Pregnant After IUI: Week 23

I seriously can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going... Maybe it'll feel like it'll slow down once we get in the hot summer months and I'm uncomfortable, but for right now it's just flying by.

Baby is about the size of a papaya or a grapefruit, depending on who you ask: approximately 11 inches long, head to heel, and weighs somewhere between 12 and 20 ounces. That's crazy big. Like, I feel movement on BOTH sides of my belly at the same time sometimes now. Or really up high. It's the coolest thing ever.

My symptoms have been super easy to manage still. My hands and feet ARE swelling, now, which is, I believe, the only new symptom. I asked my doula about it, and she said to go to blueribbonbaby.org, so I did. It's a website about the Brewer Diet. Dr. Brewer had no cases of toxemia in his practice, by having his patients follow a very high-protein diet. So I've been working to increase my protein intake (which I know was abysmal) in order to combat the swelling. I'm hoping it at least doesn't get any worse. It's not uncomfortable or anything, I just don't want it to become an issue.

I got a cold this week: First time I've gotten sick since I got pregnant. And here I was, just sitting here, all proud of how I didn't get sick all winter long. There goes my bubble. Ah, well. I'm on the mend now.

So I might do a separate post on this (I say that too often and then never follow up on it) but I've been reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. I have learned so much from these books! The biggest thing I've been thinking about is the use of pain medications (or any drugs, for whatever reason, really) and how untested they are and all that... And now I wish more than ever that we had been able to afford a home birth, and that having to deliver at the hospital the cards are stacked against me... It's hard to explain. I just don't want to put my baby--or body--at risk for unnecessary interventions. Yeah, I think I need to do a post on it...

I've been doing more exercises and stretches to get ready for labor. Squatting, Kegels, the cat/cow stretch (I think that's what it's called) and things like that. Nothing major.

So anyway, I'm off to consume my high-protein meal of kidney beans and rice with ham in it. And eat my dessert of yogurt with chocolate in it. And spend time with my husband. Can't beat that.

Pregnant After IUI: Week 22

Apparently this is the time when Baby hits growth spurts and not at the same time as all other babies... according to thebump.com, Baby can be anywhere from 10.5 (length given last week) and 11.8 inches long, and weigh between 12.7 and 20.8 ounces... any time during the fifth month. It also says, though, that baby is about the size of a papaya, so if you're familiar with those, you have an idea on the size of my babe. Baby has better-developed eyes and lips, so looks more like a newborn, and is sleeping in cycles... uh, duh. Right now, Baby is in an awake cycle, and is happily kicking and punching me. I don't mind, though; it doesn't hurt yet. It just makes me smile a little. =]

Symptoms have been so easy, lately. Kicking, punching, squirming, rolling, twitching... seems like all the time, sometimes. Except for at night, when Jon is home and wants to feel the baby, and then it's like, "oh, nap time!" and all movement stops for the evening. Go figure.

I'm still tired, but I feel good. Most days I have enough motivation to get things done. Most days. Some days I don't. But I think that's just me being lazy, and not me being pregnant. Although being pregnant is a good excuse to put my feet up now and again.

The swelling (if I even am dealing with that... sometimes I can't even tell) has not gotten any worse, which is awesome. Hoping that doesn't change.

I guess I am dealing with irritability and being grumpy quite a bit... I feel like this trimester has been more unstable emotionally than the first trimester was. Which is kind of annoying, but oh well.

Since I'm sure you all are dying to know this, I have not been constipated since I started taking the diatomaceous earth. You guys, I love that stuff. It's awesome. Although I just read a thing online that said it can be high in heavy metals, (Wow, took me 3 tries to spell "metals" right... I typed medals at first, and was like, wait, no...) and so I should be ingesting some selenium too... Hmm... I should see how much selenium my prenatal has.

I am still 1-2 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight... not expecting that to last long, although I'm happy I'm not gaining a ton of weight.

I MISS SLEEPING/LYING ON MY STOMACH. Seriously. Even my back... my hips wake me up from being sore from lying on them all the time.

As for how I'm doing emotionally, I LOVE being pregnant. I really do. Not because it makes me feel more beautiful or sexy or whatever, although I do think I have more confidence in my body... I think it's more because it makes me feel empowered. I have doubted myself for such a long time, in basically everything... but in this, growing a human, my body is doing perfectly. Plus, I've wanted it for so long, that I am just totally relishing in the feelings and emotions that I have been experiencing. I am, however, seriously terrified and doubting whether or not I'll be a good mom... so I plan on writing down some things I want to remember as I parent, and maybe make some wall art out of it, to help remind me. But that's another issue altogether... but this pregnancy thing is golden. =]

Anyway, I think that's mostly it for this week... I have been doing more exercises and am trying to prepare more for the birthing aspect of being pregnant. Now that the weather's decent, I plan on walking more. I ordered some red raspberry leaf tea and plan on having that most days. So, yup. Things are moving right along!

Pregnant After IUI: Week 21

I am officially been pregnant for longer than I will remain pregnant... that's a strange thought. A slightly terrifying thought, haha.

Now, according to thebump.com my baby grew about 4 inches this week, and is now 10.5 inches long, and 12.7 ounces in weight. That seems like a HUGE growth spurt for one week--baby almost doubling in length--so I'm not sure if I trust those numbers completely, but it's cool nonetheless. Baby's digestive system is already producing, although not expelling, meconium; and, if it's a girl, her ovaries and eggs are formed, meaning I could potentially have my grandchildren inside of me right now, influencing their future health and all that... whoa. Trippy.

On to symptoms... do I really need to keep mentioning that I'm exhausted all the time? I feel like you should just assume that I'm tired... always.

Saturday I had bouts of mild dizziness all day long, and a few random ones since then, but nothing serious or debilitating.

I think my hands are a bit swollen... but it's so slight that I'm not even sure about it, and it causes no discomfort or anything. The only reason I've noticed is because my ring feels a bit tight.

Dry skin and dry eyes, paired with excess mucus... not a fun combo.

Irritability, still... which is irritating.

This last Saturday was really fun. Jon and I drove up to the cities and went to Buy Buy Baby and Ikea. The only reason we went to Buy Buy Baby was to try car seats in the car. Although my knees are like 2 inches from the dash, we've decided to go with the Chicco Keyfit 30 car seat and the Chicco Liteway Plus stroller. We're both really happy with the decision; I just wish the Jetta was a little bigger so I had, you know, leg room. We also walked around and marveled at the expense of buying baby things new and brand name. I mean, really. I think we saw one or two cribs that were UNDER 300 BUCKS (most were $400-over $1000) and most mattresses were $300+... I-I-I-I don't think so. I also wanted to go to Ikea to check out baby stuff there, since it's much more reasonably priced... and yeah. Their "expensive" crib was $130 bucks... the cheapest was $70 (and got good ratings in the Baby Bargains most recent edition!) and the mattresses were even cheaper. You can't beat THAT! We didn't buy a crib yet, but if we end up buying one, that's what we plan on doing. We DID, however, buy a 5-drawer dresser, a 3-drawer dresser, and a nightstand... all for under $200 bucks, thanks to their AS IS section. We weren't planning on buying anything, but at that price, we couldn't say no. So, baby has dressers and a nightstand for forever. Oh, the wood isn't finished, but we figure that's a small inconvenience given the price. And we're going to use the smaller dresser as a changing table. It's a win-win!

Hm... what else? Jon bought a little kid cushiony chair from Savers for cheap. So that's fun.

Anyway, I think that's pretty much it... until next week!

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.

Profile

*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.