today i had my 16 week appointment. pretty routine appointment except for the fact i started getting my progesterone shots. that's right, from here on out, i'll be getting a weekly shot of progesterone. some people have questioned me why i'm doing this. well, because although i could have like ten more babies and they all might go full term, there are no guarantees. and since i had a pre-term labor/delivery, i'll do just about anything to prevent that from happening again. progesterone shots give me a 50% better chance of making it full term. and there are no known side effects. it's just a supplement to the progesterone my body is making right now. the practice of using it later during pregnancy started about 4 years ago (in case you were really curious about that).
now that i've told you all about that boring stuff, i'll tell you about the actual shot. um, first let me say ... IT FRICKEN BURNED. my dad came with me to this appointment as he'll be giving me the shot every week. he's an old pro at giving shots, so i signed him up. when he gives my sister shots, they use the smallest needle made. when i seen him look at the needle that would be jabbed into my ass (his eyes got big and the eyebrows went up), i knew it was thick. and yep, it was. because the serum is thick, the needle needs to be too i guess. AWESOME. you might as well stick a fork in me. literally. and it burned baby. it burned. but it's all for a good cause. :)
heartbeat was holding steady at 150.
i'm at a total of one pound gained in 16 weeks. well, three pounds lost last month, four pounds gained this month so i like the grand total better. so much better than the dream nightmare i had where i gained 37 pounds in one month. whew. let's hope that isn't my reality anytime soon.
my next appointment is in four weeks. in four weeks, we'll hopefully get to learn just WHAT is in there. tucker has been insisting on a sister since this whole party started, but i'm hoping he's open to having a little brother to SHARE everything with. :) i'm not sure if i really have a feeling yet. i think in january i'll do all the 'tests' and see what they say. i've felt different obviously in this pregnancy, but i'm not sure if that really means much.
i'm sure at some point i'll have to take a picture of myself to share on here. i basically am just a big chub anyways, so we'll see how that goes. i don't have many pictures from when i was pregnant with tucker. well, pictures where you can really SEE my belly anyways. after the holidays, i'll have to get creative with the baby bump.
there's my update for now. now i think it's time for bed. i'm shot. :)
Hey! Just catching up on you...
I had progesterone shots when I was pregnant with my twins starting at 18 weeks...since I'd gone into labor at 31 weeks with Ethan and delivered at 32. I remember the first burn of that shot, but it does get better. Just make sure he gets it in the right spot...some spots on the hip/butt hurt worse than others...maybe try marking it each month and figure out which works best.
Hope you had a great Holiday!! I just sent that formula coupon to you a day or so ago, sorry for the delay...you know how the Season is! It has my name on it, but that shouldn't matter.
Posted by: hilary | 2009.12.29 at 20:54
ouch, ouch, ouch. reminds me of the four shots i got all at once in my back when i had back labor. DO NOT ENVY YOU. and i'm pretty sure about 37 lbs in a month has been my reality (and that's just in my face), so count your blessings on the weight gain! cheers to a nice, long (well long ENOUGH) healthy pregnancy and looking forward to finding out PINK or BLUE!
Posted by: jessica | 2009.12.24 at 09:55
the shots will get better, once there's a bunch of scar tissue built up in there you'll hardly feel it :)
congrats on everything, jen, can't wait to hear girl or boy!
Posted by: beanski | 2009.12.23 at 08:25
Yeah for a great appointment and boo for the shot hurting so bad! Is is PIO? I had oil-based anti-nausea shots when I was pregnant with Cooper and cried every time hubby had to give me one because they hurt so bad. You already have leverage against this little one when s/he gets older!
Posted by: Nicole | 2009.12.22 at 22:18
glad everything is going so well thus far... anxious to hear if tucker's insistence proves right! all the best to you jen!!
Posted by: heather | 2009.12.22 at 21:50
That's interesting about the shot preventing pre-term labor...wish it would have been an option for me 5 years ago!!! I went into pre-term labor with Elli at 28 weeks and I too would have done anything to prevent it...it sucked being on bedrest for 9 weeks with a 2 year old running around!! Glad they have some new options for women and I hope it works for you!!! Good luck Jen:) Take care and God Bless
Posted by: Holly | 2009.12.22 at 21:38
A shot every week? By your dad? In the arse?? OMG, that sounds awful!!! Your dad's a champ!! I'll have to have two shots of Rhogam in the backside again this pregnancy, and that's for surely enough shots for me!! Enjoy the holidays!
Posted by: anne | 2009.12.22 at 21:17
Congrats!!
Posted by: Kim | 2009.12.22 at 21:14
Here's to keeping that bun in the oven until it is d-u-n!! Sorry you have to have a big old shot though....
Posted by: juliP | 2009.12.22 at 20:40
ooooooooooooh, so sorry about the shot hurting - it sounds like it is for the best though!
and yay for finding out... i need to live vicariously though others ;)
oh and ps - did you really need to mention that you only gained ONE lb so far!?!?!? (um, jealous.)
Posted by: susan weinroth | 2009.12.22 at 20:22