment is not helpful) or that I look ready to pop already (also really not a helpful or pleasant thing to say). If you are not my freaking OB/GYN then it is none of your business how large I am, and it’s not like you know what’s going on in there. For one thing, I was pudgy before I got knocked up, so I’m a bit sensitive to the fat words. For another, I tend to carry excess amniotic fluid (sorry if that’s TMI, but it was a fact of my last two pregnancies). Finally, yes my babies were a bit big (not huge but big enough) at 8lb 14oz and 9lb 11oz. However, I don’t want to dwell on how big this one might be–trust me I’m already nervous about having a 10lb-er without you commenting on it.
As for those who like to feel sorry for me that I’m having a third boy, all I really want to say to you is: “BITE ME”. Yes, a part of me wanted to try out having a girl, but I happen to be absolutely smitten with the boys I already have and I know a third one will also be adorable and hilarious and make my life richer. I am not remotely disappointed about having all boys and I resent people who think I should be. I have friends who have all girls and they feel the same about their situation. Basically the only reason I wanted a girl was to buy the clothes and the dolls, so it’s not like I was really pining away in my heart of hearts for a kid without a penis.
OK, I think I’ve finished the vent for now. Whew, I actually feel a tiny bit better. How about you? Anyone else get these tacky comments when pregnant? How did you respond?
I had my 20-week ultrasound yesterday and saw the clearest penis I’ve ever seen on an ultrasound picture. So, yep, a third boy for us. We’re happy. We like boys. Isaac was a little disappointed as he wanted a little sister, but we’ll talk him into being excited about another brother.
In the meantime, the name search continues. We had our girl names narrowed down to two (Kate or Adele, in case you’re curious) but our boy choices are still wide open.
Tomorrow I’m going to start buying some clothes. Even though this is boy #3 I didn’t save a whole lot, since we had #2 almost 4 years ago and in London. I got rid of a lot of stuff with the move. No problem since I do like to shop (the hubby probably will see the shopping as a problem, but I gotta do what I gotta do).
The other day I made this statement: “That’s a lot of house for just 2 million dollars.”
Brian said he never imagined he’d hear me say something like that. I was surfing homes for sale online. Let me assure you that I was not looking at that house as something realistic for us to buy but was just checking out pricier places for the fun of it (I just love looking at houses). I’ve seen enough of the real estate market here to recognize that the house was a good deal for that high price, but it did sound like kind of a crazy statement.
(That’s the $2 million dollar house pictured, by the way.)
I’m fiddling with the websites again, so I hope you find me over here. I’ve moved this blog to figlife.com/blog (which you’ll already know if you found me here) and my family website is now at www.figlife.com instead of lainiefig.com. This way I can keep just the figlife domain and retire the other when my subscription runs out. Sorry for any confusion!
Am I the only Mom who doesn’t do the big birthday party thing for her kids? I feel like I am alone, at least in this town. I’m constantly getting invitations to birthday parties for both my boys–like almost every kid in their classes has a party every single year and invites everyone in the class. I’m always happy when I have a genuine conflict and an easy excuse to get out of them. Isn’t that terrible? I was happy to have Isaac go to the party for his friend Oliver, who’s his best friend, but does he have to go to a party for every other kid he knows? My poor kids have never even had birthday party outside our family. Thankfully they have yet to complain about that. Besides, they are both summer babies so it’s kind of hard to invite the school friends. My next baby is due in September, so his or her birthday will be during the school year, but so early on I probably won’t be ready to invite a new class to a party (or that will be my excuse–see I’m already prepared). I think it’s great for kids to have special birthday parties, but why do most of them seem to have them for every single birthday? And how much are their parents paying for them? And how much are other parents paying for the gifts?
I certainly didn’t get a birthday party every year, but then my mom and step-dad had 8 kids between them–kind of hard to have parties for all of them. I do remember having a pool party for my 7th birthday (I was a summer baby myself). We had it at the Campers’ Paradise RV Park, the only public pool in town. I don’t know if my parents had to pay the RV park something for that or what. Of course, in revealing this I’m revealing how far in the boondocks we lived when I was growing up. Doesn’t “Campers’ Paradise RV Park” just scream class and sophistication? Hey, it was awesome at the time. The only thing like a pool we usually saw was a cattle tank. Anyway, it was a fun party. I think I had a panda cake, though I had wanted a Holly Hobbie cake. I think I still had the Holly Hobbie decorations, but I’m kind of vague on the memories other than that. I don’t remember one darn present I received, though I’m sure I got some. Yet my kids’ friends are having yearly parties before age 7. How much will they even remember?
Luckily I’m not too fussed about other moms thinking I’m horrible for not having birthday parties or anything like that. I don’t get the pressure to compete with parties or anything like that. And even though we get invited to all these parties, none of them seem like the parents are going crazy and overboard or acting competitive. (I did miss one party that sounded a bit over-the-top and I kind of wish we’d gone just so I could write about it–it was supposedly one of those huge backyard shindigs with a couple hundred kids and lots of rented equipment and hired entertainment.)
Of course, after writing all this I’m thinking my oldest will be 7 this summer and maybe I should do a little more this year (since I had my own first bash at age 7). Or maybe we’ll just invite his buddy Oliver and they can have their first sleepover or something.
This weekend I bought a new domain name (figlife.com) and started playing around with WordPress, which led me to move my little Lainiefig blog over here. All the old posts are here and hopefully I’ll quit playing with WordPress soon and start adding new posts.
The hubby recently sent me this link to 10 Annoying Habits of a Geeky Spouse. He seemed to be implying that I was a geeky spouse. Moi? OK, so I’ve admitted to some geeky tendencies, but I still don’t think I’m quite as geeky as the subjects of this article. Am I?
