7-29-03: I'm not even "late" yet, but I feel like I might be pregnant. I'm slightly nauseous and lightheaded at times, and I'm becoming sensitive to smells. I think I felt implantation tonight. I had cramping, then pressure, and finally a tickle. I do not remember having this sensation with Leah.

7-30-03: Someone I know asked if I was pregnant today. I blushed and said, "not that I know of!" I must have looked bloated.

8-7-03: FOUR & 1/2 WEEKS. I was chatting with my friend this afternoon. One thing led to another and I spilled the beans that I might be pregnant. She said "I've got goose bumps!" and encouraged me to take a home test as soon as possible. I had an old one left over from Leah's 2-pack test kit. Even though it was expired and may not work, my heart pounded. Within three minutes, the answer was clear. I'm Pregnant!

8-8-03: Just to be certain, I bought a second test kit and used it the following morning. It was positive, too. Figuring two tests can't lie, I went ahead and called my doctor. My first appointment will be on August 25th.

8-9-03: The moodiness has begun. I am short-tempered at times and hope this will pass. No serious nausea yet, but a little here and there. I'm starting to feel tired in the afternoons and took my first nap today. I hope this doesn't interfere with my work. It feels like there's a lot going on inside. I feel "full" and my abdomen is sticking out already. I hope nobody asks questions. I'd like to keep this under wraps until the 2nd trimester, just in case something bad happens.

8-10-03: FIVE WEEKS. Maybe it's the cold that Leah and I both have, or an increase in hormones, but I feel yuckier today.

8-13-03: FIVE WEEKS. Darn it! The familiar hormonal headaches started today. I took some Tylenol and drank a soda, but neither helped much. It's a strong, dull headache in my forehead and temples. I'm still tired and find myself laying down by mid-to-late afternoon and falling asleep a few hours earlier at night.

8-17-03: SIX WEEKS. Ah, the joys of early pregnancy. Sometimes I feel okay, but I've also been hit with nausea, headaches, sleepiness and moodiness. My skin is broken out and I get dizzy when I stand up too quickly and walk up a long flight of stairs. I also get cold before dinner time.

8-18-03: I was greeted with light bleeding and cramping ("spotting") this morning. I panicked, of course, and called the doctor for further instructions. They had me come in for a blood test. They want me to take a second blood test in two days for comparison to see if my hCG levels are going up. They say that's the only way to know for sure that things are okay this early on. I was also told to rest, which I'm doing. Sigh.

8-19-03: I'm depressed. The spotting returned this morning. Good news, though, at 11 a.m., i got a call from the doctor's office. She said my hCG and progesterone levels are high and that I am clearly pregnant. I told her I was spotting again today, and she said said not to worry... so long as there's no cramping and nothing bright red, this could be totally normal. I'll have another blood test tomorrow to be sure. I still feel quite pregnant. Today, I am very nauseous and tired.

8-20-03: The spotting ended today. Yay!

8-25-03: SEVEN WEEKS. I had my first doctor's visit today. I was seen by the nurse practitioner. My pulse was a normal 120/70. I weighed 130 pounds. All good. I was told that while my tested levels didn't double last week, they did increase, so that's good. I was given an internal ultrasound which revealed one little spec of a baby with a heartbeat. Awww. The nurse said the baby is too young to accurately measure, but thought it looked five weeks along. That would make sense. They want me to come back in two weeks for another ultrasound and a full exam. I was given prenatal vitamins and told not to have sex for two weeks (wah?!). They're treating me as high risk for the next month or so, and want me to come in every two weeks.

Six-week-old embryo Americanbaby.com

9/04/03 - EIGHT WEEKS. I know this may seem early, but I swear I can feel that baby wiggling around in there from time to time (like little tickles under the skin). It's neat. This is much earlier than last time, but I've heard that's how it is the second time around. My belly is starting to stick out now, and some people have noted that I look pregnant. I haven't gained any weight yet (yeah!), and I'm hoping I'll gain a normal amount this time (not like the 50 pounds I gained with Leah). So far, I've had barely any headaches (hooray!) and I'm not as nauseous as I was with Leah, although I've had my moments -- mostly in the evenings and when my stomach is empty. Some days, I get so wiped out by the late afternoon that I just go to sleep for an hour or so.

9/6/03 - I'm spotting again. This sucks. It started last night (Friday) and came with very mild cramping. It's still happening this morning, although not as bad. I'll call the doctor on Monday morning and ask if they'll see me that day instead of waiting until Wednesday. I'd really like an ultrasound to make sure everything's okay. Meanwhile, I'm surprised that so many people have asked me if I'm pregnant. What ever happened to "don't ask, don't tell?" I was really hoping to keep this under wraps until I got past the first trimester. Oh well. Whatever happens, happens.

9/8/03 - EIGHT WEEKS, 2 DAYS. My doctor's office is so great. I called them this morning to tell them about the spotting over the weekend, and they invited me to see them today instead of Wednesday. My blood pressure was good (116/60). My weight has only gone up slightly to 132 pounds, which is good. To put me at ease, they did another ultrasound. The good news is that the baby has "caught up" in size to a healthy eight weeks and two days old and has a heart beat. The baby was measuring a week or so behind last time. Now that they know the age of the fetus, I'm going to mark the weeks by conception date, which means we're "both" eight weeks and two days now. This puts my new due date at April 19th. They drew a ton of blood from me today for their various standard tests and told me not to have intercourse for a few more weeks just to be safe. Geeze. It feels like forever. They want me back in two weeks for another check-up.

9/22/03 - ELEVEN WEEKS. I had a great check-up today. I've only gained one pound since the last visit, which is remarkable considering all the fast food I've consumed lately. Perhaps the exercising is paying off. My blood pressure was good, although I didn't catch the numbers. They gave me another ultrasound today, and I was told that the baby looks excellent. The heart beat is strong and the baby is now measuring eleven weeks, which is three weeks more than last time. This means I've gained a week! Maybe my due date will be a week earlier now. I'm no longer high risk (hooray!), so my next visit will be in one month. I will be getting the AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein) test about a week after that. That's the one that tests for Downs Syndrome and Spina Bifida. Hopefully everything will be okay with that, but of course I'll worry until I get the results.

Three-month-old Fetus Americanbaby.com

10/1/03 - I wonder if people are clairvoyant. I saw that person again today -- the one who knew I was pregnant a week before I had even taken a home pregnancy test. She smiled and told me I was having a son. I asked her how she knew this and she said she just knew, and that she was certain. About an hour later, another woman I know also told me I was having a boy because of the way my belly looked and because of the way I was walking. I asked her why she felt this way and she said she couldn't explain it-- that she just "knew." This is all so strange! While it's fun to think they're revealing the future, I'll wait for the Level 2 ultrasound for more information.

10/8/03 - THIRTEEN WEEKS. Honestly, I'm confused about the weeks. If I use a due-date calculator (which starts counting from the start of my last cycle), I'm 15 weeks, but according to my last scan (which estimates the mid-cycle conception date), I'm thirteen weeks or so. I don't know when I'll be getting another scan-- perhaps in a month or two. That's when they might determine if it's a girl or a boy. We'll be happy either way, but it would be fun to know. I finally had someone take a picture of me (see left). Overall, I'm feeling good. However, my face is a wreck and I'm a lot more tired these days than I would have expected. Perhaps I'm not getting enough sleep. After about five hours, I wake up to use the bathroom, then toss and turn for the next hour or so. Also, I've had more headaches and nausea, which surprises me this far along. When I was pregnant with Leah, my headaches and nausea ended when the second semester began. Oh well.

10/16/03 - FIFTEEN WEEKS. I haven't felt much activity inside for several weeks, until today. Now I'm starting to feel faint butterflies! It must be the baby. This would seem to be on schedule -- I started to feel Leah's faintest kicks at 15.5 weeks. I think it's neat! DREAMS - My dreams are in abundance and it's wrecking my sleep. Most mornings, I awake unrefreshed with a fading memory of bizarre sequences. This afternoon, I had a nightmare during a nap. I dreamed that a dozen things were going on at once-- a phone call, workmen at the door, broken sprinklers, a worker spraying me with insecticide, dashing back inside, a carelessly open patio door, a chatahoochee pool deck, and a murky swimming pool with footbridge. There was no fencing to prevent Leah from falling in. In the dream this was our house, even though it looks nothing like our real one. I remember standing in the kitchen, answering the phone, looking out the open sliding glass door and telling the caller that I just noticed Leah running loose outside, so I couldn't talk. I rushed outside and asked Leah to come down off the bridge. I was only five feet away as Leah ran playfully towards me. Just before she reached the deck, she lost her footing in a gap in the bridge. She bumped her head against a rail and fell backwards into the pool, sinking quickly into the dark brown water. I reached for her arm, but could not grab it before she slipped away. I hesitated for a moment, then jumped in after her. As deep and wide as I searched in the wet darkness, I could not find her. I felt desperate and scared. I thought to return to the surface to scream for help, but then I awoke. I was tired and anxious for the rest of the afternoon.

10/20/03 - FIFTEEN WEEKS & 3 DAYS. I'm still getting headaches. Weh! Hopefully they'll fade away soon. I went in for a routine check-up today. My blood pressure was 118/58, which is slightly low, but okay. My weight has crept up to 136 pounds. My total gain so far is six pounds, which isn't too bad. When I was pregnant with Leah, I had gained twice as much by this time. The doctor checked the baby's heartbeat on doppler. It was 152 beats per minute, which I was told is good. I am scheduled to return in one week to take that dreaded Alpha-fetoprotein Triple Screen blood test. That's the one that looks for abnormalities such as Spina Bifada and Downs Syndrome. My next check-up will be November 17th. After that appointment, my Level 2 Ultrasound will be ordered. That's the ultrasound where they examine the baby for any defects, and if the baby cooperates, check if it's a boy or a girl.

11/1/03 - SEVENTEEN WEEKS. Well, it's been six days and I haven't heard anything about my AFP test, so I'm hoping that means it was normal. I might call on Monday for reassurance. I'm still tired most of the time, but too busy to take naps. I had hoped my skin would be smooth from here on out, but alas, it's still subject to breakouts. It'll be fine for a week or so, but then I get a bunch of blemishes and an onslaught of headaches that last for hours or days. WEH! I know it's hormones. I rarely get headaches when I'm not pregnant. Sometimes I try Tylenol, caffeine, chocolate, back rubs and warm baths, but often the only thing I can do is sleep it off and hope I feel better when I wake up. I don't feel "butterfly kicks" that often-- maybe just a faint wiggle every other day or so. Hopefully the baby is just mellow or too young to be felt strongly at this point.

11/3/03 - I called my doctor's office today. I told the assistant, "I know that no news is good news, but I'm worried about my AFP test just the same." She said it was no problem. Within moments she came back to me with the good news -- my test was negative! Whew.

11/15/03 - NINETEEN WEEKS. My belly is bigger these days. Thankfully it's low, so I haven't had any heartburn trouble yet, but I have outgrown my early maternity clothes. I'm pleased that I can still wear my watch and wedding ring and hope to remain bloat-free for as long as possible. I have been worried this week because the butterfly kicks (tickles under the skin) have stopped. But today things changed. It started this morning with a faint rumble. Before long, i was feeling soft baby kicks! This sensation returned all throughout the day, so I'm no longer worried that our little one is alive. My next doctor's check-up is in two days. That's when they'll order my Level 2 ultrasound. I'm excited and nervous about this test. Yes, it will be fun to know the sex of the baby (although they could be wrong or the baby may not cooperate), but there's always a chance they could find a (gulp!) problem in there. I'm hoping for the best. I'm sleeping much better these days and finally have more energy. I'm rarely napping anymore.

11/17/03 - I had a regular check-up today. My weight was 139, which means I've gained 9 pounds so far. My book says that 8-14 pounds at this point is normal, so I'd say I'm doing well. My blood pressure was a good 110/70. The nurse found the baby's heartbeat immediately with her doppler and said it was a strong 150-something beats-per-minute. We even heard a few kicks! My Level 2 ultrasound is scheduled for two days from now at a nearby sonologists' office. I was invited to bring a VHS tape. Cool! My next regular check-up will be on December 15th.

11/19/03 - TWENTY WEEKS. I had a Level 2 ultrasound today. It was marvelous! The office staff and technician was great. They had a special monitor set up just for me so I could see everything. The sonologist spent 45 minutes with me and Eric pointing out every facet of our child in detail. I was nervous, of course, and relieved each time she said, "yes, and that looks perfect." The heart was beating 154 beats-per-minute and all four chambers looked good. The brain was a perfect size and division, which ruled out brain disorders. The spine was solid and tapered correctly, so no spina biffada. The hands and the feet were all in place and looked terrific. The baby weighs 10 ounces, which is normal. Based on all the measurements, my due date was moved back by a few days to April 14th. The baby's "gestastional age" was estimated to be 19 weeks. This likely matches the conception date and we were told this is normal. They captured the entire exam on video, so we have a nice souvenir. The sonologist peeked between the baby's legs a number of times and seemed certain of the gender. We were delighted! We're having a... perfectly healthy child. :)

12/17/03 - TWENTY-FOUR WEEKS. I went to the doctor today for a regular check-up. The nurse practitioner saw me. My blood pressure was a normal 102/62. The baby's heart beat was easy to find and sounded great. It was somewhere between 146 and 152 beats per minute. The only negative was my weight gain. I've put on ten pounds since my last visit, and my ring and watch have become too snug to wear sometimes. Yipes. This sounds familiar. I remember going through this last time. Today, I was advised to eat fewer carbohydrates and consume more proteins and vegetables (Interesting, because the American Baby Web site advises to "Eat a balanced pregnancy diet, including plenty of carbohydrates.") I'm presently exercising four times a week and eating decently (not perfect, but not bad either). I feel great. Oh well. I now weigh 146 pounds, for a total of 16 pounds gained so far. The nurse told me that my big belly is normal for a second pregnancy (I feel huge!). I inquired about a planned repeat C-section and was delighted to hear that if that was my choice, I'd be excused from those awful weekly pelvic exams in the last month. At 36 weeks, I was told, the birth plan would be discussed and if I choose c-section, we could do it in the 38th or 39th week. I'm scheduled to return on January 13th for my next check-up, along with a glucose tolerance test (for gestational diabetes) and a RhoGam shot (for my Rh-Negative blood). After that, I'll be well into my third trimester and my appointments will be increased to bi-weekly. It'll be the home stretch! The baby is kicking several times a day, stronger than before. I enjoy it.

1/3/04 - TWENTY-SIX WEEKS. Our family has been hit with an awful flu. Thankfully, I'm allowed to take Tylenol, which has helped keep the fever and aches at bay over the past few days, but I'm not feeling whole yet and will probably crawl back into bed in a few minutes. I just wanted to check in to comment on the baby's kicking. While I appreciate the regular reminders that our little one is "alive and kicking", I wish those little toes weren't jabbing into my bladder. It hurts!

1/11/04 - TWENTY-SEVEN WEEKS. I'm now in the third trimester. I have less than three months to go! Thankfully, the flu (and it's horrendous cough) is finally fading away. My next doctor's appointment is in two days. In the meantime, I posted a new photo to show me at 27 weeks along. I think I look and feel good, but I'm still bothered by the nurse practitioner's weight comments last time. I suspect I've gained 20 pounds by now, so I'm sure she'll make another comment on Tuesday. Eric says I should just ignore her. I just checked my last pregnancy journal and I had gained 30 pounds by this point, so I'd say I'm doing much better! Besides, the AmericanBaby.com Web site says that 15-20 pounds gained by now is perfectly normal.

1/13/04 - TWENTY-EIGHT WEEKS. I saw the nurse practitioner today. I weighed 149 pounds, for a total of 19 gained so far. To my surprise, she said this was good! My blood pressure was a normal 120/54, and the baby's heartbeat was a strong 163 beats per minute. At 2 pm, I drank 5 ounces of Glucola (a carbonated sweet drink), and at 3 pm, they drew my blood. They're testing for gestational diabetes. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow, I should be okay. Since I'm Rh-negative, I got a RhoGAM shot. This protects me against making destructive antibodies if the child is Rh-positive. My next appointment is in two weeks on January 27th.

1/27/04 - THIRTY WEEKS. I saw my doctor today. I'm now 154 pounds, for a total of 24 gained so far. My blood pressure was 110/60, and the baby's heartbeat was 156 beats-per-minute. I passed the diabetes test from last time. It's all good, I was told! Swelling has been minimal, and I'm delighted that I can still wear my rings and watch most of the time. I tire easily now. I'm often wiped out by mid- afternoon and nap a few times a week. I also go to bed early. I was told this is normal. My back sometimes aches, but I suppose that's because my belly is getting big and I'm lifting Leah more than I should. We're getting ready to take a hospital tour on February 7th. My doctor said this hospital is MUCH better than the one we used before. I'm sure we'll agree. I was advised to register at both hospitals "just in case" since the weekend doctors don't go to the better one. My next check-up is on February 10th.

2/5/04 - THIRTY-ONE WEEKS. I'm surprised at how good I feel considering how far along I'm getting. Perhaps this will change over the next several weeks. At this point, swelling is still at a minimum, with just some occasional hand stiffness. I've developed sciatica pain, but thankfully it's not steady. I'm more prone to back aches, particularly on days when I pick up Leah a lot. My skin is much better and I haven't experienced any heartburn yet! I wake several times a night to toss and turn and once to use bathroom. This leaves me tired in the morning, but I figure this is nature's way of prepping me for the lack of sleep that's to come. I'm finding it difficult to work since I want to nap when Leah naps. Of course, it doesn't help that Leah's nap schedule has gone awry, and on some days she doesn't nap at all. Yawn for me! In January, I increased my workout classes from two to three times a week. I believe these classes, along with the cooler weather, have made a big difference in how I feel this time around. I hope to keep exercising for as long as possible. We're taking a hospital tour this weekend. My next prenatal check-up is in a few days.

2/10/04 - THIRTY-TWO WEEKS. I saw my doctor today for a regular check-up. I was delighted to have gained only one pound since last time. I"m now 155, for a total of 25 pounds gained so far. I'd be thrilled if I could stay at this weight, but I'm sure I'll gain more. Hopefully not much more. My blood pressure was 124/60, and the baby's heartbeat was 150 bpm. I was told both these readings are good. I mentioned the fatigue and sciatica, and was assured that both are normal for the third trimester. My next check-up is in two weeks on February 24th.

2/19/04 - THIRTY-THREE WEEKS. Heartburn came yesterday at dinner and lasted through the evening. It is the same again today. I finally took TUMS, but it only helped a little. I've also been feeling nauseous lately. It's not the spinning-around-the-room variety from the first trimester, but it is unsettling. I don't feel rested as I wake often throughout the night. The baby's limbs are close to my skin now, and whenever I feel kicks and rolls, they are strong and visible from the outside. I like to rub my hand against these movements as if to play with the baby's toes.

2/24/04 - THIRTY-FOUR WEEKS. I was seen by the nurse practitioner today. I weighed 160 pounds. That's five more than last visit, and a total of 30 gained so far. Wah! It feels like so much, but the nurse didn't have a problem with it. My blood pressure was a normal 110/68 and the baby's heart rate was 147 beats per minute-- all good! I was told that my next visit at 36 weeks is called the "term visit." This means that if I go into labor any time after that, they "won't try to stop it." She congratulated me on nearing the end, and for having a healthy pregnancy so far. My next appointment is in two weeks on March 9th. After that, they will see me weekly until the baby is born.

3/3/04 - THIRTY-FIVE WEEKS. I look and feel humongous now! I'm glad it's not much longer before the baby comes. Here's a snapshot of me in exercise class. When did my butt get so big?! I'm still attending class three days a week and hope to do so until the baby is born. It makes me feel good, anyway.

3/9/04 - THIRTY-SIX WEEKS. Heartburn and nausea are my main complaints now. Thankfully, I don't get both every day, but when one comes on, wow... it sucks! Two nights ago, I awoke all through the night with heartburn, which was uncomfortable and wrecked my sleep. Yesterday, I thought I would puke all day long. This stole my appetite, but maybe this is a good thing. I went in for my 36-week check-up today and learned that I'm still 160 pounds, which means I finally didn't gain any more weight! The nurse practitioner said I can try Maalox or Pepcid on the heartburn. My blood pressure was a normal 110/60, and the baby's heartbeat was 156 beats-per-minute. A quick ultrasound verified that the baby has sunken into the proper head-down position. It must be deep down, because in the last two days, I've felt more pressure "down there" and in my back. In preparation for birth, they did a Strep-B culture and a blood draw. My next appointment is in one week on March 16th. I was told to call if I have any regular contractions or if my water breaks before then. The occasional strong cramps I've felt so far, I was told, are nothing to worry about.

3/16/04 - THIRTY-SEVEN WEEKS. Some days I feel exhausted and nauseous (like yesterday), and other days I feel great (like today). Go figure?? I don't nap in the afternoons anymore, and I'm sleeping better at night, although I still wake at least once to use the bathroom. The Pepcid has been awesome on the heartburn. I went in for my weekly check-up today. I've gained one pound since last week, for a total of 31 gained so far. My blood pressure was a normal 120/68, and the baby's heart rate was 148 beats per minute. My blood work from last week was fine; however, I tested positive for "Strep B." I was told that this is a normally harmless bacteria that lives "down there" in 30% of women. It could infect the baby's lungs during a vaginal delivery, but since I'm planning a repeat C-section, they'll just note it in my file. If I were to start a natural delivery, they would give me antibiotics when I go into labor. I asked the nurse practitioner to guesstimate the baby's weight. She said probably 5-6 pounds right now. Everything looks good! The baby is still moving plenty, and hiccups a lot. My next check-up is in one week on Tuesday, March 23rd.

3/23/04 - THIRTY-EIGHT WEEKS. Today is another one of those "exhausted and nauseous" days-- the first one I've had since last week. On top of it, I've been feeling out of it and in a low mood. I dragged myself to exercise class this morning and my friends asked me why I was there, so I started wondering. Maybe it is time to take it easy. The last thing I want is for my water to break in exercise class. Anyway, I went in for my regular check-up today. I gained another pound since last week, which aggravated me. I'm up to 32 pounds gained so far. My blood pressure was 118/70, and the baby's heartbeat was 148 bpm. Both readings are good. I was seen by the doctor and she brought up the Strep-B thing again. Contrary to what the nurse practitioner told me last week, they're going to treat me with antibiotics in the hospital no matter what. I'm confused about this and will turn to the Internet for more information. My next check-up is in one week on Tuesday, March 30th. I look forward to meeting the baby soon.

I just learned more about Strep-B through iVillage.com. It looks scary, but they say it's treatable. Antibiotics for mom just prior to delivery are required, and baby must stay in the hospital at least 48 hours after birth for observation. I got the information from these two articles:

http://www.ivillagehealth.com/experts/womens/qas/0,,166097_608-1,00.html
http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/midwife/qas/0,,239707_183450-1,00.html

3/30/04 - THIRTY-NINE WEEKS. I had another weekly doctor's visit today. My weight was 164 pounds, for a total of 34 gained so far. Yeeks! At least it's still within the recommended range of 25-35 pounds. My blood pressure was 118/78, the baby's heartbeat was 168 beats per minute, and my belly measured 39 weeks. The doctor thought this was all great! I finally stopped going to exercise class. It's hard to miss workouts after going steadily for 2+ years, but the baby is now putting a lot of pressure on my lower back, hips and pelvis, so it's best to take it easy. It's giving me the chance to finish up some Web design and marketing work, anyway. I finally got a burst of energy over the weekend, so I made more preparations in the baby's room, cleaned out Leah's closet, organized the office, separated baby toys from toddler toys, sorted some things in the garage, and threw a lot of stuff away. Whew! I can't believe I did all that.

Happy Birthday! It's a Girl!

Rebekah Danit Ronkin
April 5, 2004
8:04 a.m.
7 pounds & 14 ounces
20 inches long

4/5/04 - This Monday morning, we welcomed our second daughter into the world by scheduled C-section. We arrived at the hospital at 5:45 a.m., and I was prepped for surgery by 7:30 a.m. Although I didn't like the IV or catheter, I barely noticed them once the spinal block was done. Moments after the surgical drape was put up in front of me (so that I wouldn't have to witness any of the gory details), they got to work. Rebekah came out screaming a few minutes later. Everyone remarked how beautiful she was, how great her color was, and what strong lungs she had. She scored all 9's on her APGARs, which is excellent. Since my arms weren't numb this time, I was able to hold Rebekah as soon as they wheeled me into recovery. We spent 2.5 days total in the hospital. My doctor let me go early because I was recovering so well. Stay tuned for more photos coming soon! In the meantime, here are a few of the early ones.

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