23 Weeks

C & W's Baby in Week 23 of Pregnancy

C & W's little doll-sized babe is about to chub up a bit. His saggy skin will start to fit his frame as fat deposits fill things out. Beginning this week, he'll start to pack on the pounds (which means I will too!) and by month's end he'll be double the weight he is now (though I won't be — whew!). Right now, C & W's baby's organs and bones are visible through his skin, which has a red hue due to developing veins and arteries beneath. But once those fat deposits settle in, he'll become less transparent.

My Body in Week 23 of Pregnancy

If you're suddenly sporting a dark line down the middle of your tummy, say hello to the linea nigra. That line has actually always been there, but you probably never noticed it until pregnancy hormones caused hyperpigmentation (the same phenomenon that may have darkened your areolas and the area around your forehead and cheeks). Other (less than delightful) skin changes on your body in the sixth month may include red palms and soles, bluish blotchy legs, heat rash, and skin tags. Oh, and don’t forget that itchy belly (keep slathering on those creams!).

22 Weeks

 

C & W's Baby in Week 22 of Pregnancy

This week, the baby weighs in at a whopping pound and measures nearly eight inches, about the size of a small doll. But C & W's little doll (who now has eyebrows, eyelashes, and maybe even some hair on that little head) is a living one who can now perceive light and dark. She can also hear voices, your heartbeat, your gurgling stomach, and the whoosh-whoosh of blood circulating through your body. And as her brain and nerve endings develop, she may reach for her face (or whatever she can reach) just to experiment with her newfound sense of touch.

My Body in Week 22 of Pregnancy

As if an ever-expanding belly wasn't enough — now your feet are getting in on the act! That's because the pregnancy hormone relaxin, which loosens your pelvic ligaments when you're expecting, loosens every other ligament too — including the ones in your tootsies. In turn, the bones beneath those ligaments spread slightly, which results, for many women, in a half or whole shoe-size increase. So if you haven't already stashed away your stilettos, now's the time to bid them farewell — at least for a while. Besides, you need sensible shoes to help you balance that big belly and your changing center of gravity.

Luckily, I'm doing ok in this department for now.  I do have a couple of pair of bigger shoes from when I was pregnant with baby "E" that I can use if they do end up growing a bit.

Week 22 Pregnancy Tip

By now you may have been the target of at least one well-wishing tummy-toucher — you know, those people (and they could be anyone — friends, co-workers, the guy you buy your morning paper from, a perfect stranger on the deli line) who just can't resist reaching out and rubbing your belly. And who can blame them? After all, pregnant bellies — so round, so cute, and housing something even cuter — practically beg to be touched.  Now, at 22 weeks pregnant, you may not mind being treated like an exhibit at a children's museum (and, if you're a touchy-feely person yourself, you may even welcome the public display of affection for your belly), but if you do mind, there are a couple of approaches you can take. One, use your words ("I know it's tempting, but I really would rather you didn't touch my belly"). Two, back off — literally, dodging their advances. And three, turn the tables by giving their belly a rub to see how they like it (especially effective with middle-aged men sporting paunches). Remember, you're sharing your body on the inside — you don't need to share on the outside too.

Busy Day - US Appt and Fun with DD

Today was a big and busy day!!  We got to see the little one again today and it was so much fun.  C & W flew in for the appointment since W had to head back to work later that day.  I was off the entire day because DD had a casting call for a local photo shoot in the early afternoon.   Our timing couldn't have been better, as we all walked in at the same time.  We went up to the office and visited for a little bit while we waited to go back for the ultrasound.  This US was an anatomy scan to ensure that everything is going well with the baby.  The Dr. was great about explaining everything during the scan, pointing out each organ and describing the details.  We could see all 4 chambers of the heart, the kidneys, the umbilical cord, face and even see the baby practice breathing.  Before the appointment, we talked about the gender and if they wanted to find out today or not and originally thought that they would want to know, but when we were all in the room during the US, C&W decided that they didn't want to know today so the Dr. let them know when she was going to be in that "area".  It was so cute and funny.  When she told them she would be in the area that would revel gender, C turned around and faced W and W put his head down.  I watched the whole time, but of course, I'm not a sonographer, so I really couldn't tell either way.  I would have a 50/50 chance of getting what I saw correct, but it really would be a guess.  We will just have to wait and see how long the envelope lasts.  After the Dr. was done with the part that would show gender, she let us know so that C could turn around and they could both watch the rest of the US.  The Dr. tried really hard to get a good profile shot of the baby's face, but this little one was a bit stubborn and didn't want to cooperate too much.  I still think the one she got is a good one though.  

After we finished the appointment, we headed to the lobby to schedule the next OB appointment and had one of the nurses take a picture of all of us.  It was so sweet, because all of the office staff came into the lobby to "help" get the best picture.  They are all super supportive.  Here are the pics from the visit today.

Boy or Girl???  We'll see how long the envelope stays sealed.  : )

Head and Spine

Face with an open mouth

Baby was a little stubborn, so this was the best profile shot the Dr. could get.

We all walked out to the parking garage together and visited in the lobby area of the garage for a few minutes.  My belly is a bit bigger now and C was so sweet because she asked if she could touch it.  I told her, "of course!"  I told her that she could touch it anytime she wants to because after all, it belongs to her. As long as their little baby is in my belly, my belly is just as much theirs as it is mine.  <3  I really just wish the baby would have been a bit more active, so they could feel it kick.  Hopefully next time they come up to visit, baby will be a bit more active.

When we left, they headed to the airport and I headed to pick up DD for her photo shoot.  This one was for the Picture People and they were photographing children for potential Valentine's marketing.  We were advised that there would not be a stylist or make up artist, so to bring everything we need.  Ugh!  I'm not used to that.  I picked her up from school, took her home, gave her a bath and dried her hair.  I then curled her hair and pinned it up so she would still have curls when we got there.  I took 3 outfits for them to consider, multiple pairs of shoes, curling iron, hair accessories, hair spray and an iron (just in case her clothes got wrinkled).

We arrived at the photo shoot and were there about an hour.  She did really well considering how long they photographed her for.  I think they got some really good shots, so we will wait to see if they decide to use any of them.  After we finished up there, we headed to meet one of my surro sisters, Beth and her two boys at Chick-fil-A.  It was a nice little treat for DD too.  She got to play while Beth and I visited and then she had some fruit and ice cream.

I was definitely a very busy day, but so wonderful and filled with fun.

OB Appt

Had an OB appointment today to check on the baby.  I headed to this one on my own since C & W will be at the US appointment tomorrow.  So excited!! 

Everything went well at the appointment.  Blood pressure is good at 111/67 and baby's heartbeat was 143. 

21 Weeks

 

 



C&W's Baby in Week 21 of Pregnancy

How big is the baby? About the size of a large banana — and speaking of bananas, if I eat one this week, there's a good chance the baby will get a taste, too. That's because he swallows a bit of amniotic fluid each day (for nutrition, hydration, and to practice digesting), so he eats whatever's on my menu — and gets to put those developing taste buds to good use. So go ahead and nosh on those nachos (or crunch those crudités): The baby may develop a taste for them when he’s older.

My Body in Week 21 of Pregnancy

You may start to notice some stretch marks as your body expands and your belly and breasts just keep on growing. These pink, red, or purple streaks appear when the supporting tissue under your skin gets torn as skin stretches (and stretches and stretches) during pregnancy. Not every woman gets them, though you're a likely candidate if your mom had stretch marks during her pregnancy or if you've gained weight rapidly. So go ahead and slather the cocoa butter — at least it’ll keep your skin from drying out, even if it won’t keep those marks at bay.

20 Week Milestone!!!

 

Oh my gosh!!!  We're at the half way point.  So exciting!!

C & W's Baby in Week 20 of Pregnancy
Curious about whether that melon-sized belly contains a boy or a girl? Now's the chance to take a peek! The second trimester ultrasound, scheduled for anytime between 18 and 22 weeks, gives our practitioner a chance to see how things are going in there. And, wow, are they going! If baby is a girl, her uterus is now fully formed and her ovaries are holding about seven million primitive eggs. If baby is a boy, his testicles have begun their descent from the abdomen to their ultimate destination — the scrotum. And while the baby is definitely getting bigger (weighing in at about ten ounces and measuring six and a half inches), there's still plenty of growing room in there, which allows him to twist and turn (and allows me to feel his acrobatics and hopefully Mommy and Daddy too!).

Your Body in Week 20 of Pregnancy

Now that you’re at the midpoint of your pregnancy (20 weeks down, 20 more to go!), that little cantaloupe (aka baby) you have in your belly is becoming more of a reality as you feel his movements and draw smiles from passersby who see your baby bump. You might also be noticing that your nails are stronger (though they could also turn dry and brittle) and your hair (all over your body) is thicker and fuller than usual — all thanks to pregnancy hormones and increased circulation, which furnish extra nutrients to hair and nail cells. But while the hair on your head may be lovelier than ever, you might not be digging those sprouts on your chin. This situation is indeed temporary, but feel free to tweeze!

Week 20 Pregnancy Symptoms

Heartburn or indigestion: If you’re looking for a simple heartburn fix, try chewing a piece of sugarless gum after meals. The increased saliva it produces neutralizes gastric acids and helps force fluids back into the stomach.  I've had a couple of episodes of heartburn, but nothing horrible yet.  Hoping it stays that way.

Leg cramps: Experts aren’t clear on what causes leg cramps during pregnancy, but one theory is that they are caused by compressed blood vessels in the legs (a consequence of extra weight and swelling). Help the blood circulate throughout your body more easily — and minimize cramping — by putting your feet up when you can and drinking plenty of fluids. Oh my!  These were horrible on Thursday and Friday, with Thursday night being the worst.  I was up at least 3-4 times that night.  I'm going to have to make sure I drink plenty of water, especially when I'm going to be doing so much more activity.  I'm sure all the walking on Halloween and not a lot of extra water was part of the cause.  Saturday was much better.