Sunday, July 25, 2010

6 months down, 4ish to go

I decided this might be a good time to take a photo of the belly because it seems like it's bulged out.





According to I am pregnant, at 24 weeks:

This week your baby's crown-to-rump length is around 8.4 inches and your baby will weigh approximately 1.2 pounds. Because your uterus is expanding and putting a great amount of pressure on your abdomen, you might get stretch marks. Your weight gain may also be taking a toll on your body at this point. Many pregnant women experience backaches, bladder problems, sore feet and fatigue that affect their daily routines. You might also have some nasal stuffiness or nosebleeds.

I can attest to the fatigue. I just said to Jeff this afternoon that I was so exhausted even though I don't seem to do anything. I gained 2 lbs this past week, could be the bags of Milanos and Rolos, maybe, I think.

The fetus's eyes are close together on the front of his face and they are still shut. Your baby's ears have moved into their final position on the sides of his head. Where they are now is where they will be when your baby is born!

Hah, I hope the ears are where they're supposed to be!

Because your growing baby is getting plumper, he no longer has room in your tummy to do cartwheels and somersaults.

Really? Because I swear he's doing exactly that in there sometimes, along with some light kicking and some swimming around.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Cravings

Currently craving and having daily:

1. Sweet tea from McDonalds
2. Ruffles with ridges with french onion dip
3. Milano cookies
4. Fruit - cherries, bananas (thank God this is healthy)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Lactivists

This was a word used on The Bump in a forum today when somebody brought up a news story from yesterday where a breastfeeding mom in a Johnny Rockets in KY was asked to either use the bathroom or leave. So far, I am not militant enough to call myself an activist (or lactivist) but I might become one. KY laws allow mothers to breastfeed in public. If a woman is covered up, or like this woman, even made the effort of going out on the patio to breastfeed, what right did the manager have to come tell her to use the bathroom or leave? I can understand if she was sitting there with her top down, enjoying the breeze on her boobies. But, no, she was FEEDING her child. Out of view of their patrons.

I think beyond the argument over whether it should be private activity or not, it's the LAW, people. Except apparently for a few states (You can check your state's laws here), it's legal to breastfeed in public everywhere. Some states even exempt it from any indecency laws. Which means, in those states, the mother could sit around bare breasted and you can't do anything about it. Which I think, isn't what breastfeeding moms want. When we say breastfeeding in public is legal, I think most opponents are imaging some sort of a Playboy image with topless women holding babies in their arms. Most breastfeeding moms I have seen are very decorous. They usually have a blanket or cover up. They just want the ability to feed their baby in peace, without being asked to use a filthy public toilet. And, in most states, they have that right so you who think it's disgusting (it's feeding for heavens sake), shut up because it's the law.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Best baby advice

I got was this weekend from one of our good friends, Greg, who has a beautiful 1 yr old girl :

There are 300 different ways of raising your child, and they are all correct (barring abuse) and don't let anybody tell you that you are doing it wrong!

6 months minus a week

Yup, reached 23 weeks today. None of the baby size sites show a size for this week, they now advance in weeks, which sucks. I was enjoying the various food and macho comparisons. Is my baby bigger than a beer bottle now? Is he equivalent to a 40? Who will answer these questions for me now?

Thankfully, I am Pregnant website still shows baby's development at each week.

This week your baby's length, from crown-to-rump, is approximately 8 inches! Your growing baby has finally reached one pound. Your baby is about the size of a small baby doll and looks very human. The baby's face and body look similar to that of a newborn at this time. Your uterus can be found about 1.5 inches above your navel. Your total weight gain should be approximately 15 pounds at this time.

Weight gain here has been around 5 lbs, give or take. I have yo-yoed so much between losing and gaining that I have no clear idea of what my total gain is. I can tell the baby's growing because I suddenly have a rounded bump this week.

You should be feeling your baby moving quite a bit throughout the day as he will kick and punch the uterus walls. Babies also run their hands along the umbilical cord and touch their body parts while they are in the womb.

Have definitely been feeling movement. A kick here or there, sometimes right at my bladder, yay. One day, he kicked and he must have gotten a previous surgery scar tissue because it hurt for that micro-second. I can even feel tugs at my belly button, so I am thinking that's when he's playing with the cord.

The reflux seems to be getting better. It's still there, but the episodes only last 5-15 minutes and they aren't as painful as they were. There's still no rhyme or reason to them. Last night, we ate at Chevys and I had spicy salsa, guacamole with jabaneros in it and I overate and was totally prepared to go home and squirm in pain. Guess what? Nothing, nada, zilch. I slept like a baby and feel great this morning. And, I know I just jinxed my Monday by typing that out!

Monday, July 12, 2010

22 down and baby kicked daddy

Well, baby kicked mommy and mommy kicked daddy. Ok, well, not really. I did not kick Jeff, before anyone calls Social Services for spousal abuse. I felt the baby move and kick all day long yesterday but never enough times together. When we finally got to bed, the baby kicked a couple times and Jeff put his hand on my belly. I thought to myself, "oh no, now the baby's done for the day." But then, the baby kicked! Jeff felt it. You should have seen his face. The wide grin, the wide eyes! And the baby kicked 2 more times. Then, went to sleep. Almost like he was saying goodnight!

As far as baby sizes go, I guess all the websites get tired of doing weekly updates after Week 21, because both sites that I follow give me the size for Month 5 (Week 22-24):

The Bump says it's a yummy:


And for the daddies out there, from the Tarzan's Guide:
Now, I am Pregnant's website states that the baby should be around 12.25 ounces, but at my last ultrasound, I was told the baby's about a lb. Giant baby, I am telling you. i'll be giving birth to a giant baby!
You might be enjoying your pregnancy more than ever at this point if morning sickness was an issue in the early weeks.
Not so much. Here's hoping and wishing and praying that the third trimester takes it easy on me.
Your baby now shows an extremely rapid brain growth (which lasts until five years after birth).
Yippee, the alien has a brain! And, it's growing.
Your baby's senses are developing daily. The fetus now has a full complement of neurons in the brain and is learning about her body and surroundings through touch. Touch is one of the first senses to mature and your baby may stroke its face or feel her arms and legs.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

ER visit (past)

I just got all my medical records form my ER visits down in NC in early June. I like having my records because I like being informed. I might not understand everything on them, but I like having a copy for myself and it irks me that I have to jump through hoops for my own records. This hospital did not make me jump through a lot of hoops though. I have my records, all the blood work they did on me (which tells me my hemoglobin is wayyy low).

Another thing they did was an ultrasound to ensure the pain wasn't a reflection of a problem with the pregnancy. It turmed out not be - well not directly at least. But, in the paperwork I received, it has the baby's measurements from the ultrasound. Keep in mind I was 16 weeks 1 day when they did this and these were the baby's measurements:
- BPD (Biparietal Diameter), which is apparently the diameter of the head: 16 weeks 2 days
- Head circumference: 16 weeks 6 days
- Abdominal circumference: 17 weeks 5 days
- Femur length: 16 weeks 4 days
Average gestational age: 16 weeks 6 days

So, for most things, the baby measured ahead but the STOMACH!!! It measured almost 2 weeks ahead. No wonder I am losing weight, this baby's eating everything and more that I ingest. Let me once again point out the similarity between babies in your belly and parasites.

And the head. The one thing I am most scared of is a humungous baby head. And the head's measuring a week ahead.

Oh, and I know that these measurements change as the baby grows at different speeds throughout the pregnancy, I just found it cool looking at these measurements :-)

Sunday, July 4, 2010

21 Weeks

I am past the halfway bump and tomorrow, I'll be on a flight back to Baltimore, so I decided to post this a day early. I think I feel the baby every now and then. It's more of a tug right under my belly button. It happens usually after I have my morning coffee and something with sugar like strawberry milk.

Well, the babe's been baking for 21 weeks and, according to The Bump, it has now become a very delicious:

Mmmm the banana I had this afternoon was really good.

And, for the guys out there, from the Tarzan's Guide to Baby Development:


Mmmm, the beer I'll have in 5 months will be delicious!

I-am-pregnant.com states that this week:

Some women also get strong cravings for foods. If you notice a craving for something unhealthy, you should contact your doctor. Craving for unusual things is known as pica. Some women crave cigarette ashes, charcoal, beer and other non-food items during this time.

Uhh thank heavens I have yet to sneak around licking people's ashtrays.

Your baby's blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture the baby. The placenta is now almost equal in size to the baby. Taste buds are being formed on your baby's tongue this week also.

Taste buds! I am building some taste buds in there this week.

Your weight gain so far will be around 10 to 15 pounds.

More like 5-7. And, I am ok with that.