28 Week Check In!

Good Morning Pumpkin,
Sorry yet again for the late posts - but as you will read we have been very busy getting your future bedroom ready! :)

During week 25, a highlight for us was going to see a Lake Monsters Game. You appeared to enjoy it, kicking about as usual :) It was Oliver's first game and we went with a bunch of the families from the Moms group. It was a blast! These are the kinds of things we look forward to doing with you little man!

We traveled again to see Vavo and Vavo and attend a wedding of one of daddy's friends on a boat ride in Boston Harbor. We spent some time in the pool and with our family and friends and also got a nice respite from getting together the room.

I was excited to get back from the trip because I knew the baby bedding was on it's way from buy buy baby but on the ride home, I told daddy I was starting to have second thoughts about it. I had hoped that when it arrived I would be excited and that it would assuage my fears, but when it arrived, I hated it. Daddy didn't feel too strongly either way, but I couldn't bear it. SO - there was not picking out paint this week as I had hoped...but searching for NEW bedding and returning the original bedding. BUT - we DID find one we LOVE! I will have to make the comforter/wall hanging, but we LOVE it and it is nice and bright with the colors I had hoped for originally. Daddy and I both love it which is a huge deal!

 Mommy's symptoms appear to be the same - pelvic pressure, round ligament pain especially in the hips and lots of movement from YOU! During our OB appt, you sounded wonderful AND Oliver got to hear your heart beat. He just froze and was so curious. It was a stark contrast to his statement earlier that morning, "Mommy, I don't think I want baby brother to come out of your belly". It was his very first inkling of hesitation about having a little brother. Then I talked about how mommy has a little brother - T-Craig and that he is awesome. Oliver agrees so I think you're back in his good favor. :)  We have had a few HOT days that make mommys feet hurt and swell a little at night but overall, kiddo, we are doing well hanging out together for a few more months!

During week 26, I am still feeling pretty great except for some pressure I continue to have that makes me remember - wow - we must be getting closer to having this baby! I am attending my second prenatal yoga class this week to hopefully help with some of the round ligament pain and pelvic floor pressure I have been experiencing. I was also a little sore after a spill I took at work, it was raining hard and I slipped and feel on my butt. The Dr said that as long as I felt fine and didn't fall forward I was ok, but if anything was odd, I could come in any time. You were moving and grooving as usual so I felt like things were more than just ok :) thank goodness!

Cute picture of your big brother using his doctor's kit to take care of mommy. SO CUTE!

 Your brother has been doing a great deal of asking about you and this week he asked if you could come out. We told him you're not ready yet and that you can come out in October, near Halloween. You really seem to like his voice! You respond a lot to it and especially when he is getting a bath. Not sure if it's the echo or the giddiness in his voice from playing in the water, but it is very sweet. Daddy took some great video of Oliver talking to you in my tummy. It is so sweet! We are all so anxious to meet you!

This week I have continuously been working on your room and making small strides in getting it cleaned out when I am not at work or making some time to enjoy the summer with Oliver.  We went blueberry picking together and got to see some little calves at the Isham farm here in Williston. We went with the moms and kids from my mom's group. I should probably stop saying Mom's group, because that is just how we started out, but now I should just say our friends because they are so near and dear to me.  This weekend Sera, one of the moms, threw a baby celebration at her house for us pregnant moms - Stephanie (sept), Me (Oct), and Erica (dec). We all made pizza and the kids and dads and moms just hung out and enjoyed each other! It was such a great time!  I feel really lucky to have these ladies in our lives!

Erica, Mommy and Stephanie

During week 27, I am in the third trimester! It has flown by! We had a nice week together of cool weather, which for a pregnant woman in the end of July is a blessing! I did enjoy the pool with Oliver for a bit, but it was short lived as he had other plans for fun in the backyard. We also had some time picnic-ing and playing at the library just before a HUGE rain storm came in. You are more and more active with each passing day! I swear I feel you very low AND up near my ribs. I also feel ALOT of pressure still and that is very different than with Oliver - especially in the am when I wake up and at the end of the day/bedtime.

I have been spending my spare minutes cleaning out the office/spare bedroom which will soon be your room! It's a daunting task but it's moving steadily. I've also really cleared out a HUGE pile of toys Oliver had upstairs and moved them to our family/play area downstairs. We really want things to be neat and organized so we can have a spot for everything and less clutter. Until we get to a place where we can expand the house into one of the garage bays - we are moving the "office" downstairs. Right now this means a file cabinet and another black cabinet to store our office/printing supplies and family documents. Scrapbooking and sewing/crafting things will now live in the laundry room and we'll use the ping pong top of the table or the bar or ANYWHERE as our makeshift work space when we do need a "desk". We are excited that we found some things that will fit around the fish tank, will match and will make the transition to your bedroom a bit easier. We are so excited about all of these things coming into place. It means we are getting closer to making your room a reality. I cannot wait to start taking the weekly "belly" pictures IN your room vs outside your door!   I also did some shopping this week for curtains for your room and also picked up a cute blanket and a basket that I think will look GREAT. It's getting to be so REAL :)  I almost forgot to mention that your bedding came in! SO exciting! Grandma is willing to make your comforter from it too - which will be really nice. I am just so happy that we found something we LOVE! I made a board to help daddy envision your room a bit better - I think it's cool.

Aside from cleaning your room, we also spent time with Grandpa and Grandma both at ECHO as part of Grandpa's birthday gift AND out to lunch and dinner celebrating mommy's birthday a little early. It was a very nice and relaxing day. We did quite a bit of walking, which was actually really nice.   

Today I am 28 weeks and 4 days pregnant for you...80 days left until due day. This could mean more like 70 days or 90 days but I get the feeling you'll be here in October. Oliver has started to talk more about you lately and he even remembers baby brother will be here in October. This week I have been working on a hat for you for us to put on your teeny tiny head during those first few months. It still needs to be "sewn" up and a ball to be put on top, but it is so TINY I cannot believe it could possibly be done! I am going to measure it up against Oliver's newborn hat once it's out of storage, just to make sure it's a good size.

 

This week your mommy turned 33. I am starting to realize that I don't much care how old I am anymore as I am so consumed with much more important things that I am very grateful for. The whole getting old thing doesn't affect me like I once thought it might. I spent the first part of my morning taking my glucose tolerance test - crossing my fingers for great results on Monday/Tuesday! The doctor listened to your heart which sounds amazing! She said you were head down, like last time (which I didn't know) and that you were measuring 29cm in fundal height - saying you had a growth spurt this month! I just knew it from how long you felt in there lately! She also said that the pressure I am feeling is pretty normal with a second baby and nothing to be too concerned about, unless it doesn't go away.

SO far I have put on about 11lbs during the pregnancy. My goal would be to keep it to 10 more which should be just fine given that I've only put on 11 so far and that hasn't been difficult. 

 After the dr's, I came home to a cinnamon bun breakfast and coffee (thanks daddy!) and spent the morning at the beach with daddy and Oliver (and you!). It was a great time. The afternoon was spent - like much of my past few weeks, emptying the spare bedroom/office for the big move to making it YOUR room! Together, Daddy and I finally emptied it of everything minus furniture. I am thrilled. 

We went to a birthday party yesterday for our friends Stephanie and Darren's son Alex (turned 4) and had a blast! Stephanie is 6 weeks ahead of mommy, so she will be having her little boy, Peter, sometime in September.   

After the party, we picked out paint for your room. It is going to be a light gray. I cannot wait for daddy to get up and to finish getting the room ready for painting. My hope is that by the time i post next...I will have pictures galore for the blog of the paint, furniture and maybe even some accessories will be up! I am doing all I can NOT to wake daddy and get him going!

This picture was taken from the doorway in the midst of mess making. It actually got worse before it got better! The little blue bin on the floor actually has the start of things we are accumulating for you.

Oliver lying on the bed that used to be in your room! He then proceeded to jump on it ALOT! Since it's going - I allowed it :) As you can see...things cleared out quite a bit. The closet had a bunch of the things we've bought for you and the room in it (mattress etc) you can see daddy's jerseys still hanging.

I am so excited that time to meet you is getting closer every day. I am equally excited that I have some days off to work on your room and prepping your clothes, scrapbook etc in the next week and a half before school starts. We are starting to settle in to your name. Daddy says he wants to see you again before committing to it - which should be around labor day weekend ( I emailed the lady to schedule your 4D ultrasound). WE have also been shopping out photographers for maternity and newborn photos. It's so exciting!
I love you SO much already my little one. Can't wait to post pictures next week of your room and our accomplishments.
Love you tons,
mommy

Development:

Week 25

This is the 25th week of your pregnancy. You are probably feeling fine physically. You will visit the midwife of obstetrician more frequently now. You used to have an antenatal appointment once every 4 weeks that will now be once every 3 weeks.

Your bump may sometimes go hard. This is caused by the uterine muscles tightening and known as Braxton Hicks contractions. These are also known as 'pre-labour contractions' or 'practice contractions' and are signs of the uterine muscles preparing for labour. They won't harm the baby. Your bump may also go hard if you've been doing too much. If this happens a lot, or if it's not just uncomfortable but actually hurts, tell your midwife or obstetrician. He or she will probably advise you to rest more. Doing too much could impede the baby's growth.

Your baby's sense of touch has developed and he can now consciously feel things. His heartbeat will be about twice the speed of yours, so you can easily distinguish between the two. In fact, you can even hear the baby´s heartbeat through an empty toilet roll. Well, you can´t actually manage that yourself unfortunately, but your partner or someone else can. Place an empty toilet roll about 10 cm under your navel and move it around until the heartbeat can be heard. It´s a little easier to find if you know more or less what position your baby is in.

He is growing rapidly. He can still turn in any direction but can't 'swim around' in the amniotic fluid any more. His head might be pointing up one day and down the next. Your baby won't settle on a final position for birth for quite a while yet. So there's no need to worry if they tell you during your antenatal check-up that your baby is in breech position. It can change all the time!

Make sure your diet includes plenty of vitamins and minerals. DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is also especially important during pregnancy. This polyunsaturated fatty acid is an Omega-3 fatty acid and is vital to the development of the baby's brain, eyes and nervous system. The main source of DHA is oily fish, such as herring, eel, mackerel, salmon and sardines. You are advised to eat fish at least twice a week, at least once of which should be oily fish. If you don't really like fish, take a multivitamin supplement that contains DHA. Multivitamin supplements for pregnant women contain all the vital vitamins and minerals and usually also omega-3 fatty acids.

Scientific research

It emerged from Danish research that supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of premature birth. The pregnancies of the women who had taken fish oil capsules during the study lasted longer and their babies' birth weights were higher.

Another study indicated that taking DHA reduces the chance of developing toxaemia of pregnancy.

Babies fed DHA (in breast milk or formula) for at least 17 weeks after birth develop better eyesight than babies who are not fed DHA.

A Norwegian study, finally, revealed a positive connection between the IQ of four-year-old children and the intake of DHA from the second trimester of pregnancy and for the first three months of breast feeding.

Week 26

Week 26 is another milestone! If the baby were to be born now, it would have a chance of survival. We refer to babies born at less than 28 weeks as 'extremely premature'. The limit for viability is recognised as 26 weeks. At this week of pregnancy, the chance of the baby surviving outside the uterus is 81% but such a premature birth also involves considerable risks. The baby still has very little immunity and is extremely susceptible to infection. Minor brain haemorrhages could also occur quite easily. The lungs are not yet mature enough to function on their own outside the uterus. With a lot of luck and intensive care, the baby could nevertheless survive.

The baby's eyelids have been firmly closed since the 11th week but will open again this week. He can distinguish light from dark and will therefore perceive more of what happens outside the womb.

The placenta is almost as big as the baby itself.

Your baby's movements are growing stronger and your ribs or abdomen can sometimes really hurt. While not exactly pleasant, this is perfectly normal.

Your uterus has grown to quite a size now, and your intestines will be rather cramped for space. You'll probably have to wee more frequently, due to the baby pressing on your bladder. You could also develop bowel problems. Common problems during pregnancy are constipation and the opposite: diarrhoea. This is awkward and unpleasant for you but provided you eat and drink well, it won't harm the baby at all.

Has the nesting instinct hit you yet? Around the 5th month of pregnancy many mums-to-be suddenly feel an urge to tidy and clean everything. And any rebuilding or redecorating suddenly needs to be done 'right now'. This is a natural reaction as you and your body are preparing for birth. You'll want everything to be neat and tidy when the baby arrives, after all.

You may find sport is less enjoyable now than it used to be. Your bump is a lot larger and will get in the way. The only sport you can continue throughout your pregnancy is swimming. You could also join a special antenatal swimming class. The water will usually be a bit warmer and as well as swimming you will do special exercises to help prepare for the birth.

Week 27

You are in the last week of the second trimester. Your baby is not the only one going through a growth spurt, you are too. You'll put on an average of 400-500 grams a week. That won't matter; in fact it's normal. Your body is building up reserves for the baby. Nothing to worry about as long as you continue to eat a healthy diet. You'll lose the extra pounds again once you've given birth.

You might have been full of energy before but you'll notice that your energy levels will drop again from now on. You may start to feel very tired again, as you did in the early stages of pregnancy. You'll also want to be alone more (or with your partner) and want peace and quiet and rest.

Your baby is gaining weight but will not grow much more in length. He already has eyebrows and eyelashes and his eardrums are developing now. His eyes are a bluish slate grey. The eye colour will usually change, often more than once, and it can take up to a year for the final shade to settle.

Unborn babies often get hiccups. You could feel this more and more often from now.

Pelvic instability

Your body is preparing for the birth. Hormones will cause the ligaments to stretch and the cartilage to soften. This will create more space in your pelvis, enabling your baby to be born naturally. If the ligaments become too loose however, walking can be painful. This is called pelvic instability. It is quite common in pregnant women and if you are going to develop this, it will likely start at this stage.

If this is not your first pregnancy and you did suffer from pelvic instability last time, a physiotherapist or pelvic therapist could help you with some exercises. This could help prevent as many problems as possible.

Heartburn

Heartburn is another common complaint during pregnancy. The mass of hormones in your body have a relaxing effect on the valve between your throat and stomach, which enables acidic gastric juices to escape up into your throat. This is what causes heartburn during early pregnancy.

When you're around 7 months pregnant, your uterus places quite a pressure on your stomach, pushing the acidic gastric juices upwards.

Changing your eating habits may help e.g. by eating smaller portions more frequently. Try to avoid spicy food. Citrus fruits can also lead to more acid. A lot of women find eating custard or drinking hot milk helps ease the symptoms.

If none of this works, there are medicines available that won't harm the baby. Ask your midwife for advice.

Week 28

You have reached the next milestone. You are in the third and final trimester! Your baby is really starting to look like a newborn child now. His head is no longer too big compared with his body; the proportions are starting to look more normal.

The cartilage is gradually becoming bone. The baby's skull will remain soft to make birth easier. It will be well after birth before the fontanels disappear and the skull hardens.

The down or lanugo that covered the baby is starting to disappear and will be partly replaced by sebum. This is like an oily cream and will prevent the baby's skin from dehydrating. You may be able to see it just after the baby has been born. The later the birth, the less sebum will be visible.

The baby's sense of taste is developing now, as the taste buds form. Not that your baby has much to taste. Amniotic fluid is practically flavourless.

Boys and girls will start to differ in weight from about this week. Generally speaking, boys are a little heavier than girls.

24 Week check In!

Hello little pumpkin, 
Mommy is way behind on posts, but I am keep notes between them so I can keep all things fresh on my mind. It has been a busy few weeks and will be unnaturally busy over the summer with mommy working this year too. 

Development:

Week 21

There is little change compared to last week. Most of the baby's growth now is weight gain.

He might be over the halfway mark in terms of length but he still needs to put on nearly ten times his present weight! From now on, your baby will gain around 2oz/60 grams a week. You will put on around 1 lb/500 grams a week. That´s perfectly normal.

Your uterus comes up to your navel now and growing at quite a rate. Your bump seems to be getting bigger and bigger by the day.

With your uterus growing so quickly, you could find you get round ligament pains. These feel like a stitch or shooting pain in the side of your uterus. You're likely to find this happens more when you've been too busy. The only remedy is to lie down and rest. (Mommy has this a lot!!)

The baby's skin is no longer transparent. White blood cells are developing, which are vital to your baby's immunity against disease and infection. The tongue and organ of balance are fully developed. The baby will start pulling faces to exercise his facial muscles.

Week 22

The ears start to develop their final shape in week 22. By now, the baby's hearing is quite well developed and he will be able to hear sounds from outside the uterus.

If you sing the same song a lot to your baby now, he'll probably recognize it after birth and it could actually comfort him. 

The layer of fat under the skin is gradually increasing, and your baby is

looking more and more like a newborn baby. His skin is still a little wrinkly but this will improve as the weeks go by.

You are also accumulating more amniotic fluid. By the end of your pregnancy your womb will hold a liter of amniotic fluid!

The baby may often pinch the umbilical cord. That's nothing to worry about though, the vein and the two arteries in the umbilical cord are well protected. In fact, it takes quite some strength to cut the cord, as you´ll notice after the birth. By the time the baby is born the umbilical cord will be about as long as the baby.

Your child is asleep most of the time. After he is born, you´ll soon notice that your baby has a favorite sleeping position, which he is developing right now.

Week 23

Your baby weighs around 1lb 2oz/500 grams. His body is growing faster than his head so by the end of this month, the proportions will be practically the same as for a newborn baby. The fingernails and toenails are fully formed.

Your baby will start breathing now too. Not breathing in air, of course, but amniotic fluid. He's practicing what to do once he's been born. His lungs are not fully functional yet.

You may notice a little yellowish fluid leaking from your breasts. This is colostrum, the first 'milk' your baby will drink after birth (if you intend to breastfeed). It is perfectly normal for this to happen now, but equally normal if you produce no colostrum until the baby is born. So there's no reason to worry either way.

Colostrum is full of antibodies and protects the baby from infection and disease. Compared with normal feed, colostrum has much higher levels of protein, vitamins and minerals and lower levels of fat and sugar. It stimulates the digestive system and is, in effect, a natural laxative ensuring that the baby's organs dispose of all the waste that has collected in its little body during pregnancy. The colostrum will turn to milk after 3-5 days. The fluid will gradually become thinner and turn from yellowish to a bluish white. You will produce normal breast milk within about ten days of giving birth.

Many women develop anemia around now. This is due to your body´s rapid growth and the extra blood you have to produce. This may result in low iron levels, which can make you feel weak, faint and even a little dizzy at times. Your iron level or Hb level (Hemoglobin) can be tested using a special device. All it takes is a single drop of blood from your finger. If your iron level is too low, you will be advised to eat more iron-rich foods. If this doesn't help raise your Hb level, then you could be prescribed iron tablets.

You may find you develop reddish stretch marks, so-called striae, on your abdomen, breasts, legs and/or bottom. They are harmless and caused by the skin stretching due to rapid growth. You can keep your skin supple with oil or a special cream but you cannot prevent striae. Whether or not you develop stretch marks depends on your skin. After your pregnancy they will fade to a pale pink or white, but will not disappear altogether.

Week 24

The end of the second trimester is in sight now. You are nearly two thirds of the way through your pregnancy and have probably started counting the weeks away.

The baby is quite big and strong already and is now much easier to feel from the outside. Pregnancy is much more fun for the father now. If he gently rubs his hand over your bump he will feel the baby react, and the baby may also react to his voice.

The fetus is covered with fine, soft hair, called lanugo. His delicate skin is protected by a waxy film called as 'vernix.' This could still be on your baby's skin during birth but will soon be absorbed. It will usually still only be visible on premature or early babies. Babies born well after the 40th week are often completely 'clean'. 

The baby's hearing is fully developed. He may respond to things going on around you, such as rows or hard noises. Your baby might not respond to external influences but will respond to your reaction. Try to avoid that kind of stress as much as possible, as it could make him or her very restless. You could notice a similar effect after birth, if your baby cries a lot, for instance.

Your baby has developed a pattern of sleeping and waking. This pattern need not necessarily be the same as yours. Often enough, in fact, it will be the exact opposite. While you are busy doing things, you rock the baby to sleep, as it were. Then, just as you finally sit down to relax or go to bed, the baby becomes highly active!

He will sleep for most of the time though, between 16 and 20 hours a day. The baby needs that much sleep to be able to grow as quickly as he does. Most of the vital organs are well developed by now; just the lungs are not fully functional yet. Inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid will help the lungs mature enough for the baby to survive outside the womb.

Your child's spine consists of about 150 joints and 1000 ligaments.

Up to now, the fetus has had very little fat and been very skinny. From this week on, fat will start to accumulate under the baby´s skin. This fat will enable your child to maintain the ideal body temperature after birth. That's why premature babies are often placed in an incubator until they have reached a weight (approx. 5 1/2 kbs/2500 grams) that will enable them to regulate their body temperature themselves.  (info courtesy of pregnology.com)