Friday, July 22, 2011

Pregnancy Update – Weeks 31 -33. Sleep, Showers & Stress….OH MY!

I am now 33 weeks pregnant.

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark, 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 6-7 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.  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. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

**Actually I am measuring 34 weeks so my baby may be closer to about 4 3/4 pounds and almost 18 inches long!


This update is a little different. So lets talk about what has been going on the past few weeks.  

Well the last few weeks or so have been filled with some highs and lows and have been a little emotional for me.

The highs were two wonderful showers I had.  One was a lovely family shower back home put on by my mom and sister.  I also had another shower with a few girlfriends put on by two amazing and dear friends.  These showers were so great that they deserve their own post because they each were so perfect and I want to talk about them more!! (which will come this weekend!)  But let it be said, I felt so loved and I truly appreciated all that was done for us.  I got emotional a few times after these showers were over because I feel so lucky right now.

But there were also the lows.  The last couple weeks have been extremely busy and stressful at work.  I have managed to keep my emotions in check for the most part, but over the last few weeks I have had a couple moments were I just lost it and either got angry or just cried and cried.  I knew I had been worked up from work and upset (like really upset), but didn’t realize how much it affected me until my Dr. appointment Monday the 11th.  I went in and they noticed my blood pressure was unusually high.  The first time it was 138/64 the second time they took it, it was 134/72.  (Mine has been right around the 120/72 mark)  I am not going to lie; it freaked me out a bit.  The Dr. was very calming but said that she just wanted to check to make sure it wasn’t preeclampsia.  She talked to us a little bit, told me I had to do some standard tests, and that we had to wait for the results before we worry about anything.  She told me to relax and take the day off work, go get my blood drawn and then I had to do a 24 hour urine collection (not fun).  I did all those things, especially trying to relax. 


Luckily we got a call later that week and they said it wasn’t preeclampsia and all my test results were great. PHEW. 

But it is a strange feeling wondering if you did something unknowingly that could affect your baby.  I think the biggest thing for me is that I allowed myself to get so worked up the past few weeks.  I honestly felt extremely guilty that I did that, to the point where the other night I just broke down and cried for 30 minutes.  I sometimes forget that it is not just me, but that I have to watch out for this little guy inside me.  I catch myself and I have to remind myself that I need to alter what I do which means I need to get my rest, eat regularly, eat healthier foods, don’t carry heavy things, and DON’T STRESS.  It is weird because in the beginning I knew I was pregnant and that we would have a child.  But the bond wasn’t really there at first for me.  It was all foreign to me.  I couldn’t always feel him or “see” him and though I was excited at the outcome, I often times forgot he was even there.  It wasn't until this last month or so that I have really bonded with our child.  We talk, he reacts to me talking to him or “tickling” him, he moves all the time, I can see my stomach and see him move and know he is there.  A little person WE created.  And I love him already.  I really didn’t think I would bond with him this much during the pregnancy, I thought I would feel it after.  But I love our son SO much and the thought of something being wrong with him because of something I did or do just stings so much.  I know he is fine, but I also know that I need to take it easy these last weeks for both of us.

I went back to the Dr. the 19th for a follow up and my blood pressure was still higher than normal (132/80) but she said she was not worried yet.  She told me things to look out for that could be a concern, but said they will just monitor me weekly.  She said it could still go down or stay the same and that I just need to take it easy so it doesn’t go up.  There is still a chance I could get pre-eclampsia or have gestational high blood pressure, but I can also do things to help avoid it, like taking it easy.

The crazy person inside me says “take it easy?!  Lady do you know how much needs done before this child arrives?!  How can I take it easy?!”  But the mother in me says “So what if things don’t get done, your main concern is the health of this child which means your health too.  Just rest.”  And for the record, the mother part is totally kicking my crazy parts ass!  I am going to bed early (between 8:30-9:30), trying to take care of myself, not worrying about things, and just resting and taking things slow.  The health of this child means far more to me than a clean house, making sure stuff gets done before he is here, and especially worrying about work or things I cannot control.  So rest & sleep it is.  

Besides that being my big “concern” the last couple weeks we also pre-registered at the hospital earlier this month.  Wow, talk about a reality check.  Sitting in a room that you may be in within a couple months as you deliver your child.  Yep, it was emotional.  We filled out paper work (or I did, poor Terry didn’t get asked to fill out a single form so I let him fill out one of the forms J as he wants to be included in every part of this process…so cute).  I started the registration process and answered questions regarding pain medicine (YES PLEASE!), delivery, and basic information about me.  They told us how they do stuff at the hospital, the security devices in place, and what we can expect before, during and after.  I loved it.  I love where we are going and feel very comfortable with the hospital, staff, and how they handle everything.  They also installed our car seat and we watched a video on car seat safety.  T. & I didn’t know what to expect, but we both actually enjoyed it because it made everything seem even more real!

In summary, the last few weeks have been a bit of a reality check for me.  Between the showers, visiting the hospital, seeing a car seat in our car, seeing baby stuff in our house, and facing the reality of how my actions can affect my health and the health of our son I have become more connected to this little piglet inside me!

So even though there were some lows, there were also some wonderful highs.  And as we approach the due date I am more excited than ever to meet this little boy that is just stealing my heart away!


Week 31 -
Oh yes, the kid is growing!


Week 32 -
This shirt is barely fitting my growing belly!




Week 33
I am HUGE!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

New Blogger Friend

One of my dearest friends is blogging!  She is writing posts that surround pictures she takes that capture things in her life, which I think is a fun idea! 

April is very creative and talented.  HERE is a post of the AMAZING things she made for me for my shower…..seriously, I am in LOVE with that diaper bag!   



She also made this camera case and gave a little tutorial on her blog on how to make it.  I saw it in person last weekend and it is pretty darn cute!


Check her and her blog out!! (My Life In Photos)

Monday, July 04, 2011

Pregnancy Update - Only 10 Weeks Left!!

So yes, this past Friday I entered my 30th week of pregnancy which means I only have about 10 more weeks to go.

(Insert EVERY possible emotion you can think of here.)

Only 10 weeks left. WOW.  Before I know it, it will be 10 DAYS!

It really feels like a countdown now.  Up until this point I have been counting up, waiting to get closer and closer to the 40 weeks.  But as soon as I got to 30 weeks my mindframe switched and now it is a "wait to meet baby countdown" in my head and it is not that I am 30 weeks but rather that I only have 10 weeks left.

It is crazy. 

30 Weeks:
"Your baby's about 16 - 17 inches long now, and he weighs 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 his eyes closed for a good part of the day. Baby is growing plumper and beginning to control its own body temperature. Eyebrows and eyelashes are fully developed, and hair on the head is getting thicker. Head and body are now proportioned like a newborn's. Hands are now fully formed and fingernails are growing.



Mom-to-be: Your uterus is about four inches above your navel, and it's hard to believe you still have about 10 weeks to go as baby continues to push on your ribs. You may be feeling more discomfort in your pelvis and abdomen. You'll probably be gaining about a pound a week."


How are you feeling? 
Excited, anxious, nervous, worried, happy....seriously at any given time during the day I could feel a different emotion.  But the emotion that never changes is contentment.  I am truly at ease with where I am and with this pregnancy.  Sure, I am scared shitless with the thought of being someones mommy and all the natural worries that come with that responsibility, but I am also perfectly at ease with entering this new phase in our life.

How is Henry?
Awesome and kicking up a storm!  This boy is a mover and I am loving it!!  I don't think I will ever get use to this feeling.  He will kick me a certain way and I just giggle.  We have our "special time" after work when I come home and have comfy clothes on and sit on the couch and he just moves and moves.  I will call his name and tickle my stomach and he goes crazy for about 45 minutes. I love it so much.  He is also kicking hard, to the point that sometimes it startles me.  Even Terry, who comes to bed a few hours after me, was startled when Henry gave him a fist bump.  Terry likes to feel my belly when he comes to bed and said the baby punched him so hard that it moved his hand up, forcefully. Awesome.  And the strangest feeling is when he moves and you can just slowly feel him or a body part move across the inside of your stomach (or as Terry calls it my giant incubater...as it no longer looks like a belly).  What an incredibly weird feeling that is.


I bought this dress for my shower. (Yes, I am in the dressing room, I had to send pics to my mom to get a second opinion!)


Don't know if it will support my chest, but it is trying!!

Had to show off the belly :)


I really like the back. P.S. My dress is to the floor, this one is way too short.

(Check it out HERE from Target) 

I don't normally do dresses, it just isn't my thang.  Which made it SO hard finding something I liked, that FIT, was comfortable, and didn't just look like a giant sack on me.  I found this dress and LOVE it.  It is lightweight, comfortable, and even though I usually avoid all patterns - this one for some reason works.  I have a feeling I will be wearing this dress pretty much ALL August.


29 weeks





30 Weeks

(The belly is getting soooo big!)

This is charlie this weekend sleeping with Henry.  Henry kept kicking him, which you could tell because charlie's body would move, but Charlie wasn't phased.  Glad they are already getting along!



Finally.

I must say that through this entire pregnancy experience and all the ups and downs, the one thing that makes me the most emotional is people’s kindness and generosity. I don’t think I will ever get used to it.


I have had SO many people who have taken time out of their lives to give me much needed and appreciated advice, have offered up their time in helping to get ready for the baby, and have given us baby items that they no longer use. It is truly overwhelming, but in the good way. The way that makes you realize that you have surrounded yourself with true friends and have absolutely amazing family. The way that makes you realize how much you are loved. And in a way that makes you realize how much your child is and will be loved. THAT in and of itself means so much to me.

Yes, those simple gestures and acts of kindness, even if they seem small to the people showing them, really mean so much more to me….to us....because of the generosity, love and kindness associated with those gestures.

I cried happy tears this weekend thinking of the kindness of family & friends and thinking how much this child will be loved and how many people in our life care for the family T & I are expanding. I truly feel blessed having so many wonderful and compassionate people in our life and I know our son will be surrounded by amazing people who love him. And honestly, what more can you as a parent ask for except knowing that no matter what happens during this journey your child will always feel loved.

Even on this blog, the kind words and encouragement that have come over the last few months have been a constant support and mean so much to me. You can’t help sometimes to feel down and wonder if you can do this…be someone’s parent….but I also know that have a wonderful support system which makes this change so much easier.

Thank you so much for all your kindness.