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Thursday, June 16, 2011

THEN AND NOW

I'm nearly 25 weeks pregnant. I haven't taken a single picture of my pregnant belly.

Until today.

Here is a look back at what I was like at 20 weeks in 2008 and at (nearly) 25 weeks in 2011. I don't think I'm much bigger today than I was three years ago. I have gained exactly 8 pounds (about the same as in 2008) since my first doctor's appointment. Thanks to some cooler temperatures and lower humidity, I am not as puffy as I was two weeks ago (picture below).


I think my current picture (right) makes it look like I am carrying higher this time around. However, I believe this is due to the timing of the pictures. I was only 20 weeks along in the picture to the left. Ultimately, I carried K really high (so high she never dropped; thus resulting in a c-section in 2008); much like the picture on the right.

Prior to looking at these pictures side-by-side, I thought I was really huge for 25 weeks along. But in reality I look about the same.

And, just for the record, I have no swelling in my ankles.


We'll compare this picture to one of my ankles when I'm 35 weeks along. My guess is there will be a considerable/puffy difference.

Monday, June 6, 2011

138/90

This morning I had a normal check-up with my OB. I got to the office 10 minutes early and ended up waiting 30 minutes before being seen. Typical.

I was weighed (gained 5 pounds in the past month); peed in a cup; and went to get my blood pressure checked.

They put the cuff on my arm, and BAM...

138/90.

That is super high.

According to the NIH, prehypertension of systolic blood pressure is 120-139; higher is greater than 140. Diastolic hypertension (stage 1) is anything greater than 90.

Nuts.

I spent considerable time talking with my doctor about my diet, stress level, and activities. Then I was left to hang out on my left side for awhile.

After a short while, my blood pressure was back to normal.

And they let me go home.

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My last blood pressure reading was 97/68. I'm on the lookout for a host of symptoms indicating my BP is too high. If I have any of the said symptoms, I will head to the ER immediately. Other than the BP-issue, I'm healthy and so is Joel.