Skinny Minnie

[judecorp]

You know what is touching? When people you've only barely heard of (friends of friends) comment on how happy they are for you. I swear, this whole ordeal has taught me a lot about the support powerz of the internetz. No, seriously. People I will never meet in a million years sent me messages yesterday asking how things went. It's amazing.

One thing I forgot to mention about the appointment is that I got weighed and I'd lost 3 more pounds since my IUI on Oct. 11. (I always weighed myself at IUIs. I couldn't help it, the scale was right there.) It's possible that some of it is from a different scale but I wonder if I should taper off the Metformin. My midwife did not bat an eye at the Metformin and said, "Well, some people take it throughout their pregnancies to ward off gestational diabetes." I'm not sure I want to go that far, or at least take a lower dose or something. It's not like I've been sick and not eating. But I lost 3 more pounds. My weight is under 150. Which means I can use the "100" weight on the scale. Which also means I now weigh /less/ than I did in college.

Also, my blood pressure, which is usually very normal, was kind of low - 105/54 or something like that. I don't know the exact numbers but it was definitely 1-0-something over 5-something. I'm usually a strict 110/78ish kind of girl. Is that weird? The nurse said it was wonderful. *shrug*

At some point today, I /have/ to find my camera cable and my scanner. We are putting pictures of the house in our holiday cards if I /ever/ can upload one off the camera, and my mom is going crazy asking for my ultrasound pictures. I have to admit, I'd like to be able to show off something other than my 7w twin pictures.

~//~

In house news, our box spring for our bed should be delivered today, and then EVERYTHING in the bedroom is ready to go except the new lamp, which I will put up today. Then we can sleep in our own freaking bed, thank goodness! We need to find a dry cleaner that can handle our king-sized damask comforter but we can use replacement blankets until then, I suppose. But I want my pretty comforter, dang it!

Also on tap for the day are the dishes (ugh, can we get our dishwasher installed soon please?) and maybe putting some clothes away. Whee!

Comments

[mayna.livejournal.com]

My bp is usually in the 110/55 sort of range... I think it results in poor circulation but the doctors/nurses always think it's fine. By the end of pregnancy it's more "normal" though.

I gained a few lbs... I need to watch what I eat... if I gain 40 lb again I think I will be very upset with myself.

[authentichris.livejournal.com]

Well, I hope that the Little One is healthy and *I* don't know you. I wouldn't touch you though as that's an intrusion.

[gimmeapony.livejournal.com]

Admit it- you've secretly been running marathons since you got knocked up.

[kungfoogirl.livejournal.com]

Take it easy over there. ;)

I'm very glad things are still going well!

*hugs to all of you*

[rainbow-slinky.livejournal.com]

I think BP gets lower in pregnancy since there's more blood or something like that. Mine's normally (at the doc office) 12x/7x.

[happy2beso.livejournal.com]

I didn't send you a message, but I was thinking about you a lot, Jude (and Jenn). I want to tell you I love you in my husky lesbian voice.

Yay for babies!

[cailleanlarkin.livejournal.com]

Hiya -- I found my way here from a number of different people who all have you friended. I'm told that you're a radically cool chick, and I'm in favor of those, so here I am reading your journal. I'm thrilled for your good bambino news and hope you don't mind another reader in this wacky world of LiveJournal! Plus, anyone who sets up their journal with Press Your Luck references is someone I need in my life (or at least my virtual life).

[hiddentask.livejournal.com]

Sorry I'm just now replying. The past week has been chaotic. I'm so glad you got some good news yesterday. Yay! Speaking of metformin. My doctor put me on it to see if it would help with me losing some weight. What kind of changes did you notice and about how long after you started it did you notice them?

also I hope this all made your job decision easier. *hugs* Hang in there these may be the longest 9 months of your life but trust me time flies after you have one child.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

My Metformin journey has been different than a lot of people's. I started on 1000mg of regular Metformin that I took twice a day - 500mg with breakfast and 500mg with dinner. I didn't have any side effects after about the first three days. On 1000mg, I started getting my period every 45-60 days with the exception of when my dad died. I think I got my first period a month later or so. This was a change from previously no period for 2+ years. I started losing weight then but assumed it was from the gym (I had started going at the same time, and stopped when my dad died). I think I lost something like 10-12 pounds.

When I started seeing the RE, he bumped me up to 2000mg/day and switched me to extended-release so I could take it all at once (I tended to forget the night dose) and to reduce chances of side effects. I have been taking 2000mg of Metformin XR since February of this year, so almost a year now. When I wasn't knocked up and wasn't taking fertility drugs, I would have a pretty regular 35-37 day cycle, ovulating around CD20-22. This is pretty huge for me. I have not had any side effects other than I will get the need to poop immediately after I have eaten certain foods (usually really greasy stuff like McDonalds). I haven't had to avoid any foods. This is atypical, I guess.

So since Feb. 2005, when I started with 1000mg to now, I have lost 30 pounds without dieting or exercising (although I have a pretty active life) and gone from a size 16-18 (depending on brand) to a size 12 (10 in dresses), from 178 to 149. Considering I wasn't terribly big to begin with, it looks like a dramatic change.

It also helped me not feel hypoglycemic in between meals - but didn't help with dark hair (of which I have a lot). It did, however, knock down my testosterone and floating insulin levels, lower my cholesterol, and all of that.

If you have any other questions, let me know. :)

blood pressure

[keelamonster.livejournal.com]

So the blood pressure dropping in early pregnancy is NORMAL. Your blood pressure should drop in your pregnancy, you have a greater circulating blood volume that is seen by your kidneys (why you have to pee more early in pregnancy too) and they go "oh, there's plenty of volume here, let's tell the heart to not work so hard and the vessels to relax a little" and that's what drops your bp. You'll see it go up a little bit later on, but that drop in BP is why women with a blood pressure of 140/80 in pregnancy are a bit worrisome even though that's a normal range. it's the increase that's concerning from the lower bp rather than just the pure straight number.

and I've never met you and I hope your baby's doing great because I can't wait to get our babies together to play one day!

[sassywoman.livejournal.com]

I lost about 5 lbs in the first trimester because of nausea and food aversions. I've made up for it now ... 23 lbs gained at 28 weeks!!! You'll hit a point when you don't know how you could gain 2-3 lbs in one week but it will happen. :)
I've been thinking about you all day and so happy that Jude Baby is staying put!

[oddharmonic.livejournal.com]

My blood pressure was down to about 70/45 by the last trimester. (I'm usually about 90/50.)

I wish you lots of scanner-finding mojo! I finally gave in and installed mine on the backup computer so I could scan in Laurel's school photo and some of her artwork.

[wendywoowho.livejournal.com]

Teh Intarweb rulz.

Yours is one of two LJs I read today -- yours and my sister's. I am SO HAPPY for you, Jen, and Baby!

Oh, and your house? Cute as a bug!

[estrange.livejournal.com]

I'd wait to taper off the metformin until a few weeks after the 1st trimester just to make sure. That's what I did anyway - it just made me feel better. I think it was around 14-15 weeks or something

That's great you have lost weight!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I'll start packing on the pounds soon enough. I mean, I sure like to eat!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, I appreciate it. But at least I know OF you, you know? There are people rooting for me that I'd never even HEARD of! It was pretty massive.

xoxo p.s. Your kid is super cute.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Damn it, you figured me out!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Thanks for everything, especially the hugs. Come give them in person!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

That's good to know. Mine is 11x/7x, though the x is usually a highish number, so pretty close to 120/80.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yay! I love you in my husky lesbian voice, too! xoxo

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Those people who said I was cool are TOTALLY LYING (though I appreciate it!). Thanks for reading, and for being thrilled, and for following along with this wacky ride. Apparently it can change on a moment's notice!

Also, old school game shows are where it's at, for real.

Re: blood pressure

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks for the medical info, Dr. K!

But see, I wasn't talking about folks like you when I talk about people I don't know. I mean, we chat, we have a relationship, and I adore you. There are people who are praying for my baby and us and heck, I had no idea they even existed! It's pretty staggering.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You are the Queen of Punk Rock Knitting! xoxoxo

I love you!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I haven't had any nausea or food aversions and I keep losing weight. I mean, I eat a lot of food! I'm sure once the baby starts hardcore gaining I will put on weight, but it's a little weird right now that I have one more week in the first trimester and most people gain 2-5 pounds and I have lost 3.

This baby had BETTER stay put, or a LOT of people are going to be upset!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Wow, you are super low blood pressure! 8O

If you have some sort of smoke signal to find my scanner, I would appreciate it. Also the white out.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I feel honored that you crawled out of your sickbed to read my journal. Hooray for the Woozel Love! You should be snuggled in bed being coddled by Nick!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not thinking about doing it right now. I'm definitely waiting for the second trimester just to be safe, but it seems like my midwife is considering keeping me on it for the gestational diabetes benefits. We'll see.

I feel a little weird about losing weight. Shouldn't I be gaining weight?

[estrange.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, the weight gain is yet to come! I've gained 45 pounds!! Holy crap! With Devin I gained only 35.

Re: blood pressure

[keelamonster.livejournal.com]

You know, it's pretty amazing. My mom has this entire army of women (and probably some men too) praying for Noah. And me and Ella of course, but she is so worried about Noah and his effect on me and on Ella, she just has everyone she knows pray for him when they ask her about prayer requests. I'm sure there are people I don't even know about that have passed the request on.

And I have NO doubt in my heart that those prayers helped lead up to what's happening right now in his life. So, yeah, the praying works. And I have people you don't know praying for you and your baby too. So :P

and you're welcome for the doctorly advice.

[keelamonster.livejournal.com]

Hey, I said you were cool! Sheesh.
By the way, Annie is super cool too, so you guys should totally be, like, best friends.

But not so best friend-y that you both don't still love me too. I'm needy.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oh, Keely, how could I ever not love you? You're my favorite Daphne ever!

Re: blood pressure

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

That's cool. It gives me the giggles to imagine your mom with an army, though - even if they're all praying. I imagine them in camouflage. Guerilla prayer!

I am really hoping for the best for Noah, and for you guys. You're the best.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Wow, it will be interesting to see what happens with me!

[authentichris.livejournal.com]

Hve you met the jackster?

[mayna.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately eating is what helps my nausea (esp citrus), and I think that's part of the reason I gained a lot with my first 2. It's one thing to pack on 40 lb with your first kid but to have to gain and lose that 3 times is a bit much. :-) I did that twice already and this time my goal is to only gain 25.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Good luck! You can do it!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

No, sadly. But I've seen pictures in people's journals (like Patti's).

[oddharmonic.livejournal.com]

I have put my three bottles of white out together to send telepathic locator signals to your white out.

I tried to put the scanners together too but Vogon said they wouldn't make a wee slide scanner if I mated them. Hee.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I know I'm late with the reply, but you really crack me up!!!