18 Weeks and Counting...

Baby boy Cochrane is now 18.1 weeks gestation. I knew I would have a prego belly quicker the second baby, but it really surprised me how big my stomach is at 18 weeks compared to my first pregnancy. With Cohen I wasn't visibly pregnant with scrubs on until about 22 weeks, this time it was more like 17 weeks. And with Cohen I didn't feel him move until 21 weeks, but I started feeling this guy right at 17 weeks.
It is somewhat sad how different your second pregnancy is. Everything is SO new and exciting the first time and you think about your growing baby non-stop. But with this pregnancy I am so preoccupied with being a mommy to a 14 month old that I feel like my only time to truly focus on this guy is when I am in the shower or in bed and I am not chasing a toddler around. I like that time I have with the baby.

Every since I was 9 I have had a problem with fainting. I faint a few times per year. I have seen countless doctors and had numerous tests all which showed nothing. I finally got somewhat of a diagnosis from my current cardiologist 3 years ago. He said I have Dysautonomia. It's a big word that basically means your brain doesn't send the message to your heart to regulate your blood pressure and heart-rate, which causes fainting. Well fainting is never ideal, especially when your pregnant. So, last pregnancy after wearing a heart rate monitor, my doc decided that I needed to be on a beta-blocker to control my heart rate so the baby would get adequate blood flow. It definitely helped. I don't think I felt dizzy once after I started taking it at 20 weeks. Well, I am not taking the med yet this time around, but I think it's time. My OB said she didn't want me to take it unless I really needed it because it can cause low birth weight in the baby. Instead of going directly to the beta-blocker I've been drinking plenty of water and wearing compression hose which will help regulate my heart rate. That's no longer cutting it though. The dizziness and fast heart rate are getting worse, which isn't surprising because each week until 28 weeks pregnant you get more blood volume to perfuse you and the placenta.
So, on Thursday I have the BIG ultrasound also called an "anomaly screen." I hate that name because it makes me nervous to know that they will be checking every detail of my sweet boy to see that he's perfect and without anomalies. I will breathe a hugh sigh of relief afterward though if everything looks wonderful. I am going without Chad this time, AGAIN. He forgot about my "anomaly screen" with Cohen and had an important meeting he couldn't miss. This time, he has a new job that he can't miss. I know he wants to be there though. I'm hoping Chad's aunt will be able to go with me so I'm not alone.
Still no name for the baby. Our name list has grown from 2 names to about 12. One day we will find a name we love. Naming is so so so hard. What pressure to have to give your child a name that will last them forever.



This is an 18 week kiddo.

 Being a labor and delivery nurse, I count the "milestones" in pregnancy. The first milestone for me was 13 weeks, when your risk of miscarriage decreases to roughly 3%. The next one will be 24 weeks gestation when a baby has about a 50% chance of living outside the womb. I'm looking forward to the next milestone:)