Yesterday I had my 20 week check-up with my doctor. I should have, but didn't realize, that this appointment would have been more beneficial AFTER my 20 week ultrasound. Oh well. Now I know.
- We discussed the swelling incident because it happened again on Wednesday night! I didn't eat anything particularly salty, but there it was, a ridiculously swollen ankle/leg at only 20 weeks. I could even leave indents in my skin from just pressing on the area. My doctor was also able to leave indents on both legs during my appointment, despite the fact that I slept with my foot up most of the night (which made the swelling subside) and I had only been up for 1.5 hours. She suggested lots of water, lots of watermelon and asparagus (natural diuretics), and that walking would help.
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| Scary swollen foot and leg!!! Check out the indents! |
- I asked about a weird ridge I feel sometimes running down the top of my belly. It is my ab muscles pulling apart, which is normal. Nothing I can do about it, and no more ab exercises for me (I wasn't doing them anyway).
- So far I have gained 10 pounds which was quite a shock to suddenly jump up that much. The doctor said some of the weight was probably the swelling in my legs and that my weight gain is totally normal. I may continue putting on weight at a faster pace in the second trimester, but it will slow down in the third trimester.
- Baby's heartbeat sounded normal and strong on the doppler- I can't wait to actually see the baby on Monday though (also worried about that appointment but that's another story).
- I told the doctor that I thought I was feeling movement in the past week or so. Generally about 20 minutes after I eat something (especially when I eat fruit), I start to feel weird sensations in my uterus. People usually say that they feel like gas bubbles, but I guess fluttering is what it feels like to me. It certainly is unlike anything that I have felt before and I can't wait to feel real kicks!!
- For my crazy question of the appointment (there is always one!), I asked if there was any way for a doctor to know that you have an incompetent cervix. I'm sure most regular pregnant women out there have no idea what IC is, but I have read enough infertility blogs that I am seriously scared of having it. According to my doctor, that is one thing that they are going to check out on my 20 week ultrasound on Monday. If I had ever had surgery on my cervix, an abnormal pap smear, or if I was experiencing lots of discharge then those would be two warning signs. None of those apply to me so I am most likely fine and we will find out more on Monday.
For those of you that made it through this post on a Friday, here are two cute pictures of the dogs from last night. :-) Have a great weekend!
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| Buster thinks this heat is for the birds |
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| Koda snuggling with her favorite toy |
17 comments:
The swelling looks scary! Hope it goes away with water(melon) and walking. Movement sounds exciting though!
I already have that "ridge" in the middle of my belly, it's odd.
Bummer about the swelling! I love love love watermelon though. I never need an excuse to eat some. i go through one every three to four days :) But it sounds like everything else is going great!
Man, that swelling is intense. I hope you figure out what is causing it and it doesn't plague you for the rest is your pregnancy. Congrats on 20 weeks! I hope the anatomy scan goes well.
That's some crazy swelling. But I love your dogs and just wanted you to know that :)
You poor thing! Those feet look miserable. But your pups are cute as can be. :)
Sorry for swelling this early. It sucks!
My first movement feelings were like flutterings also. No gas bubbles here!
Ack, the swelling! I hope you find some relief son. Glad the heartbeat was sounding good. A lovely weekend to you, u/s is just around the corner. :)
So sorry about the swelling. Hopefully the water and watermelon do the trick for you. I, too, asked about the IC during one of my appointments.
Love the pics of your dogs. :)
Buster and Koda are adorable. I hope they don't get jealous when all of the photos on your blog turn from dog to baby. :) so great that you are feeling movement!!! It sounds wild!
It's so weird you are only getting swelling one one side. Sorry it's starting so early. Maybe the heat is making it worse? I have started getting some ankle/foot swelling at the end of the day but nothing too bad yet. I am excited to hear that watermelon is a good treatment for it. I can definitely handle eating a lot of watermelon during the summer :)
good luck at your 20 week scan.
BERNESE!!!! I love Bernese :) We had one growing up and she was so sweet and smart... Good luck with the scan, I hope you get lovely clear pictures of your healthy little baby! (Hello from ICLW!)
If I haven't told you already, congrats on your pregnancy!
I LOVE your dogs. My husband and I have talked about them as our possible next choice for our next dog. We have a German Shepherd now but a BMD seems like a mellower family dog somehow. Would you agree?
Anyhow, I agree with the rest of your comments. The swelling is SCARY. One thing I've learned from the midwives is that water seems to be the solution to all problems. You should be drinking about half your body weight or more in water per day. Crazy.
Keep us posted.
Oh my gosh! I thought you twisted your ankle. That's random and horrible!
Whoa, what the eff is going on with your ankle?! That is some crazy swelling, but I would actually be reassured by the fact that you can press it and leave indents... if it was harder to the touch, I'd be more concerned about it being blood-pressure related or something. Hopefully the ultrasound will be A-OK and you can just focus on getting those ankles treated as something unrelated to pregnancy (or at least something that isn't affecting it)...
Do ask your doctor if something might be triggering the swelling. How has your BP been the entire pregnancy? Is it higher than your normal? Did you have salty foods?
Have regular cervical length check-ups if you are worried about IC.
All the best!
#6
I just asked at my MFM appt. the other day about cervix issues. I have been worried about that as well, because of all the stories I read in the blogging world. The dr. said that is something they will check down the road, but there is nothing you can do to prevent that problem. If you have a short cervix, you have a short cervix and its going to happen no matter what you do. It wasn't very reassuring, except knowing that there isn't anything I can do actually cause that to happen.
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