Happy New Year!

Well, it looks like we won't have a baby in 2009, so we're taking this blog (and the fetus) into 2010! See you there!!

Week 37- Baby Boy Swiss Chard

How your baby's growing: Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

How your life's changing: Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood) in the toilet or in your undies, labor is probably a few days away — or less. (If you have heavier spotting or bleeding, call your caregiver immediately.) Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics. It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy.

from: Baby Center

Baby: Congratulations! Your baby is now considered full term. Most babies weigh 7 pounds by week 37 and measure around 20 inches. Remember, by this point in a pregnancy there tends to be variability between babies, some weighing more than others. Boys, for example, are typically heavier and longer than girls. If your baby were to be born this week, all of his internal organs would be developed enough to function outside of your body. Also, from week 37 on, your baby will only be adding a few ounces of fat to his frame each week.

Mom: How are you feeling? Are you getting anxious? If this is your first pregnancy, keep in mind you could be anywhere from two days to two weeks late! And if this isn't your first pregnancy, you are probably well aware that most women don't deliver on their predicted due date. Most women, however, do deliver either a few days before or after their due date.

from PlanningFamily

We were disappointed today to find out that we would not be induced. Our lung maturity test came back as negative for the 2nd test (although mature for the first test). We were told I could come in today to start the induction with steroids, but when Dr. Barthel called this morning, she that Dr. Duval, the perinatologist, told her it was too risky. Needless to say today has been a big let down. Not only is our baby boy not coming today, but I have to go back to work for who knows how long, my family drove hundreds of miles through the night, and now baby isn't going to be here, and our insurance issue (which was our main reason for induction). So, I guess we'll wait it out like most people do when expecting a baby.

So I guess I'll see you again next week- or sooner.

just random thoughts

i keep thinking of thoughts for entries- but there's a lot going on, so i don't always have time to write. besides, my weekly to-do list update is probably getting old. here are a few things I thought about writing about, but i'm just not going to dedicate a full entry to.



1. things i am looking forward to once i'm not pregnant: wearing my regular clothes again, sleeping comfortably, although probably not sleeping well, shopping for clothes, wearing my wedding/engagement rings again, being able to squat down, bend over, see my feet, etc. But most of all- seeing/holding our sweet baby boy!

2. I've learned that you have really got to love someone to live with them when they're pregnant. So people, don't ever try to get pregnant to save your relationship. I have learned that my husband must love the crap out of me because people (or maybe it was just me) are not the most pleasant people to be around when they are growing a baby. You're moody, emotional, irrational, happy, sad, angry, etc. So bless my husband for putting up with all the mess I put him through, and all the stuff that had to be done just the way i wanted it to be. I love you.

3. I'd also like to get my memory back- because I know I had more to write about, but I am always forgetting things (and I'm always dropping things).

4. I can't decide whether the induction is a good thing or not. On one hand, I'm going to miss out on the last (and most uncomfortable from what I hear) weeks of my pregnancy, plus, I know when the baby is going to be here (or at least around when). At the same time though- I'm missing out on those last 3 weeks or pregnancy and the surprise and nervousness of randomly going into labor when my body decides it's ready to go into labor. I know a lot of people say i'm lucky that I know, but the element of surprise is something I think i'm going to miss out on!

Well, we have a busy day ahead of us. Last night after we celebrated Christmas at my in-laws we put together our new bookshelf and moved our books and dvd's around, plus I washed the last load of new baby clothes (for now) and we did some general straightening up of things.

Today we have (or should I say Dave has) put the rest of our pictures up on the wall and it will be followed by a whirlwind of errands: picking up a few baby things, packing our bags, doing a little shopping for us, a pedicure for me, finishing thank-you notes, and making sure the house is clean for everyone's arrival.

Tomorrow consists of: 8:30 at the hospital for my amnio (ugh, nervous about this), going by work to drop off my LOA paperwork, anything we forget today, spending last precious moments just us before our world amazing changes forever, and back to the hospital whenever Dr. Barthel tells us to be there to get this baby show on the road. It seems like just yesterday that the test said "YES+" and here we are almost 8 months later. It's just flown by! I can't wait to begin this new chapter in our lives together!! wow!

Week 36- Baby Boy Crenshaw Melon

Baby is on a melon theme lately...

How your baby's growing: Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his 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 his 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 he's in a head-down position. But if he 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 him from the outside of your belly.

How your life is 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.

from BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you, measuring over 17 inches long, and weighing about 6lbs! During week 36, your baby's most important job is to keep putting on weight. Actually, that's his primary job from now until delivery. You probably have another 4 weeks to go until delivery, especially if this is your first pregnancy, but "Full Term" refers to the period between 37-41 weeks, so your baby could be coming any time now! Your due date is probably a good guideline to determine when your little one is coming. Even though few women deliver on their actual due date, many women deliver in the days just before or after.

Mom
How are you feeling? You are probably seeing your healthcare provider every week now. It is common at this point in your pregnancy for your doctor to screen for Group B Strep.

What is Group B Strep? Practitioners often screen for Group B Strep because it is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns. It can cause pneumonia and meningitis. Group B Strep is a bacterial infection that may be found in a pregnant women's vagina or rectum. 15%-40% of all healthy adult women carry these bacteria in their vagina or lower intestines. It is possible for a mother to pass Group B Strep onto her baby during delivery. Therefore, every woman should be tested between 35-37 weeks. This is done with a vaginal and rectal swab. If a mother tests positive, she should be treated with antibiotics in labor to prevent the spread of Group B Strep to her baby.

Have you bought a crib? If you haven't yet bought a crib, you may be wondering what you should look for. Luckily, cribs manufactured after 1991 and purchased in the United States must meet established safety regulations. It may be helpful to look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association's Certified Seal. JPMA developed an extensive certification program to help guide parents towards juvenile products that are built with safety in mind. In order for a product to become Juvenile Products Manufacturer Certified, the product must be tested for compliance with The American Society for Testing and Materials' published standards. If the product passes the tests, JPMA allows the manufacturer to label it with their certified seal. This certification should be easy to find, it will be displayed on the product's packaging.

1 week to go!

revisiting the to-do list

today is December 17th. 12 days to go. let's see how the ol' to-do list is looking today. by the way. 1\2 a cm dialated!

1. finish Christmas shopping. we're almost finished, but we have both sets of parents, 2 brother in laws, and a sister in law left.

2. find a tree, buy said tree, put up tree. decorate house.

3. finish our regular house decorations as well.

4. unpack all our shower gifts in baby's room

5. put together remaining baby items

6. wash baby clothes

7. NAME BABY

8. get baby bedding ordered

9. finish decorating baby's room

10. celebrate Christmas

11. pack for hospital

so now my list is only consisting of 5 things- awesome! now that the bedding is here, it just needs to be washed and put on the bed, and then we can actually decorate the rest of the room. i'll probably go ahead & pack for the hospital as well (although my stuff is already together- just not in a bag). i'm feeling pretty accomplished here. things might actually get done in the next 12 days. 12 days. it doesn't even seem real. i'm pretty good at not actually thinking about it or freaking out. oh- i must add 2 things to the list- one that i am thinking about daily and freaking out about...

12. take our rings for their scheduled cleaning

13. figure out how to get my gma's ring off my finger in the event of a c-section

Week 35- Baby Boy Honeydew Melon

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 check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). 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.
from: BabyCenter
Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you, now measuring about 18 inches long, and weighing about 6lbs! If you have been noticing that you need more bathroom breaks than usual, it may be due to the fact that your baby has "dropped". As your due date grows near, your little one will settle deeper in your pelvis. This reduces pressure on your rib cage, allowing you more room to expand your diaphragm, but now there may be more pressure on your bladder. By week 35, your baby's kidneys are completely developed. His liver is also beginning to produce waste. In fact, a majority of his growth is already done. However, you should expect him to put on some more weight over the next few weeks. As space is at a premium, you may not feel as much tossing and turning inside of you, but you will definitely feel some healthy punches and kicks.
Mom: How are you feeling? At week 35, you should be seeing your healthcare provider at least once a week. You may have been experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions over the past couple of weeks, so you may be wondering how you can tell when it's the real thing. Regular uterine contractions are the strongest indication that you are officially in labor! These contractions can feel like menstrual cramps or even lower back pain and in early labor they can be 20-30 minutes apart. Over time however, the time between contractions will begin to decrease. It's time to call your healthcare provider when they are consistently 5 minutes apart. If your water breaks, it may be another sign that you are going into labor. You may have heard the term before, but what does it actually mean? The amniotic sac surrounding your baby is filled with fluid, when it ruptures, the fluid leaks from your vagina. It may come out in a large gush, but for a lot of women, it isn't that dramatic. Some women only notice a small trickle. In either case, it's time to call your doctor, midwife, or doula!
from: PlanningFamily

35 weeks = 35 days

I found it interesting that my little counter says "I am 35 weeks pregnant. 35 days to go." It's just funny to me that those numbers match. What have I been doing lately besides running around like a crazy woman? I had 2 baby showers the last 2 weekends- 1 in Georgia with my girlfriends and 1 here in Illinois with Dave's sisters, mom and grandma. We got a lot of great things for baby at both showers. I was starting to worry baby wouldn't have enough clothes- I need have no fear! At the GA shower we played a fun game where I was blindfolded and got to taste baby food- it was pretty funny- I even had 2 other friends brave enough to try it- funny that neither of them were my pregnant friends at the shower! Here are a few photos from that shower:

Tiffany- 16 weeks, Me- 33 weeks

I am pretty sure I had just eaten the peas in this picture. GROSS

opening gifts = always fun

Things are looking good in baby's room- all the furniture and accessories have been put together. We have "piles" in the baby's room right now: 1. I have 1 load of clothes left to wash from the stuff we got this past weekend. 2. I have kitchen and eating accessories that need a home in one of our cabinets. 3. I have stuff that needs to be returned (multiples) or exchanged (like for instance how someone registered for the wrong diaper genie refills... i wonder who).

I am ordering our bedding today. God has really blessed us as far as this goes- no one tells you, but baby bedding is EXPENSIVE! It's probably the most expensive item we're having to purchase on our own. Bedding + the accesories to go with it (extra sheets, etc) were totaling out around $300-$400. For starters- I am lucky that I joined this points website about 10 years ago- by simply answering a survey a week, and clicking through on emails I had earned over 30,000 points. Now Dave and I wanted to use those points for gift cards for an HDTV, but then baby came along. We found out that the site that had our baby bedding also was part of the points program, and we were able to cash in my points for $200 in gift cards (to arrive in 2-6 weeks (from last week), but that is another story in itself). Of course, even with that we still had around $175 or so that wasn't going to be covered- and here's where we've been super blessed. We have received money from various people for baby, and we used most of it for painting the room. All that we had left was around $20. Since Saturday, Dave & I have received $160. Put that with the $20, and it is exactly enough to cover the ENTIRE cost of what we were going to have to spend on bedding out of pocket. WHAT A BLESSING!

So we at least will have baby bedding in a few days... with our accessories, it may be a month or so from now. Shh, don't tell baby. Of course, pictures will follow.

Well, it's time for mom to rest- I am working tomorrow, and need as much energy as possible for that. Just over a week left at work... whew! Plus, I know i'll probably wake up a few times during the night before then- not only to use the bathroom, but I have a new affliction- acid reflux. Let's just say it takes about 2 seconds to happen, and in that 2 seconds hurts worse than heartburn. Ugh. I've got to try to stay on my side while i'm sleeping- but my body just wants to be comfortable!

To-Do List, Updated

today is December 10th. so we have 19 days to go. here's how my "freak out" list from a few days ago is looking. this is what we had still to do...

1. finish Christmas shopping. we're almost finished, but we have both sets of parents, 2 brother in laws, and a sister in law left.

2. find a tree, buy said tree, put up tree. decorate house.

3. finish our regular house decorations as well.

4. unpack all our shower gifts in baby's room

5. put together remaining baby items

6. wash baby clothes

7. NAME BABY

8. get baby bedding ordered

9. finish decorating baby's room

10. celebrate Christmas

11. pack for hospital

12.... i'm sure there's more

it at least makes me feel better to have a few things crossed out. hoping this weekend will lead to more things being crossed off our list!!

Week 34- Baby Boy Cantaloupe

How your baby's growing:Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his 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. 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. 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). 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.

from BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring over 17 inches long, he now weighs over 5lbs! And from this week, until 2 weeks before birth, he will continue to gain about a half pound of weight every week. Unlike the first trimester, the weight between all babies in the third trimester is much more variable. Some babies weigh more and are taller, some babies weigh less and are shorter. Also unlike the first trimester, by week 34 not much is changing. Your baby continues gaining weight through the development of subcutaneous fat and with that weight, is probably gaining strength in his movements. You may even be startled by a sudden jab to the ribs or be able to see a punch to your belly from the outside!

Mom: How are you feeling? Has your baby dropped yet? If you haven't heard the term before, it refers to the process in which your baby's head enters the birth canal to prepare for birth. For first time mothers, look for this to happen about three weeks before delivery. If this isn't your first time, your baby might not drop until the day before you deliver. First time moms – when your baby does drop, it will be noticeable! There will be a change in your abdomen. Your baby will be resting lower, which is great news for your lungs, but bad news for your bladder. You will be able to breathe easier, which might help you to get to the bathroom quicker, since your little one is now sitting on your bladder!

Are you thinking of breastfeeding? Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than formula and your milk has the perfect amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that they need to grow and develop. Your breast milk can even protect your baby from bacteria and viruses because it is rich in antibodies. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General even recommends that babies be fed only breast milk for the first 6 months of life. If you are thinking of breastfeeding, it might be a good idea to ask for some professional help. Though breast milk is naturally good for your baby, breastfeeding your baby may not come so naturally. Many hospitals employ lactation consultants and have a knowledgeable nursing staff that can help you. Doulas and midwives are also a valuable resource to help you navigate these unfamiliar waters. The key to successful breastfeeding is achieving a proper latch. Before you leave the hospital, or the midwife leaves your home, you should be shown how to get your baby to latch on properly. You should also know how to tell whether or not he is getting any milk. Don't worry if it isn't easy at first. Many women find it difficult, and that is why there are lactation specialists in the first place! Don't be afraid to ask questions. Really, there is no such thing as a stupid question, especially when it comes to your baby getting proper nutrition!

from Planning Family

3 weeks until our scheduled induction. can you say omg!

so much to do, and so little time

well, i may now be officially about to blow a gasket. the fact that my induction is more than likely 3 weeks from tomorrow is exciting and terrifying. mostly terrifying. not in the fact that i'm worried about being a mom- afterall, i was a nanny for a while, and a nanny to a newborn at that- i feel like the baby part will be ok, it's the getting ready for the baby part that I'm mostly worried about.

today is December 7th. so i have 23 days to go. 18 days of work left (at most). i feel like i have a pretty long list of things to still do...

1. finish Christmas shopping. we're almost finished, but we have both sets of parents, 2 brother in laws, and a sister in law left.

2. find a tree, buy said tree, put up tree. decorate house.

3. finish our regular house decorations as well.

4. unpack all our shower gifts in baby's room

5. put together remaining baby items

6. wash baby clothes

7. NAME BABY

8. get baby bedding ordered

9. finish decorating baby's room

10. celebrate Christmas

11. pack for hospital

12.... i'm sure there's more

my main goal right now is trying to prevent being so stressed out (it's not good for the baby, you know). if i can at least accomplish some of these tasks this week with the help of my darling husband (who of course, is preparing for finals right now) when he can- we might actually get this stuff accomplished!!

Week 33- Baby Boy Pineapple

How your baby's growing: This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) 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 — 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. 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. 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.

from BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 17 inches long, he weighs 5lbs. And from this week, until 2 weeks before birth, he will gain about a half pound of weight every week. The bones in his skull are formed, but aren't fused. They actually don't fuse entirely until early adulthood, allowing room for his brain to grow through childhood. Because they aren't fused, the bones in his skull will be able to overlap, helping him to fit through the birth canal during delivery.

Mom: How are you feeling? You are probably gaining about a pound a week and everything might feel swollen, but you're almost there! You've almost made it! Just a few more weeks and you will be rocking your little one to sleep. Though it's common to feel swollen at this point in your pregnancy, remember to contact your health care provider if you experience sudden swelling, as this may be a sign of labor.

From PlanningFamily

We had a Dr's appointment yesterday. Baby is still measuring perfectly and the heartbeat is strong. 4 weeks until my induction!!

oh, pregnancy, you are fickle

so the point of this blog is to be real about my pregnancy, and not just to sugar-coat it. there are many wonderful things about being pregnant (that i will try to blog about later), but there are other things that aren't so fabulous too. i try to post from both sides of the coin... here are some of my top mysteries/things people don't tell you about being pregnant:

1. buy your maternity clothes in your "pre-pregnancy size." first of all, if i could wear my "pre-pregnancy size" i would be. second, this is not even true because it seems the stuff that is "my size" is either falling off me or has in my final weeks become so tight i can hardly wear it

2. why are the panels of maternity jeans blue? sometimes i'd like to wear a WHITE shirt without having the world see a blue panel up to my chest.

3. speaking of: heartburn is so bad you consider burning your bras.

4. zofran will cure your nausea/morning sickness, but as a result you will be so constipated that when you finally do go you stop up your in-laws toilet(s), and flood their house, resulting in them buying new toilets for the entire house.

5. you shouldn't really "eat for two" but if so, then why am i starving ALL THE TIME!

these are just a few things that have bewildered me during this rollercoaster called pregnancy!

Baby Shower #1

Sunday, November 15th I had my first baby shower at Zion Baptist Church- my "home" church. It was thrown by my dear friend Amanda and Mrs. Pam Hart- who was my Sunday School teacher for several years. I mostly invited family members, and then it was open to anyone at the church who wanted to attend. The turnout was really good, and we got a lot of really nice things for baby. Can't wait to bring them back when we are home next weekend! Here are some photos:
Dave & Me together- this might be the first picture of both of us together since I have been pregnant!

My cousin Christi and me. She's due any day now, and also having a boy, Landon!

A couple photos of me opening gifts with Amanda and her mom by my side!

Amanda & me!

I had so much fun!! I can't wait for my next shower, next weekend!!! Yay!

Week 32- Baby Boy Jicama/Small Watermelon

How your baby's growing: 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, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he 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. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.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. 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.

from BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 16.5 inches long, he now weights over 4 pounds! And from this week, until 2 weeks before birth, he will gain about a half pound every week. He is sleeping approximately 90 to 95 percent of the day. Most of his wrinkles are disappearing, especially on his face, as more fat is deposited under his skin. His hair is becoming thicker with each passing week and you may even be able to see it on an ultrasound! He will also begin to settle in the head-down position, as his birth is fast approaching.

Mom: How are you feeling? Have you been feeling like you are now waddling instead of walking? This is a good thing! This week your body is producing a hormone called relaxin that loosens and relaxes your pelvis, allowing for more mobility during pregnancy. It is also responsible for this new method of locomotion!

from: Planning Family

Your Baby's Development This Week: Your baby is spending quite a bit of his time practicing the skills he'll need after birth, such as sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Other changes include:
• Your baby weighs about 4 pounds and is almost 11-1/2 inches long, or the length of a small watermelon.
• You might notice a change in your baby's movements this week, as he becomes more crowded in your uterus. Kicks and movements might seem less powerful.
• Your baby's skin is no longer see-through. It looks more like yours.

from StrongMoms

Welcome Annabella! Stay! Baby McFadden!

After a couple weeks of will they or won't they induce her- my sister-in-law's water broke Tuesday morning. They headed to the hospital, and we anxiously awaited word, so we could go up and meet baby Annabella (well, we hoped she'd be baby Annabella, they never knew for sure). Of course, we soon found out that only parents and grandparents were allowed to visit, so that bummed us out a bit. I had been feeling icky all day. Every time I stood up, my stomach was tightening up- Braxton-Hicks contractions- I didn't really think much of it until I got in the shower though- my stomach refused to soften back up. I thought it was a little weird, but I got ready for work, and headed that way. Work was miserable. It was my first day back after our Atlanta trip, and I knew i'd be a little worn out, but we were super-busy and since I of course have to stand all the time, I was having the same thing I had earlier- the constant Braxton-Hicks contractions. My stomach was so tight I was having trouble moving around. I finally got a break, so I decided to call my mother-in-law and ask her what she thought about it, and she suggested I call my Dr. Of course, I called the Dr. and instead of an answering service I could page the Dr. on call for an emergency. I didn't really feel like I was having an emergency, so I waited. I went back inside and asked a girl I worked with who had just had a baby not too long ago- she also suggested I call- no matter what- and then another girl from work was coming in- and she also suggested I call. I went ahead & had the Dr. paged- I was glad it was Tuesday b\c I knew my Dr. was on call on Tuesday's and I'd get to speak with her. She called me back pretty quickly, got me to somewhat calm down, and told me I should go to the emergency room to have things checked out. I couldn't reach Dave, but I knew he was at my in-laws doing homework, so I pulled myself together and drove there to pick him up. We got to the emergency room, and they put me in a wheelchair and got me checked in. Labor & Delivery were waiting on me- and they put me in a triage room. There it was the usual- put on this gown, pee in this cup, etc. My nurse, Liza, came in, and she was pregnant too! She got me hooked to the fetal monitor, and asked me a million questions. Then came the fun part- the pelvic exam. Luckily, it revealed that my cervix was closed. After all this fun, I was allowed to just chill out a bit. Dave & I watched the last 5 minutes of The Biggest Loser, and then we watched old episodes of The Office. Liza came back in after a while, and told me I was having some contractions, but my tests came back negative, and I was ok to go home. She said more than likely I was just dehydrated, which can cause the contractions, so she brought back 2 ginormous cups of ice water for me to chug. After I finished chugging my water, I was allowed to dress and check out with instructions to take it easy and to keep drinking plenty of water! Hopefully baby has learned his lesson about trying to arrive early. I told him, "only 1 grandchild per month." I worked a really long day on Wednesday- which I shouldn't have, but work seems to not really care, and then I had a shorter shift last night. I have today off, but I work the next 5 days, up until Thanksgiving, and then we start the holiday rush.

My sister in law was released from the hospital today, and her and her husband brought Annabella by so they could gather up their things before heading back to Indiana. I was the only one who was lucky enough to have time off to meet her. She is precious! I was able to hold her a while, and she just slept and made cute little noises and faces. Can't wait to see her again at Thanksgiving! Here is a preview photo of her, but I have many more pictures on my camera that will probably be uploaded onto fb.

Week 31- Baby Boy 4 Naval Oranges

How your baby's growing: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four naval oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

How your life's changing: Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before.You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (And if not, it's certainly nothing to worry about; your breasts are making colostrum all the same, even if you don't see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in you'll be grateful for that extra room! If you're having a boy, you and your partner will want to take some time to think about whether or not to have your baby circumcised. Find out the pros and cons from your doctor, and what the procedure involves.

from BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 16 inches long, he weighs 4 lbs. 4 whole pounds, wow! And from this week, until 2 weeks before birth, he will gain about a half pound every week. As you've probably noticed, he is moving around quite a bit in there! It's not uncommon for his continuous movements, which may feel like somersaults, to be keeping you up at night. His arms, legs and body are also filling out as he continues to develop fat underneath his skin, making those kicks and prods feel even stronger than last week. You may even see an arm or a foot move slowly across your belly!

Mom: How are you feeling? Braxton Hicks contractions are common towards the end of a pregnancy. These contractions, often referred to as "false-labor", usually only last about 30 seconds, occur infrequently and should be painless. Frequent contractions however, may be a sign of preterm labor.

Call you health-care provider if you experience...
More than four contractions in an hour
An increase or change in vaginal discharge
Abdominal pain or cramping
Increase in pressure in the pelvic area
Low back pain, especially if you haven't experienced it before
These may all be signs of pre-term labor and it is important that you contact your practitioner.

Have you noticed? Is there any leakage from your breasts? This is called colostrum, or "premilk". You can place nursing pads in your bra to absorb this fluid. Even if you don't see anything, your breasts are making colostrum and you also may find that your bra is fitting a little more snug than usual. You might want to get a nursing bra, but be sure to get one a size larger than you need now. Trust me; you'll be thankful for the room later.

So, it's funny that all of this information was in my emails today because we just left the hospital after a couple hours of testing for the Braxton-Hicks contractions. Whenever I am standing, I am having a really severe tightening in my stomach. Everything tested out ok, the baby looks just fine, but I am having the contractions every time I stand. My dr's orders are to keep hydrated- super hydrated- and hopefully they will start to go away. We'll see. Tomorrow I will have a pretty long shift at work, so we'll see how everything goes. Right now, I'm sucking down the water like crazy! Hope it helps!

Week 30- Baby Boy Cabbage

How your baby's growing: Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How your life's changing: You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size. Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

from Baby Center

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 15.7 inches long, he weighs 3 lbs. He now almost fills up your entire uterine cavity and his arms and legs have grown much plumper, thanks to the continued growth of subcutaneous fat. By 30 weeks, his eyelids open and close. He'll keep his eyes closed for most of the day though. When his eyes are open, he will be able to track light inside of your womb, though his vision isn't "perfect" or 20/20. Lunago, or fine hair that once covered his body, will start falling off this week. In the coming weeks, the volume of amniotic fluid in your belly will decrease as your baby continues to gain weight and take up more space.

from Planning Family

We're moving right along! 30 weeks seems like somewhat of a milestone to me, although it's really not... Dave & I are currently in Atlanta visiting family & friends, having some time to ourselves and I have my first baby shower this weekend! Very exciting!!

Week 29- Baby Boy Butternut Squash

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.

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. 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.

from: BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 15 inches long, he weighs 2 1/2 lbs. For the first time, his head is in proportion with the rest of his body! By 29 weeks, his brain can control his body's temperature. His eyes can move in his sockets and his muscles and lungs continue to mature. His bone marrow is now producing red blood cells and fat continues to develop under his skin.

from: Planning Family

Here is a picture of me from last night- 28 weeks, 6 days (close enough)

insanity!

that would be a good word to describe the last week or so. we had a whirlwind 2 weeks of viewing rental properties (we decided it was time to make the move before too much goes down with our poor little Atlanta house). at the end of our 2nd week, we found a place we really liked that had lots of room and was in our price range. we decided on monday (last monday) that this was the house we were going with, and we were ready to move forward, we waited all week and then Friday got word that we could move in on Saturday. we spent Friday evening scurrying around (well, Dave did, i worked) trying to get boxes out of our storage unit (the unit had to be vacated by Saturday @ 5 to keep from paying the next month) and then get a rental truck set up. I worked Saturday morning, while Dave and his wonderful friends (thanks Chuck, Mike, Chris, Willie (our brother in law), & David & Debbie (Dave's parents)) loaded the storage unit contents into the truck, then took them to the house, and then took the furniture that wouldn't fit into our house (spare bedroom furniture, since we'll have a much smaller bed in there now) to my in-laws office to store in their basement space.

I went by the house Saturday and mainly just looked at how things were unpacked- it was so overwhelming, it IS so overwhelming. I think unpacking might be worse than packing- i just want it done NOW! Sunday we went back by the house- Dave put our bed together and I started unpacking a few things- mostly the kitchen. This is where we discovered that my dinner plates won't fit into our dishwasher- baffling. I also discovered that i will need a step stool to reach all our cabinets- very frustrating- but, it's probably not worth worrying about. Today, Dave took a personal day- we went to the Dr. then I went to physical therapy. After PT, we decided to go to Ikea and look at the sleeper sofa we had liked on their website. I keep hating Ikea more with each passing day- this sleeper sofa was tiny. Dave & I could just barely sit on there together. I guess if I had read the description a little more carefully, I would've discovered the sofa was less than 5' wide. We did find a couple rugs at Ikea, so I guess it's not all bad. We decided to look at an actual furniture store for either a sleeper sofa, or a sofa/love seat combination. I'm sorry to say, if you stay at our house, you're probably going to be sleeping on an air mattress. We got the living room cleared out a pretty good bit, dvds and books are unpacked and put on our bookshelves. Tonight I bought groceries while Dave attends traffic school (after 5+ months living with my in-laws, I can say that I have forgotten how to shop for groceries) and it looks like we might actually be sleeping in our new home tonight! I'm a little nervous because I'm moving out of where I've called "home" for the last 5 months, but I'm ready for it to be just Dave & I again, so we can enjoy these last 2 months before baby arrives!

Pictures to come!

Week 28- Baby Boy Chinese Cabbage

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 his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

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 every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. 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. 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.

From: BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 14.8 inches long, he weighs 2 1/4 lbs. He will continue to gain body fat in the coming weeks to prepare him for life outside of your womb. At 28 weeks, your baby can recognize your voice! His eyes continue to develop this week and his brain is developing millions of neurons. The hair on his head continues to grow. Muscle tone in her body steadily develops, and even though his lungs are now capable of breathing air, it would be difficult for him if he were born now.

Mom: Congratulations! You made it to the third trimester! How are you feeling? The average weight gain by week 28 is 17-24 lbs. Don't worry if yours is a little more or less. If you have any concerns, as always, speak to your healthcare provider. In your last trimester, you should be seeing your healthcare provider every two weeks so there should be plenty of opportunities to raise any concerns that you might have. In fact, it's a good idea to keep a pad and pen with you to jot down any questions. Having a list of questions at your appointment is a great way to make sure all of your concerns are addressed. If any high-risk situations are detected on a routine visit, like preeclampsia, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH), gestational diabetes or placenta previa, you may be asked to visit your physician more often. Are you thinking of using a Birth Plan? No matter what kind of birth you are planning, a written birth plan, or a written statement about you and your partner's preferences for your labor and birth, may be a good idea.
Bringing a copy of this plan with you to the hospital is a simple way to inform the people who will come in to contact with you of your preferences for the birth. There is no "one way" or "correct" way to compose a birth plan. Some can be several pages long, and address every aspect of the birth; other mothers simply compose a short paragraph.

From Planning Family

seriously

Really, Lord. If for just once you could let something work out for my husband & me, I would be eternally grateful. I'm know he would too. Seriously, this has been the worst year ever with the exception of baby, and even that has a black cloud over it when it should be the most awesome thing to ever happen in our entire lives. Throw me a frickin' bone here.

Let's Get Physical, Physical (Therapy)

Yesterday I had my second session of physical therapy as recommended by my OB. At my first appointment I felt a little stupid going in because my pain is never as great in the morning as it is in the evening. While the PT was working on me, I really wasn't feeling a lot of pain, but as soon as I left the pain began and I felt pretty sore for the rest of the day. She concluded that my pain was more than likely a muscle strain brought about by posture and work movements. Posture isn't a strong point of mine unfortunately (you would never have known that I danced for many years), and pregnancy is only making it worse. My height finds me constantly leaning over because my arms aren't long enough to reach things, and the constant back and forth motion at work doesn't help things. She recommended that I am not to be a cashier for more than an hour or 2 at a time. I took these concerns to Target,who had no regard to her instructions. I worked 6 days straight leading up to yesterday's session, so I've had plenty of time to feel lots of pain. I've been working really hard at trying to remember and follow my list of exercises- but we are so busy at work, and with me constantly cashiering, it's sometimes hard to squeeze in the 2 minutes of required stretches per hour.

So at my appointment yesterday, the PT looked disappointed when I told her that work wasn't moving me around to keep me from cashiering up to 6 hours straight. She started the session with asking me how the pain was feeling- good news- the pain isn't lasting after I leave work, bad news- the pain is now on my left & right side at work + I've had some excruciating pain in my rib cage toward the end of my shift- now this could be an extremely severe case of heartburn, because I usually don't eat until an hour or 2 before I leave work- but combined with my back pain, I think I know what Scarlet O'Hara felt like when mammy laced her up in her corset. The pain on my left side is probably from over-compensating for my right side. I've definitely worked a lot harder on concentrating on my posture and trying not to do too much leaning over the belt to reach things.

My actual therapy started with a deep tissue massage- this got me aching. I think my therapist is a little stumped about the root of my pain in relation to where it is- I mentioned my scoliosis to her, which she said definitely is contributing to my pain. After the massage, we got to work on the exercises. Today I had way more exercises to work on then with my previous appointment, including some work with a band and a ball. I was feeling sore at the end, but not like last week. I have my exercises to work on over the next week, and luckily I only have 4 days in a row to work before my next day off (Dr.'s appointments every other week are really helping this)!

My next therapy appointment is Monday afternoon following my Dr. appointment. For now I've got the rest of this week to test out my back at work, and work on my new exercises- I'm hoping to start to see some improvement. We're only 4 weeks away from the dreaded holiday shopping season- and everyone has already told me that it's an absolute nightmare. It makes me not even want to Christmas shop! So let's keep our fingers crossed that the therapy is working for the sake of my back, and most likely, my sanity!

Week 27- Baby Boy Cauliflower

How your baby's growing: This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

How your life's changing: The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too. It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it's not too soon to think about family planning. You'll want to have made some decisions about postpartum birth control before your baby arrives.

from BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring about 14.5 inches long, he weighs just about 2 lbs. This week, his brain is developing quickly. His eyelids, which have remained closed up until this point, begin to open and now his retinas can begin to form. The retina contains specialized photoreceptor cells that respond to light, called rods and cones. Cones in particular help us perceive color. His skin is still wrinkly but by 27 weeks, he basically looks how he will look when you give birth to him, in just a couple of months!

Mom: Congratulations! You are at the end of your second trimester! How are you feeling? Muscle cramps in your legs may be more common as your pregnancy progresses. Not only are you carrying extra weight but slowed circulation and compressed nerves are adding to the problem. Going for a walk? Stretching your calves and asking your partner for a massage are all great ways to deal with these pesky cramps! Did you know? - The average woman needs 15mg of iron a day but while you are pregnant you will need about twice that or 30 mg a day. Iron is essential for the production of the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells. This protein is called hemoglobin. When you're pregnant, you have about 50% more blood volume than usual. Therefore, you need more iron to make more hemoglobin. You also need extra iron for your baby and placenta. Below you will find some foods that are rich in iron.
Red Meat
Eggs
Peas
Dried Fruit
Poultry
Dark Leafy Greens
Legumes
You may have heard that liver is a great source of iron but it also contains unsafe levels of vitamin A and should be avoided during pregnancy. Also, the iron in vegetables is best absorbed when foods rich in vitamin C are eaten in the same meal. It may be hard to get enough iron from your diet alone. If you are worried that you aren't getting enough iron from your normal diet, you should ask your physician if an iron supplement may be right for you.



Here's me right around 27 weeks!

last 4 week appointment

Today was the last of my 4 week appointments, and boy was it a doozy. It was also my glucose screening, so I was kind of dreading that because of all the horror stories I had heard.

I was told to eat 1-2 hours before my appointment. My appointment was at 10, so I dragged myself out of bed around 8:45 and tried to see what I could make for breakfast that didn't have sugar in it. I had woken up around 6 to use the bathroom, and ever since then all i could think about were sweets. I wanted cereal, a banana, strawberries and a pumpkin spice latte for breakfast- it was all I could think about. I decided to go with the recommendation from the nurse at my last appointment-eggs. I scrambled 2 eggs with some cheese and pepper and poured myself some milk. When I was drinking the milk, I was shocked to find it had sugar listed in the nutritional facts. Hopefully I'm safe. I arrived at the office, and per usual had to pee in a cup. I had already gone twice that morning, but managed to go again. After that, I was given my Glucola. I got the fruit punch flavor, was told I had 5 minutes to finish it, so off I went. It actually wasn't as bad as I expected, and I finished it pretty easily. I had to stay in the office an hour to have my blood drawn, and I waited to see Dr. Uma as well.

We finally got back to see Dr. Uma. ::sidebar:: There, Dave & I had a spirited discussion about our house. Most of this stems from my inability to let this house go- which I don't know if I can do. Our house was up for rent from February-September, and has now been on the market for a few weeks. We have it listed for $80,000- a huge loss for us- today our agent emailed Dave & suggested we drop the price to $40,000. It just floors me that we are reduced to doing this. A of all- we own our house- we are not in forclosure (yet), B of all- our house is in immaculate condition. We need a quick solution for this, and for once in 2009, perhaps for the Lord to show us a little mercy. Between the house and our insurance woes i'm near the end of my rope.

Back to Dr. Uma- We asked her about our shots- Flu and H1N1 are both recommended. She wrote a note for me for my flu shot, which I'll be receiving from GE on November 5. Don't know anything about availability of the Swine. Then she spoke to me about my recent back pains. Pretty much I'm in pain from the moment my feet hit the floor unless I'm lying down or sitting with my back against something. I had to call out of work yesterday because it had gotten so bad. She asked me about where the pain was, and was shocked to hear how far UP my back it was. She poked around and ruled out kidney infection by my not punching her in the face. She told me I'd need to take ANOTHER urine test to check for kidney stones. If that were to come up negative, I would be sent for physical therapy. Luckily, the urine test was clean, so physical therapy it is. I called and they were able to get me in for tomorrow morning, luckily. I have today & tomorrow off work, so it will be a relief to get some answers before I work again.

Lastly, we asked her about our insurance issue and what she would think about delivering our little guy in 2009. She saw that I would be at 37 weeks, but still 20 days early would give her some worry. I am measuring right at where I'm supposed to be, so we're not "ahead" of schedule. She wanted to talk to Dr. Duval- who did my ultrasound- and is also a perinatologist. She says he could just say "yes" or he may want to see me again. I would more than likely have to have an amniocentisis a couple days before the induction to check for lung maturity. Usually the baby's lungs are fully mature at 37 weeks, but there's a 1-2% chance that they would not be. Amnio isn't an appealing aspect to me, but from what I've read so far, it's WAY safer at 37 weeks then it is at 20 weeks or sooner when checking for abnormalities. So right now we're just waiting to hear from Dr. Duval. We'll see...

On a final note. I've gained 10 lbs since my last appointment on September 21st. Good grief. This puts me right around 23 lbs with 10-13 weeks to go! AHH!! Dr. Uma told me I needed to cut down on candy, juice and replace carbs with proteins. She obviously doesn't know my cravings! I'm going to try to be good. Lots more water and lots less candy! We'll see. Hopefully when I have my next appointment in 2 weeks things will look a little better. I'm just hoping my weight was the Glucola talking.

Today is the last day of my 2nd Trimester~ Unbelievable!

changing my mind

so i had everything decided on as far as baby furniture went. we've done pretty well with buying things too- budgeting out a large item per every other paycheck or so. so far we have only gotten our glider rocker & "bassinet." this week we decided it was time to get our crib. i had one picked out, the Gulliver model from Ikea.

It was given an A in my Baby Bargains book for safety and value, and it didn't cost several hundred dollars- double bonus. White wasn't the look we were going for, but we thought we could stain it quite easily. We made our journey to Ikea Wednesday night, took a look at the bed in the baby section- it wasn't quite what i was expecting. It was a little smaller than I was expecting, and they had the mattress set up on the lower of the 2 levels. We decided to get it anyway. That evening I was re-reading through my BB book and I just kept having second thoughts- was there something better. That's when I read about the Graco/Bonavita cribs- also receiving an A in the book. I decided to go with the Graco Sarah.

I was hoping they'd carry them at Target, but they didn't. I looked around and found them at BRU and Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is about $30 cheaper (they are the same crib) and they will ship for free to your store, or ship to you for a whopping $0.97! I think I'll be happier with this crib. It's larger for one, and it's already the color we're going for- which means we only have to stain the dresser (one less thing to worry about after putting it together). Only thing I'm not entirely thrilled about- it's a convertible, and I think the convertibles are ridiculous, but I think I can live with that- besides, I don't ever plan on having to convert it.
Now Mama is happy, so everyone can be happy. Well, except we now have to make another trip to the dreaded Ikea...

In other news- we are going to look at a house/apartment this weekend. I feel relieved that we getting this ball rolling. Now, to sell, burn, drive a car into our house in Atlanta...

Shanny's Baby Shower

We had a baby shower for my sister-in-law, Shannon this weekend. I was in charge of the food- something I love doing! I think everything turned out wonderfully! My favorite thing was probably the cupcakes- we had a local bakery make them, so we weren't sure what they'd end up looking like. I think the little pink booties on them were perfect. We turned the cupcakes into baby rattles thanks to Betty Crocker. I hope Shannon enjoyed her shower as much as I enjoyed helping to throw it! I thought it turned out quite nicely!

Week 26- Baby Boy English Hothouse Cucumber/Chuck Roast

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.

How your life's changing: 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.

from BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 14 inches long, he weighs just less than 2 lbs! His lungs continue to develop and he is taking small breaths of amniotic fluid inside your womb. These small breaths are getting him in shape for his first breath of fresh air. His veins are visible through histransparent skin but soon that will change as his skin begins to turn opaque. The nerve pathways are becoming more and more developed, making him more responsive to sound. Don't be surprised if you feel him jump inside you if he is startled by a sudden noise. If you're having a boy, his testicles are descending into his scrotum this week.

Mom: How are you feeling? If you are feeling short of breath this week, don't worry, this is common. Your uterus may be pressing on your rib cage, making it harder for your lungs to fully expand. How's your back? It's possible that your back might be feeling a little achy. Again, you can attribute this partially to your hormones. By 26 weeks, your pregnancy hormones are loosening up your joints and ligaments. Your changing center of gravity is also to blame. Have you picked a name? Picking a name can be quite a challenge, especially if you and your partner have different ideas of the perfect name. Need inspiration, revisit some of your favorite movies and films or find out your grandparents' middle names. Just one thing that's important to keep in mind...initials. Peter Owen O'Connell is a great name, but his initials could be troublesome when he reaches elementary school!

From PlanningFamily

the first 3 weeks of "fall" / trip to Ft. Fun

So it has hardly been fall for 3 weeks and we are already talking about snow around here. Really? That disgusts me. I barely felt like I got a summer, and now I don't even get a fall?! COME ON! If anything, it has given me the chance to dig into my delicious fall/winter maternity clothes. Luxe sweaters in a variety of colors and shapes. Yum.

Husband & I went to our storage unit last weekend and put away the majority of my summer clothes and brought back all my winter clothes. I spent some time going through what I think I can still wear without my belly stretching it out. I may be dreaming to still think I can wear my non-maternity clothes- but I'm going to keep that glimmer of hope alive!

One thing I definitely think I'm going to need- a winter coat. I own at least 8 winter coats that I have collected over the years- some had gotten a little snug, so those stayed in storage- but my 3 most recent coats made it back to the house with me. My newest coat I got this summer- a quilted Nike jacket with a tiny Georgia "G" on it. It's nice because it's fleece-lined, has a hood, and was only $20 (regular price $100+). I've been wearing it daily since it rains daily, but there's a slight problem- I'm already having trouble zipping it. My other 2 coats I haven't tried on yet, but they button/toggle, so I'm hoping that provides me a little extra room. If not, I've already started researching maternity coats and I'm hoping for a Ft. Wayne shopping excursion this weekend!

Ft. Wayne: We are off to Ft. Wayne, IN in a few hours to have a baby shower for my sister-in-law, Shannon. I will post pictures as I am in charge of food, and love this kind of thing! Plus, a whole weekend without work, means a whole weekend of wearing regular clothes- and as I already said, I have a lot of maternity stuff I can't wait to put on! Plus, Dave's grandmother has at least 10 pairs of my hand-me-down maternity pants that she's taking up for me- so excited to have more than 1 pair of pants finally!! Oh, and did I mention there's a Chick-fil-a in Ft. Wayne? Because there's a Chick-fil-a in Ft. Wayne, and I'm hungry.

Enjoy your weekends!

Week 25- Baby Boy Rutabaga

How your baby's growing: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 13 1/2 inches long, he weighs approximately 1 1/2 lbs. In the coming weeks, your baby will continue to grow and mature a fast rate, gaining some baby fat and filling out his long, lean frame. As he gains weight, his skin begins to become less wrinkled and he begins to look more and more like a newborn. Also, his skin is finally gaining some color. His hands are fully developed by this week, fingerprints and all! And at 25 weeks, the structure of the spine is beginning to form.

How your life's changing: Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Mom: How are you feeling? Only two weeks to go until your third trimester! Soon, you'll be seeing your caregiver about every two weeks. Feeling hot? You may notice that you feel more hot and sweaty than usual. Though added weight could be contributing to this, it's mostly due to your increased blood supply and the fact that your lungs are now doing 50% more work than they are used to! Because you are sweating a bit more now, it's important to avoid dehydration. Be sure to drink approximately 8 glasses of water a day, 10 is better. Drinking more will also help combat any swelling you are experiencing. It's probably a good idea to dress in breathable fabrics, even if it's winter, to help wick excess moisture away from your body. Remember, you can always layer your breathable fabrics if you are scared you won't be warm enough.

from: BabyCenter & Planning Family