Week 29 update

As part of my prenatal care, I recently had some blood drawn to test for gestational diabetes and a complete blood count (CBC) to check for things like anemia, thrombocytopenia (low platelets), or infection.

Gestational diabetes is checked with a glucose screening test. After fasting for 12 hours, I was given a solution of 50mg glucose that kind of tasted like ultra sweet Sprite, waited an hour, then had my blood drawn. They were testing to see if my liver was metabolizing glucose properly.

We went to our 29 week doctor's visit today and my glucose screening results came back normal. However, my hemoglobin levels were slightly low. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Decreased levels indicate anemia. So my doctor recommended that I start taking an iron supplement that will most likely make me constipated but will help correct the anemia.

My doctor also recommended that I start doing kick counts twice a day now. I'm supposed to check that the baby moves at least 5 times in a hour.

Things are moving along pretty quickly now. We're going to be visiting the doctor's office every two weeks now until the last month where we go in every week. I've gotten most of the baby stuff bought, it's just a matter of washing all the clothes, sheets, and towels and putting them away.