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.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
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.
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.
Friday, February 09, 2007
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.
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.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
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.
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.
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