Week 8

Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

I am really happy I kept a blog and wrote down each week what I feeling and what was going on. I looked back to week 8 when I was pregnant with Luca. I have the same symptoms last time that I did this time. I was getting some cramps and pulling yesterday and I had those same feelings. It’s the round ligament pains.


They say every pregnancy is different and that is the truth. With Luca I never was nauseous, and this time I was. It has gotten better. This time though I have been getting pains in my legs. They have been feeling heavy and crampy. They are worse when I am home with Luca. By the end of the day they are killing me that I can’t wait to go to bed to put them up.

So this is most likely varicose veins.

What varicose veins during pregnancy are:

The large, swollen blood vessels found predominantly in the legs, but that can show up almost anywhere in the lower half of your body. (In fact, hemorrhoids are nothing more than varicose veins in the area around your rectum — but at least you don't have to look at those.) When they swell above the surface of the skin, they create those distinctive purplish bulges women love to hate.

What causes varicose veins during pregnancy:

The extra volume of blood you produce during pregnancy is essential to support two growing bodies. It does, however, put extra pressure on your blood vessels, especially the veins in your legs, which have to work against gravity to push all that extra blood back up to your heart. Add to that the pressure your burgeoning uterus puts on your pelvic blood vessels, and the vessel-relaxing effects of the extra progesterone your body is producing, and you have the perfect recipe for varicose veins.

What you need to know about varicose veins during pregnancy:

You may not like the way varicose veins look (who would?), and they may itch or ache, but they're unlikely to put either you or your baby at any risk. The good news is that in most cases, if you didn't have them before you got pregnant, your varicose veins shrink or disappear altogether within a few months after you give birth. The not-so-good news? If you have another baby, there's no way of preventing varicose veins that time around (the same veins are likely to pop out again). And like many other pregnancy symptoms, including stretch marks, varicose veins tend to be hereditary. If your mother had them during pregnancy, you're more likely to have them, too.

There is some remote risk that a varicose vein could become inflamed, possibly indicating a blood clot, so be sure to keep your practitioner informed and aware of your varicose veins.

What to do about varicose veins during pregnancy:

Preventing varicose veins isn't a perfect science, but these tips can definitely help:

• Keep the blood circulating. Get off your feet whenever you can, and keep your legs elevated when sitting. When standing, put one foot on a low stool and alternate legs. Flex your ankles every so often, and break the habit of sitting with your legs crossed (this strategy will also help keep spider veins at bay).

• Exercise is key in preventing varicose veins. Take a walk (or even better still, several walks) each day, or do some other form of low-key, circulation-increasing exercises.

• Make sure you wear clothes — including underwear — that fit well and don't bind, especially around the tops of your legs. Don't wear tight belts or socks with tight elastic tops, and stay away from tight-fitting shoes and stiletto heels (as if you could balance in them anyway).

• One kind of tight that's helpful though: support hose, which can counteract the downward pressure of your belly and give the veins in your legs a little extra upward push. Put them on before you get out of bed in the morning to prevent the blood from pooling. (Okay, not your sexiest pregnancy moment!)

• Keep your weight gain during pregnancy down to what your practitioner recommends. Extra poundage only increases the demands on your already overworked circulatory system.

• Sleep on your left side to avoid pressure on your main blood vessels, and keep circulation going strong.

• Don't strain. Heavy lifting or straining on the toilet can add to vein visibility.

• Get your daily dose of vitamin C from your balanced diet, which keeps veins healthy.

• If the veins don't go away after the baby has arrived, you can think about having them medically treated or surgically removed then — but not during pregnancy.

We have a heartbeat!

Its just one!

I went to the ultrasound this morning. I was up most of the night with anxiety of this morning. I kept on repeating my mantras. "I had one full time pregnancy, I can do this again, They picked the best embryo, I am on progesterone and estrogen and I wasn't before with my losses." I just repeated these sayings over and over again.

This morning my son got my mind off things for a while we were driving down. He sings at the top of his lungs. I did my relaxation on the way to the clinic after I dropped him off at my mothers and again repeated my mantras.

My doctor came in when they did the ultrasound. He said how far were your losses? I said the well 12 weeks, but the baby was lost at 6 weeks. I never made it past 6 weeks.  He said well you have a strong heartbeat there at 7 and 1/2 weeks. heartbeat was 163! So from what I read after seeing the heart rate on the ultrasound, my risk of miscarriage goes down to 10%.  I just like to think of it as 90% of pregnancies are ok! 

I am released to my OB and see him in a few weeks. I continue the progesterone for another 4 weeks and estrace for another week.

I am really enjoying this pregnancy and my son. I am taking it one week at a time.

Pregnancy and Exercise

I hear so many pregnant women ask about pregnancy and exercise.  They want to continue to do what they did before they got pregnant.  Which is some cases is probably fine, but you really need to listen to your body.  Some women should really tone it down. Like myself, having 4 miscarriages, I am considered high risk, so I don't do what I did before. I do not run, do high intensity training or lift heavy weights, like I was doing before.  I modify.  Walk, lift lighter weights, do prenatal dvds, prenatal yoga and I feel great. 
With my pregnancy with my son, I didn't workout for the first trimester because of a sub chronic hematoma I had.  Second and third trimester after the hematoma was gone, I exercised until the day I delivered.
I contribute my active lifestyle before I got pregnant to my fast labor, quick recovery, and back wedding weight in 4 months after delivery to this.
This time should be about you and the baby.  What is healthy for you and baby.  Please consult your OB.

Below is my fitness regimen now:

Sunday:  Walk Luca outside or OFF
Monday: Walk 3 miles on lunch hour.
Tuesday: Prenatal fitness DVD (Summer Sanders prenatal workout or Perfect pregnancy workout)  and walk Luca outside.
Wednesday: Total body muscle
Thursday: Walk 3 miles on lunch hour
Friday: Prenatal yoga DVD (Crunch Yoga Mama)
Saturday:  Teach a muscle class

I came across this article I wanted to share with you.

Maintaining a regular exercise routine throughout your pregnancy can help you stay healthy and feel your best. Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve your posture and decrease some common discomforts such as backaches and fatigue. There is evidence that physical activity may prevent gestational diabetes, (diabetes that develops during pregnancy), relieve stress, and build more stamina needed for labor and delivery.


If you were physically active before your pregnancy, you should be able to continue your activity in moderation. Don't try to exercise at your former level; instead, do what's most comfortable for you now. Low impact aerobics are encouraged versus high impact.

The pregnant competitive athlete should be closely followed by an obstetrician.

If you have never exercised regularly before, you can safely begin an exercise program during pregnancy after consulting with your health care provider, but do not try a new, strenuous activity. Walking is considered safe to initiate when pregnant.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise per day on most if not all days of the week, unless you have a medical or pregnancy complication.

Who Should Not Exercise During Pregnancy?

If you have a medical problem, such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes, exercise may not be advisable. Exercise may also be harmful if you have a pregnancy-related condition such as:

• Bleeding or spotting

• Low placenta

• Threatened or recurrent miscarriage

• Previous premature births or history of early labor

• Weak cervix

Talk with your health care provider before beginning an exercise program. Your health care provider can also give you personal exercise guidelines, based on your medical history.


What Exercises Are Safe During Pregnancy?

Most exercises are safe to perform during pregnancy, as long as you exercise with caution and do not overdo it.

The safest and most productive activities are swimming, brisk walking, indoor stationary cycling, step or elliptical machines, and low-impact aerobics (taught by a certified aerobics instructor). These activities carry little risk of injury, benefit your entire body, and can be continued until birth.

Tennis and racquetball are generally safe activities, but changes in balance during pregnancy may affect rapid movements. Other activities such as jogging can be done in moderation, especially if you were doing them before your pregnancy. You may want to choose exercises or activities that do not require great balance or coordination, especially later in pregnancy.

What Exercises Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy?

There are certain exercises and activities that can be harmful if performed during pregnancy. They include:

• Holding your breath during any activity.

• Activities where falling is likely (such as skiing and horseback riding).

• Contact sports such as softball, football, basketball, and volleyball.

• Any exercise that may cause even mild abdominal trauma such as activities that include jarring motions or rapid changes in direction.

• Activities that require extensive jumping, hopping, skipping, bouncing, or running.

• Deep knee bends, full sit-ups, double leg raises, and straight-leg toe touches.

• Bouncing while stretching.

• Waist-twisting movements while standing.

• Heavy exercise spurts followed by long periods of no activity.

• Exercise in hot, humid weather.

What Should a Pregnancy Exercise Program Consist Of?

For total fitness, a pregnancy exercise program should strengthen and condition your muscles.

Always begin by warming up for five minutes and stretching for five minutes. Include at least fifteen minutes of cardiovascular activity. Measure your heart rate at times of peak activity. Follow aerobic activity with five to ten minutes of gradually slower exercise that ends with gentle stretching.

Here are some basic exercise guidelines for pregnant women:

• Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes as well as a good support bra.

• Choose shoes that are designed for the type of exercise you do. Proper shoes are your best protection against injury.

• Exercise on a flat, level surface to prevent injury.

• Consume enough calories to meet the needs of your pregnancy (300 more calories per day than before you were pregnant) as well as your exercise program.

• Finish eating at least one hour before exercising.

• Drink water before, during, and after your workout.

• After doing floor exercises, get up slowly and gradually to prevent dizziness.

• Never exercise to the point of exhaustion. If you cannot talk normally while exercising, you are probably over-exerting yourself and should slow down your activity.

What Pregnancy Changes May Affect Exercise?

Physical changes during pregnancy create extra demands on your body. Keeping in mind the changes listed below, remember that you need to listen to your body and adjust your activities or exercise routine as necessary.

• Your developing baby and other internal changes require more oxygen and energy.

• Hormones produced during pregnancy cause the ligaments that support your joints to stretch, increasing the risk of injury.

• The extra weight and the uneven distribution of your weight shift your center of gravity. The extra weight also puts stress on joints and muscles in the lower back and pelvic area and makes it easier for you to lose your balance.

Warning for Pregnant Women

Stop exercising and consult your health care provider if you:

• Feel chest pain.

• Have abdominal pain, pelvis pain, or persistent contractions.

• Have a headache.

• Notice an absence or decrease in fetal movement.

• Feel faint, dizzy, nauseous, or light-headed.

• Feel cold or clammy.

• Have vaginal bleeding.

• Have a sudden gush of fluid from the vagina or a trickle of fluid that leaks steadily.

• Notice an irregular or rapid heartbeat.

• Have sudden swelling in your ankles, hands, face, or calf pain.

• Are short of breath.

• Have difficulty walking.

• Have muscle weakness.

How Soon Can I Exercise After Delivery?

It is best to ask your health care provider how soon you can begin your exercise routine after delivering your baby.

Although you may be eager to get in shape quickly, return to your pre-pregnancy fitness routines gradually. Follow your health care provider's exercise recommendations.

Most women can safely perform a low-impact activity one to two weeks after a vaginal birth (or three to four weeks after a cesarean birth). Do about half of your normal floor exercises and don't try to overdo it.



Article from Webmd.com

Yep I'm pregnant all right!

Today I had my 3rd beta and it was 8,492!  They went up awesome.  Looking back my 3rd beta's with Luca were in the 3000's.  Oh boy I wonder if there is two in there. 
We go for an ultrasound in a few weeks. 

I fell great, just very tired. Its alot harder with a toddler.  Poor kid is watching more tv than he usually does.  I just need to lie down sometimes!

I am still cautious and taking it just one week at a time.  Today I'm pregnant and love my baby or two!  LOL.

Cautiously happy

Well I'm pregnant again!  My first beta was 149 and my second was 393!  We are happy but we are cautious. 
I am feeling good, but just very tried and I have to eat every couple of hours or I get dizzy, lightheaded and shaky.  I get like this when I get pregnant.
I decided to take this pregnancy one week at a time and enjoy it.  I think when I was pregnant with Luca I was a barrel of nerves I never really got to enjoy it.
I vowed if all progresses well and goes well, I want to really enjoy my pregnancy.
I go next Sunday for another beta.

Today I'm pregnant and love my baby.  I want to give Luca a brother or sister.  I want to give him a lifelong friend.