Approaching 28 weeks

Approaching 28 weeks!!!

I love 28 weeks. Not that I feel super special wonderful at 28 weeks or anything like that.... It's the antepartum nurse in me coming out. 28 weeks is the first big "milestone" gestation for the NICU and pre-term moms. (Not that I've ever been a pre-term mom, but I'm aware that there is a first time for everything....) If a baby is born after 28 weeks' gestation, there is a marked decrease in the incidence of brain bleeds. Scary sounding, and scary. Although babies born early, even after 28 weeks', have difficulties of their own, I always breathe a tiny sigh of relief when that first milestone mark passes.

On to other thoughts!

So, one of my "usual" pregnancy discomforts is itching. I've been an itchy mess with all my pregnancies; mostly through the end of the first trimester to almost the third trimester. There have been several theories for my itching: increased blood volume, skin stretching, bile salts, soap allergies.... None of it really made sense to me. Then, my doctor and I were discussing my progesterone reaction incident earlier this pregnancy. He said, "Well, yeah, increased progesterone makes some people itch." Ding, ding, ding!!!! This rang true to me as the cause of all my itching- especially with how severely I reacted to the injectable progesterone.

The itching this pregnancy has been astronomical. I've made my ankles and feet bleed from scratching. I scratch in my sleep. Chris says he feels like he's sleeping with a grasshopper... Yes, I've tried things. Aveeeno soap, aveeno lotion, medicated aveeno lotion, benadryl, cortisone cream, oatmeal bath soaks.... My doc recommended Cetaphil lotion, but I really don't think it's a case of dry skin. I'm going to talk to him about it again at my appt next week. Although I think it's going to be one of those "so sorry, not much we can do about it" things.

Interestingly, and maybe this all goes hand in hand, but my skin has just been really super sensitive this time around- like a tactile issue. My clothes are uncomfortable against my skin, tags bother me, blah, blah, blah. I feel like a skin sensitive challenged toddler most days. Clothes and ways of wearing clothes that usually get me through a pregnancy have done absolutely nothing for me this time around. I've lamented to Chris several times that it's the dead of winter, and I HAVE to dress in layers. Why can't it just be summer so I can throw on a soft sundress.... or a mumu for that matter????

Lol. So. I'm getting creative. My latest endeavor is to turn a old pair of drawstring scrub pants for work into a pair of maternity scrub pants. Yes, with the large, uber ugly (absolutely fantastic) full belly panel. I found some soft, stretchy fabric at the fabric store ( I should not be allowed into the fabric store) that I think my belly will enjoy. This afternoon will have me getting friendly with a pair of scissors, some fabric, and my sewing machine.

Wish me luck.