Friday, April 29, 2011

Go check your soap for Triclosan and throw it away right now!

Scary stuff...Triclosan is very dangerous. Please remove it from your home immediately and encourage others to not use anti-bacterial soap.


http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/factsheet/triclosan-what-the-research-shows-2008-2010/

Fetal Growth and Development

An alarming new scientific finding links triclosan to potential
negative birth outcomes. In late 2010, scientists at the
University of Florida published their discovery that triclosan
interferes with an enzyme that helps estrogen cross
the placenta to reach the growing fetus.19 Estrogen is vital
for the growth and development of major organs, like the
lungs and liver, in a growing fetus. Miscarriage can occur
when estrogen is unable to cross the placenta.20
Making matters worse, new data published in January
2011 reveal high levels of triclosan in pregnant women.
Using a nationally representative sample of the United
States population from the NHANES 2003-2004 data,
researchers found that while concentrations of chemicals
in pregnant women were similar if not lower than in
non-pregnant women, triclosan was one of few exceptions
found to be more highly concentrated.21

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Baby showers aren't supposed to be scary!

So my mom wants to have a small family baby shower for me on memorial day. Of course I had to say yes. She didn't get to throw my first baby shower as her house was too small for it. My aunt and I did. It is supposed to be more of a picnic/baby shower (as I did already have one), but it still freaks me out. Don't get me wrong-I'm pretty kinda confident in this all working out great in the end, but it's like the name thing. I don't want to commit. Every time I feel them move, I am reassured that everything is OK, but until I feel them for the first time in the morning, I'm still nervous. I still even use the doppler sometimes. Granted that is more because I love to hear them moving around in there. It sometimes catches me off guard that I actually and truly have two babies growing and living and breathing inside me. Pregnancy really is a true miracle!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Good friday so I'll post good stuff

Yesterday we had another U/S. By my favorite US tech ever. I saw her with my m/c last summer and she was pregnant at the time, but so sweet and nice. I hadn't seen her in awhile, because she was out on maternity. I was happy to have her back. So nice to have good, competent US techs.

Apple and Banana are measuring ahead again. Apple is 3#4oz, Banana 3#1oz. She said they were big for twins especially and that the girls always seem to measure a little smaller. It makes me a little nervous, but it's OK. 3oz is nothing to worry about as long as they are both doing well. We also got to talk about names. Everyone asks about if we've picked names yet. We (or I) have not. To me, they are apple and banana. I like calling them that. The tech said she picked the name Hank to call her baby (but is not his real name) and she liked calling him that. And I don't know why, but it just seems weird to pick names. I can't explain it. I have a feeling it is my subconcious worried about yet another step towards commitment. Darn RPL rearing it's ugly head again. It seems I can never be completely worry free. But this is a good news post...

I also had to go again for another double dose of Ivig. This one went extremely smooth, no headache or tiredness after. And Dr. Kwak and I had a long discussion about Lyme disease and miscarriage. She is very intrigued into it's relationship into pregnancy loss. In essence it is an infection that causes autoimmunity. And immunity is her thing. She is always wanting to learn as much as she can. And she is the most amazing doctor I have ever had-she is interested in you as a patient and a person. I love her!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

3 hour glucose passed! And I almost passed out too :)

So I got the call yesterday that I passed my 3 hour glucose test. Yeah! I knew I would, I eat no sugar, except fruit. So of course give me some nasty glucose drink and my body's going to go crazy. Plus, I didn't know that I was going to get the test, so I had just eaten an orange with my iron prenatal before my failed test. Oranges aren't exactly low sugar either. The fun thing was that after I had to fast all morning (not easy for a starving pregnant lady), then drink the nasty drink, I got super dizzy and sweaty and seeing black. I almost passed out once before at an US, so I knew it was going to happen again in the waiting room of the drs office. So I barely made it back, but luckily once I reclined a little and got some cold towels, I was fine. It is such an uncomfortable feeling when you know you're going to pass out. So out of control.

Ultrasound today at my MFM office, hopefully apple and banana are growing well. I am a little concerned because a week ago I lost 5 lbs when I was sick and I really haven't been gaining anymore. But I guess I had to regain the 5 lbs first. And it doesn't help that my diet is so limited. But I feel good. Here are my favorite sites of the diet that I roughly follow that keeps me healthy. I eat more fruits and carbs than is recommended, but I'm pregnant, I get too!

http://thehealthyskeptic.org/

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

Saturday, April 9, 2011

28 weeks, woo hoo, third trimester!

28 weeks, 28 weeks, 28 weeks...oh how I love thee. Although I would much rather be at 38 weeks! I know I'm just being impatient, but I want them to be here. I want to have a c-section and be in the hospital and hold them. Oh, how much I want to see their faces and kiss their toes. I am ready for them to be in this world. And meet their family. And we are so excited to meet them. I think the spring weather is getting to me. Is it June yet?
On another note, I failed my stupid glucose test! The range is under 130 is OK, and guess what I got-130! So I'm pretty sure I should pass the 3 hour test, but I don't want to do it. 3 hours at the doctor, yuck! I'm thinking I didn't pass because my body doesn't know how to handle sugar. And that's what the drink is-pure sugar. I eat no sugar. Once I was having yeast issues, I cut it all out. Now I do unsweetened almond milk, almond butter no sugar, and no sweets at all. No candy, chocolate, cookies, nothing. But then I read you should eat carbs before the test to give your body a better grip on handling it, so I might indulge in my favorite coconut ice cream. Yum!

Monday, April 4, 2011

NK numbers high, Ivig in my future

It seems as though if it isn't one thing, it's another. So two weeks ago my TNF number was high. The is the ratio of TH1 to TH2 cells you have. During pregnancy, you want more TH2 so that your body doesn't reject the baby. So I got more Ivig. Then last week my NK number was high. You sometimes want NK high to fight cancer, etc, but in pregnancy it can also attack your baby. So now I get a double dose of Ivig on wednesday. I am very lucky that I don't have any reaction to Ivig (some women report nasuea, headache, fever), but when I get a double dose I get a bad headache. And it means I have to be there forever getting the infusion. But of course I'm happy to do it if it means my babes are safe. I wonder if my NK's could have been up because I was sick last week. My body trying to fight the cold. I am happy that I am all better now!