Week #30

Hello, week 30. I just realized that I have a maximum of 12 weeks left. 10 till my due date, and an extra 2 in case he refuses to leave, at which point he will be forcefully evicted. I just hope he decides to show up earlier than that so I don't have to have to be induced or have a C-section.

I've been talking with a friend of mine lately about doing some maternity shots, which I am super excited about! We've been chatting about doing some dance poses, and since she took dance with me last year she will be able to make sure that I'm standing properly in the picture, lol.

I have decided that I can't wait till he's born; however, this sentiment comes from the knowledge that his birth will mean that I have my body (read: bladder) all to myself again. And for this, I cannot wait. I haven't been able to sleep on my stomach since probably month 3 or slightly earlier, since the pressure on my uterus was uncomfortable. He's also very fidgety, so if he's born he can flail all he wants and I don't have to know about it! I'll also be able to breathe properly again, which I'm very excited about. And tie my shoes. I've loosely laced my shoes so then I can just slip them on and off, but I hate loose shoes. The heartburn can just go diaf too.

On Thursday I went back to the lab for my confirmation testing of gestational diabetes. This involved having blood drawn (for a control, I assume), drinking another, more potent, sugary drink, waiting an hour before drawing blood, and then waiting another hour before drawing blood again. I hate needles, so this was not a good time for me. Actually, that's not true; I had just decided after the second needle that this wasn't so bad and that I must be getting better. And then needle 3 came along, and it seemed, imo, that the nurse look longer to finish drawing blood for #2, so I suggested a different arm. However, my left arm sucks and there really isn't a vein in the crook of my elbow, so the woman took it from the outside of my crease, towards my elbow. I thought that this was a novel idea and why had no one ever done this before?! And when she drew blood, I understood why: it hurts like hell.

The kid is now around 1.32 kg (or just under 3 lbs) and is around 40 cm (15.71 inches) from crown to heel. Good news: there's only 10 weeks left. Bad news: he, the placenta and my uterus are all going to keep growing until he makes his grand entrance.

By now my little guy should be able to produce his own red blood cells, instead of by tissue groups called "blood islands." His brain is developing convolutions (ridges) which increases the surface area to hold more brain cells. His nerve cell transmission will speed up with the help due to myelin (fatty substance that coats the outside of the nerve cells), and his lanugo will be nearly gone by now. His hair (if any) should be in now, as well as his wee toenails.

How am I feeling? I was feeling incredibly tired at the beginning of the week. I also felt sick. That's passed though, so I'm feeling better and more motivated now.

What am I craving this week? Not too much.

Mood swings? No, not really. I only get those if something happens all the time and it just builds up until melt-down.

Any baby purchases? No.

What about the nursery? Same.

Doctor's appointment next week!

Week #25

Mystery solved: my doctor's appointment was apparently scheduled on the 29th instead of the 28th (although my appointment card said otherwise), so it has now been rescheduled for this afternoon.

I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'm finally starting to enjoy this whole pregnancy thing.  I mean, getting up once or twice a night does suck, but I'm definitely in the honeymoon stage right now.  I'm sure that'll change once I get into the third trimester (which, incidentally, is in about 2 weeks) when I start getting to be too big to do anything and have to get up multiple times during the night every night.  And when I can't see my toes. 

I've been feeling really good about myself in terms of my body image as well.  I've seen several friends recently who I haven't seen in a while and they all think I look great.  One even said that I looked like I had just finished a huge dinner and then promptly compared her belly to mine (she isn't pregnant).  I had never spent much time around pregnant women, so I really didn't know what the belly felt like, but, despite its appearance, it is firm to the touch.  More like rock-hard abs, only much, much rounder.

The kid kicks all the time now and has (finally) stopped kicking my bladder.  I even felt movement one time on the upper right side, then a harder movement on the lower left - so I think I was punched and then kicked.  It was a weird sensation.  It still feels like a muscle spasm, only now you can definitely feel it from the outside.  After I get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I can feel him moving a lot more when I lay down, so I think I've woken him up at that point.  I think Kevin has actually transitioned into the daddy mind-state sooner than I've switched to mommy-mode; I asked him if he thought it was weird that he was going to be a dad in only a few months and he said no.  I know that I am still adjusting!

This week my boy weighs in at 660 grams (1.5 lbs) and is 34.6 cm (13.6 inches) long.  My uterus is 25 cm from the pubic syphysis to the top and is roughly the size of a small soccer ball.  Really?  Blood vessels are starting to form under his skin and his skin is turning pinkish. 

Some common ailments during pregnancy in this stage are itchy skin and swelling/bloating. The itchy skin is caused by the stretching of the uterus and stomach and can be alleviated through lotions and creams.  The swelling and bloating (and subsequent "cankles") can be helped by staying hydrated, eating foods that act as natural diuretics and by putting your feet up (and begging for a foot rub).  I've started getting paranoid that my ankles are being slowly swallowed by my calves and actually asked Kevin for his opinion the other night - he said they look fine.

How am I feeling?  I'm getting used to being larger and even rolling out of bed, so it isn't as big of an adjustment anymore.  I sleep on my side 80% of the night now (with a pillow tucked under my belly) because when I lie on my back the kid takes that as a cue to move.  Or maybe I just feel it more.  Plus, when I sleep on my side with the pillow it takes me back to when I was a teenager (or younger) and used to sleep curled up with my pillow squished into the wall.  I go back and forth between feeling exhausted or energized each day, but I think I'm even getting used to that aspect.

What am I craving this week?  I eat waffles every morning (no, I don't make them from scratch...), but I've found that during the past couple weeks I want more, immediately after finishing them.  For some reason they just taste extra amazing now.  I still love my mandarin oranges too.

Mood swings?  Not really.  I say that because, while I don't necessarily feel like I'm being pissy, I recognize that my comments sound like I am.  In some ways I almost feel a little uninhibited when I talk - especially with Kevin - but I don't know if he thinks I'm being bitchy or not.  I should ask.  I still find that when I find something funny, I think it's funny for a long time after.

Any baby purchases?  Not yet - still need to order the play yard for the kid though.

What about the nursery?  I feel like the nursery is starting to take on a nautical theme - which I'm totally ok with.  But not with motorized boats - more like the sailing ships of old.  For example, Kevin has this fantastic model boat that we have in the nursery and I'm working on a birth announcement cross-stitch piece.  And, now that I have the pictures side-by-side, I realize they're practically identical.  That's fantastic!!  I think the stars we have in place will suit the new theme just fine (for navigational purposes, of course) and I still want the motorized solar system and Twilight Turtle, but I think the combined theme will add more fun to the room.

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.

Week #18

There is definitely some movement going on!  Before I could only feel movement if I were lying on my back, but now I feel it while I'm sitting up as well.  Occasionally, it will even feel like my stomach is (lightly) flicked from the inside!  I'm finding that my belly is getting in the way now.  It's still small enough that I just reposition myself to do what I need to do (like tie my shoes) but I find that I have to rethink how I do it.  I'm having a really hard time accepting my body growing and I have to continually remind myself that I'm supposed to get larger.  I started keeping a log of my weight gain at 12.5 weeks and this week I'm exactly 4 lbs heavier (and 1 lb lighter than last week); since I was nowhere near petite when I found out I was pregnant, I really only need to gain 15-25 lbs (instead of 20-30 for average sized women).

This week Baby K measures in at 14.2 cm (5.6 inches) and 190 grams (6.7 oz).  The baby's finger- and toeprints are starting to form, signalling my baby's individuality.  Meconium (early fecal matter) is starting to accumulate in the baby's bowels, and it is made up from dead cells, digestive secretions, amniotic fluid and all that jazz.  In the middle of this week the baby's eyes will (finally) be facing forward and the ears will be in their final position as well. 

At this point, my uterus is about the size of a cantaloupe, with the top being just below my belly button.  My website has figured that by now I've gained about 10-13 lbs, but like I said, I'm at 4 lbs.  And by the end of the week, my heart will start working 40% harder than before!  Oh, back pain is mentioned: I just figured it was due to my being lazy (which probably doesn't help!), so it's nice to know that I should expect more of it.  Some tips to keep back pain at a minimum are to watch your weight gain (check), exercise regularly (check), sleep on your left side (...), use heat pads on sore spots (nope), and talk to doctor about pain medication (nope).  Due to the energy demands placed on my body, these last 2 trimesters are going to require me eating a bunch of carbs, which is awesome since that's what I eat!

How am I feeling?  I have a sore/achy back, which feels like I slept wrong - which is entirely possible - but it could be normal, judging by what I just read on sore backs during pregnancy.  I'm uncomfortable sitting and a little grotesque since the bottom of my belly can rest of my thighs when I am sitting up straight (or leaning forward).  I went to 3 out of 4 dance classes and made sure to take it easy stretching in jazz, so my inner adductor (muscle possibly identified by Judy!) isn't as sore as it was last week.  I was also told by my ballet teacher to stop doing crunches!!  Apparently, as the belly gets in the way, the abdominal muscles (?) will actually split in the center to create a shorter path along the sides of the abdomen.  Once the belly is gone, a chasm is left and it can take a while to re-knit itself.  Instead, she suggested some breathing exercises to work the core and will actually help during labour!  Unfortunately, I suck at describing thing, but it is essentially deep breaths and while exhaling you tighten your abs at the same time.  Make sense??  I've also been getting acid reflux, and there have been times when I've felt nauseous, so at night I make sure to prop myself up higher by adding an extra pillow under my shoulders.

Any weird food cravings?  No, but I was craving cherries the other day and unfortunately they're out of season now. :(

Mood swings?  I still get teary seeing emotional things on tv and totally lost it watching The Doctors the other day!  But, it was an episode on babies born to drug-addicted moms, so I probably would've cried (just not as much) even if I weren't pregnant.  I'm still emotional when Kevin's being a dick, but that is legitimate, not just hormones.

Any baby purchases?  No, seems like we've slowed down.  However, once we find out the baby's sex (1.5 weeks!) we'll probably pick out more stuff that is suited to gender.

What about the nursery?  We bought some glow-in-the-dark star stickers while at West Edmonton Mall, but that's it.

Week #16

This week the baby is 11.6 cm (4.5 inches) and weighs in at 100 grams (3.53 oz)!  That was a 30 gram weight increase!  I think I felt the baby move!  But I've been so psyched up for it that it might be my overeager imagination.  I was telling Kevin that I thought it would be hilarious if someone blew a raspberry on a pregnant woman's belly and got kicked in the mouth for it.  He didn't think it was so funny.  Maybe my sense of humour has changed?

By now the baby's head is covered with lanugo, and has fully formed fingernails.  So now it's catch up time for the toenails!  And from now on the body is growing faster, so that the head will start to look more proportionate to the rest of its body.  The head and neck muscles are growing stronger now so the head is now held more erect.

The website then goes on to talk about Alpha protein being measured.  However, unless this is a specially ordered test or only done in the States, I have no idea where I'm at in terms of this protein.  Since I know the monthly urinalysis looks at proteins, it is possible that my checkup yesterday would involve this test.  The Alpha protein test is done between 16 and 18 weeks and an accurate test involves knowing the exact gestational age and weight.  Elevated levels of Alpha protein could mean that there's something wrong with the baby: spinabifida, anecephaly or Down's Syndrome.  If high levels of protein are found, a careful ultrasound will look for signs of the abnormalities.

This week my uterus weighs in at 3.73 kg (8.75 oz) and is 3 inches below my belly button.  One of the perks is supposed to be less pressure on my bladder, which may be why I haven't woken up at 4:30 am the past couple nights.  Oh, something to look forward to: leaking.  This is not colostrum, but rather a buildup of fluids.  This pregnancy thing just keeps getting better and better!  Another perk: nasal congestion.  Last week they mentioned a perpetually runny nose and this week it's congestion.  They did mention headaches as a symptom, and I had a hell of a time with headaches last week, so maybe that's why?? 

And finally, if I were an older mother (35 years or older) I would be scheduled for an amniocentosis any week now.  For this, they suck out amniotic fluid and examine it for signs of genetic abnormalities (such as chromosomal problems, fetal sex complications, skeletal diseases, fetal infections, hematologic diseases, and inborn metabolism complications).

How am I feeling?  Tired, more often than not.

Any weird food cravings?  Not really.  Maybe going back to spicy food!

Mood swings?  Still yes!  But I like to think that I'm getting a little better and more open about why I'm upset so then my husband can understand.  Poor guy.

Any baby purchases?  I think we managed to restrain ourselves this week, but my mom called the other day and said she bought tons and tons of stuff!  I'd feel guilty, but there are so many pregnant women right now (my sister-in-law is due a week or 2 after me) so it isn't like my mom is spending all of her hard-earned money on just my baby.

What about the nursery?  My mother-in-law just offered to buy us a transitional crib the other night!  I was not expecting that at all and I feel a little overwhelmed by her generosity.  The crib is pictured below and we were thinking of getting it in white.  It is a 4-in-one, so it changes from a crib into a toddler bed, then a day bed and finally into a double.  Crazy, hey?!

Oh and PS, I'm going to post another belly picture, but under the "Belly Pictures" tab.  I would have uploaded one already, but my camera battery was dead, so definitely later!  Originally I was only going to do one picture a month, but already my belly has gotten larger (noticeably, to me at least) and so maybe I'll update every 2 weeks.  :)

** Update: 16 week photo is now up **

Week #14

So that's my belly at 14 weeks.  I wasn't sure if it was noticeable yet, but 2 of my good friends commented on it last night, so I thought I'd start posting a picture every month or so.  This way ~I~ have a record of my growing belly and anyone with a dying need to watch my belly grow can do so.  I'm also hoping to photoshop a little, either with a side-by-side comparison, or something similar so then it's more obvious how much I've grown compared to the last picture.

This week my baby is 8.7 cm (crown to rump) and weighs around 43 g (1.5 oz)!!  I am always amazed at how quickly this thing is growing!  Originally only growing millimeters per week, this kid has gained a centimeter and doubled its weight in 7 days!  (Since I'm a nerd and love Excel, I created a graph on how quickly its growing.  View it here.)  With that size, that puts the kid about the size of my fist!  (And for whatever reason, Blogger won't let me upload that picture.  Technology failure trumps all.  Again.)

The ears are now in their proper position, but the eyes are still travelling.  And all I can picture are halibut with their goofy eyes.  A juvenile halibut has eyes on either side of its head, like a normal fish, but as it matures, its eyes move to the same side as the body flattens.

The baby's hands are still developing, with the baby starting to learn how to use them, and its mouth is in various stages of development.  The roof of the mouth is finished, and sucking muscles are developing.  The salivary glands will not only be completed this week, but they will also be functional!  Sucking, swallowing and breathing motions will also be present at the end of the week, now that the esophagus, larynx are present.

Fun fact: hemorrhoids often plague pregnant women and usually get worse later in the pregnancy.  Just one more symptom to make this a joyous time.  One cause of hemorrhoids is constipation, so eating properly, exercising and drinking tons of water will help keep a body regular and hemorrhoid-free.

How am I feeling?  This week I've been feeling really, really good.  Like, back-to-my-old-self good.  And I'm loving it.

Any weird food cravings?  I bought some strawberries the other day, and they're like the best thing ever right now.  And, unfortunately, it seems like my love of cheese has come to an end.  At least on its own.  I've already switched from medium to mild cheddar and it seems like even eating mild is too much.  If I eat it on something or in something it's ok, but just a slice of cheese?  Yuck.

Mood swings?  I had a bad bout of them last weekend, but for the most part I'm ok.  I still get teary over something sweet and I think I'm more likely to be offended than before, but (so far) I'm not a raging psychotic.

Any baby purchases?  Only for the nursery!

What about the nursery?  I bought the 9 cubicle shelving unit that I mentioned last week (and there's a picture on that post too) and even bought the 4 fabric drawers in brown and turquoise that is pictured.  We've narrowed down the colours that we want for the nursery, but still haven't completely decided yet.

And that's it for this week!