Water, Baby!

Another doctor's appointment under my belt, and all is well!

Baby Boy was awfully sleepy this morning, so she really had to poke and prod to get him to wiggle around enough that she could see all his little organs! (He takes after his mother already; waking up is a process, people!) Ultrasound technology never fails to amaze me. While I see the obvious--a head, limbs, etc.--the tech is pointing out organs, the placenta, and all kinds of crazy stuff! At one point, she told us that she was going to check the four ventricles of the heart, and I thought to myself, "Ummm, yeah...and how are you going to do that on something so tinsy???" But then she zoomed in and Voila! four tiny little boxes, beating in sync, clear as day. And rest assured that he is definitely still a boy. I've got a nice full frontal shot to prove it, but I'm trying to get off on the right foot and avoid embarassing my son before he even enters the world!

It was so fun to have my parents there for this ultrasound! When they had children 30 and 27 years ago, ultrasounds were only for at-risk cases. I guess I had forgotten that while Mom and Dad had seen ultrasound pictures, they'd never seen one live on a screen! Mom was in tears from the second they turned the volume up on the heartbeat, and Dad was just mesmerized the whole time. It definitely made it even more exciting to have them there! (Mom and Dad, hope the show was worth the drive! ;)

I did, however, get a little scolding. You see, throughout my entire adult life my biggest health shortcoming has been my minimal fluid intake. I can go an entire day without taking in liquids, and I never feel thirsty. It is a problem! So I forget to drink fluids in general, and I'm afraid that I have been only slightly better since I've been pregnant.

Well, apparently the ultrasound technician could tell just from the ultrasound that I am dehydrated. Little did I know, dehydration causes Braxton Hicks contractions, and even though they are too slight for me to feel, I am already having them as evidenced by the ultrasound. Oops. Jonathan, who has nagged me about my lack of hydration since I've known him, gave me a lovely glare from across the room as soon as she mentioned it. So I've received a good kick in the pants and fresh motivation to stay hydrated, and I'm pretty sure I'll have my own personal Water Nazi to make sure it happens! Momma's sorry, Baby!

Last, but not least...the weigh in. I really am fine with the amount of weight I've gained so far, especially when I remember that I'm halfway through this pregnancy. But honestly, even when you know it is all for good cause and within a reasonable amount, I'm not sure I will ever get used to the sight of seeing that little marker on the scale move to the right! It was another good piece of motivation to keep eating healthfully, watching portions, and exercising throughout this pregnancy. (And I had been wondering why the balls of my feet were hurting more when wearing the same pairs of heels that I always wear to work; add an extra several pounds and they are bound to hurt! Good incentive to never be overweight...I love my heels!)

I will leave you with a brilliant piece of clarification from my doctor, for all my prego friends out there. The whole "don't sleep on your back or you will cut off blood supply to your baby" thing? Meh. No worries. True in theory that the weight of your uterus might put a bit of pressure on the anterior vena cava (I should so go to medical school...unless, of course, I got that name wrong. In that case, disregard.) But my doctor said that it is really more of a theoretical thing; as she pointed out, women in labor lying flat on their backs with their uterus contracting like crazy still have babies with healthy, steady heartbeats throughout. So no reason to wake up in a tizzy because you rolled onto your back in the night. Sleep in whatever position is comfortable for you. Unless, of course, your doctor tells you differently. Then do what s/he says. Despite my anterior vena cava antics, I really have no clue what I'm talking about.

Now off to the water fountain I go...