5 months along

6/8/09

Today I had another OB checkup. If I'm going by my Oct. 4th due date, then last Thursday I hit my five month mark. (Telling people I'm 23 weeks usually gets me blank stares, unless they've been pregnant themselves.) Here's a belly pic:

I know, I know. I've finally "popped." I have been informed of this by many, many people. So far my total weight gain has been...drumroll please...two pounds. I don't know how on earth two pounds can look so big. But the baby is growing on track, so that is good news. Madelyn's growth screeched to a halt when I hit 30 weeks with her, so we are keeping a close eye on all my measurements.

However, I have been having a lot of near-fainting episodes, and my doctor has decided to get some further testing done to make sure my heart is OK. I am slightly tachycardic (my heart rate is over 100 beats per minute) so I am scheduled for an echocardiogram Wednesday morning. Plus, for the next three weeks I have to wear a portable EKG monitor and activate it whenever I'm feeling short of breath, faint, or dizzy. I hit a little button during an episode and my monitor will record my heart rhythms for 45 seconds, which I then submit to a database. Here's what it looks like:

There is also a patch that's located on my upper left ribcage. So far it hasn't been bothersome to wear, but we'll see how I feel after having it on for three weeks straight.

It looks kind of alarming, but I am probably just fine. Even back in high school I can recall from PE class that my heart rate is normally pretty high--in the upper 80's to mid 90's. I also have low blood pressure, and that as well as my growing uterus squishing my aorta contributes to a lot of my symptoms. Being pregnant tends to exacerbate existing conditions, and being "delicate" and "petite" isn't helping me either, apparently.

So I'll try to take it easy (while I get ready to move--ha!!) to make sure I get a clean bill of health at my next appointment. Onward and upward!