32 Weeks

I don't even know where to start with this post. It has been a crazy, emotionally and physically exhausting these last four weeks. While my last update I said that physical therapy was working and I think it does to an extent, now I feel like it also isn't or my body isn't reacting to it like it did at the beginning. I find myself brought to my knees again, leaning over and resting on the bed or counter to try and breathe through the pain or walking with assistance of holding on to furniture and walls. Quite frankly, my body feels broken. I am trying my hardest to be optimistic. I hate to admit or complain how much pain I am in, because I remind myself daily how lucky I am to be carrying my own child. I am not and will not take that for granted. I know the moment I see and hold this sweet girl, the pain will seem like a distant memory.

On March 2, the day of the last home men's game (perfect timing), I started having contractions during the day. I tried to dismiss them at work, but once I realized I was needing to breathe through them and everything I was trying wasn't stopping them, I decided to call my OB. My doctor wasn't in, but the OB on call wanted to see me. They hooked me up to monitors and noticed I was having contractions consistently 10-15 minutes apart. She did a fetal fibronectin test and sent me over to the hospital for more observation. Two and a half more hours of contractions and two shots to stop them, I was finally able to go home. The test came back negative for pre-term labor in the next two weeks and the shots seemed to help. I haven't had as intense of contractions, but seem to get them when I've been doing too much, mostly at night.

At my OB appointment last week, two days before I was to leave for the Big XII Tournament in Kansas City, my doctor denied travel for the remainder of my pregnancy. Meaning no flying with the team for NCAA or driving to Kansas City. She said with how my pregnancy has been thus far, she wasn't about to send me out of the state and see me go into labor elsewhere. If you were watching the games last week, you know I probably would have went into labor! I was selfishly devastated to not go, but I wasn't going to put this baby's health at risk either. Other than that, her heart rate was in the 150s and sounded good. She is breech and so we talked about what we would do if she doesn't flip by 37 weeks. We are scheduled for an ultrasound on the 25th to check on her and how everything is looking.

As always, I am so grateful for how helpful my mom has been as Matt has been away. She's kept her a little longer after I get off work so I can put my feet up, had us over for dinner, kept Emma over night and has just been an all around God send. This week Matt's parents are coming to help as he is out of town for the week again. We are lucky with the support system we have.

Weight gain with Emma: 14 lbs     Baby #2: 17 lbs