Pregnant After IUI: Week 20

I am 20 weeks pregnant today... halfway done! I can't even believe it. That is just absolutely crazy. And as a result of being halfway done, I am beginning to freak out about the idea of labor and delivery, and making sure everything is ready for Baby to get here. I feel like there's so much to do, and all of it has to wait until it's warmer out (assuming that at some point this summer it will actually be "warmer"). So that's a little stressful, but over all I'm just excited to be at the halfway mark*.

Anyway, as for Baby's size this week, Baby weighs 10.2 ounces and is 6.5 inches long, crown to rump (I think that's a crown to rump measurement, anyway). And adorable. I have proof. Baby's taste buds are working, and Baby is practicing swallowing by drinking lots of amniotic fluid--to the tune of several ounces a day! 

As for symptoms... Movement is the most exciting and fun one. still. I am still tired most of the time, and have been ...irritable, maybe, or emotional... not sure what the right word is. Easily grumpified. Something little will happen, and I will be LIVID for a while. It's annoying, because I KNOW I'm being irrational, and that the fact that the jell-o dripped on the floor is no big deal, but OH MY GOSH DON'T YOU DARE LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT, DOG, OR I WILL SCREAM. Yeah, it's not pretty here some days. Jon's been super nice, though...

What else... it's getting harder to breathe when I do things, like move. Stairs are... stairs are awful. I sound like a charging rhino after I clomp up a set of stairs. I have to squat instead of bend over, or my back pain (I think it's sciatic) flairs. I've been having a lot of stretching and round ligament pain, especially at night. The whole lying-in-one-position-for-several-hours-without-moving thing is not comfy on my hips and the muscles around them. 

Does anyone have any recommendations for a natural (or mostly natural, at least) body cream to help moisturize my skin? I am so dry. I got this lotion from the grocery, but it just sits on my skin and when I take a bath or a shower my skin feels slimy and I'm not a fan. It has to be something without a strong smell, because sometimes the smells make me feel sick and I won't use it if I don't like the smell. (Coconut oil doesn't work, either... I KNOW someone was going to suggest that.)

Anyway, remember the proof I had that Baby is cute? Here it is. Enjoy.

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*Assuming that I deliver at 40 weeks, not 42 like I'm planning.

Pregnant After IUI: Week 19

Baby is about 6 inches long, and gained almost 2 ounces this week (now baby weighs 8.5 oz)! Craziness! The vernix is forming (a protective coating on the baby's skin) and nerve cells in baby's brain are developing and improving baby's 5 main senses. Also, baby is moving around A TON, and although Jon has yet to feel the baby, I've felt it a couple of times by putting my hand on my stomach and feeling the kicks. =] I also feel the baby moving all the time inside. It's the coolest feeling ever.

Symptoms have been pretty mild this week. I've been tired, but that could be because we were on vacation and busy all the time. My hip pain while sleeping has not gotten any worse, and while I do have some back pain, I know now what triggers it so it hasn't been too bad. 

I have had some mild indigestion/heart burn, but it's been so minor that I haven't even taken any TUMS for it. I haven't had to take Tylenol much, lately, either; my headaches have gotten much better. 

I *might* have had some Braxton Hicks contractions, but I don't really know for sure. They don't hurt, and it's only been like 2 or 3 times that I've felt anything, but it almost feels like my uterus is tight or something... it's hard to describe. (I typed "describble" at first, and I think that's such a cool word that it should actually be one.)

I've been taking that diatomaceous earth still, and have been regular with very little, if any, constipation, which is awesome. 

Oh, mood swings... I'm not "moody," per se, but I do get LIVID at the dog once in a while, with very little provocation, poor pooch. 

I have started doing Kegels... I tried to do some the other day, and realized my pelvic floor muscles are weaker than my self-control, so I'm doing 10 Kegels every time I pee, for now. I will be increasing the number of Kegels I do, as well as how long I hold them, to help tone "down there" for labor.

I feel like this pregnancy is going pretty fast, and that before we know it, we'll be at the hospital giving birth. That is a moderately terrifying thought. There's so much we want to do before the baby comes. The next couple of weekends will be devoted to trying out car seats, both here and in the cities, and working on our registry... and we haven't done anything to get the nursery set up. Not that we can do much, right now anyway, since it's too cold to paint and we don't have any furniture yet. But still... lots to do.

Tomorrow, though is going to be super exciting, because we have an ultrasound scheduled. I will probably post pictures afterwards, so look for those. I can't wait to see what the baby looks like! 

We're going to be looking at some cloth diapers in the next couple of days, and I'll probably do a post with some pictures on the diapers we get, plus the ones we already have. So stay tuned for that, as well.

Anyway, I think that's it. Adieu! 

Pregnant After IUI: Week 18

Baby is moving around like crazy, and getting so big! Over 5 1/2 inches long and 6.7 ounces! I feel kicks all the time, lately... well, several times a day. Which is so much fun, and one of the things I was most looking forward to with being pregnant. =] Besides getting bigger and kicking, baby is also hiccuping, yawning, sucking, and swallowing; rolling, twisting, and punching. So much fun!

Pregnancy symptoms... If you'll recall, I'm in Florida right now, and my hands and feet are more swollen here than they were at home (I don't think they were swollen at all at home). I'm sure it's just from the heat, and nothing to worry about. Might not even be pregnancy-related at all.

Movement... lots of movement from the babe.

My hips, back, and other joints have been stiff, sore, and all around uncomfortable.

Lots of peeing.

I can eat chicken again! Well, our home-grown chickens... store-bought chicken still smells/tastes icky.

I have been taking diatomaceous earth daily, and HALLELUJAH AMEN my constipation is gone! I poo 3-4 times a day now! It's incredible. You have no idea how awesome it's been.

As for baby buys this week: I got some cloth diapers! I'm so excited about them. I got 8 BumGenius diapers, used, for $50... can't beat that! I'll talk more about them soon, but I'm not going to go into it a ton right now, since I'm on vacation.

I can't think of anything else, and I don't want to spend a ton of time on this, since I'm not home. So I'll update if I think of anything else.

Pregnant After IUI: Week 17

Baby is over 5 inches long now, and weighs about 6 ounces. Cartilage is becoming bone, and baby is getting fat--but it still pretty lanky. Last night I was awake for a bit, and I felt baby rolling around in there--I love feeling the movements! I can't wait until they're more regular and strong enough for Jon to feel them.

This week I've had quite a bit of joint/muscle pain in my hips, knees, and shoulders; especially when I'm sleeping/not moving for a long time. Even putting a pillow between my knees doesn't do much. My back has been hurting; stiff and/or sore, especially when I do a lot during the day. Eyes have been dry and tired. Oh, I've also had lots of bogeys in ma nosey. I usually wake up at least once every night, just to blow my nose because it gets so clogged. This has been going on for a while, I just forgot to mention it. Still exhausted... but my nails are growing like weeds. I get winded/out of breath really easily, and it's hard to eat a lot at one time... all my organs are getting smooshed around in there.

Here's my belly at 16 weeks, 4 days. Wanted to get another picture today, but didn't get around to it. Maybe Jon will help me with it before Florida... we'll see.

March 20th is our anatomy scan ultrasound! I can't wait. We aren't going to find out the gender, but they will measure the baby and make sure everything looks good... and we'll get to see baby for a good chunk of time! So I'm super excited about that. My mama and Jon will be with me for that.

I think that's pretty much it. This is a short update, because I'm busy getting ready for our FLORIDA VACATION. We leave Friday and will be gone for just over a week. My whole family is going, sans Jon (boo hoo). It will be grand. So, next Wednesday I am going to TRY to get a weekly update up, but if it's a day late, or not there at all, it's because I'm in FLORIDA and am busy. But I'll be back for sure the following week.