First Tooth! (AKA 3 Weeks of Teething Hell)



Krew has his first tooth!

Getting that tooth, however, proved to be nearly more than I could bear. His teething started with extra drooling and fist chewing, which was cute even if it did soak through his bib to his shirt underneath. He started waking up more often at night, to the point where he was getting up nearly every 2 hours. He was fussier during the day. When he was napping he would sleep for shorter periods of time and have fewer naps.

Because of his age, he lacks the coordination required to use a teething ring (that can be chilled), and he has only just figured out how to get the links in his mouth without hitting his eye on the way. Actually, when he chews on his links, he reminds me of this:

To help him (us) cope with his teething, we've been using a combination of Orajel (or Anbesol) and gripe water. We also had heard about how amber bracelets help with teething and so I went out and bought one. The amber in the bracelet (supposedly) helps with pain relief and calms the baby. While he has improved since we bought it, it's hard to say if it was the bracelet itself or just his tooth  making an arrival that has calmed him. Regardless, we have not removed it!

The only bad thing about Krew's tooth arriving is that it came alone. Meaning that the other one will soon be turning him into a crank again.

8 weeks

Krew's Measurements:
Head circumference: 41 cm (at birth, 34 cm)
Length: 59 cm (at birth, 53 cm)
Weight: 11 lbs 14 oz (at 4 weeks, 9 lbs 12 oz; at birth, 8 lbs 5 oz)

As you can see, he's been growing. A LOT. His eyes most definitely track moving objects now, though sometimes it seems laggy, and his most favourite object to stare at (besides me) are bright lights, either natural or artificial.

Krew dropped the midnight feeding a couple weeks ago and just recently dropped the 3 a.m. feeding as well. So this means that he lets me sleep until 4:30 or 5 a.m.! It's amazing how wide awake I feel when I go in to feed him. He also will sleep again after that feeding and wake up again around 7:30, but then wants to be up at that point. I hope this amazing change stays. It really messes with my system to wake up between 2 and 4 a.m. and then I just end up super cranky.

Krew also rolled over for the first/only time last week! I'm pretty sure it was accidental, but he did it in the little office cradle we have. Unfortunately, we both missed it, but Kevin did catch the movement out of the corner of his eye. The video below shows him attempting it (immediately after rolling over) but then he started to get frustrated.

In this next video you can see him smiling, as well as see how he focuses when he hears music.

The other day he was being super fussy, which was incredibly stressful for both me and him. He wouldn't eat more than an ounce at a time and then would screech horribly when I would try to feed him more. He finally settled down in the late afternoon and I was then able to feed him a full bottle. Just yesterday I noticed he did it again, but with a specific bottle. I poured his milk into a different bottle (one that I knew he liked) and he finished it. That means his issues were with his bottle and not him. While I'm happy that it's an issue that is fixable, I feel like a jerk for not catching on earlier since the bottle that Krew had finished was a different style from the ones he wouldn't drink out of.

When I was in the doctor's office, I asked her about my legs since they are still incredibly swollen, but also had developed rash-like markings near my ankles. She said they were broken blood vessels and that a woman's body is supposed to go back to normal after having a baby, not develop issues like swollen feet/ankles/legs. She said that I have good circulation in my feet, but I'm going to be getting some blood work done to rule out potential issues, with my thyroid for example. In the mean time I've (finally!) picked up some compression socks that should help keep the discomfort of the swelling to a minimum.

Good times.

Week #35

My Opinion:
I still need to:

1. Wash K's stuff.
2. Clean/organize his room (even more so).
3. Pack a bag for K, myself, and Kevin.
4. Make sure the car seat fits.
5. Pre-register at hospital.
6. Other stuff that I haven't thought of yet.

Next week I hit Week #36 - also known as Month #9 - and I imagine that's when the real waiting game begins.

I'm still working on my coursework. Although I've fallen a little behind on my personal timeline, I'm still a couple months ahead of the scheduled timeline, so I'm ok. I also just found out that I am (for sure) getting maternity leave, so now I can take it easy if I have/need to.

I think the nesting part finally kicked in. Or at least the part where I feel like I have to keep busy (like laundry at 8 pm on a Sunday night) and rearrange everything (the cupboard under my kitchen sink). Speaking of reorganization, my sister-in-law was lovely enough to give me a bunch of baby clothes, and, as a result, I realized that I needed more space. So, to compensate for all of the extra items, Kevin and I picked up 2 more fabric drawers for the 9 cubicle storage unit, and a 6 shelf garment organizer for the closet. We also picked up a pop-up hamper for dirty laundry, and I imagine that it is going to be used a great many times.

 

Garment organizer (left), Hamper (right)

My sleep patterns have been erratic lately: Tuesday and Wednesday nights involved me waking every 2 hours (on the dot), which left me extremely tired but unable to nap later in the day. Thursday night, however, I changed my sleeping position after waking once or twice, and then I slept solid for the rest of the night. Sleeping on my side would cause me to wake regularly, whereas sleeping on my back allowed me to sleep soundly.

Speaking of sleeping on my side: I was lying in bed last night and the kid totally stretched and I ended up with an elbow on my down-facing side and a foot on my up-facing side. He moved before Kevin could feel it, but it was like I had a pyramid-shaped implant sticking out my side! Actually, if you feel the tip of your elbow (with your arm bent), that's about the right size, and that's how hard it was too! The side that I was lying on just made it feel like I was laying on something hard, like a golf ball.

My feet aren't as swollen, again, but I think now it is actually exercise related. If I sit all the time, my feet swell. But, if I get out at least a little bit to do something that involves more than just walking from my computer room to kitchen then the swelling isn't as bad. My feet still are a little swollen, but not as badly (or as comically).

Development:
By now the baby should weigh around 2.383 kg (5.25 lbs) and be around 46.2 cm (or 18.19 inches) long. For those of you following along closely, it seems like the baby's length jumped a LOT (like 5 inches) this past week. The truth is that I didn't double-check the cm to inch conversions on the website and it turns out that they were wrong. So, the inches this week is correct and he really is that long. And I don't feel like going back and finding where the numbers went wrong, so I'll just leave it as is, lol.

Since the baby hasn't dropped yet, my uterus should sit about 15 cm above my belly button and about 35 cm above my pubic symphysis. My weight gain at this point should be around 23.8-28.6 lbs, but I definitely blew that and weigh in around 33 lbs.

This week his fatty deposits continue to develop and his arms and legs will start getting chubbier. If he were born this week, he would lose weight faster than a full term baby since his digestive tract wouldn't be fully developed enough to be self-sufficient.

Week #34, Maternity Photo Shoot & Doctor Appointment #11

Maternity Shoot:
My good friend Kathryn came over Sunday afternoon to take some pictures of my belly and me, since I'm sort of attached. We were also lucky enough to bribe talk Kevin into getting his picture taken as well. I'm really not much of a camera person, and despite having googled maternity photos, I had no idea what to do or how to position myself, especially considering how many maternity pictures lean towards the sensuality and intimacy of pregnancy (and that just isn't me).

Luckily, Kathryn came to my house with no preset notions, just vague ideas. So what did we do? Kevin and I did a few of the couple poses, both sitting and standing, and we incorporated a couple of props into the picture: a red heart-shaped pillow as well as foam blocks. We used the blocks to spell out "boy," "baby K," and his name. [As an aside, I don't know why I'm so reluctant to post his name on here; several of my friends and family members know his intended name, so it isn't like it is a huge secret, but I find it difficult to reveal it. Superstition, maybe? Or worry that someone will use it first?]

After Kevin left, I changed and the poses became dance oriented; more specifically, ballet. There was some jazz thrown in there, but ballet is a lot easier for me at this point, lol. We tried some different poses with props stolen from the kid's room: a toque ("Dude"), a bib ("I'm the Captain!"), and a onesie. We also did way more playing around with the blocks, spelling out everything from "boy" to his due date to his first and last names! It was so much fun! Even my cats swarmed me at one point while I was lying down!

I think having a trusted friend behind the camera allowed me to relax and laugh, so I think that when I finally see the pictures I'll have the results I want, not just some awkward poses and forced smiles.

Doctor Appointment:
On Wednesday I had my doctor's appointment with Dr. Cosio (who is amazing, btw). Do you ever remember someone as looking completely opposite of what they actually do? I had envisioned Dr. Cosio as an older woman who was graying or who had started dyeing her hair blonde (to cover the gray). Instead, she was probably in her 30s with brown hair and very slight blonde streaks. I hadn't seen Dr. Cosio for several months (not since my 9th week, to be exact) so it's an understandable mistake, but I used to have an amazing memory of what people look like. I guess that's gone now too, lol.

It was a standard checkup, and I learned that my belly size is bang-on for how far along I am! This is fantastic since I've always been curious about how big my belly is. The kid's heartrate was 145 bpm, which is about what it was last week, and he's still head down. My blood pressure is good, which means my insanely high heart rate (still 95!) is normal. The doctor did suggest that I watch my blood sugar intake for the last while of my pregnancy, since I was borderline for gestational diabetes. I do honestly want to follow her advice, but I have horrible eating habits, meaning my good intentions will fly out the window at my next meal. I also don't want to have a monstrous baby, so really that should be my motivation for cutting down the sugar.

My next appointment (March 22nd - one month from my due date!) will include a cervical swab checking for Group B streptococcus. This is quite a common infection and usually doesn't affect the mother; however, during the birthing process it is possible for this bacteria to pass onto the baby, which has the potential to cause neurological damage due to the baby's lowered immune system. If I do have this bacteria, I will be given IV antibiotics every 4 hours during labour that will cross the placenta to boost baby's immune system.

After my next appointment I will be seeing the doctor every week until the kid arrives. So close now!

My Opinion:
My feet are swollen again. I'm now convinced that it's weather-related, and that my feet act like a barometer of sorts. Unfortunately I haven't figured out what causes them to swell since it just sort of randomly happens. Maybe spending too much time on my feet over a couple days causes them to balloon? And, oddly enough, it's my left foot that is the most swollen. I guess I'm lucky that it isn't both. I almost think I have stretch marks on the bottom of my feet too - plus on my navel between the holes where my piercing sat for 10 years.

Sleep has been...weird. There have been a few days where I sleep but don't feel rested, and other days where staying in bed helps me feel more awake the next day, but it takes me a while to fall asleep that night. And then there was Tuesday night, where I barely slept but woke up feeling fine. I still sleep mainly on my back, but I have been able to sleep for an hour or two on my side later in the night.

Also, I've been cleaning in my dreams. Is this some sort of subconscious nesting that has finally taken root? I've been baking like crazy (compared to before - so maybe once or twice a week) and figured that was my form of nesting, but I guess cleaning isn't far behind, lol.

Development:
He's getting big! The kid should weigh in around 2.146 kg (or 4.73 lbs) and should be around 45 cm (or 13.38 inches) long by now. My uterus should be about 14 cm above my belly button and 34 cm above my pubic symphysis (and I'm assuming it is).

He's now developing his own immune system to help him out once he's born, and his little fingernails are now reaching the ends of his fingers. They may even need to be trimmed a few days after birth. When he's born his eyes will appear blue, but they should (I'm hoping!) darken after he's a couple weeks old.

Oh, wtf? Apparently my amniotic fluid level has peaked, so from now on the baby will be taking over and I "will really start to feel every movement that [my] baby may make." I'm so screwed since it already feels like I feel every movement. As a result my skin will be stretched to the maximum, and this stretching will also cause my skin to feel itchy (yes) so it's best to stay moisturized.

In case you were curious, no, he hasn't dropped yet. I have mixed feelings about when he drops: on one hand I'll get to breathe again, but, on the other hand, the pressure on my bladder will get worse.

Misc:
Oh, hey! I just added a "Comments" section to my Belly Pics page, so feel free to leave one if you are so inclined.

I'm also going to have to start raiding Kevin's drawers for t-shirts, since mine are no longer long enough. The maternity wear shirts are fine, but just my normal ones? Nope. This kind of sucks since I don't want to go out and buy new clothes to only wear them for the next month or two - good thing Kevin is so much bigger than me.

Also, Kevin and I bought a 5 pack of onesies (or diaper shirts, if you will) from Costco last night - they are so cute! They have little racecars on them and they vary from solids to stripes (and sometimes the racecars make the stripes). Yeah, I still get giddy seeing baby clothes, lol.

Week #33, Doctor Appointment #10 & Hospital Tour

Hospital Tour:
We (finally) did the hospital tour on Wednesday. I figured that if we put it off much longer that we would run the risk of not knowing where to go when it was time for the baby to be born. There is a virtual tour available for the UHNBC for those curious-minded individuals, and for those interested in checking it out in person, the tour is every first and third Wednesday of the month from 1 pm to 2 pm.

The tour group was small (2 other couples, plus they brought one child each) so we weren't having to peer over shoulders to see what was going on. We weren't able to see any of the Assessment Rooms (they were full!) but we got a quick glimpse into one of the postpartum rooms. Most of the tour was conducted inside the Labour & Delivery Room, which was huge and equipped with extra supplies, labour accessories (exercise ball and labour bar), plus a private ensuite. There was an extra bed, a fetal heart rate monitor, baby bassinet, baby warmer, an IV pole, plus a personal supply of nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Apparently IVs are only necessary when the mother arrives on the dehydrated side, so I'm going to make sure I stay hydrated to avoid one.

It was definitely reassuring to know where to go when I eventually go into labour, and all of the different options available for labouring. Some of the info will be filed away for later use and some discarded entirely, but options are options and it is nice to know I have some.

Doctor Appointment:
I went into my doctor's appointment on Thursday feeling a little anxious. On Wednesday night I noticed that I had been spotting; however, since the baby is super active I wasn't terribly worried. But I did get a little excited thinking that maybe it was my mucus plug; but if that was the case I'd probably have to be a little more careful since that is what keeps bacteria, etc out of the uterus. Turns out I have a bladder infection (which is where the blood came from), so I'm on antibiotics for a week. The upside is that now my bladder won't be sensitive to touch anymore. There really is no downside, actually. A quick dipstick test of my urine sample tested positive for blood and bacteria, and my cervix was swabbed (just in case), so my next doctor's appointment is next week (with Dr. Cosio) to discuss my lab results, as well as do another checkup. My antibiotics are also only for a week, so if needed I could have my prescription refilled at that time. (Amoxicillin 500 mg t.i.d. x7 days - haha!)

Also, the baby's head is down! Or at least it was when the doctor checked him out. His heart rate was about 142 bpm, which is lower than it has been in the past, but the older the baby gets, the slower the heart rate becomes. My heartrate, on the other hand, was at 95. NINETY-FIVE. My normal resting heartrate used to be around 72 bpm and so I'm over 20 bpm higher than I was before I got pregnant. Insane!

My Opinion:
The maternity shots were postponed last weekend due to snow; we hope to do them soon.

There's been a lot of kicking of my right ribs lately and a lot of movement in my lower abdomen. It feels weird - sort of ticklish but like digestion at the same time. I think my belly is getting wider too - before it was sort of egg-shaped (narrow end sticking out) but now it seems to be filling in more. I've been having some trouble walking due to the hip pain, but this probably has a lot to do with the fact that I sit for hours on end working on my program. Although my feet and lower back would ache if I spent more time standing, so I'm really at that stage where I can't win either way.

Development:
This week the kid weighs in at 1.918 kg (or 4.23 lbs) and is around 43.7 cm (or 17.20 inches) long - although my kid is probably way taller than that by now, lol. My uterus is now around 13 cm above my belly button and 33 cm above my pubic symphysis, with my weight gain between 22 and 28 lbs (I'm at 30 lbs -- oops!).

He's also going to be putting that thumb to good use as he practices his sucking, and he will continue to put on weight to fill out those fat deposits. Also, his skin should be changing colour now from red to pink as a result of the aforementioned fat deposits.

Misc:
My mom was in town last week and bought some things for my baby: a crib pad, a crib sheet, a nasal aspirator (never would have thought of that one on my own), and a little outfit.

Kevin and I keep talking about how we need to get that bag packed, but haven't been able to pull it off quite yet. I want to pick up some travel-sized toiletries and then I don't need to worry about forgetting mine at home when the time comes. We also need to pick out a coming home outfit, especially since most of his clothes right now are around the 3 month old range, and maybe some brand new newborn diapers. We have size 1's, but then she showed us the ones in the hospital...and they're way smaller. Maybe just a small pack, just in case he does end up bigger.

I should probably also start washing some of his things, like receiving blankets, so that those are ready to go when he's born too. The other things, like larger clothes, can even wait if I don't get around to them before he's born.

Week #32 - 8 months

My Opinion:
Heh. I had that written down as IMHO (In My Honest Opinion) and then realized it looked like "I'M a HO" so I changed it.

I have solved the swollen feet fiasco! My office desk is situated so that the vent blows hot air onto my feet - which is great when I'm cold; however, with my pulse running at 90 bpm or higher my feet are never truly cold, and this caused them to swell. Like crazy. The past few days I've been working on my course stuff out in the living room and the swelling has disappeared. It's awesome!

My lower back and right hip have been causing me grief and I haven't figured out how to get around that yet. I've even tried sleeping on my side, but only after falling asleep on my back first - otherwise the heartburn kills me. Regardless of which position I fall asleep in, if I wake during the night my back feels stiff and cramped. My hips ache when I use my legs to help me roll over, so I'm assuming it'll either get worse or I'll find a way to make it bearable.

I've been feeling super tired lately, yet when I go to bed I have a difficult time falling asleep. If I find myself wide awake at 5 in the morning, I usually get up to go to the bathroom (might as well) but then when I lie down again, the kid has woken up and goes nuts. I've also been shuttling Kevin to work this week so it could be that my body is just complaining.

Development:
This week the kid is 1.702 kg (or 3.75 lbs) and is 42.4 cm (or 16.7 inches) long. My uterus should also be about 12 cm above my belly button and 32 cm above my pubic symphysis. I have currently gained around 26.5 lbs, but I was told (complimented?) earlier this week by Kevin's boss: he told me that I finally looked pregnant. I told him that I figured I'd have to at some point, and this seemed like a good time, lol.

This week my boy will be able to register on all 5 of his senses, he'll open his eyes in bright light and close them in dark (like a budgie!), and his toe nails should now be fully formed.

They go on to talk about how I must have felt Braxton Hicks contractions by now - but other than calling them spasms (or a tightening of the belly) that I may or may not have felt since I was 6 weeks along, I have no idea wtf they're talking about. Maybe if I'd been pregnant or given birth once before I'd know, but this is entirely useless information as far as I'm concerned. I do however notice when he kicks me in the ribs or has hiccups (or are those Braxton Hicks?).

Misc:
Time to figure out what to pack for the hospital! And what I want to do for a birth plan; thankfully I finally found a useful link for that aspect. Kevin and I (mainly my idea) decided to nix the prenatal classes since all the reviews I've heard have been negative. A couple of people have mentiond that they'd learned one useful thing, but I figure if all you can learn is 1 useful thing out of a 6 week program (slated at 1 hour each), then that's not a good enough reason to go. Especially when that person can just tell me that one useful thing, lol.

I have heard positive things about the delivery staff though, and if (hah!) I'm in pain I doubt I'll remember any of that information anyway, so I might as well be coached through it without hearing about the gory details. I somehow managed to make it all the way through high school without seeing the delivery videos, so I'll skip them now when they're a little more relevant. Besides, the internet contains heaps of information, and I'm a smart kid, so it isn't like I'm going in blind. I'm even debating creating a birth plan since even those carefully laid plans can be easily tossed aside.

Oh! I'm getting my maternity pictures taken tomorrow afternoon! Yay!

Week #31 & Doctor Appointment #9

My Opinion:
I am so ready for this to be over now. I'm uncomfortable more often than not, and I feel like an invalid. While it is nice to have Kevin fetch things for me from the basement or to carry 98% of the groceries in from the car, I do feel a little silly when he asks if I need help getting into and out of the car. Although, to be honest, I will probably need the help soon.

My feet are still incredibly swollen and my back (in between my shoulder blades and a little lower) has started to ache. My ribs have joined in as well, either out of sympathy or group protest. When I walk I sway like I'm in a canoe and when I sit I have to lean to the left since the kid has decided he likes the right side. On a good note, he doesn't kick as much as he used to; however, when he does move it is more painful. Why have I never heard about how it hurts when the baby kicks? For some reason I naively believed that I would be insulated from his movements. Wrong.

I recently added another pillow to my side of the bed (bringing me up to 4) so I can sleep higher at night. I have also discovered that if I stop eating a couple hours before bed then I don't get heartburn as badly. Score! Despite the fact that I've been sleeping well (read: not getting up at night to pee), I've still been tired during the day.

By the way, you must check out this link! It illustrates the internal changes while a woman pregnant, and, if you're curious like me, it shows where her organs go (hint: it's up) while the baby is cohabiting.

Doctor's Appointment:
I went to see Dr. Brenckmann today, and found out that I'm NEGATIVE for gestational diabetes! Woo! My numbers were on the high end of the normal range, but still below the cutoff mark, so I'm good. The kid also decided to cooperate with the doctor and allow her to measure his heart rate, although she isn't sure whether he's head down yet. I have another appointment in 2 weeks...at which point I'll only have 7 weeks left. Meaning less than 2 months. Eeep!

Development:
The kid is now around 1.502 kg (or 3.3 lbs) and is around 41.1 cm (16.2 inches) in length. My uterus is now 11 cm above my belly button and 31 cm above my pubic symphysis with my weight gain between 21 and 27 lbs (I'm at 26 lbs).

If I went into labour today, my baby would be able to breathe (very important), listen, see, remember and learn. His weight gain will slow down this week too, as his little body will start to put more energy into developing his internal organs. Also his skeleton is starting to harden like crazy, so calcium is very important right now (I'm all over that).

Misc.:
As you can see, I've changed the format of my Q&A section. I figured since my mood, cravings, and nursery never really changed that I would stop writing about them, unless something interesting happened. In which case it'll get added somewhere.

I did, however, receive the Nestle baby diaper bag package today! It's a one-shouldered diaper bag that includes the following: change mat, 150 mL Nuk Orthodontic (BPA-free) bottle, 340 g Nestle Good Start Iron-Fortified Formula, Baby's First Formula Feeding Kit (which includes 8x89 mL Nestle Good Start Omega 3 & 6 Ready-to-Feed bottles and bonus nipple), as well as a pamphlet on breastfeeding. It also included a pack of single-serving instant coffee, but I don't drink coffee, so it doesn't count.

PS - Blogger photo uploader is being an ass, so I wasn't able to include a picture of the package or of my sexy feet. Maybe later.

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 #29

Did you see that I finally posted new belly pictures? If you want to see how big I've gotten recently, go have a look.

Pregnancy is weird. And creepy. It's the only time in your life that you willingly allow a parasite to live inside yourself, and you also allow it to reach maturation and burst from your body.

I can now feel Baby K roll around in my stomach with my hand. A couple nights ago I had my hand resting on my stomach feeling his kicks (which I've gotten used to) when all of a sudden the bulge under my hand flattened. He'd moved. He did it a few times after that, but I was so creeped out that I couldn't rest my hand on my stomach anymore.

The little stinker is also active enough that it is getting harder to fall asleep at night. I just keep telling myself that it's a sign of strength and that this is a good thing. Although I guess it is good practice for the sleepless nights that are coming up. He's been giving me hella heartburn at night, and sometimes even being propped up doesn't help. And then there's my feet. I've never been a foot person, but I used to think my feet were proportionate - they were longish and slender. Now they're fat and swollen. Especially my left one. My ankles have disappeared into the wonderful world of my calves, so now I fully understand the meaning of "cankles." I've only put on a little bit of weight in my face, but I expect that part to catch up soon. I just keep telling myself that after a couple months I'll stop getting bigger and then I can focus on losing the weight. Until he's born I'm going to keep gaining weight since he still needs to gain another 5+ lbs, so I just need to suck it up until then.

The kid now weighs in at 1.153 kg (approximately 2.54 lbs) and measures 38.6 cm (15.2 inches). My uterus should now sit about 7.5-10 cm above my belly button and 29 cm above my pubic symphysis. By this time my weight gain should be around 18-27 lbs (I weigh in at 20 lbs). Considering how much I've already gained, I'm going to assume that I'll put on a total of 30 lbs. I just hope I'm not over by too much.

My baby's lungs are now developed enough that he would be able to breathe air, and his brain is advanced enough to control rhythmic breathing on its own, should he be impatient enough to make an appearance. In fact, with each passing day his chances of surviving increase dramatically, so I'll keep him inside for a little while longer. With each passing week a baby's weight gain increases rapidly, so the longer he stays indoors, the bigger he'll be. On a side note: boys weigh more than girls (I'm doomed), and the baby's weight gain increases with each birth (although I'm sure there are exceptions). I've already figured out that Kevin weighed just over 8 lbs (I think it was 8 lbs 0.5 oz), and my brothers never weighed that much, so I'm reallyreallyreally hoping this kid won't weigh more than 8 lbs. I get that everyone's body is equipped to birth babies of that size, but I just don't want to lug around that much weight! I already feel winded as it is.

Oh! My baby is also learning the difference between light and dark (meaning: when it's dark it's party time!), sound, taste, and even his skin is becoming more sensitive. His eyes are even capable of moving in their sockets so he's going to practice ogling.

How am I feeling? Some nights this kid keeps me awake, but other times I can sleep right through, so it just depends. Although I've been off my schedule this week so that's probably why I feel all messed up. Sometimes at night I feel like I can't breathe properly, so I have to deal with that on top of the heartburn. Good times.

By the way, if you ever want a good laugh, watch a pregnant woman attempt to tie her shoe laces. I would think it was funnier if it wasn't me that I was laughing at.

What am I craving this week? Food doesn't interest me as much this week. I mean, I still eat and snack, but it seems like I would go longer between meals if it weren't for my boredom snacking while I do my coursework. Food that normally appeals to me just seems blah when I think about it. I think I eat more out of habit that desire right now, which is probably not a bad thing since I'm still eating.

Mood swings? Meh, it happens.

Any baby purchases? No.

What about the nursery?  No changes, but I'm starting to think about washing all the clothes/blankets/etc that I have just so then they're ready to go. I'll probably wait on those for another month yet.

I've now finished coursework that wasn't due until April 10th! My midterm was originally slated for May 22nd, with my personal goal to have it finished by March 14th. I'm now aiming to have my midterm finished by the beginning of March. Earlier, if possible, but I won't push myself too hard. My grades are really high and I have huge goals of being hired by Accentus right after I'm finished my course. They love CanScribe grads and I'm hoping that the sooner I finish, the sooner I can start working (part time, of course). As an Independent Contractor I'll be able to work from my home and set my own hours, and after the baby goes to school (or later, if we decide to have another) I want to work in a hospital setting. I think this is the most post-school goal-oriented I've ever been, to be honest!

Doctor's appointment later today! Hopefully I'll find out that I'm diabetes free.

Week #28 - 7 months

7 months. Is it just me or is time slipping away faster now?

I finally did my glucose tolerance test on Monday and it wasn't as bad as I'd originally feared. I did drink a sugary orange drink - but it was very reminiscent of the orange pop that McDonald's used to serve. The drink did get nastier by the end, but it was still tolerable. I got pretty jittery after I drank it and later that afternoon I had a major sugar crash. The woman who drew my blood after the allotted 1 hour wait was pleasant and she's my favourite (she makes it not hurt). I haven't heard back about my results, but I am going to see my doctor next week, so hopefully I'll know then. Gestational diabetes only affects 2-7% of pregnancies, and rapid weight gain at this stage of pregnancy would be indicative of a positive result. However, I'm still growing at the same rate, so I'm hoping I'm ok.

Baby K now weighs in at just over 1000 grams (or 2.22 lbs) and is now 37.6 cm (14.80 inches). 11 weeks ago my kid only weighed in at 100 grams, so he now weighs 10 times what he weighed then. My uterus is now about 8 cm above my belly button and 28 cm above my pubic symphysis. At this stage my weight gain should be between 16 and 22 lbs (I'm at 19 lbs).

Baby K's brain has started to develop the characteristic grooves and indentations that are found in mature brains. His eyelashes and eyebrows are present, and his hair should now be growing longer. His eyes are now unfusing and should open sometime this week. He'll be able to see light and dark, but not objects. His fat deposits are growing, so he's starting to look chubbier. By now his little body should be made up of 2-3% fat. His muscle tone is improving and it is not uncommon for a baby's movements to wake the mother. So far I haven't woken up because of his movements; however, for several weeks I've had a harder time falling asleep at night because he's kicking.

How am I feeling? I have started waking up a little more frequently at night, so there are times when I feel like I didn't sleep well. However, I feel like I'm getting my body on to a schedule so then I can sleep deeper at night since I'm actually tired. If I am super tired I just stay in bed longer that morning. Also, realizing I have 3 months left (give or take) didn't send me into the panic that it normally does. I'm starting to become more excited about his arrival, but I still have my anxiety issues surrounding the change.

What am I craving this week? To be quite honest, I feel as though my appetite has changed and that food tastes differently - but not necessarily for the better. I find I notice texture more now than before and that I can taste the salt in everything. It isn't appetizing.

Mood swings? I've been really irritated with Facebook lately - and the passive-agressive bitchiness that seems to be going on. I just wish I could get rid of the whole thing and not have to deal with those who annoy me. So, I've taken liberties to "hide" people instead. Now my Facebook feed is only from those who don't piss me off.

Any baby purchases? No.

What about the nursery? No change.

Week #27

Welcome to the 3rd Trimester! (Also known as the most uncomfortable phase of your entire pregnancy.)

Lately I've been feeling nauseous at night and so, in an attempt to make myself more comfortable, I have been propping myself up with pillows. It seems to be working so far. Even lying on my side makes me feel sick, so I am assuming that getting my head up higher than the rest of my body is the way to alleviate the nausea.  The kid's kicks/turns/happy hour are getting harder - but not as hard as I had originally assumed they would be. Soon he'll run out of space to wind up and his kicks will either become less frequent or less hard. Either one works for me.

I've decided that it's a lot harder to ignore the baby while he's kicking than I had originally thought. Especially while sitting. Just last night I was forced to get up and walk around a little just to ease the kicking - and it probably put the kid to sleep. Since I've been working for hours on end with my course, it means that I've been sitting for long periods of time as well. I don't know if he gets bored or cramped or what since he's taken to kicking me to the point where I have to get up. And he always stops when Kevin tries to feel him move. Crazy, hey? I swear he knows the difference between my hand and his dad's. Kevin put his ear to my belly last night and said that it sounded like running water - so, it may have been the heart beat or the amniotic fluid he heard.

Baby K now weighs in at a whopping 875 grams (just under 2 lbs) and measures 36.6 cm from head to heel (about 14.41 inches). My uterus is now about 7 cm above my belly button and 27 cm above my pubic bone.

It is around 27 or 28 weeks that the baby's eyelids unfuse and he will start to develop his sense of sight. His brain is still developing and his week special attention is paid to his forebrain, as well as the parts of the brain that deals with auditory and visual information.

If I end up developing gestational diabetes (I still haven't done that test yet...), it is right about now that I'll start to rapidly gain weight.

How am I feeling? Tired. Since I felt really sick a couple nights in a row, it really messed with my sleep; however, I think I may have that figured out now so it should (hopefully) improve. I know that today I definitely feel better than I did yesterday.

What am I craving this week? Pizza and Cadbury Creme eggs. Not necessarily at the same time though. I guess I'm craving just junk food in general.

Mood swings? I have no idea. I have been getting a workout lately (from shovelling) and I really do think exercise improves my mood, so I think I've been ok. You should see my arms now: they're excellent!

Any baby purchases? Nope.

What about the nursery? Still the same, although Isis has taken to sleeping on the bed every day. I think the baby is going to have a roommate!

I really haven't been feeling motivated to do much of anything lately, except work on my program. My cross-stitch has progressed a little, but I feel like I really can't be bothered to do anything else. Including fixing my computer or using Kevin's computer to upload pictures. One of these days, maybe. Apparently my "nesting" is supposed to kick in next week or so for the following month, so hopefully I'll manage to find the motivation to get things done.

Week #26 & Doctor Appointment #7

I didn't think the Doctor's appointment I had last week warranted its own post and then proceeded to not update last week's post to include it.  Sooo, here it is: baby is healthy and growing.  He kept moving away from the doctor's fetal heart rate monitor when she tried listening to his heart - which he also did to the ultrasound tech, so at least he's consistent.  I didn't ask for his heart rate, so I don't know what it is, but I peeked at the blood pressure monitor when I was having mine done, and I was at 90 beats per minute.  Normally I'm at 72 (or lower).  Wow!  It explains why I'm sweltering at night and why this cold weather isn't bothering me (perk!) for once.  And whenever someone mentions the "pregnancy glow" I just tell them it's all that blood going to my face and that I'm actually sweating.  It has nothing to do with joy and happiness, lol.  I also have my paperwork to get tested for gestational diabetes. *Fingers crossed for negative*

How's this for panic-inducing: I have 3.5 months left till my due date.  Three and a half MONTHS before my life changes forever.  I'm so not ready for this.  I have less than 100 days before my baby is due, and, really, he could show up anytime now.  I think I'm going to go hyperventilate now....

When he kicks, you can now see it from the outside, so one of these days I'm going to record the movement and upload it.  Monday night I was resting my arm on my belly and doing my cross-stitch, so the stinker went and kicked my arm.  Apparently he doesn't like his space being invaded - how ironic.

I am officially in maternity clothes now.  I wear the jeans with the band and the long flowy shirts.  I still have a couple of my normal shirts that I can wear, but my belly is starting to poke out of the bottom (so attractive, I know) so I've decided to just go with the maternity stuff.  Oh, and my belly is lopsided.  Honestly.  I don't know if it does that normally or if it's just me (I have scoliosis and so my ribs and shoulder blade on one side stick out more than they do on the other - maybe that's why my belly looks like it does?).  Also?  I think my belly is adorable!  It's just so cute and getting round - and it makes my butt/thighs/everything look tiny in comparison!!  How's that for a perk?! 

I've also finally started doing my Medical Transcription course!  At first I was bored to tears with the hardware, software and technical computer aspect of it (especially considering I already spent 3 days doing the same thing, only to have to repeat again in more detail), but now I'm into the medical terminology aspect of it and, while overwhelming at times, I'm really loving it.  If I finish the medical word building module by tomorrow (which I probably will) I'll be 5 weeks ahead of schedule.  I'm trying to do as much of it as I can so then I'll have some wiggle room if I need to slow down or take a couple days off here and there (and not just when the baby is born).

By now my baby weighs about 760 grams (or 1.7 lbs) and is 35.6 cm long (or 14 inches).  My uterus should now be about 6 cm above my belly button and 26 cm above my pubic bone and I should have gained between 16 and 22 lbs (I'm at 16 lbs). 

So, while I'm sure the baby has developed some semblance of a sleeping pattern, I haven't figured it out.  I do pay attention when he's kicking, but I don't mark it down times or anything.  He likes moving when I'm being still, but other than thant, I have no idea.  According to the website, back pain, leg cramps and pelvic pressure should be increasing...but...I haven't really been feeling that; although it could be because I sit on my butt all day.  I do, however, feel winded when I walk too fast and if I've been sitting for a while and then walk it feels like the baby needs some time to readjust before it's comfortable for me.

How am I feeling?  My sleeping patterns are still off-kilter, but I find that my schooling has put some of my early mornings to good use; however, it is nice to have the option to sleep in much later (like yesterday) if I need it.  I also had the absolute worst case of heart burn last night: it felt like something was trying to claw its way out of my chest through my sternum!  The only reason why I think it was heart burn was because I took some tums and it seemed to help; but because of my scoliosis, my ribcage and sternum aren't connected very well (instead of a hard connection, it's soft) so any pressure on my back or shoulders causes chest pain.  It's very possible that it was a combination of both things that caused the pain.

What am I craving this week?  Chocolate.  This may not seem like such big news, but I'm craving it worse than the usual "chocolate would be lovely right about now" craving.  It's a good thing we have so much kicking about the house still, although I did bake a pan of brownies last night.  I read on one of my email newsletters (from babycenter.ca) that by now my baby has developed a sweet tooth, so I'm just going to go ahead and blame him for this.

Mood swings?  I still find somethings hysterically funny, as much as one week later but I do feel like, in some instances, my easy-going nature has been replaced by something a little more sensitive.  Especially with the due date looming so much closer and with my schooling taking up so much of my time.  I think about how busy I am now and how it'll get just that much busier after he's born: and it's overwhelming.  I've tried explaining it to Kevin, but his response is just: "you'll do fine."  Which I'm sure I will, but it's hard to think about how I'll manage in a few months when I feel so busy already.

Any baby purchases?  No and there probably won't be any for a while yet!

What about the nursery?  Same condition as before, but with my schooling my cross-stitch has been taking backseat so I haven't been working on it as much as I was. 

Next week I'll officially be in my Third Trimester!  Only 14-ish more weeks left!  .... ....

Oh, and PS, my computer isn't reading my USB plugs anymore, so I'm not sure when I'll update my pictures again.  I could just go on Kevin's computer, upload from my camera and onto here, but we'll see if that actually happens.

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 #17

I am nearly 100% sure that I can feel the baby move, but it usually only happens at night when I'm trying to get comfortable to sleep.  It feels like my heart is racing when it happens, so I don't know if the baby's movements are speeding my heart (is that possible?!) or if my racing heart is making me think that I'm feeling the baby move.  Another good visual is a muscle spasm: you know that twitch when a muscle is spasming out of control?  It's like that, but on the inside.  Kevin isn't able to feel it yet, but I googled time frames and it is usually between 20-30 weeks that someone else can feel movement.  Some have felt it as early as 17-19 weeks, so I'm hoping he'll be able to feel it sooner rather than later. 

We don't really have a nickname for our baby (e.g., spud, peanut, viper, etc) but whether our baby is a boy or a girl, the name is going to start with "K" so I may just start referring to it as Baby K instead of just baby or it.

This week Baby K is 13 cm from crown to rump and about 140 grams (nearly 5 oz), which is double what it was 2 weeks ago.  My uterus is about 2 inches below my belly button and is definitely visible.  I'm still not in maternity clothes, but my jeans are snugger and it's just more comfortable to wear stretchy pants.  I did try on a maternity shirt on Sunday, but it made me look twice as big as I am, so I'm going to put that away until my belly is bigger.  Plus, air was blowing up my shirt and making my belly cold (which it usually is, btw).  I haven't gained the 5-10 lbs that my website has hypothesized, but I've definitely gained at least 3 lbs (I weighed myself a couple days ago - and I've been tracking my weight and measurements out of curiousity).

Baby K keeps looking more and more human and its weight will increase 6 fold over the next several month.  Fat deposits (AKA adipose tissue) will become more evident, which is great since fat tissue helps aid metabolism and heat production.

One of the major symptoms of this stage in my pregnancy is fatigue - but it should improve over the next few weeks.  Thank goodness.  Moderate exercise should help, but due to sore joints I've missed my classes this week and will probably only do drop-in dance, starting December.  That's going to suck, but it'll be cheaper since I'm usually missing one class per week anyway.

How am I feeling?  Mainly tired, but this past week I've also been feeling sore.  My right hip socket (along the bikini line) has been feeling tender, so I googled it and it is most likely round ligament pain.  And my lower abdomen has been a little sore too, but that's normal as well.  Between the two ailments I feel uncomfortable sitting for too long and walking can be painful.  Twisting side-to-side is definitely out of the question.  All in all, I feel like an invalid and am so thankful that I'm not working right now. 

Any weird food cravings?  No, but I wouldn't mind going to Than Vu or out for butter chicken. :-)

Mood swings?  If I had written this last night, I could've said "no".  But, I think the problem is that I'm home all day and don't get out as much as I used to.  Plus, I didn't dance at all this week, so I didn't get my talking fix in then, which led to me feeling super isolated and alone.  And fighting with Kevin about it.  So, to solve this problem, I need to get out more or at least do more at home (not just watching tv!).

Any baby purchases?  ... no?  But we're going to West Edmonton mall tomorrow so that may change.

What about the nursery?  No change.  My mother-in-law offered to buy us a crib with an attached change table (instead of the one posted last week) but we declined.  We weren't going to buy a change table anyway and most people just use their floor (with a change mat, of course) out of fear of the baby falling off.  One of these days we'll have to get that nursery started though - preferably before I'm 8 months along.

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 #15

There are times when I'm really glad I started this blog.  Like now, for instance.  I would have already lost count of how far along I was were it not for my weekly updates.  So, 15 weeks down, 25 more to go!  It feels like I'm already so close to half-way...until I realize that those extra 5 weeks are equivalent to one month and one week.  And then I start to wonder how I'll ever make it to the end.  I've never been the most patient person, and being pregnant truly does affect everything I do.  I always assumed that it was something that I could toss into the back of my mind until I was further along, but this kid really doesn't let me!  First, it was nausea; now my stomach is gradually expanding and making it uncomfortable to sleep at night or to even sit upright.  And finally, it'll be the monstrous belly with the kicking to keep me occupied.

My baby has grown another 1.4 cm to top it off at 10.1 cm long and it now weighs in around 70 grams and is approximately the size of a softball.

I keep commenting on how fast the baby is growing, and the highest rates of growth will occur over the next few weeks; more specifically, weeks 20 and 25.  As my uterus starts to thin, I'll be able to feel the baby flutter about!  Actually, it should happen any day now, but most first-time moms aren't able to distinguish the difference between baby movements and stomach rumbles until it happens more frequently.

My baby's skin is thin and is covered with lanugo, which is fine hair, and, interestingly enough, the baby's hair development pattern will be determined this week.  After birth, the baby's hair will grow at a rate of 13 mm (1/2 inch) per month.  The eyes are still moving, and though the ears are already placed, they will start to grow externally now and nearly look normal.  The bones are getting harder and harder and would even be visible if I had an x-ray.

My uterus is about 3-4 inches below my belly button and sleep is going to only become more difficult from now on.  A pillow is recommended for between my knees (and I use it to prop up my belly too since all of the weight slides when I'm on my side) to alleviate round ligament pain.  Sleeping on the left side is preferred since the weight of the baby and uterus can put pressure on the inferior vena caver, which takes blood from the lower body to the heart.  And I guess I need to start eating an extra 300 calories a day, which shouldn't be too hard since we have tons of Halloween candy left, lol. ;)

How am I feeling?  Still exhausted.  Weekends are usually better, but I find that I usually wake up when my husband gets up for work and have a difficult time falling back asleep.  However, since I'm still super tired, I try anyway and wake up really late.  And still feel tired.  One day over the weekend I started putting the pillow under my belly and slept really well that night, so at least I'm a little more comfortable now. 

Any weird food cravings?  Hmmm.  I haven't satisfied this one yet, but lately I've been wanting chocolate covered almonds.

Mood swings?  Yes.  And I imagine I'll have them for the rest of the pregnancy.  I find that little things irritate me and if not dealt with quickly, it gets bottled up and I have a meltdown.  I also find that things are bothering me that shouldn't and it really freaks me out that I'm mis-interpreting what people are saying.  I've always thought of myself as having a lower estrogen count (this is my theory, it may be wrong) and so I've never really had PMS.  I'd get more irritable during the leadup to my period, but the rest of the time I was usually laid back.  Now, my estrogen and progesterone levels are high due to pregnancy (and, if I'm carrying a girl, I imagine they're higher still) so it's really messing with my head.  I'm trying to not let things bother me, and if they do bother me, to say something or to find out if what I interpreted is right.  It's really stressful for me.

Any baby purchases?  We went to this super awesome toy store and found an inflatable booster seat that will definitely be well used when we visit or go on trips.  This handy gadget is compact and straps to any chair so it's perfect for situations where we can't bring our home high chair (or whatever we use).  The only thing is that it doesn't have a tray, but considering how small it is compared to the rest of them, it's ok.  Maybe we'll just bring our own placemat to prevent too much spillage to the host's table.

What about the nursery?  My mom had a used cradle at her house that she kindly gave to us.  We plan on leaving this in the living room for naps.

It really hit me the other day that I'm going to be a mom.  And not in a glowy kind of way.  In a this-is-for-the-rest-of-your-life commitment kind of way.  And it terrified me that I'll be losing some of my freedom.  I also found a hot topic that can be just as controversial as talking about religion!  And it really set me off that I'm already facing this kind of pressure when I'm not even 4 months along.  It's a personal decision and no one else's business.  My husband finally relented but not after a huge fight and some tears (mine).  He still disagrees, but has finally ceded to "we'll see what happens when the baby is born."  And it isn't as though I disagree wholly with his side, I just refuse to be trapped by it, especially if there are uncontrollable situations.  Plus, as a science major, I don't understand how it is such a miracle cure-for-all and how it can prevent adult health problems.  So, with the suggestion of my husband, I'm going to research it. 

Week #13

Wow, this kid is growing insanely fast!  This week it gained 2 cm in length to total 7.4 cm and nearly doubled its weight (again!) to 23 grams (nearly 1 ounce).  Now the baby is the size of a peach.

At this stage the baby's head is still roughly half its body length, but should start slowing its growth so that by the 21st week its head should only be 1/3 the total length.  Good news!  My baby's face is starting to look human!  The eyes are moving closer together and the ears are moving to their proper place on the side of the head.  If needed, it would be possible to determine its sex by now and its intestines are finally in the body - instead of the umbilical cord.  And my baby will start to urinate inside the womb. Yay? 

At this point the website goes on to say that I need bigger clothes but I'm actually still wearing my normal ones - even my jeans.  The belt, to be honest, is uncomfortable when I sit, but since I want my pants to stay up I still wear it.  Stretch marks: the physical evidence of a growing body and the bane of every woman's existence.  There is no "cure" for stretch marks and you really can't prevent them, unless you've got amazing genetics.  Creams, lotions and oils don't actually help, but if it makes you feel better to use them, by all means go ahead!  It has been mentioned that these things help alleviate itchiness, so there is a perk to their useage.  But, aside from slowly gaining the weight, stretch marks are inevitable.  And we'll see if I'm still objective about this after I get some.  Another thing to watch for are bladder infections, which are common during pregnancy.  Due to the growing baby inside, it is best to talk to a doctor about it rather than treating yourself with over the counter medication.  I've mentioned in the past that my boobs are huge now (for me).  Pre-pregnancy, the average breast weighs 7 oz and during can weigh between 14-28 oz.  That means they can double, or triple, in weight! 

Since excessive caffeine during pregnancy has been associated with low birth weight and smaller head sizes in babies, doctors have come up with the magical number of 200 mg maximum daily intake. Broken down, it looks like this:

• Coffee, 5 oz = 60-140 mg
• Tea, 5 oz = 30-65 mg
• Baking chocolate, 1 oz = 25 mg
• Chocolate candy, 1 oz = 6 mg
• Pop, 12 oz = 35-55 mg
• Pain relief tablets, standard dose = 40 mg
• Allergy and cold remedies, standard dose = 25 mg

Unfortunately, there is such high variability that it doesn't tell you what is in the low end (decaf?) and the high end (medium roast?).  Luckily for me, and my baby, I don't drink coffee and even pop rarely appears in my diet (now).  Chocolate, on the other hand, does, so it's just as well that I don't drink pop often, otherwise that would cut into my chocolate intake.

How am I feeling?  Lately I've been alternating between not being able to sleep at night and exhaustion.  I've been having more headaches this past week than I did in the past, plus heartburn has been making itself comfortable.  I'm technically feeling better because nausea isn't as big of an issue, but I'm still not feeling like myself.

Any weird food cravings?  This isn't really weird, but I've been eating a lot of peanut butter this week.  I've also been all about the sandwiches, but that could be because they're easy to make and don't require cooking.

Mood swings?  YES.  Even after I wrote the last blog, my first major mood swing hit.  I was reading a book, which was quite funny, so I was laughing really hard, like tears were rolling down my cheeks, and then it switched to sobbing.  I've been finding this odd and annoying.  Even my laughing isn't restrained!  I'm almost laughing TOO hard for what the situation warrants!  And it makes my belly hurt.

Any baby purchases?  I went to Zellers the other day and they had some value pack stuff on for $10!  So I got a 10 pack of bibs, 6 pack of receiving blankets and 30 pack of wash cloths.  Plus my mom came up yesterday and brought me some stuff for the baby: socks, onesies, sleepers, and diapers.  And then we went to the mall and she told me to pick out 2 outfits: 1 for a girl and 1 for a boy and she did the same.  I have the receipt so when I find out the baby's sex I can return the ones for the wrong sex. 

What about the nursery?  I have a vision of what I want the nursery to look like, colour-wise.  I want the walls teal, white furniture and jewel-toned bedding/decorations/etc.  I mentioned this to my mom and I think she's offered to make the bedding since I want just solid colours: emerald green, navy blue, dark brown, even white.  For a boy, more tones in blues, but for a girl, plum purple and rich pinks.  I dunno if that'll happen since you can't actually buy that stuff for babies, but for now that's my vision. 

I also plan on using the above cubicle system for the baby's clothing until they're older, at which point they'll get a real dresser and use the cubicle for toys.  The fabric drawers come in a variety of colours and I'm planning (hoping?) to get a white organizer.

Whew!  Long post!

Oh!  One last thing: my husband's coworker's wife has offered me the use of the clothes that she and her sister-in-law collected while pregnant!  How cool is that?  I've only ever met the guy once and have never met his wife, so I find this generosity to be a little overwhelming!