How far along: 29 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: As of Saturday up 22.5 pounds so probably around 23-24 by now :)
Sleep: it is ok as long as I sleep on my left side. I have trouble breathing if I am on my right. I am also beginning to get leg cramps sometimes which hurt a ton!
Best moment this week: My mom and I have been doing tons of baby stuff. The nursey is painted and my mom bought the babies going home outfit today, so cute!
Movement: he keeps bouncing around in there.
Food cravings: carbs, particularlly cereal
Food aversions: chicken
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Still an innie, for now at least.
What I miss: Sleeping through the night
What I am looking forward to: the baby shower next month
Weekly Wisdom: gas and iron pills suck!!!!
Milestones: I made it to 29 weeks!
How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
Your baby's very active now. Your practitioner may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let her know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.
Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion, which in turn can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation as well.
Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy and usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth. If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Also avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your practitioner before using any over-the counter remedies during pregnancy, and let her know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.
Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy, where laying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might note that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins" lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
28 Weeks
I missed 27 weeks last week, but it was fairly uneventful. The only thing that happened is I failed my 1-hour glucose by 4 points so I have to go tomorrow to take the 3 hour which is a big PITA! I actually have to start fasting in 45 minutes. I better have a last minute piece of toast or something!!
Also Mike took another set of belly pictures for everyone viewing pleasure (I think Mike needs to warn me when he is going to take them so I can smile! Ignore the face I am making):
How far along: 28 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: As of Saturday up 20.4 lbs
Sleep: it is ok as long as I sleep on my left side. I have trouble breathing if I am on my right. I am also beginning to get leg cramps sometimes which hurt a ton!
Best moment this week: We just went today to buy the crib. It was probably the hardest decision I have had to make so far. I never thought it would be that difficult!
Movement: he seems to get stronger everyday.
Food cravings: carbs, particularlly cereal
Food aversions: chicken
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? The Innie is holding strong
What I miss: Sleeping through the night
What I am looking forward to: my parents coming on Wednesday and painting the nursery.
Weekly Wisdom: laying on my right side is not a good thing anymore.
Milestones: I made it to 28 weeks!
How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.
See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.
At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)
Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS
Also Mike took another set of belly pictures for everyone viewing pleasure (I think Mike needs to warn me when he is going to take them so I can smile! Ignore the face I am making):
How far along: 28 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: As of Saturday up 20.4 lbs
Sleep: it is ok as long as I sleep on my left side. I have trouble breathing if I am on my right. I am also beginning to get leg cramps sometimes which hurt a ton!
Best moment this week: We just went today to buy the crib. It was probably the hardest decision I have had to make so far. I never thought it would be that difficult!
Movement: he seems to get stronger everyday.
Food cravings: carbs, particularlly cereal
Food aversions: chicken
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? The Innie is holding strong
What I miss: Sleeping through the night
What I am looking forward to: my parents coming on Wednesday and painting the nursery.
Weekly Wisdom: laying on my right side is not a good thing anymore.
Milestones: I made it to 28 weeks!
How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.
See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.
At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)
Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS
Monday, December 7, 2009
26 weeks
How far along: 26 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: As of Saturday up 17.5 lbs
Sleep: it is getting shorter and shorter in between bathroom trips! About 2-4 hours.
Best moment this week: Seeing Mike read his baby book. I LOVE it!! We will lay in bed reading and he will start laughing and share what he is reading, I love that!
Movement: he loves to move around! I think this means he is going to be an active child!
Food cravings: carbs and sweets alittle.
Food aversions: still chicken
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Innie, barely! I am thinking it might pop out one of these days!
What I miss: Sleeping through the night
What I am looking forward to: 11 school days until Christmas break, we will be painting the babies room :)
Weekly Wisdom: falling on the ice is not a good thing!!
Milestones: I made it to 26 weeks!
How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.
See what your baby looks like this week.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
Are you rushing around trying to get to childbirth classes and prepare your baby's room while still taking care of all your other daily tasks? Make sure that you also continue to eat well and get plenty of rest. Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly, although it's probably still lower than it was before you got pregnant. (Typically, blood pressure falls toward the end of the first trimester, and it tends to reach a low at about 22 to 24 weeks.)
Preeclampsia — a serious disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in your urine — most often shows up after 37 weeks, but it can happen earlier so it's important to be aware of the warning signs of this condition. Call your caregiver if you have swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week). With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms. Let your caregiver know immediately if you have a severe or persistent headache, vision changes (including double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision), intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen, or vomiting.
If your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus — which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your abdomen.
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