Exciting Expectations

8/12/15   23:42 Third trimester is here! I'll be hugging and kissing my precious daughter before I know it. I've heard that the last part of this journey will not be easy and may be the most difficult portion.  Women have warned me about the fatigue, pain, swollen feet, shortness of breath, and exhaustion that is ahead of me. I am optimistic; some call it naive. I honestly don't have the luxury to worry about any of it because the show must go on. I'm not only pregnant; I'm a resident in my 2nd year of training. This is my year to hone in on my skills and begin to learn the art of working independently as a psychiatrist. Admittedly, I am very tired and it's been evident to my classmates and loved ones. On a positive note, Felicity is healthy. I am beyond excited to be a parent despite any fears. I look forward to trying to enjoy my last trimester as it will be the last time that I will have the experience of carrying a baby for the first time.

I'm happy to announce that I don't have gestational diabetes. I am beyond thrilled. I am able to eat freely, enjoy my pregnancy, and have a piece of mind that my baby is healthy. This news has come just in time for my birthday and vacation. Although, I can't wait to eat, I'm more aware of the effect my diet has on my baby. After vacation will be the perfect time to redirect my efforts to healthy eating and an healthy lifestyle. I'm looking forward to swimming; the pool has been closed all summer . I'm also looking forward to enjoying the remainder of my pregnancy. I'm interested in hyponobirthing. The focus with hyponobirthing is to remain relaxed and enjoy the moment. Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum  are to all be enjoyable times.

7/24/15        23:06 I went to do my 3 hour sugar test today. I was able to avoid the trauma on my birthday. The solution was nasty this time. It was fruit punch flavored and probably the sweetest thing I've had in years. I think that if I didn't have diabetes, that solution was sure to give it to me. I'm now less anxious about the test results. I'm just trying to come to grips with just surrendering and realizing that I have to control either way. It just feels like someone stealing a basketball as I'm about to make the shot. I was having a completely "normal" pregnancy and this prospect of having gestational diabetes hurts that. On a different note, I'm becoming more aware that I am easily annoyed. Now, I don't think I am unnecessarily annoyed, buy I'm finding that things I would normally chalk up as a loss are now unbearable.  It 's hard to just shake things off. I also don't want to deal with certain things if I anticipate being ...

7/20/15     12:20 Felicity and I survived our first night float. Overall it was a great night and I can't complain. I'm hoping for good nights all week. While my shift was ending, I saw that the results of my glucose 1 hour test were received . I failed with 199; the norm is 90-140. I instantly became sad and concerned. How am I gonna diet while pregnant? Have I already harmed my baby? Is this my farewell to the birthing center, non-medicated birth, and pad thai? I instantly texted my husband the alarming news and had him promise to keep this to himself. Even as a physician, I was still ashamed as if I caused myself to have gestational diabetes. In fact, I shouldn't have been so surprised given my BMI and family history. Nonetheless, I was disappointed and concerned for my baby.  I called my doctor as soon as I got home and was informed that I'd have to take the 3 hour test at Quest Diagnostics. I looked though the available dates and BOOM : the next best time for t...

I have received Mother's Day gifts since I was about 16;  partly because I helped raise my siblings and partly because I wasn't a mother. Mother's day was a reminder that I wasn't a statistic and that I was moving in the "right" direction. This Mother's Day not only am I a statistic, I am also a mother. I can't even count the amount of women I know that have recently given birth or are expecting. The wave has come and I'm happily caught in it. I also want to share that I feel that Mother's Day is for celebrating expectant mothers as much as it is for mothers with live children. Pregnancy is the pivotal time when mothers sacrifice themselves to give their children everything they need. The cycle goes on indefinitely until the child must provide for the mother. However, pregnancy is the first exemplary model of what mothers do. We give ourselves totally to ensure that our children are secure, nurtured, and healthy. I am so honored to be a mother....

Second trimester has been amazing thus far. I feel more like myself. First trimester deserves a blog post devoted to my hardship. The first six weeks were OK. I started feeling shortness of breath and fatigue, but overall I was feeling well. I ate junk food like crazy and was concerned about all the weight I would gain. I remember going to the first appointment and expressing my fears to my physician. She laughed at me. She said that she had no worries about my weight gain and I would soon find out that my concerns would be the least of my problems. Within a few days it was as if a curse was put on me because the nausea started. My nausea was nonspecific, but constant. I pushed away meals. I couldn't eat much. I felt like I was being tortured. Before I got pregnant, I stopped drinking alcohol. To my surprise, most of the first trimester ,after the 6th week ,felt like a nonstop hangover. The nausea was bad, but around week ten things got worse. I started to have acid reflux. I was a...

3/20/15       8:32 Arlinton and I had our first prenatal appointment this week. Before the appointment I was asked whether I was nervous. I was not; I was excited. It was nice to finally go to a doctor and get medical care. It feels like it's really difficult to ask for appointment time despite me profession. Nevertheless, appointments are granted to expectant mothers with less push back. I plan to take the full advantage of this opportunity. Once I arrived to the office, I immediately ran to the bathroom. Two minutes later I was asked for a urine sample and had no problem delivering. My frequency of urination has been incredible recently. My OB is quick and efficient, but she took her time when she showed us our new family addition. I was ecstatic to see that our little one was healthy, reaching milestones, and had a strong heartbeat. I feel the experience solidified that my pregnancy is official and that life is absolutely precious. No tears yet, but I'...