Pregnancy Update

(from http://maybebabylaf.blogspot.com)

How far along? 26 weeks, 4 days

Due Date:  December 30- though at my last appointment, my fundal height measured a week ahead.

Total weight gain/loss: 

9/7 Prenatal Appt.: +11, 164 lbs., Total +21 
(My doctors think it was water retention)
9/22 Prenatal Appt.: -1, 163 lbs., Total +20
(Back to normal!)

Maternity clothes?: All of the time and I have only bought a couple of items, the rest were gifts or handed down.

Sleep: Same as before.

Best moment this week: 

• Met with an amazing pediatrician! 
• Hubby feeling and seeing kicks
• My seeing kicks (even my parents have now!)
• PASSED MY GLUCOSE TEST!
• Blood pressure and weight gain back to normal 

Movement: Still not as often as I would like but YES! Certain times of day and certain positions of mine do increase movement or at least allow me to feel it more. Eating sweet/cold or both increases kicking. 

Food cravings: Hot dense soups, bready things, soft pretzels (anyone made these homemade?)

Food aversions: None

Symptoms: 

9/7 Prenatal Appt.: Elevated blood pressure! 132/78

9/22 Prenatal Appt.: Blood pressure 116/64 

Back in the healthy range...it was a very scary fluke before!

• Stretch marks!! All over my breasts, under my belly, top of buttocks, and around the belly button
• I got sick one night, not sure if this was pregnancy or food poisoning.
• Really difficult to get up and down
• Dry hands!

Gender:  Our 20 week scan showed a penis! 

Labor Signs: No- I read that some women have Braxton Hicks by now, but not me.

Belly Button in or out? At first I was the one going on about this but hubby is really commenting how much my belly button is sticking out! It has not 'popped' all of the way.

What I miss: I am adjusting to changes in relationships with friends and family and realizing how different they will be soon.

What I am looking forward to: Labor and delivery!

  Milestones: 

• Hubby feels the kicks!
• We both see the kicks, though he sees more because they mostly occur below my belly button which I can't see.
• Don't know if this is a milestone, but I cannot see "down there" anymore!

Note the mutant cat at my feet!

Pregnancy Update

(from http://maybebabylaf.blogspot.com)

How far along? 23 weeks

Due Date:  December 30, definitely! This was confirmed by our 20 week sonogram. HE (yes, he!) is measuring exactly on target!

Total weight gain/loss: 10 lbs as of 8/12 (20 weeks)

Maternity clothes? Totally maternity clothes. I had been getting away with normal tee-shirts for working out but they don't cover my stomach now and I'm flashing my belly to school children waiting for buses while I run. I also am still stretching out and loving these regular yoga capris I've been wearing the whole time.

Sleep: Actually starting to get used to sleeping only on my left side, though it's still uncomfortable and painful. The bad thing is I keep waking up on my back. Putting pillows behind it has not helped. I bought a preggle pillow for between my knees and have been loving it! 

Best moment this week: 

Let's say best moment since I last blogged was seeing the baby BOY in a 20 week ultrasound for which we both got a clean bill of health!

Movement: 

Bunches of movement! I had two scary days last week with little movement but then he came back strong. 

Food cravings: Ice cream, crepes with nutella

Food aversions: None

Symptoms: Really nothing new but the sneeze-and-pee is getting very aggravating.

Gender: 

BOY for sure!

Labor Signs: Nope!

Belly Button in or out? Partly in, partly out, When I stand profile the belly button does stick out at the top.

What I miss: This is very superficial but I miss not have a face, back, and chest covered in acne. I miss stress-free sleep and traveling without worrying about bathrooms and accessing healthy food!

What I am looking forward to: 

Getting in better shape- I need to get my endurance up for labor and practice birthing squats especially!

  

Milestones: 

I felt the baby move outside the belly but my hubby has not. I have an anterior placenta so it may be awhile. 

Pregnancy Update

(from http://maybebabylaf.blogspot.com)

How far along? 19 weeks and 1 day -Into week 20! Out of the teens!

Due Date:  December 30 (for now) I have a suspicion that we will be told the baby is measuring ahead of schedule at our ultrasound on Friday!

Total weight gain/loss: 4 lbs total gained, though I'm SURE I will have to add on to this from my appt. on Wednesday!

Maternity clothes? Yes, from here out I think. Going to raid the clearance rack at Kohl's tomorrow unless it's, like, shorts.

Sleep: Argh, there's no hope. Here are the new sleep issues:

• I think Squiggles is having a growth spurt because I have been woken up by hunger every night.
• I can no longer sort of lean on my belly- it's too big!
• Angry and distressing dreams :o(
• Insomnia from excitement and worry
• Continued discomfort on left side, sciatica, and dehydration

Best moment this week: 

Building the crib all by myself!

Movement: YESSS!!!! Much more than every before, definite kicks that repeat. Can't wait until hubby can feel it, too!

Food cravings: Anything sweet, cold, or both! Fulfilling this with fruit and candy. I think I really want ice cream but I'm not eating any type, not even vegan because of the agave.

Food aversions: None

Symptoms: 

• I felt sick for two days followed by what I swear is a baby/uterus growth spurt. 
• Ravenous hunger like in first trimester including during the night!
• More heartburn but not that bad
• Sciatica grrr messing up my ballet skillz
• Emotional, constant crying
• Lots more movement including at different times of day! 

  
Gender: I can't believe how excited I am to find this out on Friday (hopefully!) I am of the mind that it doesn't matter, won't make a difference in our preparation or parenting except to decide about circumcision, and our child may decide on a different "gender" than is represented by their genitals BUT I am still dying to know. 

Labor Signs: Nooo

Belly Button in or out? Closer to a full outie but it will still be a while

What I miss: Summer! It seems to be ending and that means less time for baby prep, exercise, and cooking, though I do look forward to some income as a substitute teacher

What I am looking forward to: Hubby to come back from out of town. I am SO emotional lately and missing him. Oh, hormones.

  

Milestones: First person who I do not know asking "What are you due?" See! I knew Squiggles had a growth spurt this week!

Pregnancy Update

(from http://maybebabylaf.blogspot.com)

How far along? 18 weeks

Due Date:  December 30 (for now) Based on my LMP and the size of my belly/height of my uterus I think it will be moved up! The sonogram in 2 weeks will decide!

Total weight gain/loss: 4 lbs total gained 
That I know of. My doctor does not want me to check my weight on my own so I only find out once a month.

Maternity clothes? All the way. except for some gym clothes that I am stretching out so probably won't be able to wear once I back to normal size. Oh well.These yoga pants are too comfy to stop wearing. 

Sleep: Only getting worse. Left hip and left shoulder hurt so much from staying on my left side. I am going to start sleeping sitting up with pillows between my back and the wall and my legs extended under blankets. The good thing is that I am getting by just fine on about 8.5 hrs of sleep a night and no naps. In the first trimester, I had to get 11 hrs plus naps! Also, my body is no longer waking me up as much to drink so I wake up dehydrated and terrified about how it's affecting Baby Squiggles.

Best moment this week: This one will reveal me to be a crazy cat person. One morning, I woke up to  one of my cats lifting the blanket off of my belly and licking it all over. That was her first affection toward the baby :o)

Also, got our first fluff mail (cloth diapers!!)

Movement: I think that I definitely have felt movement! Each one has felt different and been in a different location but at least one of them had to be Squiggles. I feel a movement once a night and it's always when hubby is reading/talking/singing. I have to be silent and still. 

Food cravings: Popcorn with nutritional yeast because I was out of nutritional yeast...until today! Mmmmmmmm

Food aversions: None

Symptoms: I'm dealing with the sciatica alright. A little heartburn, a little itchiness. Also, this started at maybe week 13 but I haven't mentioned the 'leaking.' Well, not really leaking, but I get white wet stuff at the tip of the nipples which dries into yellow crustiness. Sounds really gross, but it's exciting because I'm already producing colostrum and getting ready for breastfeeding!

  
Gender: Only two weeks until our anatomy scan when we will hopefully see the genitals! And learn the health of organs and measurements and the pregnancy will be halfway through. Wild!

Labor Signs: No way

Belly Button in or out? The bottom part is practically out, right where the top of the uterus pushes it. Soon soon I will be an outie!

What I miss: Fewer financial worries

What I am looking forward to: Building up fluff (cloth diaper) collection, hubby being able to feel/see movement

  

Milestones: Definitely have felt movement

Pregnancy Update

(from http://maybebabylaf.blogspot.com)

How far along? 17 weeks

Due Date:  December 30 (for now)

Total weight gain/loss: 4 lbs total gained 
That I know of. My doctor does not want me to check my weight on my own so I only find out once a month.

Maternity clothes? Yes, almost entirely! Just packed up a ton of regular clothes. Funny story: Had a surprise job interview and had to wear maternity clothes. My suits no longer fit and what I wore was not dressy enough. Also, I did not want to it be apparent that I'm pregnant. I think I pulled it off!

Sleep: I don't even look forward to it anymore. The good news is that whereas in the first trimester I felt that I need 11 hrs of sleep a night and a nap, I now do not nap and sleep about 8.5- 9 hrs. After reading this article last week, I am terrified of sleeping anywhere but my left side and do it absolutely exclusively. It's not fun, very uncomfortable and painful on my left hip.

Best moment this week: Possibly feeling movement, getting crib in the mail, ordering a couple of cloth diapers, lots of nesting!

Movement: Maybe!! Definitely a few feelings that may have been the baby but it's so hard to tell! Sometimes bubbles, twice a thump.

Food cravings: None

Food aversions: None

Symptoms: New big one this week is (I think) sciatic nerve pain. Oww! Starts at my lower back above my right butt cheek and radiates down the thigh. Either caused by baby position or a slipped disc. I am waiting to discuss with the doctor until my 20 week apt., but I don't think anything will be done about it. Making it difficult to exercise.

  
Gender: Biding my time until August 12, Squiggles had better get in a good position!

Labor Signs: Absolutely not. No Braxton Hicks even.

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: Clear skin, freedom of sleep

What I am looking forward to: More movement, setting up the nursery as pieces trickle in, visiting friends and family (we are close with very few people we live near unfortunately)

  

Milestones: Possibly feeling movement

Pregnancy Update

(from http://maybebabylaf.blogspot.com)

How far along? 16 weeks! 4 months!

Due Date:  December 30 (for now)

Total weight gain/loss: 4 lbs total gained

Maternity clothes? Some but mostly lounging in gym clothes with elastic waistbands

Sleep: Getting worse. I read a scary article about how not sleeping on left side, sleeping in, and taking naps increases chances of stillbirth so I have cut these habits from my life. Staying on my left side is really uncomfortable and sometimes painful, though hubby and I recently switched sides of the bed and that helps.

Best moment this week: Starting the countdown to the anatomy and sexing ultrasound, hearing a super strong heartbeat, reading aloud every night to Squiggles, running with my hubby (ok, that's more than one)

Movement: Not yet but I try to feel for it every night before bed. Can't wait!

Food cravings: Nothing, not even my usual pickle craving

Food aversions: None

Symptoms: Breasts have started hurting again so I think I'm going to have a growth spurt, starting to get some back pain but it's upper back/shoulder blades, acne

  
Gender: Find out on Aug. 12 EEEEE!!!!

Labor Signs: Oh no

Belly Button in or out? In but I know it's going to pop

What I miss: Exercise being easier. I get so out of breath and my breasts and belly are uncomfortable.

What I am looking forward to: Growing bump, eventually feeling movement, starting the nursery, ultrasound on 8/12

  

Milestones: None really...I guess a stabilized heartbeat. The first we heard was 180 which is very high and normal for a young fetus but now it is 155 which is typical for the rest of pregnancy.