28 Weeks / 7 Months!

How Far Along: 28 Weeks / 7 Months / 84 days left/ 12 weeks left! 

3rd Trimester

 

 

 

How big is baby:  By this week, your baby weighs 2 1/4 pounds (about the size of a large eggplant) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels

This week's big developments:  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.
 

My Body: 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 or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits.

 Weight gain/loss: From before pregnancy to now I have gained 25lbs :( more then I had expected / intended. I was shocked when my doctor was not concerned. However,  The past month I have been eating more sweet snacks (cravings) and not paying as much attention to getting a balance diet. I am doing my best to limit my weight gain by being more conscience again.

Maternity clothes:  I got a fun Halloween shirt:

 Best moment this week: I had glucose test done this week. My appointment was early in the morning but it was hard to not eat before and then having to wait an hour. Baby boy was moving a lot, which means he wants food. Once I left the appointment, I went to McDonalds to get a sandwich (I knew I couldn't wait to get home to eat). After eating I still felt groggy and weird so I thankfully I had time to take a nap.  I did not hear back from the Lab / Doctor so that means everything was fine. YAY!!!!
Movement: I think he had the hiccups a few times this week.

Miss Anything: Being able to get comfortable easily. Getting up from sitting is not as easy as before.

Food cravings: Chocolate and baked items

 

Package received today from Maranda. She has named baby boy Henry ;) Thanks for indulging in my cravings--very sweet! 

 

 

Symptoms:  Lower back sore, hard to sit without getting uncomfortable quickly. My round ligaments have been very very sore. Bending slightly has caused discomfort this week.
Sleep: Some days good others not good. Sometimes by hips hurt when I sleep and cant get comfortable. This past week I feel more tired and have been trying to take naps.
Anything making you queasy or sick: no
Gender: BOY!!! I wonder what he is going to look like; dark hair, light hair, no hair, lots of hair, chubby, skinny.....

Hat Nathan and I picked up while we were in Duluth

 

Looking forward to:  Currently, going to sleep...I am tired.

 

Questions for moms: 

1. What are your must haves for the hospital bag?
2. What are your favorite baby items you couldn't live without?

27 Weeks!!

How Far Along: 27 Weeks!  Last week of 2nd trimester

 

 

How big is baby:  This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (about the size of a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended.

This week's big developments:  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 her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.  *I have not felt any hiccups yet.
 

My Body:
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. * I have had one leg cramp while sitting on the couch this week.

Its amazing how much my body has changed...I mean I have this firm belly sticking out. I get ready to take a shower, look in the mirror and smile because my body has never been this way before. It's amazing how are bodies are designed for this purpose.
 

 

Weight gain/loss:  No weight  done this week

Maternity clothes:  No purchases
Best moment this week: I am transferring to Hudson Hospital and Clinic and will be seeing an OB named Dr. Dennis Hartung, who does breech birth and provides a midwifery experience. I have heard wonderful things about him from patients, midwives, doulas, nurses, and my mom who works with him.   I chose also to switch to Hudson because  there birth center is oriented to a natural birth (if that is what the patient wants) and all providers who could potentially be at the birth are open to water birth (which was not the case at Stillwater). In addition, the nursing staff is equipped to support natural birthing and said, "if you want a natural birth we will help get you there." Overall I am relieved and excited!
Movement: Lots of movement, it's the best part of being pregnant, he is an active boy already.  Today he has been moving almost constantly ;)

Miss Anything: Being able to get comfortable easily. Getting up from sitting is not as easy as before.

Food cravings: Chocolate chocolate and more chocolate!!

Symptoms:  Lower back sore, hard to sit without getting uncomfortable quickly.
Sleep: Some days good others not good.
Anything making you queasy or sick: no
Gender: BOY!!! I cant wait to meet him.  I am getting more and more excited / anxious for his birthday to arrive!!!!

Looking forward to: Duluth this weekend, it will be nice to get a way for a day and a half. 

 

 

 

26 Weeks 6.5 Months

How far along: 26 Weeks

How big is baby:  He's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about 1 2/3 pounds and measures 14 inches (about the size of a scallion) from head to heel.

 

This week's big developments:  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. 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.
 

My Body: Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly, although it's probably still lower than it was before you got pregnant. (Typically, blood pressure falls toward the end of the first trimester, and it tends to reach a low at about 22 to 24 weeks.) 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.

 

*bending is defiantly more challenging and uncomfortable

.

 

Weight gain/loss:  No weight this week

Maternity clothes:  Purchased some long sleeve tops.
Best moment this week: Decided to take a weekend baby moon early November :)  Not sure where we will go yet. Would love suggestions. Found going home outfit, thanks to Jennifer!!! Cant wait to put him in the cozy baby gap outfit!! I think I am obsessed with wanting everything BLUE!!!

Movement: Lots of movement, it's the best part of being pregnant. He tends to move when I relax before bed or when we are hungry ;) He also has been moving more at night when I change positions.

Miss Anything: Being able to get comfortable easily.

Food cravings: Chocolate and ice cream. I constantly want to eat too. Trying to make sure I have a lots of fruit around to eat during those times. I need smaller meals more often during the day, I feel constantly hungry.

Symptoms: Some side cramping when I go on walks. Lower back sore, hard to sit without getting uncomfortable.
Sleep: Some days good others not good.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Orange juice is hard on my stomach
 Gender: BOY!!! I cant wait to meet him.  

Looking forward to: Having baby's room done, Nathan has until the first week in November to have his items out. Then I feel like I can have space to organize clothes by size and go through things.
To do:

• I am looking into possibly seeing another provider...will keep things updated as I know more. I heard really good things about this OB from Hudson (and the facility) that many homebirth midwives couldn't say enough good things about. Hudson was my first choice when I found out I was pregnant but my insurance didn't cover their midwives.
• I need to get working, again, on my birth plan.

  Done: Found and hired a Doula / Birth photographer! https://www.facebook.com/MandiMorganBirthServices

 

25 Weeks

How far along: 25 Weeks

How big is baby: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — 1 1/2 pounds — isn't much more than an average rutabaga.

 

This week's big developments:  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

 

My Body:
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.

 

Weight gain/loss:  Same

Maternity clothes:  Nothing new, need warmer tops.
Best moment this week: First baby shower hosted by Marrie (grandma to be) for family and family friends. It is so fun to actually have baby boy things to look at. It makes me want my baby boy to be here more.  Today I went through all the items to organize them and thought I would take pictures :) I am so thankful and feel so loved and supported. I am excited my baby boy will be so loved.

Movement: Lots of movement, it's the best part of being pregnant.

Miss Anything: Being able to get comfortable easily.

Food cravings: Hot chocolate has been my craving this week.  I have an abnormally crazy tolerance to spicy food!

Symptoms: I cant drink anything without having to go to the bathroom almost immediately. I feel less emotional which is so nice!
Sleep: Some days good others not good.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Orange juice is hard on my stomach
 Gender: BOY!!! I cant wait to meet him.  

Looking forward to: Getting room ready, once Nathan's stuff is out. Hoping to work on it more this weekend.

 

Recent gifts from friends :) 

Nathan's co worker

Janice

Jennifer

 

SHOWER GIFTS: