Week #24 - 6 Months

I was supposed to have a checkup this week, but due to the office being locked (and, I'm assuming, closed for the holidays) I was unable to see a doctor.  Weird.  I guess I'll have to call them after the holidays and reschedule.

Only 4 months left!!

My excitement level has been increasing with each passing week - and each kick.  The little guy has been having a jolly time just cruising around in my belly and has been making his presence felt more each day.  He still won't kick on demand, but his repetitive motions (while I'm lying down) has enabled Kevin to interact with him a little more.  And he loves Glee music!  I wasn't sure initially because on Christmas Eve I was singing along with a Karaoke CD with my niece and he started kicking up a storm.  Then after returning home, I bought some albums on iTunes and he kicks whenever I listen to it.  How fun is that?!

I've been feeling great this week!  I even went for a crazy long walk with a friend on Tuesday night; granted, by the end of it I was nearly limping, but otherwise it was fantastic to get out and do something!  I also had an amazing lunch date with two of my favourite ladies; everyone has been so crazy-busy with work and Christmas, so it was lovely to catch up.  And by the way, I'm incredibly jealous that everyone seems to be joining a gym, but it would be useless for me to even bother (except for walking on the treadmill).  Due to the fact that I need gym buddies to bother going, this would have been perfect for me!  I'm looking on the bright side: after baby is born, if everyone is still going, they'll be in a routine which will make it even easier for me to go regularly. Yay!

I also think that I'm going to start posting pictures of my growing belly every week.  If I remember.

Baby K now measures 30 cm (11.81 inches) in length - the length of a standard ruler - and weighs in at 600 grams (or 1.32 lbs).  He is also considered "viable" at this stage; meaning, he would survive - with help - if he were to be born now.  My uterus now sits 5.1 cm (or 2 inches) above my belly button.  My baby's face and body are starting to fatten, so that now he looks like a newborn - albeit a tiny one - with most of his weight gain being in his muscles, developing organs and bone mass.

Due to changing hormones, the blood vessels in the nasal passages can swell causing more frequent nasal stuffiness or even nosebleeds.  Luckily, I've only been stuck with a slightly runny nose; however, it is winter, so I don't really notice.  But, if I were suffering more, a good way to cope would be to have a humidifier in the bedroom or to use nasal decongestants.

How am I feeling?  Great!  My lower back does get sore when I'm sitting for too long, but I almost think I'm getting used to it now.  I've been sleeping better this week too (and getting up less at night) so I'm just peachy!  Except for last night; last night I was up almost every 2-3 hours.

What am I craving this week?  Peaches!  Not all the time, but enough that I went and opened (and then consumed half of) a can of peaches.  I still eat my mandarin oranges and I still like my spicier foods.  Oh, but when we were buying ice cream, I wanted something with strawberries in it, not just a strawberry flavour, so that was a picky choice.  It's a good thing Kevin is such a good sport about my pickiness, lol.

Mood swings?  YES.  I had a mini-meltdown over Christmas, which, in hindsight, wouldn't have been that dramatic if I wasn't pregnant.  I still would've been super pissed off, but I wouldn't have broken down like I had.  On the flip side, when I find something funny it's a full on laugh that doesn't stop.  Maybe it wouldn't have been that funny if I wasn't pregnant, but if I have to be super emotional at least I get the perks of a really good laugh.  It was totally at Kevin's expense, but I think he was just so pleased that I was laughing so hard that he went along with it.  He was probably laughing at me laughing so hard.

Any baby purchases?  No, but we received a Diaper Genie from Kevin's brother (and his family), so that was super awesome!  We also received a couple other smaller items from my mom, and some cash from my brother (and family) for the baby.  With the cash and some gift certificates, we plan on buying a play yard that has an included bassinet (not pictured) and change table.

I think this play yard is fantastic!  It has everything we were looking for, plus the colours look like they would match either the nursery or stroller combo.  And! If you look closely, the mobile has a moon and stars!  Just perfect!  We plan on setting this up in the nursery and I'm going to stay in there until he's outgrown the crib and hopefully has a more established sleeping pattern.  Initially I wanted him in our room, but I don't want to disturb Kevin since he'll have to work and need his sleep.  On the other hand, I didn't want Kevin's alarm clock to wake the baby if I had just put him down! 

What about the nursery?  We still haven't put up the curtains/blinds yet, but that will be a quick job so we aren't feeling rushed about it.  Now that the painting/set up is finished, it is such a huge relief and the incoming baby is becoming more real.  I still get giddy when we walk past his room and I've starting imagining what he'll look like and who he'll take after in personality.  Having spent Christmas with 3 of my nieces and then Boxing Day with the other 2, all of who have such different personalities, it is really exciting to think about.

Oh, so I have this theory about pregnancy.  I believe that forgetting things (all the time) is a side affect of not sleeping enough, but I do truly believe that being pregnant makes you "stupid".  Combined with the kicking and "momnesia", all you can think about is your growing baby.  On top of that is an increased dependence on your partner (if you are fortunate enough to have one) as the growing belly makes it more difficult to perform easy tasks, such as tying your shoes.  When you think about it, there is no evolutionary advantage to a pregnant woman being so vulnerable; nor for the newborn to be so helpless.  All other creatures lack this aspect during gestation, and most newborns are capable of moving independently within hours of being born.  Therefore, it is my belief that the woman's dependency draws her and her partner together during pregnancy to create a stronger family unit leading up to the baby's birth.  The baby's vulnerability then leads the mother and father to take care of the baby which forges a close bond between all involved. 

What do you think?  Yea/Nay?

Week #23

Due to the fact that I can no longer sit straight up from a lying position, I have been forced to roll out of bed the past couple weeks.  Roll.  Ditto that for going to bed too.  And if I happen to be sitting on the floor, I have to maneuver myself onto my knees to stand up.  I feel like a damn turtle.  I've also been forced out of my favourite t-shirts: the bottom keeps riding up exposing my underbelly, so I've been wearing longer ones.  I'm still hoping to avoid the maternity shirts for a while longer.

The kid has been kicking up a storm lately - and Kevin was finally able to feel him!  It's my understanding that this kicking is going to become more frequent and much, much stronger until he no longer has enough room to pull back so far to wallop my insides.  So far he spends most of his time kicking my lower abdomen (the underside of my belly) on the right side, which makes me wonder how he's positioned in there: is he lying on his back or tummy?  Is he vertical or horizontal?  Curled in a ball or arms and legs splayed?  I've never given it much thought until this week.

This week my little guy is around 28 cm (11.4 inches) long and weighs in at 501 grams (or 1.1 lbs), with my uterus sitting about 3 cm above my bellybutton and 23 cm above my pubic symphysis.  My total weight gain should be about 12-15 lbs, and I ring in at around 10 lbs (compared to my pre-pregnancy weight).

The boy's body will start getting plumper and more wrinkled now, with his lanugo hair (if any) will start to darken.  His eyelids and eyebrows have finished forming and he will double in weight over the next month.  With the hardening of his inner ear bones (anvil, hammer and stirrup) his hearing is now functional; however, that doesn't mean he will be able to understand (or interpret) what he hears, since his brain may be too immature at this point.  His organs that develop hormones are developing nicely, particularly insulin production from his pancreas.

Some pains that I may be experiencing right now are round ligament pain (which has decreased dramatically recently) or sciatic nerve pain.  Protein is really important during the second and third trimesters, so I should aim to get about 75 grams of protein per day.  I should also watch my sodium levels to prevent water retention; foods to avoid include pickles, chips and salted nuts.  I'm so screwed.

How am I feeling?  I've been hard pressed to find a comfortable sleeping position at night, despite a pillow under my belly.  Also, the baby's kicks have been making it harder to sleep, as well as the multi-night visits to the bathroom.  Surprisingly, I still feel rather chipper during the day.

What am I craving this week?  Still mandarin oranges.  In fact, Kevin and I plan on bringing a box of them to my in-laws this weekends so I can snack without feeling guilty about eating all their food!

Mood swings?  No, but I've been sososooo excited about the nursery being finished!

Any baby purchases?  No, but that is mainly because I have no idea what I still need.

What about the nursery?  DONE!  Or at least I'm finished setting up what I already have (except for the drapes).  However, the astronomy theme sort of flopped.  I still plan on getting the Twilight Turtle and the Solar System mobile thingie, but I'm not sure if pictures of space anomalies will make their way on his walls - unless I find some already done up.  Kevin & I have donated some of our things to the nursery, so it definitely isn't strictly astronomy anymore - but it is oh so cute. 


(Left: nursery from hall; right: crib, complete with trundle storage drawer)



(Nine cubicle storage unit that currently holds his odds and ends)

(Left: nursery as seen from the left side of the room; right: close up of sign hanging beside crib)

(Left: close up of stars on closet door; right: my old twin bed that will come in handy when I have to pull all-nighters!)

   

(Left: twin bed with storage cubicle at foot and glow-in-the-dark stars; right: close up of stars)

(Play mat that sits in front of crib)

Finally, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! <3

Week #22

I'm feeling heaps better this week, mainly due to the progress I've made in the nursery (read below for details!) and since the weather cooperated by being warm, I was able to do some painting with an open window.  I've been trying to eat better this past week (and succeeding most of the time); considering how active the kid is, I try to keep in mind that I don't need to make him MORE hyper by feeding him so much sugar.  It is difficult to keep him in mind when I eat, but I think I'm making some progress.  It's also hard to ignore something that kicks so often.

My little guy is now 27.8 cm (or 11 inches) in length from crown to heel and weighs about 430 grams (15.17 oz) - so he's roughly the size of a Barbie.

My uterus is now 2 cm above my waist line and about 22 cm above my pubic symphysis (pubic bone) this week.  Although, to be honest, I don't really know if that's where mine is at the moment.

My baby's brain is rapidly developing this week and that will continue until he's 5 years old.  It is now possible to wake him up via external stimuli (like loud noises or my movement) while he sleeps, and even though his eyes are still fused shut, he'll still make blinking motions.  Since we know that he's male, his testes will hopefully descend all the way into his scrotum.  His other internal organs are becoming more specialized now: for example, his liver.  Bilirubin is produced when blood cells are broken down; in an adult liver, the liver functions to help break down bilirubin.  However, since blood cells have a shorter lifespan in a fetus, their liver actually helps to produce bilirubin.  His bilirubin will then be passed to me, via the placenta, which will then be broken down by my liver.  If he were to be born with a high bilirubin count, he would have a yellowish tinge to his skin - jaundice - and would be treated with phototherapy.

Although dizziness is not uncommon during pregnancy, due to the strain placed on the body, if it happens frequently, a doctor should be notified.  Increased fluid intake is extremely important - and not just to replace the amniotic fluid.  Fluids help to process nutrients, develop new cells, maintain blood volume and to regulate the internal body temperature.  Since calorie needs increase, it stands to reason that fluid volumes would need to increase too.  Drinking water also helps to relieve headaches, uterine cramping and bladder infections.  FYI.

How am I feeling?  Great!  I've managed to get some things done in the nursery so I feel better about that part.  I find that I'm tired, since I get up once or twice a night to use the bathroom; however, I find it hard to fall back asleep when I am awake.  It can be difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position at times too.  The Little Stinker's kicks are stronger and a little more frequent, but not enough for Kevin to feel them - I think I just happen to be in the right place at the right time.  I also think he's been camping out under my ribs on the right side.  You know that feeling when you sit crooked (as in, lean to one side for too long) and it feels like you've been leaning on your ribs?  I've been feeling that a lot lately.

Any weird cravings?  I should just change this to "what am I craving this week?" since that is more appropriate to me.  This week I've been addicted to mandarin oranges; I loved the because they are sweet and juicy at the same time, and they make a perfect mid-day/late-evening snack. 

Mood swings?  Just the usual sensitivity.  Kevin & I have been getting along really well lately, and I find that when things are peachy between us, I'm in the best mood.  We've been talking more and depite our desks being back-to-back, I feel like we are still hanging out, not just hanging in the same room together.  I've been doing more to keep me busy, like working on the nursery or getting outside a little more often, and I think that's been helping my mood immensely.

Any baby purchases?  I found the coolest night light at Home Depot for $6 (pictured below)!  Isn't that adorable?!  It fits with the astronomy theme and is also ECO Options Certified.  I also finally bought the paint for the nursery.

What about the nursery?  On the weekend, Kevin & I finally cracked down and moved our office into our spare room.  Moving the office was an ordeal, since the new office wasn't wired for telephone or internet, so that had to be done first, followed by moving all the furniture out of the new office to make room for our office furniture.  After discovering that the nursery would be big enough to hold my twin bed (for me on late nights), it is currently waiting to be placed in the room after it has been painted.  The nursery itself has painted walls - to be followed by trim and doors. 

Before ---------------------------------> After

 

We have some black-out panel drapes (from Sears), which, coupled with the curtain rod we have chosen, should look super cute.  The design on the curtain rod was initially what set my heart on a fantasy themed nursery for a girl; however, I think this design should also go nicely with our astronomy theme. 

       

In case you haven't noticed, I am loving the fact that I can just paste pictures from websites into my blog!  Sooo much easier than taking pictures myself, plus there's an artistic quality that I just can't quite capture in my own photos.

I'd like to take a moment to say "thanks" to my lovely tenants for the Christmas gifts for the baby.  We received a beautiful bear dressed up like Indiana Jones (sans hat), an adorable black toque with the word "Dude" stitched on it, some white socks, tablets that turn into wipes when added to water (!!), as well as some Rockin' Green laundry detergent for the baby's stuff.  The gifts are awesome and so are you!

Week #21

Physically, I feel great this week and emotionally I've accepted that my life is going to change and I've embraced the little boy who will make his mark on our lives whether we like it or not.  In hindsight, it feels like the past 5 months have flown by and now that the half way mark has passed, I've gone into panic mode about his imminent arrival.  We haven't set up the nursery, or even cleared out the room we're going to use for the nursery; the walls aren't painted; the crib, while it has arrived, is not set up.  I have not taken any baby classes, I have not taken a tour of the hospital and I have not written a birth plan.  In short, this kid is coming in less than 5 months and I'm. Not. Ready!

In all honesty, it's a good thing that the gestation period is 10 months - otherwise the baby would arrive before the parents have fully adjusted to the idea of becoming parents.  At my 20 week doctor appointment, Dr. Fredeen had asked me if I had signed up for prenatal classes.  And all I could think of was why would I have? I still have 5 months to go.  Oh, shit.  I only have 5 months left!  Or less: my sister-in-law gave birth 3 weeks early with her first, so it is a distinct possibility. 

I'm the kind of person who likes to be prepared.  For trips, flights and hotels booked on the day our vacation has been given the green light, transportation to/from airport taken care of and maybe even have some sights mapped out.  When going into unfamiliar territory, I like to be in control and to even have a backup plan, just in case.  And this, my friend, is why I'm freaking out: unless a planned C-section is in order, the baby will show up regardless of my wants, wishes or outright demands.  After his arrival, he will sleep and eat and poop when it damn well pleases him, not me, and the only thing I can do is go with the flow. 

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Baby K is now measured from crown to heel, so he's a whopping 26.7 cm (or 10.5 inches) and he weighs in at 360 grams (12.7 oz).  Originally I had thought that the baby was going through a growth spurt at this point in the pregnancy, but the growth comes from finally including the legs in the measurement.  My uterus should now be 1 cm above my waist line, thus heralding the death of my waist.  I should now be visibly pregnant to everyone, including strangers, so now everyone can stop whispering about how fat I've gotten.

Baby K has taken to swallowing his amniotic fluid to exercise his digestive system, which helps improve the condition of his digestive system after birth.  This week his stubby little legs will become more proportionate to his body (which is still stubby compared to when he becomes mobile).  His heart is growing stronger and it should now be possible to hear the heart beat through a stethoscope.

It is important to stay hydrated now, to replace the amniotic fluid that is being taken up by the baby.

How am I feeling?  Really great this week!  I feel less tired and my joints hurt less.  I've been getting more tummy action lately so that can be distracting, but every kick makes me think of my baby - even though sometimes I want to tell him to knock it off!  Especially when it's 2 a.m. and he kicks my bladder.  It feels like a jolt of electricity, by the way.  I do feel like I'm losing the strength in my legs, since I can no longer hold a lunge in dance.  Actually, I have to sit out of most of the warmup and strength exercises now since my belly gets in the way.

Any weird cravings?  Weird cravings, no; but lately I've been a nonstop eating machine and it feels like I can't help but stuff my face until I feel ready to burst.  This is bothering me because I have an immense fear of gaining 40+ lbs and thought I was doing really well in the first half of my pregnancy.  Sometimes I can even feel full, but I'll still want to snack on junk food.  I guess finding healthier snack food options are in order.

Mood swings?  I had a couple yesterday: one was a pity party which started out with me thinking about how my life changed so quickly right after I found out I was pregnant, which turned into "I haven't accomplished anything" as of yet.  The second one...I'm still not too sure what brought that one on.  Well, I do, and it all worked out, but I was still really upset about it for quite a while last night.

Any baby purchases?  No.

What about the nursery?  Well, the crib has arrived, so that's a relief, but I'm starting to really feel anxious about the nursery not being cleared out yet, so that might end up a priority.  If it weren't for the fact that most of the items in this room were too large to haul out by myself, I would totally do it.

Oh, and PS, I've decided Baby K is a misnomer: The Little Stinker is a more suitable nickname.

Week #20

Bon Jovi said it best when he sang:

"We've got to hold on, to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got eachother and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

Woahh, we're half way there
Woahh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Woahh, livin' on a prayer!"

The past couple weeks have been really eventful: we've been preparing for the arrival of Baby K, who, incidentally, is a boy, and I had my 20 week doctor's appointment.  We cleared space in the closet of our future nursery, our stroller/car seat combo is assembled and we've been talking about clearing out our spare room so we can move our office in there.  After that is finished, we can paint the nursery and set everything up for our little guy.

He's also been cruising around a lot more lately - last night I felt a jolt in my lower abdomen that could only have come from him.  I had assumed, incorrectly, that I wasn't feeling much movement because he was more laid back; apparently, he just wasn't using both feet simultaneously when he was kicking.

This week, Baby K's crown to rump measurements are 16 cm (~6.5 inches) and he weighs about 300 grams (10.6 oz).  My uterus should be in line with my belly button this week and will grow about 1 cm per week!  If this size increase doesn't happen, there is a possibility of intrauterine-growth restrictions, which could be caused by: smoking & drinking, low weight gain, pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure), infections, anemia and/or a history of previous growth-restricted babies.  Diagnosing this problem is difficult since the baby's growth is only measured during the doctor's visit; however, treatment may include bed rest, eating properly, stopping smoking/drinking and induced birth (if the baby is far enough along to survive outside the womb).

Baby K's skin is now growing in two layers: the epidermis and the dermis, and vernix is still being produced (vernix is a slimy layer to protect the skin and provide insulation).  Actually, the vernix may even been seen at birth!  As his bones continue to ossify, his movements will become stronger and more noticeable.

Fun fact: this week the placenta weighs more than the baby!

How am I feeling?  Less tired, but my back still gets really sore.  I've been feeling really good when I dance (but I can't do body rolls anymore!) and since it's warmed up, I've even been walking more.  I gained another 3 lbs, bringing my total weight gain (from week 12) up to 10 lbs. 

Any weird cravings?  I noticed the other day that salty foods (like chips) don't appeal to me.  There have been times too when the smell of something didn't appeal all that much, but eating the food was fine.  I was out walking the other day with a friend and started craving Cadbury Creme Eggs.  So, when I was out shopping yesterday at Shoppers, I figured that I'd finally be able to indulge that craving; however, I nearly had a panic attack/melt down when I couldn't find them right away!  I had searched the first till area then the rest of the snacky aisles before deciding that maybe I couldn't have them after all, only to find them at the next till station.  Whew!  Disaster averted!

Mood swings?  I think I've been ok this week - but I've also gotten out more often. 

Any baby purchases?  No, but I returned an outfit since it was meant for a girl and got a boy one instead.

What about the nursery?  Our crib is due to arrive anytime now, so when we got the call from Sears that a gift parcel had arrived, we thought it was the crib.  Imagine our surprise when the clerk returned with a small plastic bag!  Joan had thoughtfully arranged to have crib sheets sent along with the crib, so now we have 2 of them!  On the plus side, Kevin is all over the Twilight Turtle idea (as shown at the bottom of this post) and we're going to get a motorized solar system for the ceiling of the nursery (seen below)!

How cool is that?!  And yeah, it is meant for older kids, but he just won't get the remote till he's older, lol.  The remote causes the planets to rotate around the sun, so it will act as a mobile.  I really like the idea of this toy since it is something that he can grow into, and it includes a guided tour CD, so it is an educational toy as well.  Plus, Kevin and I both enjoy astronomy, so it is something that will encourage questions as Baby K grows up.  We've also finally decided on a feel for the kid's nursery: I want it to be either like sitting under the stars or like walking in space.  To achieve this, we are going to download and print pictures off of the NASA website of either constellations, planets, nebulae or other space wonders.  We want to keep it consistent and we aren't too interested in the cutesy aspect of an outer space theme like aliens, astronauts or rocket ships.  Essentially, not this:

I'm hoping that a rich wall colour combined with the jewel-toned bedding and vibrant space photos will create a beautiful contrast with the white furniture and black curtains.  I scanned the colour card since taking a picture of it didn't bring out the colour properly:

The colour is called "Taking the Plunge" and it is the second colour from the top on the C-I-L Clean & Playful card.  If you've ever seen my living room, you know that I love colour with depth, so it took a lot of talking on Kevin's part to convince me to not go as dark.  Originally I had a much deeper colour in mind, but the room that we've chosen for our baby doesn't get as much light, so the room would always seem really dark.  While a dark room is perfect for sleeping, it won't go over as well for playtime, so I chose a colour that would seem bright in the sunshine, but still dark enough to allow for a darker sleep area in the middle of summer.

Doctor Appointment #6

I really like the doctors that I've been seeing for my prenatal visits, have I ever mentioned that?  Dr. Fredeen is such a cool guy and he also happens to play basketball in the same rec league as Kevin.  I feel like when my doctors are meeting with me that they genuinely care about how things are going with me and the baby, and that they aren't rushing through my appointment.  And if I bring up a concern, no matter how abstract, they take the time to listen and talk to me about it. 

Above all, they make me feel important and safe.  So if you live in the area and need a baby doctor, I highly recommend him.  Dr. Cosio and Dr. Breckman (who share the office with him) are absolutely wonderful too.  And! I found a "Rate Your M.D." link that has nothing but wonderful things to say about Dr. Fredeen, so if you can't take my word for it, have a read. :)

I had a normal appointment today: Dr. Fredeen asked how things were going and I mentioned the hip pain.  He suggested that it was round ligament pain and I said that I had thought as much.  On the plus side, he said that it shouldn't be bothering me as much the further along in the pregnancy that I got, which was good to hear!  And once I thought about it, I did realize that it takes more for it to bother me - I thought it was just because I was getting out more often, but I guess it's just my body adjusting.  He measured the baby's heart rate, and though it was higher than last time (at 160 bpm), it was still in the normal range.  I mentioned that during the ultrasound the heart rate was at 150, so I hope that the boy was moving around a lot at that point and that it isn't anything bad.  I imagine that I would hear back about the results of my ultrasound (whether good or bad) within a few days.

My next appointment is December 28th and I'll be nearly 24 weeks at that point.  I'm going to do the glucose screening test which will determine whether or not I'm at risk for gestational diabetes.