We are durian fruit (whatever that is?!) status folks! I think I’ve seen this fruit in person a few times and I always have to touch it, lol. I’ve never had it before though. Maybe one day I’ll actually try it out.
What in the world is an acorn squash? I don’t know either, but apparently baby is the size of it this week!
The facts - Baby is about two and a half pounds and about 15-17" inches tall. The adrenal glands are producing a chemical which will be made into estriol (a form of estrogen) by the placenta. This estriol is thought to stimulate the production of prolactin by the body, and the prolactin makes you produce milk. This means if baby comes early, I'll still be able to breastfeed.
Baby's brain can detect rhythmic breathing and control body temperature, so he or she is less likely to need breathing assistance should they be born early. Little one is growing eyelashes, adding fat, and developing his or her brain. Because of brain wave activity, researchers have speculated that babies can even dream at this time! This week baby's head is in proportion with the rest of its body. Even more so, baby's eyes can move in the sockets, and the muscles and lungs continue to mature. Bone marrow is now producing red blood cells, and fat continues to develop under baby's skin. Baby may even begin to settle into the proper birthing position, however, there is still plenty of time (and some room) for them to turn and flip. Doctor's typically don't start being concerned with this until about 34-36 weeks.
Me - I am so behind the ball this week! I have had a pretty emotional week, but I don't know if I can attribute it to pregnancy or not. I'm leaning more towards not, because I just have a lot of external things going on that have me a little stressed right now. Okay, now to get back on topic. I have been exhausted, sleepy, unmotivated, and lazy...just being honest. This baby is starting to pull from me like it did in the first trimester. I'm also feeling a lot heavier and sleep is more and more uncomfortable and restless. I can feel all the movements stronger, which gives me so much reassurance. I still worry and put a lot of pressure on myself, but I'm trying to keep a balance. I have totally fallen off my protein routine, so I plan to get back on that next week. I have gotten completely bored with eating breakfast, or eating at all for that matter. It's to the point where I pretty much hate eating. I have to eat when I'm not hungry and when I do I can't even eat much, which stresses me out. I do my best to snack and whatnot, but sometimes I still don't feel like I'm getting enough. Even more so, when I see my weight at a standstill for two weeks it's frustrating. I really feel like I'm just breaking down emotionally and just need a break from the routine and monotony. My second shower is next weekend and I'm excited about it, but I'm also excited to just have some time off and away from the norm. My belly hasn't been as itchy this week, which is a nice break, but I kind like it itchy, because it lets me know its growing. Speaking of my belly, I'm pretty sure I'm pushing 35", although in the morning its always smaller. It's so weird, sometimes I feel like my bump is big and other times I feel like its small. Nonetheless, I know there's a baby growing in there, so that's all that matters. I still can't really tell what position baby is in, but I am feeling movements in different areas than previous weeks. I'm pretty sure baby changed positions, but to what and where, I couldn't tell you. I know there is still plenty of time for baby to flip into any position, so I'm not too overly concerned. Each passing week brings more and more anticipation for this little guy or girl to get here. I'm really getting stoked to get this kid here, but not for 10ish more weeks!
Hubs - Not much really going on this week. He is mainly eager like I am for baby to get here. We are still working out everything job and moving wise, but things are looking up. We are simply just in a period of transition and I know we will soon have more certainty. Hubs is interacting more with the baby, and usually gets nudged back by it with he pokes and prods at it. He is still keeping me moisturized and sends me to bed at night when I try to stay up too late. I say we both keep each other on track. As much alike as we were, we are completely different. In part because he has that Y chromosome that makes him do stuff that just doesn't make sense to me at times, but I'm pretty sure he feels the same way about me sometimes.
It's 30 weeks next week folks! Less than 3 months left and so exciting! Until then...I'll see ya 'round.
Happy bumping!
xxoo,
Since I’m officially in the third trimester, I though I’d post a review (in pictures) of me throughout the second trimester.
I have been doing updates on my blog since 17 weeks, so I’ll spare you an entire recap on the trimester. You can always read through what was going on in each weekly update. I also have a Youtube channel where I post weekly update videos, so you can see me live and kinda in person there.
All in all, the second trimester wasn’t bad at all. I’ll say that I didn’t really have the whole honeymoon affect that they talk about. Your supposed to get this great boost of energy and feel great, but I pretty much felt the same as I felt in the first trimester. The major differences were appetite increase (although not much!), my growing belly (pretty inevitable), and no nausea - I think I only threw up once during the entire trimester and that was because I got car sick.
I’m looking forward to riding out the rest of this third trimester and I am so excited for baby to get here in October. I’m so happy to be able to take you all on this journey with me. Stay tuned for weekly updates and other baby-themed posts as I progress through the next 12 weeks.
Happy bumping!
xxoo,
This past Monday, I had my 28 week appointment. I must say it went much better than my 24 week one. No issues with weight gain or anything like that, so that was definitely a plus. I had all the standard stuff checked out, plus the 1 hour glucose test. Basically, I drank the drink at the beginning of my appointment, got checked out by my PA, scheduled my next appt, then waited about 30 mins to go down to the lab to have my blood drawn.
Alright, so here's the rundown on my appointment:
Weight: 141 - according to their scale w/ clothes on. I'm about 139ish on my scale at home with no clothes on. This means I'm up about 4 lbs from my last appt, because I apparently only weighed in at 137 at my 24 week appointment. I'm supposed to put on an lb a week, so again, all is well with that.
Blood Pressure: 108/60, its usually 100/60 so nothing out of the ordinary. I had also just eaten my two eggs that I was supposed to eat about 30 mins before I had my BP tested.
Fundal Height: 29 cm, I was 27w6d at the time so I was measuring really good. Yay for baby growing good! Good baby grow!
Baby's heartbeat: 141. Nice & strong. Its been in the 140s lately, I take it that it will stay around there. SD: Baby was so active that the PA had to chase the baby around to find the heartbeat, on top of the baby kicking and jabbing at the Doppler.
1 hr Glucose test: Short and sweet...I had the fruit punch flavor, it was chilled and good and I didn't mind it at all! Its been 4 days and my PA said she would call me the same day if ym results came back abnormal, no new is good news! Yay for passing!
Other stuff: We talked about taking the Dtap vaccine, but I decided to wait until my next appointment, since I was already having blood drawn. PA asked me about birth classes, which I'm already signed up for next month. I confirmed where I will deliever, as long as I'm in Va at the time, so reassurance with that! Hubs & I would would kind of like to know where to go when baby decides it times to come. My appointments will remain at being every 4 weeks until my next appt, so I'll have an appointment at 32 weeks and then they will start being every 2 weeks. That's actually good news, because the less they need to see you, the better. I asked my PA if baby was head down since she found the heartbeat low, and she said it probably was but that they aren't concerned with the baby's position until 36 weeks. Reason being is that baby still has plenty of room to flip and move around until about that time. Some baby's even flip even while mom is laboring, so you never really know until its time for the baby to actually come.
That's pretty much the gist of everything that happened at my appointment. I'll be updating you all gain at 32 weeks. I can't believe I'll be in the single digits the next time I update, that's wild!
Happy bumping!
xxoo,
I don't know how many of my readers have been through pregnancy and seen their body change and had to adjust, but it really doesn't matter, because I think body image is applicable to everyone. Before becoming pregnant, I never thought about my body. Even as I've aged, its never ever been an issue. I've had the same body since I was a teenager, outside of getting taller and a few places becoming slightly more developed. Pregnancy is the most drastic change I have ever seen my body make. I think pregnancy is beautiful, always have. Every time I see a pregnant woman, I think 'aww...look at her bump, its so cute!' I never thought about what that woman may be going through seeing her body change. I never thought about what I would think about my body while being pregnant. I love being pregnant and most days I think my bump is really cute and awesome, in part because I know a baby is growing in there. However, it doesn't change the fact that sometimes I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and have to do a double take. I had a six-pack of abs before becoming pregnant, always have, a relatively small bum, which is now a full on stripper booty, and my thighs, well I actually have some cellulite on them. Now, I am pushing 30, 27 to be exact, so I realize that I won't have an 18 year old body forever. I am more than willing to give up my body for this baby and any future babies that I will have. Its not that big of a deal to me superficially speaking, but it is still an adjustment.
I have to admit I don't feel as sexy, I don't move as fast, and I'm definitely not able to turn cartwheels, ride zip lines, and go on rollercoasters right now. Of course, its common sense, silly me: I'm pregnant! That's not to say I don't miss all that stuff. I also put so much pressure on myself to do the right thing all the time while being pregnant. I am doing everything with in my power to bring this baby into the world normal, healthy, and safely. This means working through my still apparent food aversions and lack of appetite, and eating when I have and need to, versus when I want to. It also means tossing and turning all night and getting up throughout the night to use the restroom at least once, and any other time I need to go. Now, I can deal with all that, really, I can, because the end result is so miraculous and such a blessing. My husband doesn't understand why I put so much pressure on myself, and he probably won't ever. Its the perfectionist in me that makes me want to have all my ducks in a row at all times. I put in the immense effort, because I expect good results. I know nothing good comes easy in life, or at least most things.
Have you ever felt this way? Missed your old self? Have to adjust to your self or a new way of life?
I know I'm not alone!
Until next time!
xxoo,
