Baby A’s 30 Week Update

Baby Growth: This week Baby A is tipping the scales at 3 pounds and measuring around almost 16 inches from head to heel! The fruit/veggie comparison this week is a “good sized cabbage.”

 

A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him and it should decrease as he continues to grow; his eyesight is also continuing to develop.

 

My Symptoms: I’ve started experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions- my first episode was Sunday night. I went into panic mode thinking I was going into labor, but Brian helped calm me down by reminding me that the doctor last week said this would happen and to not be alarmed unless they started getting stronger and consistent.  After about 2-3 minutes I was fine, but dang was it a painful, scary few minutes!

My belly has had a growth spurt this week and I’m starting to feel uncomfortable pretty much all of the time.  It’s really difficult to get in and out of bed and my car, bend over to pick up something, and roll over in bed!

Baby A must be camping out on my left side because my left hip/butt cheek stays numb and tingly all day and night! I’m thinking it must be a nerve he’s touching.

The constipation and nausea has started to creep back in a little this week. Last night I had to take a Phenergan before bed because I felt like I was going to throw up- and had felt that way for several hours.  I’m adding in my Probiotics this week and trying to down a lot of water, so hopefully that will help.

Weight: Well, I was right about my weight going up at my appointment last week (29 weeks, 1 day).  It was a total of 17 pounds- two weeks before it was 12, but I weighed in the afternoon this time, versus 8:00 a.m. last week.  I got a little upset, but the sweet nurse assured me I was doing great and the doctor said my weight gain looked “great!” I know I’m going to gain weight and I’m ok with it, but 5 pounds in 2 weeks was kind of a shock!

My appetite has really picked up this week and according to my scale at home I’ve gained 2 more pounds.  I go back at the end of the week for my week 31 appointment so we shall see then…I’m hoping for no more than 20 pounds total this time.

Maternity Clothes: My underwear is driving me cRaZy!!! With the growth spurt in my belly, my panties will not stay up on my belly and it is not very comfortable. 

Brian and I went shopping this week to look for me a couple of cute dresses and tops for my upcoming showers.  I bought a really cute dress at Rue 21, I just bought a Large and it fit, but I’m not sure if it looks ok. Sometimes I think I look pretty cute, but then Brian will take a picture and I feel like- Who ate Laura?!?!

Movement: This week I’ve started to notice what feels like he is shaking or jumping up and down.  I’ve had a few bad thoughts that he is having a seizure or is tangled up, but I really don’t think that’s the case. It is on my list of questions for Dr. Lake this week!

His movements are A LOT more noticeable from the outside too! At first I thought it was strange, but now I LOVE it! My favorite thing is when I have my arms on my belly (top or sides) he shoves me off, it cracks me up every time!

Sleep: Terrible. I woke up on my back one night this week and felt like I was gasping for air; I know you aren’t supposed to lay on your back, but I do it while I’m sleeping. I’m adding some pillows behind my back for comfort and to keep me from rolling.

Cravings: Glazed donuts from Publix = AMAZEFEST! Sweet tea. I had one of the best meals of my pregnancy this week. Brian and I ate Mexican for lunch on our day off and I had a cheese enchilada, rice, and refried beans and I was scraping the sides of the plate! It all tasted SO good to me, and I hated enchiladas before!

Best Pregnancy Moment This Week: Finishing the nursery! Brian did such an outstanding job- I am SO proud of him! I still need to figure out the closet but other than it we are ready to fill it up with some shower gifts this weekend! I walked in yesterday and started crying; I told Brian “it’s just so cute!” Having the furniture put together and the bedding on the crib just makes everything even more real. 

We started our prepared childbirth classes tonight! It was information overload and I was taking notes in my “Trapper Keeper” like crazy.  The nurse teaching it seems very knowledgeable and is all about some natural childbirth; I’m super excited about the rest of the classes. I want to learn as much as possible about what to expect and techniques to help ease pain.  There were seven couples and only one was having a girl- it must be a BOY baby boom around here! I’m super thankful that we are in the class with the Butlers, it definitely eased some random anxiety I was having right before. 

The nurse was introducing “Early Labor Breathing” and Brian and I had to get in the floor to “Relax and Breathe.” It was too much for us to handle and we started laughing and couldn’t get control! I had to focus super hard to make myself stop, and I told Brian we have to take this more seriously because it is going to help me when I go into labor. I am really thankful we can laugh and cut up together- next week we will save it for after class though!

Questions/Concerns: The main thing that bothers me right now is tearing and not being able to handle the pain.

Goals: After hearing the benefits of Kegals tonight in class I’m making an effort to do those every day.  Start reading BabyWise. Finalize Baby A’s name. Set a date for maternity pictures. Finish up lesson plans for my Business Essentials class.

There’s still a lot to do! I can’t believe Baby A will be here in 9 weeks or less; we are SO excited to finally hold him in our arms!

Baby A’s Week 28 Update

HELLLOOOOO Third Trimester!!!!

Time is FYLING by! It feels like yesterday that we found out we were expecting;  now we’ve blinked and he’s almost here!

Baby Growth: This week Baby A has grown into the size of a Chinese cabbage! He measuring around 15 inches and two and a quarter pounds. He is blinking his eyes which now have eyelashes; I really hope he has his daddy’s eyelashes, they are SO long and gorgeous!  He is adding more body fat to his little body in order to prepare for his arrival and can possibly see light filtering through my womb. 

My Symptoms: Other than the occasional ligament pain I’m feeling really good! I’m still moisturizing daily with Mother’s Friend on my belly, chest, and waist, but my hands are soooo dry.  It’s probably because I have been washing my hands like a mad woman. There are all kinds of sicknesses going around at school and middle schoolers don’t understand personal space yet, so I’m overcompensating by constantly washing my hands- not to mention the fact that I pee multiple times throughout the day. It’s funny how I used to be able to hold it, but now I soon as I feel the urge people better clear the way. I’ve run out of my class several times this week!

My hair is growing out of control! I’m considering growing my hair out but this in-between stage is driving me nuts! Not only is it the hair on my head but eye brows and leg hair too.  One morning this week Brian said “whoa, your eyebrows are thicker than mine!” After I throat chopped him, I spent 10 minutes plucking those beasts! I hadn’t realized I had let them get so wild- thanks honey for keeping it real!

My doctor’s office called this week to let me know I PASSED my glucose test…praise the Lord! That just goes to prove that you can eat a half gallon of homemade ice cream (by yourself) a few days before the test and still pass with flying colors! I haven’t craved anything sweet other than Reese peanut butter cups until now; ice cream tastes SO good to me!

Weight: Speaking of my new found sweet tooth- I’ve gained a couple of pounds this week! I have a feeling my weight will really be up next week when I go for my appointment because the last three times I’ve weighed there it was before 9:00 and this appointment is in the afternoon. Oh well, keeping it under 30 pounds has been my goal from day one so hopefully I can still reach it.

Maternity Clothes: I’m looking for a couple of cute tops and/or dresses to wear in our maternity pictures and at my showers. I’ve only bought pants for this whole pregnancy and have been able to wear borrowed maternity shirts and a lot of my regular shirts, so I’m pretty sure I can justify getting a few really cute things. I see all these girls on Pinterest and Facebook that look super stylish and cute, but I just do not want to spend money on clothes when it could be used on something else.

Movement: He’s still moving all throughout the day now and with much more force! I know I’ve said this before, but it has been my favorite part of being pregnant! I can tell he is getting longer because I  felt him move on opposite sides of belly at once this week.  I’ve done a terrible job of researching and reading but I would really like to know if he is turning flips or what is going on in there! I get worried sometimes because so many people talk about babies having the umbilical cord wrapped around their necks- so I try not to think about it too much and just enjoy all the kicks and punches.  One thing the Lord has really taught me during this pregnancy is that HE is in control of everything. I can either put my complete trust in Him and know that He has my best interests at heart or live a worried miserable life- I’m choosing to trust!

Sleep: I’m not sleeping good at all.  Yes, I’m in the bed for 8-9 hours each night, but the quality of sleep is not what it used to be. I don’t feel rested when I wake up which means by 4:30 every afternoon all I want to do is lay around.  I’m thinking about buying some cherry juice and drinking it to see if that helps. 

Cravings: This week I’ve been killing some York peppermint patties and cherry blow pops!

Best Pregnancy Moment This Week: On Wednesday of this week I was able to experience one of the most amazing things in my life. Watching this little guy come into the world…

 

Reece Clayton Carlyle!!!!

 

Questions/Concerns: After watching a live childbirth I feel better about “The Unknown” however, I am little nervous about a couple of things: passing out, tearing, the epidural wearing off or not working properly. 

Goals: Finish the nursery-painting, assemble furniture, pick up bedding, walk, narrow down name choices, look for ideas on decorating the walls of the nursery and mobile.

Baby A’s Week 27 Update

Baby Growth: Baby A weighs almost two pounds and is about 14 1/2 inches long; roughly the size of a head of cauliflower!  He is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and sucking his fingers…so sweet!

My Symptoms: This week I started feeling terrible pains in my lower abdomen- like doubling over pains! I dealt with it about three days, but ended up calling the doctor’s office. He immediately wanted to see me; so I found someone to cover my class (the teachers/administration at my school are incredible, any time I need to leave they will cover me, no questions asked! I am really so grateful for that!) Brian was at work and I was a little nervous so mom met me there.  The end result was round ligament pain! I felt so silly for even coming out there, but you just never know and I needed some peace of mind.

The very next morning on my way to work I was in a 4 car pile up one mile from our house! I was sitting at a red light just minding my own business and WHAM! hit from behind.  I immediately freaked out and started crying hysterically. The poor man jumped out of his car to check on me and the other two cars in front of me and I had a meltdown! I called 911 and the fire department, ambulance, and police were there in about 5 minutes! I pulled myself together when the EMT got to my door to explain to him I was 7 months pregnant and wanted to check on my baby. My options were to be taken to the ER- on a stretcher, or have my husband take me to the OBGYN and have an ultrasound. Well that was a no brainer, I did not want to be paraded into the ER on a stretcher with the flu and who knows what else going around. So Brian came home and took me- 2 days in a row now! I saw the new mid-wife whom I’ve known for years and she did a thorough check and an ultrasound. Thankfully Baby A was perfectly fine…sound a sleep! She assured me that everything was perfectly fine with him and the placenta; they were concerned that the impact had caused the placenta to detach.  We got to watch him on the ultrasound for about 5-10 minutes (the ultrasound girl is SO nice!) He would not turn his head no matter how much she prodded him.  He was head down, face down with his hands up at his face! So precious; every time I see him or hear his heartbeat I am in awe of how GREAT our God is and how blessed Brian and I are!

 

Weight: Well, not only did I go to the doctor for the pains one day, the car accident the next day, but I had my glucose test the day after that! I was a little embarrassed- 3 days in a row! Oh well, everyone was super nice and we just joked about how I was coming every day that week! They weighed me all three days and I have gained 13 pounds since my first visit. 

My belly has really popped out there, I guess all those pains were me stretching after all! I feel like my lips are swelling but everyone says they are not; I think it may be that they are so chapped.  My arms feel very flabby, but I think I look normal from the back.

Maternity Clothes: Still rotating my 4 dressier maternity pants during the week but my favorite thing to wear is my maternity blue jeans and leggings from Motherhood.  I wear them every. single. day. on the weekend! Most of my normal shirts still fit they just really show off my belly, which I really like because people are always smiling at me and asking about Baby A!

Movement: Two words- WILD MAN! I love love love feeling him move. He is more active at night and first thing in the morning when I wake up. Mom is flipping out because every time she tries to feel him he will not budge; he kind of does it to Brian too! I tell them he’s just a mommy’s boy and is playing tricks on them! They don’t think it’s very funny!!

  Sleep: For some reason I sleep much better in the chair in our living room then I do in the bed! I’m still getting up twice each night to pee, and now we have an awesome new wake up call each morning at 3:50 a.m. The newspaper delivery guy’s truck is extremely loud and sounds like he is coming through our bedroom wall every morning. I tell Brian every night that I’m going to call the police, but I’ve decided to call the newspaper and complain. It is totally ridiculous!

Cravings: Nothing new really this week. I did realize that I eat the same exact thing every morning- multi grain Cheerios and orange juice. It tastes SO good to me!

Best Pregnancy Moment This Week: Ordering Baby A’s furniture! We were fortunate to find exactly what we wanted a great price; it will be in later this week!

This is Baby A’s crib…

Chest…

Hutch with dresser…

We are going to use the hutch as a bookcase on the floor until he gets older and then connect it back to the dresser.

 

Questions/Concerns: Starting to feel some anxiety about the labor and delivery.  Nothing specific just the whole process in general. I have NO idea what to expect, so the fear of the unknown is starting to get to me. I’m thankful that we start our childbirth classes soon, I know that will answer a ton of my questions- and yes I will be bringing my “Trapper Keeper” as Brian calls it and taking some major notes!

Goals: We finished the guest bedroom this week and I organized the linen closet! We are still contemplating a name; I never thought I would be this far along and have no name for my child!

I’m working on lesson plans for my long-term sub and trying to get everything covered at school.  I also want to figure out a plan for organizing his closet- I know, total nerd, but hey I love for everything to be neat and orderly!