Pregnancy Week 32

Week 32 for Baby: Little girl now weighs about 3.75lbs and is measuring about 16.5in. She is now sporting toenails, fingernails and hair! Her skin is smoothing out as she gains weight and she is gaining about half a pound a week at this point.






Week 32 for Mom:Sorry, no picture again this week :( I have been continuing to get the house ready for Trayton's 2nd birthday party and getting ahead on projects for school. We have also been at the hospital to visit Ryan's grandma, Virginia who is not doing well. After catching pneumonia while trying to rehabilitate to go home at the nursing home, she took a turn for the worst and returned to St. Anthony. The focus at this point is on making her comfortable and making sure she is with family. My 28th birthday passed quietly (which I am thankful for during this time of sorrow) with my parents and Trayton, as Ryan traveled to Minnesota for his grandma Joyce's birthday. The pelvic pain on top of having high blood pressure would not have made for a good time traveling this trip. Braxton hicks contractions have came and went. I think the past few weeks have caught up to me because I am again, feeling exhausted. Only about a month left of nursing school!

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!

Pregnancy Week 31

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My guys on St. Patrick's Day!

Saying Happy St. Patrick's Day to Great Grandpa Minnehan after mass.

Week 31 for Baby: Our little girl's length this week is  around 16in and she weighs about 3.3lbs. She ca turn her head from side to side and she continues to accumulate adipose tissue under her skin.

Week 31 for Mom
Braxton Hicks contractions continue and I've noticed they are more prevalent at night during evening clinicals at the hospital. The evenings have not been as intense as days and I am thankful for the rest periods. Now that it is spring break, I have come down with a cold, no doubt caught during the nursing home clinicals. As we get the vaccines for influenza sooner and sooner in the fall, our coverage does not last as long as the potential to catch virus in the spring. I did go to the doctor and found it was just a common cold and neither influenza A nor B (thank goodness!) We took Trayton to the "Our New Baby" class at the hospital on Thursday the 15th. I think he was more interested in the other kids that were there and the snacks but it was nice to see what the class was all about. There were two children younger than him (15-20 months) and several who were older (3-9). He got the chance to change a doll's diaper which he liked and then hold it, which was amusing as he looked at it in disgust after the instructor told him he would be holding a baby. He then looked at me and let it roll off of his lap onto the floor, picked it up and placed it upside down in the car seat before coming back to sit by Ryan and me. It was all I could do not to laugh because I could read on his face what he was thinking...this is not a real baby and I don't want it... Ryan's brother and wife just had a new baby about two weeks ago and Trayton loves holding, kissing and stroking his hair. This doll clearly was no substitute for a baby! He then watched a video about bringing the baby home and how to help mom and dad, then got to see a real baby from outside the nursery which he was much more excited about that the doll. The class was a good introduction for children to a new family member and the instructor was fun, however it was focused on an audience about 4+ years of age. Trayton understands there is a baby in mama's tummy and has been able to feel her kick to which he responds by looking at me with these wide eyes, pointing to my belly and exclaiming baby! Ryan and I plan to keep explaining to him what is going on and make sure he is included in everything he can be with her as mama's little helper and teacher. Sorry, o belly picture this week as I have been really sidetracked with getting trim up and the house deep cleaned before Trayton's 2nd Birthday party on the 31st!    

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!

Pregnancy Week 30

Week 30 for Baby: Little girl is about 15.5in long and now weighs about 3lbs. Her eyesight continues to develop and she continues to fill out with the weight she's gaining.

Week 30 for Mom: As you can see, we have the same shirt on as last week in this picture. Yes, I am at that point where I have about 10 shirts that completely cover my belly and she is all out front. Trayton on the other hand filled me out from side to side and rested much higher. On the plus side, I have had no difficulty breathing with her because of her low position. I had an appointment on March 8th and doctor determine she was still positioned with her bottom down. He wasn't concerned at this point as she still has plenty of time to turn, however, if she does not turn by 37 weeks he would discuss with me external cephalic version (manually turning her from the outside by applying pressure to my abdomen and guiding her to a head down position.) Trouble sleeping has started to occur, one, because I have to get up to use the restroom at least once at night and two, the lovely hormone called progesterone has softened my ligaments even more, which means my pubic symphysis (the anterior portion here the pubic bones meet)the  is slightly sore at frequent intervals on top of the pressure I feel down there (she may just fall out once labor gets going!)  Weight gain was 4lbs, putting me at 224lbs and a total gain of 18lbs and I'm guessing some of it is due to water retention (you can now see the edema in my legs at night; its only a matter of time until my feet fall victim as well.)

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!

A Less Stressful Delivery Day

Preparing for baby's arrival has been an ongoing project the past few weeks - most of which I was trying to put off until I have spring break but keep getting anxious. I'm worried I won't have enough time to get EVERYTHING done with classes and clinical before May. I recently met guest blogger Alan Cassidy online and was approached about hosting a guest post. Alan is a maternity, childbirth, infant and children's health advocate who researches and writes to improve the well-being of families. His post came at the perfect time for me as I'm getting little items accomplished on my list and trying not to become overwhelmed. Alan's post discusses some great ways to removing the stress of delivery day!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Removing the Stress of Delivery Day

Even with nine months to prepare, the day of delivery can still manage to catch moms off guard. Whether a first time mom or a veteran, the list of baby preparations can be long enough that only the most organized and diligent mom-to-be could hope to get through it. Rather than expending a ton of effort trying to prepare for every possible event, it’s a better idea to focus on those tasks that will provide a confident and calm attitude. Consider these tips commonly used by expectant mothers.

Keeping a Journal

Writing is a great way to organize thoughts, manifest hopes and release fears of the unknown. It’s also a great way to prepare for talks with health providers and loved ones about personal preferences for labor and delivery. Some mothers keep more than one journal, using one to keep track of things that need to be done and another to help process emotions. The only rule to using a journal in preparation for childbirth is that there are no rules.

 Know What to Expect

There is always the possibility that plans will need to be changed at the last moment, and even the baby deciding to come into the world earlier than planned can change a scheduled induction. Still, this is no reason to leave it all to fate. Everyone has preferences, and reading about options is a great way to get ideas and learn about the latest research on best childbirth practices. Mothers that decide on a home birth or want specific people present during the procedure should definitely include the appropriate people in these decisions well in advance.

Fortunately, there is ample time to make preferences known. Meetings with the obstetrician or midwife should prepared for by making a list of questions and talking points in advance. It is also a good idea to keep notes, though more providers are making the effort to provide their clients with printed materials. Childbirth classes offer a great opportunity to learn about optional procedures. Cord blood banking is one such option that collects the cord blood from the umbilical cord and saves if for the family as a potential medical resource for future illnesses.

Getting Physically Fit

While it is a good idea to follow a regular aerobic exercise program throughout pregnancy, there are some special exercises that will help with labor and birth. Classes can be found through childbirth clinics or area hospitals to teach Lamaze breathing, which can help maintain stamina and increase awareness of the body. Yoga for pregnancy and exercise targeting the urogenital diaphragm can strengthen the pelvic muscles. Learning about these options will help ensure a smooth delivery.

This article was written by Alan Cassidy, an active writer within the blogging community covering maternity and childbirth, and always advocating for infant and children’s health. Connect with him on Twitter @ACassidy22

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!

Pregnancy Week 29

Week 29 for Baby:  Baby girl now weighs about 2.5lbs and is approximately 15in long. Her lungs continue to mature and her head is enlarging to accommodate her growing brain. Her skeleton is hardening and she will require more calcium (good for her I love milk and cheeses!) Things are pretty slow now, just maturing and gaining in weight.

Week 29 for Mom: Active at this point is an understatement for this little one...she moves all the time! I haven't been asked to count kicks because of all her movement. Heartburn seems to come around about the same time every night and I've been feeling a bit more tired (perhaps due to the increased number of clinical days we have now too.) There were two nights this week that the pressure on my pelvic floor was so bad I could barely move in bed, let alone get out of it to use the restroom. Looks like another trip to the chiropractor is in order! Only one more week until spring break! We are looking forward to taking Trayton to the "Our New Baby" class that our hospital offers on the 15th.

Week 29 Baby Girl

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!

Pregnancy Week 28

This post has been sitting in my edit box for, oh, about 2.5 months now and I'm finally getting around to finishing it thanks to a very busy spring!

 
Week 28 for Baby: We are officially in the third trimester of this pregnancy as of February 22nd! Our little girl weighs 2.25lbs and measures about 14.8in. She now has lashes and can blink her eyes. Her vision is developed enough that she can see light as it enters the womb. Aside from adding more body fat, she is also continuing to develop more neurons in her brain.

Week 28 for Mom: This period marks the start of doctor appointments every two weeks. I had my glucose screening on February 21st and I am very happy to report that I passed! That means I don't have to do the three hour test, yay!  I have been experiencing some Braxton Hicks contractions, but usually after being at clinical. The pelvic pressure is still present, annoyingly present at times.  Weight gain this week was about 1lbs, putting me at 220lbs with a total gain of 14lbs. We booked our placenta encapsulation specialist this week and I am very much looking forward to working with her. If you haven't heard of placental encapsulation or my personal account for wanting to try it, my good friend Emily at Baby Dickey featured a post I wrote as a guest Placental Encapsulation. I vowed I would not feel the way I felt after having Trayton with any other children we have (emotionally or physically); I was drained of energy and the imbalance of hormones while my body was trying to adjust after baby made me feel terrible. We will have to sign a release at the hospital that we are taking the placenta and will properly dispose of it (in our case prepare it in capsules) and the specialist will come out to our home to complete the encapsulation for $250. She is inspected by the Food and Drug Administration and brings all of her on equipment for the process. In other news, I am looking forward to spring break in order to get more trim done on the house and things washed and organized for our girl!

Week 28 Baby Girl

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!

Pregnancy 27 Weeks

Baby Girl: our little girl weighs +/-2lbs this week and measures 14.5 inches long; I can't believe how fast she is growing! She's opening and closing her eyes and sucking her fingers. She is also sleeping/waking in cycles - I can definitely tell as she is more active at certain times every day! Her brain tissue is very active and her lungs, though still immature, are capable of functioning outside the womb (with considerable medical help.) 

Mom: This is the last week of the second trimester, yikes! I still have so much to do, both at school and at home. I have not experienced any leg cramping that characteristically occurs around this time but the sciatic pain and pelvic floor pressure have become more annoying. Also, her sleep wake cycle mentioned above - when she's awake she is no longer squirming like a little butterfly, she gives me full, hearty kicks! She's most active around 8:30AM, after lunch, about 6-8PM and 3-4:30AM. So on top of the pelvic pain while trying to sleep, I wake up periodically to her trying to kick Ryan in the back!

I had an appointment this week on Valentines Day and we got to see her via ultrasound. Dr. confirmed her gender and her anatomy scan looked great - all the right parts and sizes in the right places and functioning! I was a bit floored when the doctor said he wanted to talk to me about my weight as I had gained 12 lbs since my last appointment. Um....EXCUSE ME? How is that possible you ask? Well, the nurse who checked me in and weighed me did not work in his clinic and was a fill-in. She had me leave my Carhart coat on and my boots, plus I had my purse in hand. I told him I had not changed my eating habits and that she didn't weigh me like his regular nurses have in the past. So we took a trip back to the scale and guess what, I only gained 5 lbs since the last appointment, much better. I had my synthroid dose changed because my level was on the low end and scheduled my glucose screening for 28 weeks. The last time I failed the first test and had to do the 3-hour screen. I asked about the pelvic floor pressure and Dr. told me it was just from my growing uterus and loose muscles/ligaments. He offered no advice about anything I could do to possibly relieve the pressure so Ryan made me an appointment with our chiropractor. He worked wonders! The sciatic pain disappeared, most of the pelvic pressure disappeared AND he helped my heartburn! I also got the contact information for a good masseuse that he felt would be able to help further with the pelvic pressure. Thank goodness for alternative and holistic practitioners!
Weight: 219 (up 13lbs total)  

Week 27 Belly

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading! 

Pregnancy Week 26

I've let myself get a little behind again on the weekly updates; week 26 rolled around February 7th.

Baby Girl: she is measuring about 14 inches and weighing approximately a pound and two-thirds! The network of nerves in her ears are continuing to fine-tune and she may now be able to hear Ryan and Trayton's voice aside from mine! Trayton is starting to get the concept that something is in mommy's belly and he will talk to her when prompted! Our little girl is inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, practicing for breathing in the outside world and she's continuing to plump up with adipose tissue.
Mom: welcome back pressure, thanks to my growing uterus which has been pressing on my sciatic nerve - ouch! Also, where did this pelvic floor pressure come from? I notice it is worse after I have been on my feet all day for clinical but it sometimes comes in the morning too when I first get up. It feels as if my uterus and little girl are pressing down or already engaged. My pelvic bones also feel loose, especially when I turn over in bed or have done a lot of walking. I know progesterone likes to loosen things up but I'm definitely going to ask my Dr. about it at my appointment next week. Hiccups are something I started feeling around this time with Trayton but not yet with our little girl. I remember being able to feel them on a schedule with him, usually after lunch and later around bedtime :) From here on out my uterus height will grow about 1/2 inch per week; I'm already starting to feel a little cramped on the inside!

Weight: 217 lbs (up 2 lbs since last week)
Feeling: sore, heartburn in the evenings around 8 PM every night, and my left glutes are feeling some sciatic pain now and then.

We finally managed to get the brackets and rods up in all three closets this past weekend, yay! We used conduit for the rods (I have 10+ foot closets and closet kits of this size are ridiculous and never come in the color I want) which I still need to paint but I'm finally able to hang coats and some of Trayton's clothes! I also convinced my mom and dad to help make a barrette/bow holder to match the nursery, and I got all the materials for $25!     

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading! 

Pregnancy Week 25

Baby Girl: Her total length is now about 13.5 inches and she weighs about 1.5 lbs. Her skin will begin filling out as she adds adipose (fat) tissue and her hair color/texture is now distinguishable - if she doesn't have curly hair like her dad and mom, I will be shocked, I have no idea how to style straight hair!

Mom: I've noticed my hair seems fuller now too and I'm not looking forward to losing it after she arrives. Braxton hicks contractions started around the 1st of February and come and go as they please; I'm hoping they help make as much progress as they did with Trayton. I was induced on my due date already being dilated 4cm and 90% effaced with a station of -1. My belly is definitely larger and my uterus is growing out of its soccer ball size, on most days it feels like a basketball and she is sitting right out in front. Baby Center asked if I had started thinking about names yet....well....I haven't actually. Ryan and I have had no time to just sit and peruse names and there is only one we kinda sorta like, so I need to get on this sometime soon! 

Week 25 Belly

Weight: 215lbs (up one from last week)
Looking forward to: our next appointment, making a barrette/bow holder and getting the closet fixtures up!

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading! 

Pregnancy Week 24

Our little girl has gained 4 ounces since last week so she's a little over a pound +4 ounces and measures almost 12 inches, about the size of an ear of corn. She is plumping up as she continues to build fat reserves under her still translucent skin, her taste buds are continuing to develop and her brain is growing quickly. Now that she is 24 weeks she has a better chance of survival outside of the womb if she would be born prematurely due to the growing bronchi (branches of the respiratory tree) in her lungs and cell that produce surfactant, the substance that helps her alveoli (air sacs) inflate.
24 Weeks - Mom: my uterus has grown slightly above my umbilicus and is just a little bigger than a soccer ball. Sometime between now and 28 weeks I will have to undergo the glucose screening test for gestational diabetes. While pregnant with Trayton I did not pass the first test and had to undergo the more extensive 3 hour test for closer monitoring, which I did end up passing. I'm not looking forward to this test even though I haven't been spilling glucose in my urine constantly like last time. I have my next appointment on February 7th so I'm not sure if my doctor will have me take the test at that time or later. Besides the occasional edema, sciatic nerve pain and heartburn, I've been feelin relatively well. Now is the time to start paying attention to the signs/symptoms of preterm labor. Hoping this little girl stays put until she's completely done baking; her brother was content to stay in my belly right up until his due date at just 1.1 ounces shy of 9lbs!

Weight: 214lbs (same as last week)
Looking forward to: our next appointment; even though I know the gender we will have an anatomy scan and I'm looking forward to seeing how she has grown!

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading! 

Pregnancy Week 23

Baby girl is just over a pound this week and measures a little over 11 inches; she's about the size of a large mango! Blood vessels are developing in the lungs for gas exchange/breathing and her ears are continuing to mature, picking up more sounds than ever. I vacuumed a ton with Trayton (the nesting instinct kicked in early) and after he was born I could run it, the dishwasher and washer/dryer without any fuss. Sometimes they even lulled him to sleep! Our little girl is starting to get just as acquainted with these machines.
23 Weeks - Mom: Edema (swelling) is a common symptom in the lower extremities starting around this time and I've noticed  little in my feet on my longer clinical days, despite the extra water I drink and running around. I've noticed baby girl moving around a lot more in the early morning and late evening but Ryan hasn't been able to feel her yet. I can usually see her move in the bath water but it has been hard outside of the tub. I've also noticed a little sciatic nerve pain, ouch! I have tried stretching but may have to make an appointment with my chiropractor. Last time I got away with none until I had Trayton and this time its on the opposite side.

Weight: 214 (+1 from last week, 9lbs overall)
To-do: work on getting the rest of the trim done in the living room, leaving only 2 windows in the new part of the house and some trim in the old part of the house.
   

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading! 

Pregnancy Week 22

Baby girl is 11 inches in length and weighs about 1 pound; think 1 inch less than a ruler and almost as skinny! She should now look like a miniature newborn complete with more distinct lips, eyebrows, eyelids and tooth buds under the gums. Her irises still lack pigment but lanugo covers her body and her pancreas is slowly maturing.  

22 Weeks - Mom: The lovely stretch marks I acquired with Trayton are slowly darkening in appearance as my belly grows, despite my use of BioOil and lotion. However, my hair and nails are thicker and seem to be growing at a much faster rate than I remember with Trayton. The heartburn is still present at different times of the day and I feel like I'm constantly eating something. Good news at our appointment on
January 10th was that I only gained 2lbs. putting me at 213 and a total gain of 8lbs. My OB was really excited about this, more than I was and I couldn't help but laugh to myself! I know watching your weight is important during pregnancy for a number of reasons (and when you're not pregnant) but I've never been that excited over it! Little girl's heartbeat was in the 150s and my thyroid levels were unchanged = good! We will have our anatomy scan at our next appointment during week 26 and while I already know the gender, I am excited to see our little girl again!

Week 22 Nassau, Bahamas

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading! 

Pregnancy Week 21

During weeks 21-22 we traveled to the Bahamas for my brother's destination wedding - sea sickness wasn't bad until the last day and then WOW...all I have to say. Baby girl weighed about 3/4 of a pound and still measured at 10.5 inches. Her kicks definitely started getting stronger this week; not sure if I was just more in tune or it had something to do with being at sea. She was definitely more active in the afternoon/evening and more restful during the day. Her eyebrows and lids are now present and her vagina has begun to form.

21 Weeks-Mom: Aside from the trip, I've felt pretty well lately. The one day we got to swim in the ocean I felt amazing; weight free and very relaxed. My varicose veins weren't too unsightly and I could finally feel the little girl's kicks on the outside of my belly; Ryan has been waiting to feel them but trying to catch them when he's around has been hard! There really isn't much new to report this week and we have an appointment later in week 22; hoping I ate well enough and didn't splurge on the ship to keep my weight right on track. Trayton and Ryan had  blast swimming in the ocean (don't mind my goofy smile while trying to get  decent picture and keep Tray from jumping out of my arms to get to the water!)

Week 21 belly!

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!

20 Weeks: Halfway There!

This week marked the halfway point in our pregnancy (I'm still three weeks behind and trying to play catch-up!) Our little girl is about 6.5 inches long and weighs approximately 10.5 ounces; from this week forward she will be measured from head to toe, rather than crown to rump. I love this picture from Alpha Mom's Pregnancy Calendar! 

She is swallowing more = practice for her digestive system and is also making meconium, the by-product of digestion which accumulates in her bowels and will be passed in her first diaper. Trayton passed some before delivery and I was very relieved when his APGAR score was high in the respiratory department and that he had no infection due to aspiration. I'm hoping she doesn't pass any until after birth.

20 Weeks: Mom: My uterus is about level with my belly button (and I do look rather pudgy in that region if I do say so.) I had an older gentleman staring at me one day while at the hospital paying a bill before asking me when I was due; I'm sure he was wondering "Is she pregnant or just pudgy?" I definitely think I have a smaller belly with this pregnancy than I had with Trayton. Trayton seemed to widen me out whereas this pregnancy seems to be staying pretty compact and straight out in front of me. My skin has been very dry lately despite lotioning efforts and the peripheral vein on the inside of my knee looks like a wonderful blue rope thanks to the relaxing effects of progesterone (say hello to the sexy compression stockings!) 

Week 20 family picture!

Weight: 211lbs (same as last week - really? I couldn't believe it since Christmas dinners were happening!)

Other symptoms: heartburn, always looming during my pregnancies and I don't foresee it getting better as this baby compresses my organs upward.

To Do: get ready for vacation and start looking for a childbirth class that we can take Trayton to so we can learn new ways to teach him about the upcoming arrival of his sister!

  

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading! 

It's a .....

Girl! We had our 3D ultrasound at week 19 at Prenatal Vision in Des Moines to confirm baby's gender! It was amazing to see all of the detail with the 3D imaging! The tech used a combination of 2D and 3D to check out major structures and put the images on a CD for us as well as recording the entire session on a DVD set to music! Trayton was pretty unamused until he got to hear his sister's heartbeat, then he decided to watch the screen for a while before resuming play.

                                                        

We decided to announce the gender to family members at Christmas dinner with a 'Sugar & Spice' theme!

19 Weeks - Baby: It's soooo nice to refer to her as HER rather than just baby/it/they! Sensory areas in her brain are differentiating into smell, taste, hearing, vision and touch! She can hear my voice now, so hopefully she likes the stories that Trayton and I read, and my singing in the car! She is weighing in at about 8.5 ounces and measuring 6 inches from crown to rump so about the size of a large tomato. Her kidneys are continuing to make urine and she is sprouting hair on her scalp! I'm interested to see if she will have hair like Trayton or be bald forever like me.The vernix caseosa (a waxy protective covering) is forming on her skin so that she doesn't pickle in the amniotic fluid.

19 Weeks - Mom: This little girl is going to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming weeks and I've already experienced some of the sharp round ligament pain. I've also noticed redness in the palms of my hands from the extra estrogen. Not  whole lot of new things for mom this week. Getting ready for Christmas and my brother's wedding in the Bahamas.
Weight: 211lbs (+1 from last week, up 6 total)
Feeling: pretty well,very excited to do some shopping and crafting for our little girl!

Week 19 belly on Christmas morning! Opening gifts with my little boy!

Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!