I did not do a great job of documenting my pregnancy so I am going to to do a little summary – so I have something to look back on. I was able to gather up some baby bump pictures along the way…
Sonograms of Mathis along the way…
1st sono at 6 weeks…18 weeks – It’s a Boy!
22 Weeks 3D sonogram. So glad we did this – it was a really cool experience. We went to the Dallas Pregnancy Resource Center – click HERE for their website. They assist women who have needs related to unplanned pregnancies. The women that was doing the sonogram was a nurse and explained to us that it is run by volunteers. You could tell how much she enjoyed it and genuinely cared about people. She spent about 45 minutes with us and was determined to get some good pictures of Mathis. No insurance is needed to come – the 3D sonograms are free. They provide the 3D sonograms so that people can see their baby and choose against abortion. I was feeling bad that we were there just to get a free 3D sonogram but the women reassured us that anyone can come and they like to get their name out their so that more people know about them. The more the merrier! Our friends Lauren & Casey told us about it because their doctor volunteers there and they had one done with Sawyer.
Sweet Face
Body, face and arm
Body parts
At my 31 week appointment I was measuring at 34 weeks so my doctor wanted to get a sonogram. My amniotic fluid level was measuring on the high end (24) and he was measuring about a week ahead. The pictures are kind of crazy looking – his face takes up the whole screen.
When I went back at 33 weeks she wanted another sonogram to make sure that my amniotic fluid level had gone down. And it had it was 18 and he was measuring right on schedule. I was measuring right on schedule as well.
31 Weeks – Face…33 Weeks Profile of his head
At my 35 week appointment the sonographer was not there that day and my doctor asked me if I wanted to do a 3D sonogram (for fun!). She was wanting some practice with the 3D – trying to get good pictures of the face.
He was sleeping and did not want to be disturbed, ha ha. Love his hand in front of his face.
At my 35 week appointment was when I was sent to L&D for the 2nd time and officially put on bed rest, details HERE. My last appointment (36 weeks) went well. My blood pressure was still high (150/101 then 132/90) in the office, but she did not send me to L&D again because they have been great at home (on bed rest). No protein in my urine. My cervix was still completely closed and not ripe. She mentioned inducing between 38 and 39 weeks and is thinking I will need something to ripen my cervix at that time. She wants to get another sonogram at my next appointment to see how big he is – I will be 37 weeks and 4 days. Just taking it one day at a time – he will be here before we know it!
Charlie at one of our appointments. We were just waiting to see the doctor.
1st Trimester
- 1st appointment at 6 weeks, had vaginal sonogram, fetal heart rate 122
- 2nd appointment at 10 weeks, fetal heart rate 174. Charlie was at every appointment – thanks to his flexible work schedule.
- Symptoms: Fatigue – I remember one weekend (around week 6 or 7) I literally laid/slept on the couch all weekend. I had zero energy, but it started to improve. I would feel okay in the morning but by the afternoon I was exhausted. Nausea from week 7 to week 13, worse before meals and in the evening.
- Did not really have any cravings. I would hear/think about something that sounded good and have to have it! Love fruits and anything citrus.
- Read a general Pregnancy book that my doctors office gave me.
2nd Trimester
- Pros: hair & nails growing fast and boobs getting big, ha ha. Getting to feel him move! Cons: having to cut back on drinking diet coke during pregnancy.
- Fetal heart rate usually 140’s-150’s. Monthly doctor appointments, Charlie got to come to all of the appointments.
- Feeling good – no complaints.
- Got to find out the gender! Decided on a name Mathis Wylie Rickerson.
- Registering for baby stuff – fun and overwhelming. My friend Amanda Williams (has 2 little boys) helped me register. Charlie skipped out on the registering – definitely was a good thing!
3rd Trimester
- Feeling good. Did have a little more discomfort/harder to breath when my amniotic fluid levels were high. Did not pass my 1 hour glucose test (probably because I had peanut M&Ms and a root beer for dinner the night before 
- Started every 2 week appointments at 31 weeks and weekly appointments at 35 weeks. Fetal heart rate in the 140’s.
- Charlie started Paramedic school. He got to come to all the appointments up until week 31.
- Baby Showers!
- Since I work for Medical City we got to go to the Childbirth Class for free and Charlie went to a Daddy Boot Camp Class (put on by veteran dads). Supposed to go to a Breastfeeding class that I signed up for but had to cancel since I am on bed rest.
- People always saying my stomach looks small – I have a super long torso – so I guess he has plenty of room to stretch out. I don’t think he will be a little baby. I don’t know how much Charlie weighed when he was born, but I was 9lb 4oz.
- Finished the nursery. NB and some 0-3 months clothes washed and bags packed at 36 weeks.
So I guess that was a little bit of blog “nesting”, ha ha. I feel like I needed to jot a few things down, so that I have something to look back at. We feel so blessed to have had a happy and healthy (besides high BP, it could be worse) pregnancy so far. We are so excited to meet Mathis!
