Yesterday I turned 24 weeks or 6 months pregnant. My last level was 1.8 mg/ dl . So my tolerance has been increased to 425 mg phe. It is a real adjustment for me. I am nervous and scared about how much my levels will go up at the new tolerance , in my mind, it takes to long to get my levels back. My team increased my tolerance on thursday. I did a blood dot saturday ( i forgot to on friday) and then again today. The hospital lab does not courier tests on friday so I need to go up to the hospital today to drop both off and then it will take to wednesday to get the levels. So it would be 6 days at the new tolerance levels back. I thought I would be excited about being able to eat more, but I have fear until I see that my levels are still under 3. I know range is 2 to 6 here , but i feel better when i see the levels under 3.  For months now my levels have been in the 2 range and that makes me feel more confident and better that I am doing my best. When I see my levels come back week after week around 2 i know i am doing my the best for my baby and my baby is benefiting from my hard work.

I have had my tyrosine increased to 5 grams twice daily. My goal is under 2200 calories. I lost 10 lbs in the first trimester and have just started gaining it back. I am up 5 lbs since the loose but havent added any weight.

I am still doing blood dots 3 days a week, my clinic said I could do them less since I am so stable but i need to do them 3 times  a week for my own peace of mind. I feel better knowing that i would catch any changes sooner.

My nausea is back and it is really bad. Specially at night time. I have been relying on the Dilactin more than I have wanted to. it is the only way I can get any sleep . My back pain is a lot worse and I am in therapy 3 days a week. 2 days of physio, and 1 massage a week, but I have always started swimming and walking again. I am on medical leave already. A lot sooner then I wanted to. I am disappointed in myself for not making my goal of working through december. But I was injured at work and attacked by an aggressive resident so my team decided that it was not worth the risk. I have enough hours and seniority to have a full paid medical leave before my mat leave and it won’t take away from mat leave. I am on medical leave till my baby is born, then I start my mat leave.

I can feel my belly stretching and I feel baby moving at least 2 times a day. He or she is active when i wake up in the morning and as I lay in bed at night. I get random little kicks during the day. it is very reassuring , specially in the weeks between appointments.

This week is the gestational diabetes screening test. I am nervous but feel confident that I dont have diabetes. My OB said if I had any sings i would be measuring big or a head. I am right on track and my weight gain has been very slow. I have also been following my diet and calories very strictly. I am still scared though. The last thing i want is diabetes on top of PKU.

I am also having my blood type re taken this week as I have the RH factor and my blood is negative , where as coles is positive. So they are re screening before they start the Rogram shots at 2 8 weeks.

We have a 26 week ultrasound on november 16th. Our next OBGYN appt is on my Sister Nicoles birthday November 23rd. Our next midwife appt is December 2nd and that’s when i will get my first shot.

We have our 32 week part 2 anatomy scan of the brain at the Vancouver Women’s high risk pregnancy clinic and 3rd trimester PKU appt on January 5th. We also start prenatal classes in January.

I have been reading as much as I can this past week, especially on breastfeeding. If i can breastfeed I would really love to be able to breastfeed exclusively to 6 months. I heard the first 6 weeks are the most painful and a lot of women give up before then. if you can make it past the pain and difficulties in the first few weeks , making it to my goal would be achievable. i am trying to educate myself as much as possible and prepare myself .

For the most part things are going very well!  I can’t believe i am already in my 6th month!  that means in around 3 months give or take we will be meeting baby Rickett to be!