Week 31

Dear Bun,

This week you are up to around 3.3 lbs and could be as long as 18 inches- you are quickly approaching your birth length but will still pack on some pounds over the next few weeks.  This week, you can now turn your head from side to side, and you have fat accumulating on your arms, legs, and body.  I feel like I write this every week, but you are still so active!  I gave up on doing kick counts because it would be easier for me to count when you are not moving! 

I went to the doctor last week for a checkup and they say we are doing great, and that all your activity is a sign of a healthy baby, so I'll gladly take the jabs in the stomach.  While I was at the doctor, the nurse was checking your heartbeat like always and we noticed that my stomach kept moving up and down.  She said you had the hiccups and it was funny to see them from the outside!  After that, I started watching my stomach in the evenings, and sure enough, I can usually see where you are based on where my stomach is poking out.  I can seen you kicking and punching from the outside now! 

Last week, we also finalized your daycare.  Daycare has been hard to find, but I talked to someone at the gym that told me about a smaller center close by that is like a neighborhood secret since they don't advertise- they like to be found by word of mouth.  So, of course I visited the center, met the 2 directors, and I really like it!  It is smaller than some of the other places we looked, but I like that.  They only take a max of 5 infants at one time (only have 3 now) so you will get to know your teachers better and hopefully less kids= less germs so you won't get sick as much. They are also really flexible, have a good curriculum, and are a church center.  I will take you over there several times during my maternity leave so you can get used to Miss Vicky and Miss Tammy, and both of us will feel more comfortable when I have to leave you there full time. 

Here we are at 31 weeks! I think I have had a growth spurt the past 2-3 weeks because my stomach seems so big now!  I noticed the other day that I can no longer see my feet when I stand up.  So far, I have gained 25 lbs, which my doctors seem pleased with and think is "on-track" given my pre-pregnancy size.  I have noticed that lately, I have to eat smaller, more frequent meals because my stomach can't expand to the size it used to!  I get full very quickly, but I have to eat frequently to keep you happy, so that's been an adjustment :)

Here is the 31 week bump picture:

Love,
Mom

Week 30

Dear Bun,

10 weeks to go! I can't believe we are now in the 30's!  You are around 17 inches long and just over 3 lbs now.  Your big developments this week are your brain- it is preparing for life outside the womb and is starting to develop grooves and indentations just like an adult brain.  One thing your brain is taking on now is temperature regulation.  Several weeks ago, you started growing lanugo (hair to keep you warm) but now your brain is capable of turning up the heat, so you are starting to shed that lanugo that has been keeping you warm up until now. 

I have still been feeling good, aside from being really tired most evenings.  I had to travel last week and it is starting to get uncomfortable. I can no longer bend over in my seat to get something out of my bag, and I have to put a pillow behind my back now because those airplane seats have no support.  I am hoping this will be my last trip, I am supposed to go to Maine next month, but I may see if I can just conference in for the meeting.  The good thing about traveling while being pregnant is that people are so nice!  Everyone was trying to help me with my bag, talk to me about you, tell me about thier babies, etc.  It's amazing how a whole new network opens up once you have parenthood in common. 

Last week, we took a tour of the maternity ward at the hospital.  It was very surreal to think that we will be there in 10 or so weeks!  The hospital you will be born at is Presbyterian Hospital.  It is about 3 miles from our house. The facilities are very nice and high-tech.  For example, every now and then a few years ago, you would hear of "baby snatching" where someone would sneak into the nursery and take a newborn.  Well I found out that now, you will have an ankle monitor on you right after you are born, and if anyone (even me) takes you outside a certain radius, the hospital shuts down!  All the elevators are stopped and the exits are locked.  We saw the room where I would deliver you, and then the room we would go for recovery, and I thought both were very nice.  They had tv's, hookups for ipods, stereos, dvd players, jacuzzi tubs, etc.  I don't think your dad was very impressed with the sleeping arrangements for him, but we probably won't be getting much sleep anyway. 

Here we are at 30 weeks! 

Look how far we've come!

Love,

Mom

Week 29: Squash

Dear Bun,

This is the last week of the 20's, yikes!  You are around 2 1/2 lbs and just over 15 inches long.  This week, fat deposits are beginning to store underneath your skin, so you should be at an all time high for energy levels.  I believe it too!  When I was at the doctor last week, they told me to start counting your kicks every day or so to make sure you are active.  I am supposed to feel you move 10 times per hour, and if not, I'm supposed to eat or drink something to see if I can get you moving.  Ok, so I sat down to read and I felt 10 movements within 15 minutes!  I used to just feel you in one spot, but now I am starting to feel jabs on the left and right side at the same time, so I think you are kicking and punching together.  Your bones are also soaking up alot of calcuim now, which explains my milk consumption lately.  I go through a gallon in about 3-4 days- that's with just me drinking it too!  Usually a gallon will last both of us at least a week, but not these days.  

I started having lower pack pains on my left side late last week, so I decided to go to the doctor.  Apparently, it's just my SI joint loosening, which is what it's supposed to do in preparation for labor.  The doctor said that the only cure was delivery, but I told my pilates instructor about it, and she showed me some stretches I could do for it, and it helped alot.  It's not totally better, but at least I can walk without a limp now, and can do most of my normal activities.  So, other than back pain, I seem to be doing pretty good.  Every week, it seems like I notice something I can't do anymore though.  Like today, I was trying to paint my toenails, and that was almost impossible.  Tying my shoes is also challenging now.   Something tells me you'll be worth it all though.

Love,
Mom

Week 28

Dear Bun,

We have officially made it to the third trimester, and are now seven months along!  You should weigh around 2 1/4 lbs and could be as long as 16 inches now.  You are mastering all sorts of activities including: blinking, coughing, sucking, hiccupping, and taking practice breaths.  You have also started dreaming and are now getting REM sleep.  I went to the doctor last week, and your heartbeat was a strong 150 bpm and you are measuring right on track.  I also had to get checked for gestational diabetes (they test everyone now) and we passed, woo hoo!  I celebrated later with a sweet treat of frozen yogurt for us :)

I am still doing well, although I had an episode of pregnancy hormonal emotions yesterday.  I cried during my pilates lesson.  Yes, it's embarassing now, but at the time I was so frustrated.  See, my body has been telling me all week I needed to slow down, and I have always had a hard time relaxing, so I have not been listening to my body like I should.  By the time Friday came, my back hurt so bad, but I still instisted on cleaning the bathroom and going to the gym on Saturday morning like always.  Then, I had a pilates session, and 5 minutes into the class, I made it through 20 reps of "The Hundred" and my back was piercing pain by that point.  My eyes started welling up and before I knew it, the owner was over me telling me to lay on my side and drink water.  I finished the class, with lots of modifications to the exercises, but after I came home, John would not let me do anything but sit on the couch with the heating pad.  I snuck a few breaks to clean and do laundry, but other than that, I sat all day. I am trying to not do as much, but it's been really challenging since I like to keep busy on the weekends. This was just proof that my body can't do as much as it used to be able to do because I have a much more important job to do now, like make room for you :) Oh and I got an email from my pilates instructor checking on me today, I guess I caused quite a scene over at the studio and everyone wanted to make sure I was alright.

So, other than my emotional outbreak, I am still doing well.  It seems like almost overnight, my belly got really hard and my belly button is so stretched now, I wonder if it will turn into an "outie" one of these days.  I registered us for our child birth classes and an infant CPR class and am starting to look for pediatricians too.  This is really happening fast it seems!

Love you,

Mom

Weeks 26-27

Dear Bun,

You are still the size of an eggplant, but have put on some weight in the past 2 weeks, you should be around 2 lbs now.  You are now sleeping and waking at regular intervals (although you are still very active at night!) but the most exciting development this week is that you have started opening your eyes!  Up until now, they have been fused shut, but by now they should be opening and closing regularly. Another interesting fact is that you have more taste buds right now than you will ever have in your entire life.  You can taste different flavors in the amniotic fluid based on what I eat, and some people claim that shapes what foods you prefer as an adult.  If there is any truth to that, you will be eating ALOT of dairy because I can't seem to get enough milk and cheese. 

This Thursday will start the third trimester!  I can't believe it's going by so fast.  I am still feeling good, but I think I have reached the point in pregnancy where you say goodbye to sleep.  I wake up every hour or two either because I am getting kicked, have to go to the bathroom, or have to switch sides (since I have to sleep on my side now).  Maybe this is nature's way of preparing me to wake up in the middle of the night with you? 

Last week was Christmas, and we spent it with John's family in Michigan.  You are not even here yet, and you already got several Christmas presents!  Next summer, we are going to take you back to Michigan for John's grandmother's 85th birthday and you will get to meet lots of people from your dad's side of the family.  Everyone is so excited to meet you!  This week, my mom has been in town and we are working on your nursery.  It's starting to come together and I love the way everything looks so far. 

The picture below was taken on Christmas when I was 26 weeks, and the second picture is from 27 weeks.  I have not gained much weight since Thanksgiving, but I know that most people gain rapidly at the end, so I'm not too worried. 

Love,
Mom