11/4/2014
WEEK 21
Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of a banana [7 inches, 11 oz]. Baby looks very much like she will at birth, only smaller. Hair is growing and facial features are formed. Baby is now able to blink and eyelashes and eyebrows are formed as well. Bone marrow is making blood cells by now, a job previously done by the liver and spleen. Baby's intestines are absorbing small amounts of sugar from the ingested amniotic fluid, meaning there's a good chance that whatever I eat she can taste through her developing taste buds.
Movement: So much! Slowly getting more frequent and stronger.
Symptoms: Frequent trips to the bathroom, exhaustion, moodiness, back aches, heartburn, nausea when my stomach is empty, occasional shortness of breath, mild cramping, and IBS symptoms have worsened.
Cravings: No particular cravings. Unfortunately junk food always sounds good, but I do my best not to buy it. Before pregnancy I struggled a bit with vegetables, and now I'm really struggling. I have found that it helps to throw vegetables in casseroles and soups.
Sleep: Better than last week. Still having rough nights here and there.
Exercise: Walking/jogging.
Stretch Marks: None.
Total Weight Gain: 9 pounds.
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: No, but I need to get on that. These rubber bands aren't cutting it anymore.
Belly Button: In.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Our next doctor's appointment, and our baby shower in San Diego.
Best Moment of the Week: We've always included our little one in our bedtime prayers, but there's just been something so special about our prayers since finding out our little one is a girl. We pray for HER, that SHE will continue to grow healthy and strong, and that we will know how to be good parents to HER. This little life is as real today as it was the very moment of conception, but the reality of it all has taken longer to sink in for us. The further along we get, the more we learn about her and get to see and hear her heart beat, the more real it is. The other night when Jay said the prayer, he thanked Heavenly Father for "the opportunity to raise one of His precious daughters." She is indeed a precious daughter of God. We can't wait to meet her, hold her, hug her, kiss her, and to raise her in the Gospel and to teach her of her divine worth.
Worst Moment of the Week: One night I had heartburn so bad that it kept me up most of the night. It was my fault for eating pizza right before bed.
11/11/2014
WEEK 22
Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of a spaghetti squash [8 inches, 1 lb]. Baby can hear my voice, heartbeat, gurgling stomach, and whoosh-whoosh of blood circulating through my body. As her brain and nerve endings develop, she may reach for her face just to experiment with her new-found sense of touch. Baby's movements are deliberate and with the purpose of preparing her motor skills and coordination. Even though baby has hair on her head, the color is white as the pigment has not yet developed. Limbs are proportionate but baby is still very thin, weighing approximately one-seventh of the final weight at birth. Brain is rapidly growing and developing.
Movement: All the time! In just the last three days her movements have been stronger than ever before. Last night I pulled up my shirt and saw my belly move as she kicked! Being able to feel my little lady kick and flip inside of me is seriously the best thing ever. It's the best because it reassures me that she is still there- still growing and developing. Every life really is just such a miracle.
Symptoms: Frequent trips to the bathroom, exhaustion, back aches when I'm up on my feet for too long, heartburn, nausea when my stomach is empty, occasional shortness of breath, and mild cramping.
Cravings: None. Eating pretty normal except for meat- lately the texture makes me nauseous.
Sleep: Decent. I'm getting up at least once every night to use the bathroom and sometimes it takes a little while to fall back asleep, but for the most part I feel like I'm sleeping pretty solid. However, I've woken up a few times drenched in sweat. One time I was quite concerned I had peed the bed because I was so drenched [so so gross, I know]. Luckily we're not dealing with that issue just yet. The first time I woke up sweating was due to an absolutely horrid nightmare... I had a dream that I went to the bathroom and there was blood gushing out of me. Suddenly I was in the hospital and the doctor was telling me that our little girl had died. Oh my gosh it was heart-wrenching. Even after waking up it took a good minute or two to realize that it was a nightmare and not real life. I placed my hand on my belly and immediately after I did so, my little lady kicked. It was almost as if she was trying to calm me down by reassuring me that she was still there.
Exercise: Walking. The weather is getting really cold here, which makes jogging/running less pleasant. Luckily with Kella's high energy levels I still get out and walk at least once a day.
Stretch Marks: None.
Total Weight Gain: 9 pounds.
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: Not officially, but it needs to happen.
Belly Button: In.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Next doctor's appointment. We love hearing our little one's heart beat, and reassurance that she's still alive and doing well.
Best Moment of the Week: Learning that my sister Jess is pregnant! It's always been our dream to be pregnant together. These little cousins will be just around three months apart!
Worst Moment of the Week: None.
11/18/2014
WEEK 23
Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of a papaya [8 inches, 1.2 lbs]. Beginning this week, baby will start to pack on the pounds and by the month's end she'll be double the weight she is now. Her bones and organs are visible through her skin, which has a red hue due to developing veins and arteries beneath. Once those fat deposits settle in, she'll become less transparent. By the end of this week, baby has a 50% chance of survival if she is born early. Her cerebum [a part of the brain that is responsible for memory, motor skills, and intellect], is preparing to be able to conduct communication between cells. Rapid eye movements have begun to develop during her sleep. The hair on her body is darkening and skin is gaining some pigment.
Movement: Lots! She used to be the most active at night, but lately it seems morning is her prime time. [Just like daddy.]
Symptoms: Frequent trips to the bathroom, exhaustion, back
aches when I'm up on my feet for too long, heartburn, occasional shortness of breath, and mild cramping. Nausea has been moderate to severe which has been discouraging, but it's only been in the morning and I'm almost always totally good to go by the early afternoon. And I'm usually able to sleep it off no problem.
Cravings None. Still feeling uneasy about meat and vegetables. Eating has been a little more of a challenge in the last week- not quite like the first trimester, but I'm hungry all the time and there's not always a lot that sounds appetizing. Or something will sound appetizing and then half way through eating it's a no-go.
Sleep: Besides all the bathroom breaks and occasionally waking up drenched in sweat, sleep has been great.
Exercise: Stretching, and walking whenever weather permits.
Stretch Marks: None.
Total Weight Gain: 9 pounds.
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: I wore a pair of maternity pants for the first time ever. My dear sister loaned them to me. It was the most comfortable I had been in anything besides sweats! I think it's officially time to say goodbye to all my pants.
Belly Button: In.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Doctors appointment next week!
Best Moment of the Week: We've already been gifted a few precious items of clothing for our little lady and because of our baby shower coming up, we have been holding off on any purchases for her. During a shopping trip to Old Navy I browsed through the baby girl clothes and though it killed me to resist the temptation to buy her nearly everything, it was just exciting to actually have an excuse to browse through the baby section of the store.
Worst Moment of the Week: I've made a great effort to stay positive during this experience and I will continue to strive to be positive and express gratitude for each day. But also, I want to be honest in documenting my pregnancy and feel that maybe I deserve just one small vent...
I have been feeling a little discouraged in the last week. Though my symptoms have been fairly mild and for that I am grateful, sometimes pregnancy just simply isn't fun. Sometimes I'm just really over the nausea, my out of whack digestive system, the mental and physical exhaustion that makes it more difficult for me to do and enjoy things I did 6 months ago, the heartburn that gets so bad I can't sleep, the moodiness that makes me feel like a total loon, and the overall anxiety that comes with each new symptom. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the fact that there's no turning back, not that I want to even a little bit but it's just the idea of knowing the only way through this is labor and delivery- which brings on a whole other set of worries for me. When close friends and family members were pregnant it seemed to go by so fast, but it's amazing how time tends to drag on when you're the one expecting. Sometimes I'm just done, so ready for it to be over so I can finally hold my baby girl.
During those hard days I remind myself of what an absolute dream come true our little girl is. This vent was simply that; a release of the negative emotions. I can't even sincerely
express my gratitude for the opportunity to carry our little one and experience
pregnancy. I'm willing to do what it takes to bring her to this earth
safe and sound. Pregnancy can be uncomfortable and scary but I realize some of the greatest experiences of my life have come after facing some sort of discomfort and fear. This life is a big test, an opportunity for growth and learning- full of lots of little exams here and there. I suspect that in some ways pregnancy is just another exam or some sort of preparatory course for the things that are to come. Just as my challenging experience with infertility strengthened me and prepared me for pregnancy, I believe that pregnancy is strengthening my character and preparing me by teaching me patience, which is all necessary to be a good mother.
11/25/2014
WEEK 24
Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of an ear of corn [8.5 inches, 1.5 lbs]. Baby is gaining steadily about 6 ounces per week- much of which comes from baby fat, growing organs, bones, and muscle. Ears are getting sharper and she can hear very loud sounds, from a yapping dog to a jackhammer. Hair is beginning to change to the color she will have at birth. Lungs are developing and producing a substance called surfactant that helps in keeping the lungs from collapsing or sticking together during exhalation.
Movement: Tons! Nights and mornings are peak times for her. Two nights ago I was sitting in bed examining my belly and noticed the left side poking out a bit more than the right. I pressed my hand against the lump and it was rock solid. Then after pushing on it a couple of times, it moved! So crazy! There have been a couple of other times where I've bee able to see her move. During church last Sunday I sat next to Sister Chapman [one of the sister missionaries] during Gospel Principles. She leaned over and said, "Tell me if she starts moving- I want to feel!" A couple of moments later I nudged Sister Chapman, she put her hand on my belly, and little girl kicked so hard! Sister Chapman was so stinking excited.
Symptoms: Frequent trips to the bathroom, exhaustion, back
aches when I'm up on my feet for too long, heartburn, occasional shortness of breath, and mild cramping. Nausea has been moderate to severe which has been discouraging, but
it's only been in the morning and I'm almost always totally good to go
by the early afternoon. And I'm usually able to sleep it off no problem.
Cravings: None. Still feeling
uneasy about meat and vegetables. Eating has been a little more of a
challenge in the last week- not quite like the first trimester, but I'm
hungry all the time and there's not always a lot that sounds appetizing.
Or something will sound appetizing and then half way through eating
it's a no-go.
Sleep: Besides all the bathroom breaks and occasionally waking up drenched in sweat, sleep has been great
Exercise: Walking when weather permits.
Stretch Marks: None.
Total Weight Gain: 12 pounds.
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: Yes and no.
Belly Button: In.
Doctor's Visit: Heartbeat is strong at 153 beats per minute!
Doctor's Visit: Heartbeat is strong at 153 beats per minute!
What I'm Looking Forward To: Going to San Diego for our baby shower next week.
Best Moment of the Week: We decided long ago that when we were expecting we would hold off until our little one was born to announce the name to anyone, including family. No particular reason other than to keep the decision-making process private, and for the sake of having a little fun. Before we knew that this little one was a girl [during week 5] we picked out a girl name. I honestly don't remember how it came up but we were both sold [Jay especially]. Now that we know our little one is a girl, we have been calling her by name. I'm still not ready to say with absolute certainty that this will be her name- I want to be open-minded in case another name comes up. But I can say that there is a good 95% chance that this will be her name. Using this name when we refer to her has just been another little thing that has made her feel more real.
Worst Moment of the Week: Feeling horribly nauseous on Thanksgiving. Thankfully by feasting time I was feeling better, but it was a rough morning.
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