Week 22

I am itching like crazy.  I thought this was part of the normal path of pregnancy.  Stretch marks are beginning to form on my thighs and belly.  My belly button has even begun to get a little shallower and possibly  turn from an innie to an outie.  All week I have been using my Palmer's Cocco Butter cream and Aveeno lotion to ail my itchy dry skin.  I even started to develop a crusty film on my belly and a rash on my stomach, chest, arms and neck.  I believed this was just one of those symptoms that comes with the stretching territory.

Yes and NO.  I went to the allergy doc today to get a routine shot and showed Carol my neck rash (see pic below) and Carol said, "That's not normal.  You are going to see the doctor."  Twenty minutes later I was diagnosed with PUPPP.  yeah never heard of it, but supposedly it is common in first time preggers and especially in people delivering boys. 

This is the Wikipedia version of what PUPPP is: 

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP), known in United Kingdom as polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP), is a chronic hives-like rash that strikes some women during pregnancy. Although extremely annoying for its sufferers (because of the itch), it presents no long-term risk for either the mother or unborn child. PUPPP frequently begins on the stomach and spreads to the legs, feet, arms, chest, and neck.  Although affecting about one in two hundred pregnancies and the commonest of the dermatoses of pregnancy, the condition was only formally identified and described in 1979. Papules and plaques usually start appearing on the abdomen (although not on the umbilicus/bellybutton/tummybutton itself) and often spreads to the legs, chest, underarms, etc (YES EXACTLY). The face is usually also spared and does not seem to become affected (THANK YOU). Skin distension (stretching) is a common factor in PUPPP, which is more common in mothers with large fundal measurements and/or those who are carrying large babies, twins, and triplets (WHAT???). The papules and plaques often first appear within stretch marks.Certain studies reveal that this condition is more frequent in women carrying boys, although no formal research has been conducted. Statistics cite that 70% percent of PUPPP sufferers deliver boys.

Besides the hive like outbreak, other pregnancy symptoms like my acne breakout fest have died down.  YAY!! I trade one bad thing for another.  I am just waiting for what's next... heartburn/ swollen limbs?

On a more positive note, last week with the storm ruining all our weekend plans, Bill and I had some time to do some nursery pairing.  We are done with the painting and now the fun part begins.  Soon we will order furniture and put some fishy decals on the walls.  I am so excited to decorate this room.  Here is what the nursery looks like:

 It took almost 3 weeks and stenciling the waves off and on, but it came out so good.  I was very impressed with Bill's work.  Little does he know, he will have to also install curtain rods (which is his most dreaded chore to date).  Hopefully, within this next month we can travel to Bed, Bath and Beyond and find some bright green curtains to go with our ocean themed room.

 My shower invites also have started to arrive.  I hope everyone likes them.  I thought they were super cute and totally theme appropriate.  Now, I just need a giant squid decal to make this room even greater.