19 Weeks!

What's up with Babyopolis?
 
Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

What's up with Stephopolis?

Much the same as last week.  Lots of kicks and rolls and little vibrations to keep me amused and I'm feeling pretty good.  I think bebe is going through a bit of a growth spurt and I can feel my round ligaments stretching.

I'm insanely hungry all the time these days and I basically graze the entire day.  If I don't eat, or ignore my hunger cues, I get SUPER CRANKY and ornery.  So it's really better for everyone if I get food :)

Bullet points!

• How far? I'm 19 weeks 3 days
• Cravings: raspberries, cheezies, salt, popcorn
• Aversions: Nada
• Workouts: Prenatal yoga and some walks
• Appointments: Nothing this week, but next Wednesday we have our big ultrasound!!
• Babyopolis movements?All the time! I mostly notice it when I'm sitting and hunched over (probably because bebe is squished), but the movements are getting more distinct everyday.

18 Weeks!

What's up with Babyopolis?

 Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. From here.

What's up with Stephopolis?

I feel pretty good :) They call the second trimester the 'honeymoon period' of pregnancy because everything is copacetic.  The nausea and exhaustion from the first trimester are gone, and the uncomfortable hugeness of the third trimester is still in the future.  It's basically the best 3 months of pregnancy and I can see why!

I've fully embraced my belly band and it's made my life so much more comfortable.  I strongly feel that every woman should have one of these - even when they aren't pregnant.  They're perfect for fat days, or days when you plan to hit the buffet. I have to figure out a way to market these to the general population because they're definitely missing out on this fantastic wardrobe secret!

 I took this picture right after coming back from my appointment.  I'm in pregnancy jeans with my belly band.


Thoughts about pain management during labour

I had a prenatal appointment this morning, so this topic is at the forefront of my mind.  Even though labour is still several months away, we talked a little bit about pain management techniques and the midwifery approach to pain mitigation.

At this point in time, I really want to labour as naturally as possible, using techniques such as water immersion, massage, counter pressure, etc. to make the pain as manageable as possible.  However, I'm realistic enough to know that I might end up needing other methods of pain management, like an epidural.  My midwives approach pain management in the sense that they will never withhold methods like epidurals from labouring women, but they will work with the woman and the woman's partner first to see what natural techniques will work.

I think this is a really rational and balanced way to work and, while I'm confident that birth is a natural process and I trust my body and my midwives to help support me through it, I'm happy to know that if I do need an epidural, I'll have access to one with no problems.

Bullet points!

• How far? I'm 18 weeks 4 days
• Cravings: watermelon (I devoured one quarter of one the other day...), salty, cheesy snacks.
• Aversions: Nada
• Workouts: Prenatal yoga and a few walks (more scheduled for this week).
• Appointments: Just fresh from a prenatal appointment :) Everything is measuring perfectly and the midwife found the heartbeat in about 3 seconds.  Like bebe's heart was beating away at a strong and healthy 144.
• Babyopolis movements? Yep :) Mostly still flutters and vibrations, but I've also felt 2 distinct prods, which feel kind of like kicks! I must say, feeling baby movements is a wonderful distraction in boring meetings!

17 Weeks!

Somehow the entirety of Week 16 got away from me, so you get a 17 week update instead :)

What's up with Babyopolis?

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop(From here.)

What's up with Stephopolis?

No more morning sickness!! Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself, but I'm off my Diclectin and haven't been sick in the morning for a while now (woo!).  It's so nice getting up and NOT spending 10 minutes face first in the toilet bowl.

I'm getting some round ligament pain now and then and my pelvis and hips are starting to get a bit sore after I work out or walk long distances.  It's nothing that doesn't go away after sitting with my feet up for a while, but I have a feeling it might get worse as the months progress. 

Because I'm still in clothing limbo, I bought a belly band to help extend the wear of my pre-pregnancy work pants.  Plus, it just looks super comfy :)

Bullet points!

• How far? I'm 17 weeks exactly
• Cravings: WATERMELON (just ate some now!) and frozen raspberries and cheetos
• Aversions: Nothing :) I ate pork in thai food last night, so that was a successful re-introduction to that particular protein.
• Workouts: Walks, including an extra long walk yesterday, and pre-natal yoga tomorrow
• Number of times we've used the doppler: Nothing since the Easter weekend
• Babyopolis movements? Yes! Some small flutters on my left side.  I don't notice it all the time, but when I'm sitting kind of scrunched up, it's pretty noticeable.  I'm looking forward to the feelings becoming more distinct soon!

15 Weeks!

What's up with Babyopolis?
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. (From here.)

What's up with Stephopolis?

Still sick in the mornings.  And I think my hair-trigger gag reflex is to blame.  I sleep with a bite guard to prevent grinding my teeth (sexy), and when I take it out in the morning, that's when I start to heave.  At least it doesn't seem to be food related, which is good.  And once I've been sick once in the morning, I usually feel fine for the rest of the day.  But this is one symptom that I really hope will go away soon!

I also had to retire my first pair of work pants.  They were fine in the morning, but as the day progressed they became more and more restrictive and uncomfortable, to the point where I was massively distracted for the entire back half of my work day.  I have never been so happy to get into my pyjama pants.  So now I'm at that kind of awkward stage where I'm getting a bit big for regular pants, but I'm still not 'bumpy' enough for maternity pants.  Grr.

Also, there's no picture for this week (because I forgot!), but I'm spending the Easter weekend with the fam in Nanoose, so I'll take a nice scenic picture for my 16 week update :) 

Bullet points!

• How far? I'm 15 weeks 6 days pregnant
• Cravings: WATERMELON!!
• Aversions: Still pork.  
• Workouts: Prenatal yoga and a walk.  Hoping to up the number of walks this week :)
• Number of times we've used the doppler: Once, for Adam's parents
• Anything else?: I'm anxiously awaiting the first movements of Babyopolis which, according to
  the internet, I should start to feel sometime around week 18, although mom felt movements earlier when she was pregnant with me, so maybe I'll luck out and feel them at week 16. Exciting!