Prefold diaper secured with BOINGOS :) love seeing cloth diapers on TV
Friday 31 August 2012
Wednesday 29 August 2012
36 weeks
Not much to say this week. Dr appointment tomorrow (thursday) and he'll probably do an internal exam and the group B strep test (ick)... Baby is certainly strong and big and I'm getting really tired of being pregnant. Is it september yet?
How your baby's growing:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
How your life's changing:
Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!
You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.
Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.
How your baby's growing:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
How your life's changing:
Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!
You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.
Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.
Monday 27 August 2012
Signs of Labor according to BBC
Surprising Facts: Signs of labor
There's no way to predict when labor is going to start. Your body actually starts "preparing" for labor up to a month before you give birth. You may be blissfully unaware of what's going on or you may begin to notice new symptoms as your due date draws near.
Here are some things that may happen in the weeks or days before labor starts:
- Your baby drops. If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel what's known as "lightening" a few weeks before labor starts as your baby descends lower into your pelvis. You might detect a heaviness in your pelvis as this happens and notice less pressure just below your ribcage, making it easier to catch your breath.
- You note an uptick in Braxton Hicks contractions. More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions can signal pre-labor, during which your cervix ripens and the stage is set for true labor. Some women experience a crampy, menstrual-like feeling during this time.
- You pass your mucus plug. The mucus plug is the small amount of thickened mucus that blocks the cervical canal leading to your uterus. The plug may come out all at once in a lump, or as increased vaginal discharge over the course of several days. The mucus may be tinged with blood (which may be brown, pink, or red), in which case it may be referred to as "bloody show."
- Your water breaks. Most women start having regular contractions sometime before their water breaks, but in some cases, the water breaks first. When this happens, labor usually follows soon. (If contractions don't start promptly on their own, you'll be induced.) Whether the amniotic fluid comes out in a large gush or a small trickle, call your doctor or midwife.
How can I tell if I'm in false labor or true labor?
Sometimes it's very hard to tell false labor from the early stages of true labor. Here are some things that might help you sort it out:
- False labor contractions are unpredictable. They come at irregular intervals and vary in length and intensity. Although true labor contractions may be irregular at first, over time they start coming at regular and shorter intervals, become increasingly more intense, and last longer.
- With false labor, the pain from the contractions is more likely to be centered in your lower abdomen. With true labor, you may feel the pain start in your lower back and wrap around to your abdomen.
- False labor contractions may subside on their own, or when you start or stop an activity or change position. True labor contractions will persist and progress regardless of what you do.
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Presents in the mail
From a friend I met on WoW... the red one has the WoW horde symbol on it and like hubby, I met her on WoW as well :) There's 3 onesies total, size 6 months.
Duck on the butt romper, light blue with elephant, croc and giraffe embroidered outfit with long sleeve, pants and a hat and a book :) I love this book and will probably read it to the baby, hehe. MIL was appalled that it was on our registry and she doesn't think we'll read it, but we will! :)
And the last mail package was for Elvis. His birthday present came in the mail! Black collar and leash with bright green stitching, silver music notes, his name (on the collar) and an Elvis saying :)
Halloween
For Halloween this year, C.G. is gonna be....
STITCH! :) It's hubby's favourite movie!
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Baby-Infant-Blue-Stitch-Outfit-Halloween-Costume-NB-18M-/310339477067?pt=US_Costumes&var=&hash=item8e08de3247#ht_2741wt_1209
STITCH! :) It's hubby's favourite movie!
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Baby-Infant-Blue-Stitch-Outfit-Halloween-Costume-NB-18M-/310339477067?pt=US_Costumes&var=&hash=item8e08de3247#ht_2741wt_1209
Tuesday 21 August 2012
35 weeks
This week:
How your baby's growing:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
How your life's changing:
Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.
From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.
This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who'll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won't follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process.
- more painful movements than before. a few have caused me to yelp or say ouch
- measuring 34cm fundal height
- BP normal
- Dr. is thinking baby is head down
- still get dizzy standing or walking around a lot
- sleeping terribly
- pains in my low uterus when rolling over in bed and walking/standing a lot
- my hips pop when I roll over
- still love the rolls and watching baby kick my belly and DH
- heartburn hasn't been too bad lately
- breathing is getting harder
- definitely can't eat as much
How your baby's growing:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.How your life's changing:
Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.
From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.
This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who'll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won't follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process.
Monday 20 August 2012
Things I still need to get (diapering finished)
For diapering:
Would like:
- diaper sprayer (not necessary until 6 months old but will help to reduce stains now and cost of flushable liners at that point) (about $50)
- a couple sets of diaper pins (but I have snappis to use and those will work if I don't get them)
For breastfeeding:
- storage bags
- nursing bras for night and day (tried some cheap ones on and they gave me severe cone boob... looked really gross. so I'll be buying some good ones once my milk comes in)
- lansinoh breastfeeding cream ($15)
- tops that attach to my bra to keep my tummy covered while nursing ($25 to buy, $10 to make)
Would like:
- bottle warmer (kiinde) ($70)
- steam bags for cleaning pump (if I get an electric pump)
Would like:
- bottle warmer (kiinde) ($70)
- steam bags for cleaning pump (if I get an electric pump)
Tuesday 14 August 2012
34 weeks
This week:
- baby feels a ton heavier
- a bought a support belt which helps a bit
- crotch pain
- lower uterus pain
- my Dr's office is closed (started friday the 11th and goes until monday the 20th)
- baby had the hiccups about once a day, sometimes twice and they drive me NUTS lol
- I got all the diapers stripped and stuffed. check out my diaper stash page for pictures
- I've been trying to get on top of chores in the house since I'm a SAHM next year and we almost NEVER clean :/ I made a chore chart and I've got small jobs to do every day.
- I'm really looking forward to baby being here.
How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.How your life's changing:
By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Oh boy this week there were like a million more pee breaks than last week. Baby dropped or switched positions or had a huge growth spurt or something that is causing more pressure on my bladder and pain to me.
Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy. I pretty much get dizzy anytime I'm standing. I don't have stamina for much of anything anymore.
If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short). Thankfully, nope.
Up to one percent of pregnant women develop PUPPP, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. See your practitioner so she can make sure it's not a more serious problem, provide treatment to make you more comfortable, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary. Also be sure to call her if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don't have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.
Sunday 12 August 2012
Life and downloaded pics
New couch and rug
from the back
damn straight it is!
origami fold with a receiving blanket and pinned on a bear
changing table station. all my NB diapers are up top
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Thursday 9 August 2012
Wednesday 8 August 2012
33 weeks
Baby is feeling really heavy now and I am really uncomfy. Sunday and Monday were super hot days here for us. I can't wear sleeved shirts anymore really or I get really hot and sweaty and feel like I'm gonna pass out more than I usually do. I have no stamina for standing or walking a lot. I'm loving the kicks and rolls I'm getting from baby. They make me so happy. Just today, CG started this new thing where I get a butt/head right in my side. I feel like I have a stitch in my side and when I press on it, lo and behold, it's a baby... lol seems to really love my right side and dislike my left side. Also, really loves my ribs. I like to sit around the house with my shirt pulled up under my boobs so I can see my belly move. It's so cool to watch. I don't feel stretched to the max yet which is good considering I probably have 7 more weeks to go at least before baby comes. Prenatal classes start tomorrow.... oh and there goes that lovely baby/stitch in my side again :/ lol
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) I believe the weight... I feel it on a regular basis... and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
How your life's changing:
As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep sitting is fine most of the time as long as I don't slouch... sleeping takes a LONG time to get to sleep and get comfy. then I have to pee and start all over again. in 12 hours in bed, I'm lucky if I get 8 hours of sleep (tops) — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. none yet
Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. happens occasionally while in bed but I can't get comfy with my arm in a funny position. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.
Many women are still feeling sexy at this stage — and their partners often agree. You may need to make some adjustments, but for most women, sex during pregnancy is fine right up until their water breaks or their labor starts. Sexy or not, sex is long gone right now... it's been SUPER painful since 24 weeks and I was paranoid since before then so we haven't done anything much.
Saturday 4 August 2012
Things I still need to get (updated)
For diapering:
- diaper sprayer (not necessary until 6 months old but will help to reduce stains now and cost of flushable liners at that point) (about $50)
- strong 3M hook to hang wet bag on (since our floor space in the baby's room is very full) ($10 tops)
- diaper cream ($10 for a large tub and $3 for a trial size) bought organic virgin coconut oil to use and I still need to get a tub and a trial size of CJ's BUTTer. update 8/07, bought a trial of CJ's.
For breastfeeding:
- pump (buying a manual if I don't get an electric) ($40)
- storage bags
- nursing bras for night and day
- lansinoh breastfeeding cream ($15)
- steam bags for cleaning pump
- bottle warmer (kiinde) ($70)
Wednesday 1 August 2012
32 weeks
Not much to report... lots of movement like always and some heartburn has left me with a lump in my throat since monday... blah
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.
How your life's changing:
To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. And when I get heartburn, it's pretty bad :( Hard to sleep... To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often. Tried that, not comfy to actually sleep and I already eat little bits at a time.You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor. No signs of PTL thankfully. Baby needs to stay cooking!!!
Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.
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