May 2 - The Birth

We welcomed our healthy baby girl into the world on May 2. Here's the birth story:

We checked into the hospital on Tuesday evening expecting to get Cervadil to prepare my cervix for induction on Wednesday. When I got to triage, they decided that I was dilated enough to try a different method of induction. They checked me into a labor and delivery room and then inserted a catheter with a bulb on the end that they inflated with saline to expand my cervix to 4 centimeters. They also started the Pitocin. I immediately requested an epidural! I got my epidural a few hours later after I had progressed to about 4cm.

Overnight, I got to 7cm. But in the morning my cervix had failed to progress past 7cm (the goal is to get to 10 and then push the baby out). After some additional attempts to adjust the Pitocin, it began to look like the baby was not going to delivery through my birth canal. I consented to the C-section.

The surgery was atypical. There have been several suggestions from my doctors, nurses and anesthesiologists about what happened, but I experienced too much sensation and sharp pain in my abdominal area. I was in pretty bad shape by the time they delivered her, but I got to see her crying before they took her over to the warmer. Once they began removing the placenta, I was in really severe pain and so the anesthesiologist gave me some serious drugs. It pretty much knocked me out and I didn't really come back to reality until sometime later in the recovery room. My baby was doing great - she scored a 9 out of 10 on her APGAR test - very healthy. She weighed 8 lbs 12 oz and measured 21 inches long. She has lots of dark hair.

Other than that first glimpse over the curtain in surgery, I don't remember meeting my daughter until I was checked into my hospital room. But 1.5 hours after she was born, I was able to hold and nurse her. It was love again at second sight! My husband did a great job supporting me during the whole experience. Baby girl and I are lucky to have him...we're all doing really well now.

Week 41 - Induction

What's up with baby in week 41: she's still in the womb. Today I am 4 days past my due date. We've had several non-stress tests and the baby is still doing fine. So she's fine, but late.

What's up with mom: I am not so happy that she's this much overdue. I was hoping for her to come by the end of the weekend, but that didn't happen. So we saw our doctor on Monday and decided the plan would be that if she didn't come on her own by Tuesday afternoon, I'd come to the hospital on Tuesday evening and get checked in. So Tuesday night (tonight) I'm going to get Cervadil to further ripen my cervix. As of Monday I was at 2 centimeters. Then on Wednesday morning, they'll start Pitocin to bring on the labor contractions. Sometime Wednesday the baby will arrive!

I'm a little stressed about having medication intervention to bring on what I thought would be a natural process. But I have to stay positive and remind myself that at the end of it all, as long and me and the baby are both healthy, then everything is as it should be. I can't wait to meet her!

Week 40 - Due Date is Here

What's up with baby in week 40: well, like the majority of women, it looks like I won't be delivering on my exact due date, which is today April 27. We've been to the antepartum testing room at the hospital twice to have a non-stress test to make sure the baby is doing well. She is doing awesome...maybe she is too happy just hanging out in the womb. I have plenty of amniotic fluid and she is getting plenty of what she needs from the placenta. Her heart rate is right where it should be.

What's up with mom: My parents arrived a few days ago and we've spent the last few days shopping for those last minute must haves before the baby comes (you know....must haves like a new summer handbag). I have been having some stronger contractions and bouts of more frequent contractions, but nothing even close to real labor. This morning during the non-stress test I didn't even have one contraction. The plan is to see what happens over the weekend and then I'll be back in the hospital on Monday morning to have another non-stress test and then meet with my doctor.

I am ready to have the baby. Not in the sense that my pregnancy is unbearable. I actually feel pretty good for being full term. I have been sleeping through most nights without too much trouble. I am ready to have the baby so I can meet her and begin to experience parenting. I am not looking forward to going through the labor and delivery however. Especially now that it's my due date and nothing seems to be happening, I am beginning to worry about what happens if my body doesn't want to cooperate for a natural delivery, and what happens if I need to have a C-section.

Week 39 - Tour of Labor and Delivery

What's up with baby in week 39: our doctor did an ultrasound again this week and guessed that the baby weighs about 7lb 11oz! I hope she doesn't plan on getting any bigger. Our doctor estimates that she could put on as much as four more ounces a week. All her organ systems are fully developed and ready to go. The last organs to mature are the lungs. She is still active and moves around but with what feels like much more restricted movement.

What's up with mom: I am about as big as I will (and want to) get. I have put on about 30-35 pounds. I feel really good at this point in the pregnancy. Symptoms I've been dealing with in the last trimester include some bouts with swollen feet and ankles, usually getting worse as the work week progressed and then going away over the weekend. I have also had some heartburn but not bad enough to keep me from sleeping normally with just one pillow under my head. I certainly feel large and have a hard time navigating around the big belly to put on shoes and socks. I walk much slower these days and get tired and winded easily, but that hasn't stopped me from attending a few parties and doing some shopping.

This past Saturday, my husband and I went in to tour the Labor and Delivery facilities at our hospital. They had been busy the last few days and all of the postpartum rooms were full. We were able to view two different versions of the labor and birthing rooms. I was glad to see that their was plenty of space, each has a private bathroom and a living room area for my husband and guests. I was also glad to learn that once our baby is born, she is placed immediately on my stomach so we can say hi, and then taken only a few feet away to get weighed and cleaned up a bit before being brought right back to me so I can hold and feed her. Only after I'm ready, is she taken to the nursery for her bath, and I will get taken to the postpartum room where we'll stay for about 2-3 days.

I'm happy to note that yesterday was my last day at work and now I'm on leave. I have really great co-workers who had a shower for me last week. Yesterday, I went to lunch with some of my closer girlfriends from the office. They got the baby some very cute outfits and got me a gift certificate to my salon. I look forward to getting a haircut and manicure before having the baby (if she stays put next week and doesn't decide to come early). I look forward to bringing the baby in to meet them a few months after she is born.

Week 38 - Winding Down Work

What's up with baby in week 38: as the baby settles down into the pelvis, she can put pressure on nerves that feel like a little electrical buzz down the legs and in the pelvic area. I think I felt this twice last night, it was like a very small electric shock down the back of my right leg. Luckily it wasn't a lasting feeling like a pinched nerve. My doctor estimated that my baby weighs as much as 7 lbs at this point!

What's up with mom: I have begun counting down the days I have left in the office before I start my maternity leave. As of today, I have only 4 days left. I've been starting to experience "pregnancy brain" so it's harder to concentrate and remember everything as easily as I used to. My co-workers threw me a baby shower yesterday. It was great. They were very generous, so the baby has even more new outfits to look forward to! I am looking forward to a few days of rest after I go on leave and before the baby comes. While I don't want her to be late, I also don't want her to come too early and cut into my last few days of "vacation time."

My most recent visit to the Doctor was uneventful. I am still 1 cm dilated. I am 50% effaced. The doctor says that everything measures good and that the baby's heartbeat sounds perfect. I dropped off the insurance and FMLA forms for him to fill out. Also, my husband and I are taking a tour of the Labor and Delivery area at the hospital this Saturday, so we have just a few more things to accomplish before we're ready for baby.

Week 37 - Why I Missed My Dr. Appt.

What's up with baby in week 37: she is practicing her breathing and still gets the hiccups. I can feel her moving, but as she gets larger each week, the variety of movements seems to have reduced. I get feet in the ribs and what I think might be stretching (at least that's what happens to my abdomen) as she pushes her butt out one way and her feet out the other. It's pretty amazing to think that the life that has been forming inside me will be a real baby, out in the world in just a few weeks.

What's up with mom: so I missed my doctor appointment this week. I'm at the point in the pregnancy where I go in every week, and originally I was supposed to go on Wednesday. But then something came up at work, so I rescheduled it for Thursday. And then I found out a friend of mine got us tickets to see the Oprah show. I figured that was a good enough reason to skip the doctor. I called the office and at first the nurse didn't really want to let me out of the appointment, so I had to be honest with her. "But I just got tickets to see Oprah! Isn't that one of the best excuses you've ever heard?" She conceded that yes, it was a pretty good excuse...I heard someone else in the background saying, "Girl, you go to Oprah!" So I did. They office re-booked me for Monday. Unfortunately, Oprah wasn't giving away cars or even miracle bra's today. The show was live, which was interesting. The topic was autism, which was informative but sad. Oprah interviewed parents of autistic kids and it turns out that there is very little medically know about the cause and treatment for autism. They didn't take many questions or comments from the audience during the show, so I doubt I made it onto TV, but it was neat to be there to see Oprah in person and see what goes on during a live broadcast.

Week 36 - 1cm Dilated!

What's up with baby in week 36: she is preparing for birth. She has moved into the head down position. I can tell because I have noticed more pressure on my bladder and feet kicking me in the ribs.

What's up with mom: sorry if this is gross, but I am happy to report that I am 1 cm dilated. At my doctor's appointment this week, my pelvic exam revealed that my body is getting ready down there for birth. I am also 25% effaced. I learned what thse things mean recently, so I'll share that info with you. Again, sorry if this is gross...think of it like an anatomy and physiology lesson. Dilation referes to how large the opening of the cervix is. For most of the pregnancy, the cervix is not dilated....so it's at zero. As contractions begin (even the Braxton Hicks ones I've been having the last 6 weeks or so) the cervix will feel pressure to open. That starts it down the path of going from zero (not open) to 10. At 10 centimeters dilated, the cervix is open enough for the baby to be pushed out. See my comments on Stage 2 of Labor in week 34. The cervix also goes through a shortening process. The cervix is already a short tunnel between the utereus and the vagina. Effacement is the process of it getting even shorter as the baby pushes down against it. 25% effaced means my cervix is about 1/4 of the way thinned out. When the baby is ready to come, it will be 100% effaced (as short as possible) to allow the baby through. I think it's pretty amazing that the female body is so well equipped to build another person and prepare to bring her into the world without the owner of that body (me!) having to think anything about it.

Week 35 - Baby Wise

What's up with baby in week 35: she is getting close to the 5 lb weight mark and will continue to put on about a half a pound a week for the rest of the pregnancy. She continues to be, what I would consider, very active in the womb. I guess she hasn't run out of room to move around.

What's up with mom: I'm continuing to read about labor and what to expect with a newborn. Have I mentioned the book Baby Wise yet? The full title is 'On Becoming Baby Wise' by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam. It's the self proclaimed classic sleep reference guide utilized by over 1 million parents worldwide. I hope to find that the book's advice on how to synchronize an infant's feeding, waketime and sleep cycles will result in a healthy and happy baby and give my husband and I the best chance at sleep ourselves. The book espouses a parent directed feeding plan where the parent uses her best judgement to find the right balance between feeding when the baby seems to wants to be fed and feeding on a strict clock schedule. It is helpful in breaking out different phases over the baby's first year to year and a half.

Week 34 - Learning About Labor

What's up with baby in week 34: she just continues to get bigger and bigger. She now weights about 4 lbs 7 oz. She is about 16.8 inches in length.

What's up with mom: my abdomen also continues to get bigger and bigger. I have been reading about labor. There are three major stages. Stage 1 is when mom starts to have contractions that are regular and increasing in frequency and intensity. As the contractions intensify, mom moves to the "active" phase of stage 1. At this point, I will know I'm really in labor and will probably plan to get a move on to the hospital. The end of the first stage of labor is called "transition." During transition (which some resources say is a short but challenging part of labor), contractions become very close together but compare in intensity to the contractions from the active phase of stage 1. The end of the transition phase marks the end of stage 1 of labor. Mom is now fully dilated.

Stage 2 of labor is the pushing phase. Contractions will get further apart and will feel different (let's hope that with an epidural, they don't feel like very much at all) and mom will be instructed on how to actively participate in pushing the baby out. Stage 2 ends with the birth of the baby! Hopefully this stage will not also involve an episiotomy or a C-section.

Stage 3 of labor almost seems to be an after thought. Hopefully by now, mom is gleefully holding the new baby. In stage 3, mom will be instructed to give several small pushes to deliver the placenta. Nursing the baby right away will help speed up this stage.

Baby shower #2. Our small group threw us a couple baby shower. This was really fun since my husband was able to attend along with our friends and their husbands. The guys seemed to enjoy the games as much as we did. Who doesn't want to sniff baby diapers "soiled" with melted candy bars in a Name That Poo game. Like any good shower, we had wonderful food and received more gifts that we would ever have hoped for. We have great friends!

Week 33 - Hiccups

What's up with baby in week 33: she is getting so big! She weights about 4 lbs. The amount of amniotic fluid measures 2 pints. The baby's lungs have a coating of surfactant on the aveoli which helps her breathe after birth. After this week, if I went into labor my doctors wouldn't do anything to stop it, since the baby has a good chance of being just fine.

What's up with mom: I am still amused at how active my baby is. I like to watch the distortions of my abdomen as she pushes and kicks and stretches. For many weeks now, she has also been having the hiccups. This results in a rhythmic pulsing that is much more frequent than the hiccups people get. I've read that they don't bother the baby, and I guess they don't bother me that much either.

I'm looking at list of classes provided by my hospital: Childbirth Education, Refresher Prenatal, Cesarean Birth, Infant and Child CPR, Breastfeeding, Siblings, and Tours of Labor and Delivery. I will probably go to the Breastfeeding class and the take the Tour of Labor and Delivery with my husband.

Week 32 - Baby Shower

What's up with baby in week 32: her movements will peak this week (and let me tell you, she is quite a mover and shaker). She has put on a lot of weight since last month, mostly in fat and muscle tissue, so now she weighs about 3 lbs 11 oz and measures 15.8 inches in length.

What's up with mom: My friends threw me a baby shower this past weekend. It was a wonderful event. We did an afternoon tea with games like try to identify the baby food flavor (some baby food doesn't taste very good) and guess how big around my belly is. Each guest had to cut a piece of ribbon that they thought represented my circumference. Some folks were way off, but my mom ended up being the winner, only off by about an inch and a half. Everyone wrote advice for me on a 3x5 card and I tried to guess who gave me each piece of advice. One of my friends mom's made a really cute diaper cake. The two tired "cake" was made of rolled up newborn diapers and was decorated by baby toys, socks and pacifiers. It was really cute. I felt very honored by all the work that went into the event...it was so much fun and the cute baby gifts will all be much used.

This week marks the turning point where we start going to the doctor every two weeks. It's a long story, but we were there two weeks ago for an ultrasound but couldn't meet with our doctor. So we were back this week, and will be back two weeks from today. After that the frequency bumps up to once a week. Luckily my hospital is easily accessible from work or home so it's not so bad to go more often. But I joked with my husband that it would be nice if I could just pee in a cup at home and mail it to them.

Week 31 - Heartburn and Waddling

What's up with baby in week 31: The baby's irises can now dilate and contract in response to light. Due to the deposits of white fat underneath the skin, the baby's skin is no longer red but pink. She weighs about 3 lbs 5 ounces. Her fingernails may reach to the end of her fingers.

What's up with mom: I have been having some heartburn this week. So far in my pregnancy, it has only cropped up once or twice...but this week I've had it four out of five evenings. I've been trying to eat smaller and more frequent meals to help, but I am beginning to think it might be more related to the foods I'm choosing. I have some fruit juices that I've been drinking this week that might not be a good match to stomach acidity, namely orange juice.

I learned from reading online that my pregnant body is now creating a hormone called relaxin. It's what loosens the joints of the pelvis to make it possible for the baby to be born. Apparently it also contributes to waddling. I try to be aware of how I walk to make sure I'm not waddling, at least not in public. Overall, I feel really good.

Week 30 - Feels Like a Milestone

What's up with baby in week 30: for my baby in particular, everything is average. That's good news for us. We had another visit to the doctor this week and they did a fairly indepth ultrasound to measure the important stuff and look around in general at how our baby is developing. She looks perfect. That's always such good news to hear. She hit the 3 lbs mark - a milestone! She is SO active it keeps me awake sometimes and is getting entertaining at work...sometimes I wonder if anyone can see the movement of my abdomen from across the conference table.

What's up with mom: I feel like I've reached such a milestone. 30 out of 40 weeks! Just 10 more to go. I am having Braxton Hicks contractions from time to time. The uterus (which is really just a muscle) flexes and my whole abdomen gets hard. Apparently the baby can feel it but she isn't bothered by it. I feel kinda the same way. I can feel it, but it doesn't hurt. I am at the point where I feel like my due date is getting close, but in reality, it's still 2.5 months away. Sometimes I hope it will hurry up (mostly so I can take maternity leave) but on the other hand, it's the calm before the storm for my husband and I so I should enjoy this time we have now.

Week 29 - Fat Ankles

What's up with baby in week 29: she is beginning to regulate her own temperature (which is good in Chicago this time of year) and her bone marrow is completely in charge of creating red blood cells. It feels and looks like my abdomen is her aerobics studio. She moves around like crazy, so much so at times that my stomach juts out and ripples and bulges visibly, even under my clothes. She is most active after I get home from work and before bed. This week her weight is about 2 lbs 9 oz.

What's up with mom: I thought about this and decided to swallow my vanity and admit that I have fallen victim to one of pregnancy's less attractive side effects. Two days ago (end of week 29) my ankles suddenly puffed up. It happened out of nowhere. The rest of me (I am happy to report) is not puffy at all except in the expected places. The rest of the good news is that this seemed to be a short-term occurrence. My ankles are now back to normal. I stuck a box under my desk at work so I can keep my feet elevated and that seems to be helping a lot. Other goings on with me...I'm looking forward to my baby shower that is coming up in a few weeks. But before that I turn 30 (this Saturday). Last weekend I celebrated with a friend who just turned 30 at the end of Jan. We had an extravagant dinner out and then followed up with a party and a three tiered chocolate cake decorated with fresh flowers and strawberries. Since I wasn't going to be able to indulge in wine or cocktails on my birthday, I thought I'd make up for it with cake :) The party aside, I do feel like my 30th birthday is being completely eclipsed by having a baby...the baby just seems like so much more of a life change. It's a good way to say goodbye to my free-wheeling 20s.

Week 28 - Rogam Shot and Glucose Test

What's up with baby in week 28: she is in the phase of development where she just keeps getting bigger. Pretty much everything is created and in good working order. She will be adding body mass and growing eyelashes this week . She weighs about 2 lbs 4 oz.

What's up with mom: I went to the doctor for my monthly appointment. No ultrasound this time. It's the first appointment without one. We did listen to the heartbeat. This week I got to do my glucose test. At my last appointment they gave me the Tang colored drink and I put it in the fridge at my work. 1 hour before my appointment, I drank it. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...some people had been telling me how horrible it tastes. Then when I got to my appointment they took a urine and blood sample to test my glucose levels to find out if I have gestational diabetes. Luckily I don't. I would have a VERY hard time staying away from sweets. As I type this, a co-worker has just given me half her oatmeal chocolate chip cookie from Potbelly's. I didn't even ask...she just gave it to me, honest.

Also at this doctors appointment, I got a Rogam shot. I had been expecting one. The reason for the shot is that I have RH Negative blood and my husband has RH Positive. That means there is a chance my baby has RH Positive blood. If she does, then if any of her blood gets into my bloodstream, my immune system would develop antibodies. It's not a risk to this pregnancy, but if my next pregnancy is RH Positive, my antibodies would not play nice and it would be a really difficult pregnancy and risky for the baby. So the Rogam shot basically will stop by immune system from forming antibodies to and RH Positive blood. The effects of the shot last 12 weeks (I have 12 more weeks of pregnancy) and then they will give me another shot right after I deliver. That's the most likely time for baby's blood to come in contact with my bloodstream.

Some interesting notes on the administration of the Rogam shot. I wasn't expecting this and it was midly annoying. My docotors office had to call in a prescription for the Rogam shot to the pharmacy (both are in the same hospital building) and then I had to go down to the pharmacy to get the shot. I had to pay about $60 for it (after insurance) and then trot back up to my doctor's office so a nurse could give me the shot (in the you-know-where). If I wanted to go the fully insured route (no payment from me) I would have had to go to the hospital lab to have my blood drawn and tested to show that I had RH Negative and then my insurance would cover the shot. But the nurse said that takes three hours, and I didn't factor that kind of time into my day, since I had no idea what was involved when I made my appointment.

Week 27 - A Registry is Born

What's up with baby in week 27: baby has hit the 2lb mark! She is starting to get wrinkled skin due to being in the 'swimming pool' 24-7, but she is also developing her looks. Once she is born, the wrinkles will go away as she fills out into her chubby baby form.

What's up with mom: mom is now in the third trimester! My due date will be here in just 13 weeks from today. I am happy to report that I have been gaining a typical amount of weight during my pregnancy and it's pretty much all in the belly (and some in the boobs)! My pre-pregnancy weight was about 130 and I'm now at about 142-145. I suppose I look pretty good for being 6 months pregnant and I feel pretty good too.

I had my first occurrence of heart burn this week. But I think that's my fault for eating sausage pizza. Sausage has always been a bit unsettling to my digestive system.

I also finally got going on the baby registry. I tool some wise advice and brought along my friend who has two young kids. She has pretty much tried out all the stuff on the market. During our shopping outing, she said, you need this and you don't need that and I gladly scanned items to fill out my registry.

Week 26 - Baby Hearing

What's up with baby in week 26: I've been wondering for a while what the baby can hear in the uterus. I found some info online. It turns out that the baby can hear quite a bit actually (and I assumed the uterus was a quiet, peaceful place). The baby can hear my heartbeat, digestion, and other body function noises. The baby can also hear noises outside my body. If they are loud or sudden, she might even 'jump' at the sound. One website even said that the uterus allows some light in, so that the baby can sense lightness and darkness to some extent. Wow.

What's up with mom: mom is starting to have trouble sleeping. I really shouldn't sleep on my back or side anymore so finding a comfortable position is getting harder as my belly gets bigger. Plus, I think I am waking up in the middle of the night (3am usually) as a result of some biological urge...either to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water or because I'm hungry. I am not really sure if I want to be be eating a snack in the middle of the night or not. I have lately been eating a cracker or two that I keep by my bed. Then again, it could be just the dog waking me up. He seems to have the same needs...and often gets a cracker too :)

Week 25 - Nursery Planning

Last week was week 25. Now that the holidays are past, my husband and I are ready to focus on planning for the nursery. We've started to look at cribs and I have a date planned with a friend to go shop for my registry.

What's up with baby in week 25: the baby weights about 1 lb, 9 oz. The bones are continuing their ossification process, meaning they are becoming harder. Other systems continue to mature.

What's up with mom: mom really looks pregnant these days. Everyone comments on how they can really see my belly now. For the first time today, someone gave up his seat on the train. And this is Chicago in the winter, so he must have been pretty confident that even under my winter coat, that was a pregnant belly sticking out!

But getting back to the nursery planning. I bought the book: Baby Bargains (from the same authors as Bridal Bargains). And it won't be long before my husband begins his exhaustive investigation of consumer reports and online reviews of some of the more important baby items to identify the best purchases...crib, car seat, stroller. We have rave reviews from our family about the Pack and play, so I see one of those in our future. We also have a business friend that is willing to give us their crib - so that is really great.

Week 24 - 3D Ultrasound

I've caught my posts back up to real time. Today we had another doctor's visit. I have to admit we think we've hit the doctor goldmine. We've had an ultrasound on 100% of our visits. Every 4 weeks I've gotten to hear the baby's heartbeat. The last two visits were Level II ultrasounds where they spent a good 15 minutes or more doing structural assessments, showing us the brain, the spinal cord, the beating 4 chambered heart, the arm bones, the leg bones, the stomach, the kidneys, the facial bone structures.

But this week takes the cake. This week, the technician went and got a 3D ultrasound wand and we got to see our baby girl in the same clarity you'd get if you shot a slightly blurry black and white video. We got to see her face just the way it looks right now. Her eyes were closed and she kept moving her hands and arms up in front of her face. At first we thought she was shy, but then I think she flipped us the bird. Really. I have a still picture the lab tech printed out where it looks like she is holding up her middle finger while the rest of her fingers are curled down. It's pretty funny. She better not give us that kind of attitude when she's born.

What's up with baby in week 24: the baby is pretty much completely formed at this point. She weights 1lb 6oz. If she were born today she would have some chance of survival with very special care, but would be spend many weeks in the hospital. She is almost a foot long. Maybe I'll nick-name her coney dog for a while.

What's up with mom: I am working on my posture. The section of my torso in the front, right below my breasts often feels tight or sore. Especially if I am slouching forward. So I've tried to sit with my torso in a more correct, shoulders back posture to stretch this area out and give it as much room as possible. The baby isn't up into this area yet, but some organs must be pushing up there as the baby and uterus grow. The baby's head is up and to my left side and she is facing across my body with her feet on my lower right side. I can certainly tell where her feet are...I feel them in that area when she is awake and kicking around.

Week 23 - Merry Christmas

Week 23 brought about more air travel as my husband and I flew to visit his parents in Oklahoma. No getting sick on this trip!

What's up with baby girl in week 23: she continues to grow and I can tell because my belly is growing too. The uterus is practicing contractions (Braxton Hicks contractions - slight tensing of the uterine muscles) but I can't feel them. The baby is not affected by them either.

What's up with mom: mom is still really psyched to be having a girl. My husband and I got some beautiful baby gifts from our family for Christmas. We also shopped for some baby things on our own for the first time. We picked up some large butterflies to hang on the wall and butterfly curtains to decorate the baby's room (a theme is born!). I visited a local baby/kids store and bought my first baby clothes (for my baby anyway). I picked out two pink outfits and a onesie that has a horse on it and says "Well bred". Appropriate humor from Oklahoma. Once we are back home and the holidays are over, it will be time to work on a baby registry and pick out some furniture for the nursery.

Week 22 - Party Pooped

What's up with baby girl in week 22: she has hit the one pound mark and has developed eyebrows (which I will show her how to pluck correctly in her teenage years).

What's up with mom: mom is feeling much better. The nausea is 99% gone and I feel like I have more energy (but still not my pre-pregnancy energy levels). I notice I get winded easily when I exert physical effort such as climbing several flights of stairs or walking briskly for several blocks. My husband and I hosted a party and I really became aware of how tired I can get now that my body is supporting another person. After cleaning the house and prepping food all day, by the time the party started to get in high gear at 8PM, I had to go sit on the couch. Good thing I had my husband for help...he is now the mover of all things heavy or up high. It's a big help for hosting a party.

Week 21 - Love Old Navy Maternity

Week 21 really happened in the middle of December.

What's up with baby girl in week 21: she's happy to be a girl. I've done some more shopping and she's been super jazzed about that...continuing to bop around freely in the amniotic fluid. I can't always tell what position she is in, but due to where the blows come from, she is still pretty mobile, maybe mostly in a breech position. She isn't expected to move to a head down position until later in the third trimester.

What's up with mom: more maternity clothes shopping from Old Navy. Hands down the best quality to cost ratio. I was able to get multiple version of some essential items...2 pairs of nicer pants for work; 3 pairs of jeans (ok, also for work - I love my job), 3 sweaters and 4 long sleeve t-shirts. All for about the same cost as 5 items at the fancy-schmancy maternity boutique.

I also love borrowing. I have two friends who have gone before me in the baby making department. They both loaned me some great maternity items. One friend had stocked up on a 'office' wardrobe, so I will be looking more professional in my office job than I had planned. That is a big help. I am not sure if there would have been (there might still be) a point in the pregnancy when I give up and start wearing sweatpants to work, but the loaner wardrobes might stave that off.

Week 20 - It's a Girl!

Woo Hoo! We went to the doctor this week and found out we're having a girl. Exact date of the big news (sorry, still catching up to real time) December 6. This also marks the halfway point of the pregnancy.

What's up with the baby in week 20: now that we know she is a girl, we also know that her ovaries are forming primitive egg cells. She also has teeth buds forming under her gums. At 20 weeks, she is covered with laguno hair, a fine layer of hair over her whole body. The baby weighs 10 ounces and is about 10 inches in length.

What's up with mom: mom is so happy to be having a baby girl. Despite the more difficult challenge of finding the perfect girl name (for some reason boy names had been coming to me), I am super happy to be having a girl. I was secretly looking forward to decorating the baby's room with girly things. All my girlfriends in the city are so excited that I'll be having a girl...they are going to have so much fun cooing over the pink outfits and thinking about how young is too young to have a designer handbag and wear lip gloss.

When asked if he was hoping for a boy or a girl, my husband indicated that he hadn't been hoping one way or the other and that he is very happy to be expecting a girl. I think he will be a wonderful father to 'daddy's little girl', so I'm really looking forward to it.

Week 19 - Sleep Changes

What's up with baby in week 19: the baby weighs 8 ounces this week and has developed its own sleep cycles. Apparently, its sleep cycles aren't in sync with mine because sometimes when I lay down to go to bed, the baby can be pretty active and keep me awake.

What's up with mom: for a few weeks now the pregnancy books I've been reading strongly suggest that I need to change my sleeping position. I am really used to sleeping on my stomach, but I also find that laying flat on my back is comfortable. Apparently those are bad positions for the baby at this point in the pregnancy. Stomach sleeping could put undue pressure on the baby and laying flat on the back causes the uterus to lie directly on the major ateries that supply blood to the baby and my lower extremeties. So I've started to try and sleep on my side. I still wake up on my stomach or back from time to time, but I'm working on it.

I certainly can feel the baby move now. I almost don't know how to describe the feeling. The whole sensation of my belly changes when the baby is moving. The kicks or punches feel similar to strong digestive rumblings. Some are so strong that my husband has felt the baby move with his hand on my lower stomach. It's such an amaxing experience to share together. I had thought that he'd have to wait until much later in the pregnancy to feel movement, and that for a while it would just be my own private experience with the baby, but lucky for us, the baby wants dad to be getting involved with the fun early.

Week 18 - Baby Testing the Dog

Still playing catch up to real time. Week 18 for me was Thanksgiving Day Nov 23.

What's up with baby in week 18: baby is up to 8 inches in length and 7 ounces in weight. The baby has developed the pads on his/her fingers and toes and is even beginning to form fingerprints.

What's up with mom: mmm turkey. Nothing better than being pregnant for the holidays. Not that anything stopped me in years past, but I can eat anything I want and people let me get in line first. I was very happy to spend the holiday with my parents and brother's family who haven't seen me since I started to show. My brother's family brought their 6 month old baby girl with them, so it was some good time for practice with a baby...for me and for our dog. We had an idea that our adopted greyhound would be ok with kids, but we though we'd put him to the test. He passed. Our niece played with him on the floor and he let her touch and pet and pull on him without so much as a disgrunteled look or growl.

Week 17 - Babymoon in Prague

What's up with baby in week 17: the baby is now developing fat deposits under the skin to help keep it warm when it is born. Loud sounds can now be heard by the baby. One pregnancy website even said that really loud and sudden noises can startle the baby.

What's up with mom: last week my husband and I took what we are calling a 'Babymoon'. We took a 4 day trip to Prague in the Czech Republic. It was my second trip there and my husband's first. We wanted to get in some world travel before the little one arrives. I suspect after baby is born, we will take most of our trips to visit family. On a side note, when we want to splurge for a nice hotel in a foreign destination we look for a Leading Small Hotel... www.leadingsmallhotelsoftheworld.com

The trip to Prague also reminded me that I'm not over the nausea yet. I had two fun experiences while traveling. At the end of our trip, as the car driver was taking us from the hotel to the airport and I had to ask him to pull over so I could be sick. Nothing like puking along the side of the Prague interstate. I was ok all the the way back to Chicago until we landed at OHare. The plane taxied around so much to get to our gate that I got carsick (I guess that's what you'd call it) and threw up in an airsick bag. Once I realized how great the airsick bags were, I stocked up on a few from nearby seats and now carry one with me at all times.

Week 16 - Movement?

What's up with baby in week 16: this week marks month 4. The baby has fully developed fingernails and empties it's bladder every 40-45 minutes. Sounds like a reall person , despite weighing only 3 ounces - amazing!

What's up with mom: I read that I could start to feel the baby moving inside me this week, so I've been trying to detect any changes down there. Women who have had a previous baby can often feel their baby move this early since they know what to look for. I asked a few moms in my office what it felt like to them and I got some really interesting responses. Some said it really feels like gas bubbles, so it's hard to tell sometimes, especially if you are having a gassy pregnancy (oh great!). One mom told me it was like the concept of flicking a computer screen or window with an index finger...almost like the baby was trying to communicate "Hey there. Hey there. Can you feel me in here."

Week 15 - Shopping

What's up with baby in week 15: by this week my baby might be sucking his/her thumb. I can't wait to see the next ultrasound to find out if this is true.

What's up with mom: clothes are starting to get tighter. I'm ready to look pregnant, but really I just look like I have a tiny 'pooch' tummy. I couldn't resist the urge to shop for maternity clothes. I dragged a friend out with me to brave one of the Chicago maternity boutiques. I had prepared myself for the shock of how expensive maternity clothes can be, but I hadn't done a good enought job. I had sticker shock. I suppose part of it is my own fault for shopping at Filene's Basement and TJMaxx all the time. I did grab a few items off the sale rack but splurged on a $38 tank-top that says Due in April. Then we popped into Urban Outfitters on the walk home. I had taken some cues from Lucky magazine that current fashion trends might favor pregnant women. I scored big time. Urban has so many tops that were cut with empire waists and lots of material. Plus I got this great long sweater that has two zippers, so I can zip it up from the bottom as the belly gets larger. It's quite warm and cute.

Week 14 - Linea Negra

What's up with baby in week 14: the baby is about 5 inches long this week. New functions for the baby include urinating into the amniotic fluid. The baby also 'breathes' the amniotic fluid in and out (which sounds really gross since it has pee in it). I read on a pregnancy website that doctors aren't sure where amniotic fluid is produced. And we thought they knew everything ;)

What's up with mom: mom is starting to see that hint of a brown line from the belly button down to the pubic bone. It's called a linea negra. I am not really sure what causes it, other than to add it to the list of strange things that happen to my body thanks to changing hormones. My uterus is about the size of a grapefuit.

Time to Catch Up

Ooops. I managed to get 10 weeks behind in postings. I'll try to play catch up in the next few days with shorter posts about each of the weeks and what I remember of them. Happy New Year!