Tuesday 29 May 2012

23 weeks

I don't think there's much to report except sleeping is getting more difficult. I've also had crazy dreams (that I kinda sorta remember) for the last 7/8 days... C.G. is moving a lot but still not at convenient times for grandparents to feel.


How your baby's growing:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Not through clothes yet, but I always miss the big movements with my eyes anyways. I bet I'd be able to see them if I caught them at the right time. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb. Haven't noticed baby jump or kick around loud noises yet but I bet that will happen soon.

How your life's changing:

You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Haven't noticed this yet, but with weight gain, wearing my rings overnight is painful in the morning. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. I guess work is good for this after all. I move a lot, but not too much.

Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, (not happening and not gonna start now. with my BP, Dr. said to take it easy) and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) (nope) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention. It also makes you pee all the time. As soon as I pee, I usually need to go again :/ While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.

Toilet Paper Tuesday

(Not my idea, got it from a lady on FB who got it from someone on babycenter)
Okay Ladies....its TOILET PAPER TUESDAY!

What you do is grab your toilet paper, wrap it around you and see how many squares it takes to get all the way around. It works best if you use the same kind of TP each week, since different brands have different size squares. Every Tuesday update with far along you are and how many squares. (I swear it made the pregnancy fly by last time with something to look forward to each week!).

Week 1 (16w1d): (tiny bit under) 12 squares
Week 2 (18w2d): (tiny bit under) 12 squares
Week 3 (19w1d): (exactly) 12 squares
Week 4 (21w1d): (tiny bit more than) 12 squares
Week 5 (23w1d): about 12 1/4 squares

Saturday 26 May 2012

Bare belly kicks

Avert your eyes if you don't wanna see my bare belly... :/ I just want to be able to look back on this in the future.

11 sec and 28 sec are big kicks that shook my whole stomach. It took a long time to get those kicks on video!

Thursday 24 May 2012

What to expect movie

What to Expect When You're Expecting <3 <3 <3 <3
Plot Line with Anna Kendrick </3 </3 </3
I suggest everyone go see it. It made me laugh quite a few times, although I don't know how many of those were the "haha I'm in the same situation" laughs.

Baby POUNCED on my bladder so hard in the middle that I needed to get up to pee... but the first movie I've seen since movements started. There were at least 5 separate occasions that I was kicked/headbutted, and right when I needed it too.

OMG there were TOTALLY at least 4 Uppababy Vista strollers in the movie!!! And a few Britax things and California Pizza Kitchen pizza TWICE! Jeez, I wonder who sponsored this movie!!

SPOILERRRRR!!!!! Don't read down unless you're worried about triggers!

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Miscarriage (2nd tri I think)
A couple dealing with infertility
Scare in the ER at delivery

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Diaper Bag Lust

Damn discontinued prints :( Not gonna stop me from trying to find them anyways. I'd be so happy with any of these prints but instead I have to settle for a print I don't like as much because these ones aren't available anymore.

Julias Ribbons

Sporty Stripes

Groovy Garden

22 weeks

Blogged this on Sunday night. Nothing is really different since then.


How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment.

If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

How your life's changing:

At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate. Yeah, don't even try it at this point... my parents haven't even felt the baby move yet; I'm not letting strangers grope me.

What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track. You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby. 
 
At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There's no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching. Sounds exciting eh? Blah :(

Monday 21 May 2012

Holiday Monday

Busy day today! I picked up 2 pairs of maternity pants for $10 total as well as 15 pairs of socks, 11 soft caps, 3 pairs of booties and 1 pair of shoes for $3 total.

baby's closet. we finally cleared out most of the random crap to make room for baby's stuff. we'll have closet doors within 2 weeks.
crib against the green wall. we'll put a rocker or glider in the corner near the heater
change table dresser. to the right is the tall dresser from the first pic and the closet
newborn gown I made today :) not such great sewing but it's functional and I followed a pattern.

Sunday 20 May 2012

The going-ons.... goings-on?

Wishing that I looked a bit more pregnant. I saw a bunch of people this week that I don't often see. Not one of them knew I was pregnant before I told them. What a bummer. C'mon guys, I promise I'm not this fat otherwise... :( Oh well, I'll get there. Let's hope baby has a major growth spurt in the next 3 weeks because I've got another one of those "see people I don't often see" type days coming up :) I'd like for someone who never sees me to know I'm pregnant.

Baby is quite the wiggler now... I'm feeling movements every day and usually at least 5 separate occasions in a day. The exception is if I have a more lazy day, I feel them more often and when I have a super busy day, I feel them less. Movements have severely started up at night time lately... lol

Made 2 registries this week. Got a bunch of free goodies from them, which is cool. BRU gave a bag of items and it contained a playtex drop-ins bottle (now I have 2 to try before opening my sets) as well as a pampers (huggies? idk) NB diaper! It's so TINY!!!! There were many more things too but those were the most exciting things to me. Didn't register for anything really exciting though.

We did a cloth diaper workshop this weekend as well. Didn't learn a lot but got some questions answered and saw some more brands of diapers in person.

The dog was playing fetch with a timbit (aka donut hole) today. It was HILARIOUS!!

Fetching/eating

Aaaaand the big news of the week, we moved a bunch of crap around and painted some stuff. Click the pictures to see them bigger.

FROM MAY 13TH
Cube shelves with storage/view from door
view from window/pack n play and random other things

FROM MAY 20TH
new computer area/hubby setting up crib
CRIB with bedding (not washed yet but we'll wash in august/sept)
painted green wall (in natural light it's less reflecty and the blue on the other walls come out more)/stuffed animal net

And right now I'm having my bladder used as a trampoline, so I'm going to head off to bed and see if laying flat stops this lol.

Thursday 17 May 2012

Etsy Shop Giveaway

Elena @ The Art of Making a Baby is doing another giveaway! I love her giveaways. They're always so awesome!

Go here to enter for $100 to spend in this Etsy shop!

Mother's Day Prezzie


So ca-yoot!

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Toilet Paper Tuesday

(Not my idea, got it from a lady on FB who got it from someone on babycenter)
Okay Ladies....its TOILET PAPER TUESDAY!

What you do is grab your toilet paper, wrap it around you and see how many squares it takes to get all the way around. It works best if you use the same kind of TP each week, since different brands have different size squares. Every Tuesday update with far along you are and how many squares. (I swear it made the pregnancy fly by last time with something to look forward to each week!).

Week 1 (16w1d): (tiny bit under) 12 squares
Week 2 (18w2d): (tiny bit under) 12 squares
Week 3 (19w1d): (exactly) 12 squares
Week 4 (21w1d): (tiny bit more than) 12 squares

21 weeks

Super movement this week and baby finally got strong enough that I've felt movements while standing. The movements haven't been consistent enough (or high enough) that I could try feel them from the outside while standing. How weird would it look with my hand way down on my pelvis while standing outside on duty at work? Lmao. But the movements are often just one or two at a time. Sometimes baby really gets moving and kicks like 10+ times in a row. That happened the other day when DH and I were able to feel the movements from the outside. I feel pretty miserable by the end of the day. It's like the growing pains I used to have in my legs all the time as a kid, but in my stomach. It makes it really hard to sleep at night. I'm almost at the point of needing a wedge or something to stick under my stomach because it's already so heavy.


How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

How your life's changing:

You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.

That's not to say you won't have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of acne. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don't take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.

You're also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there's increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You're more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.

You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating out from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern. Though they may be a bit unsightly, spider veins don't cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Website Idea

I'd love to have a website similar to hot or not for pictures of women... now I realize it could get nasty of course but it'd be nice to have it there for us at the beginning of a pregnancy.

It'd be a voting site, pregnant or not. I would have loved to ask strangers who DIDN'T know I was pregnant if I looked pregnant.

Plus I have babies on the mind and I eye a lot of women's bellies when I'm out and about. I'd like to be able to discreetly take a pic and see what the world thought.

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Monday 7 May 2012

20 weeks

Happy to report movement this week. Started 3 days ago like my previous blog post states. It's still hard to differentiate from digestive movements but when it happens twice in a row like it often does, I know it's baby.

Also, super excited to be at the halfway point. Only 4ish more weeks until the hospital will do everything possible to make sure my baby survives if I go into preterm labour (KMFX never!). I can't wait for viability :) At the point I'm at, if I go to the hospital, I'll go into labour and delivery rather than the E.R. which is nice.


How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen).

During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) also contains iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you're a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.

We have a kicker!

It's official. I can feel baby now. Three days straight I've been feeling kicks, movements and headbutts.

The headbutts down low are borderline painful. It feels like I'm being headbutted or poked in a raw spot. It's hard to explain since I can't come up with the words for it.

I got a couple kicks up higher at the belly button though. One really big one just about 10 minutes ago (it's 7:23 now). That one felt really cool and not painful/raw at all.

I think I felt baby roll a few days ago though. I can't remember what that felt like, but it was pretty cool.

Saturday 5 May 2012

Pregnancy Milestone

I had to loosen my drawstring yoga pants today. They started leaving painful indents in my stomach.

4moms Cleanwater Tub Giveaway


Elena at The Art of Making a Baby is giving away a cleanwater tub on her blog. Go enter. Bonus points from me if you win the tub for me :) Lol. It's a super awesome tub and any baby would be lucky to have it (especially if your hot water heater is cranked up high)...

Note to self: must turn down hot water temperature before baby comes

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Daily Snap Challenge May 1

COTTON


My new baby wrap is 65% cotton :)

19 weeks


How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line."

These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

Looks like I popped a bit from last week...

Toilet Paper Tuesday

(Not my idea, got it from a lady on FB who got it from someone on babycenter)
Okay Ladies....its TOILET PAPER TUESDAY!

What you do is grab your toilet paper, wrap it around you and see how many squares it takes to get all the way around. It works best if you use the same kind of TP each week, since different brands have different size squares. Every Tuesday update with far along you are and how many squares. (I swear it made the pregnancy fly by last time with something to look forward to each week!).

Week 1 (16w1d): (tiny bit under) 12 squares
Week 2 (18w2d): (tiny bit under) 12 squares
Week 3 (19w1d): (exactly) 12 squares