Week 31
Topic: Baby
Today's the first day of week 31 of 40. We've started our Bradley Method classes a couple weeks ago and are really enjoying them. We're learning about nutrition, natural pain management, the husband/coach's role, etc. It's been cool and we're really looking forward to the challenge.

Weeks 27 - 29
Topic: Baby
Aloha! Colby and I recently returned from a two-week trip of island-hopping in Hawaii. It was amazing. I didn’t get to do all the things I thought I’d do when I finally made it over there (surf, parasail, scuba dive, etc.) due to the bun in the oven. In fact, I wasn’t even allowed to go down the kiddie slide at the resort pool. Ironically though, I was allowed to swim with sharks in the middle of the ocean! We’ll have a new picture album up shortly with details from the trip. Until then, here’s my baby blog update to catch you up on the past few weeks.

Mom
This past Saturday marks the beginning of the 7th month. I’m feeling quite heavy at 147 pounds (that’s 23 prego pounds). Feet and back are often achy and emotions are a bit more out of control at times. Besides that, things seem to be going smoothly.

Baby
Baby got its first tattoo while in Maui! I got a henna tattoo of a seahorse on my belly, with its tail wrapping around my belly button. I’m not normally one to accent my belly button in any way, however I made an exception, considering my condition. =) While the artist was painting the tail, Baby made its presence known with a strong kick right where she was painting, startling her pretty good!

In terms of development, Baby's growth has begun to slow down now, but s/he will still gain approximately four pounds between now and birth. Baby’s wrinkly skin is filling out as the fat layers grow. The brain can control primitive breathing and body temperature control. Baby’s eyelids, which have been fused shut, begin to open ... along with a new set of eyelashes! His/her eyes are becoming sensitive to light, preparing to see after birth. Most of the lanugo has disappeared at this point and your baby may have a full head of hair by now. S/he already appears a lot like he or she will look at birth.

Week 26
Topic: Baby
Week 26

Today is the first day of my third trimester!

MOM
Got hit with a bad cold, which extra-sucked since I couldn’t medicate! Fortunately, it’s only taken about a week to run its course. Just in time for our 2-week “Babymoon” trip to Maui, Oahu & Kona!

BABY
I’ve been feeling the occasional Braxton-Hicks contraction and lots of movement! I’ve read that our baby may be very active between weeks 24 to 28, when small size and ample amniotic fluid allow for freedom of movement. Baby may jump in response to loud sounds or "settle" at the sound of my voice.

As the blood vessels in the lungs began last week, the air sacs in the lungs begin this week. The lungs begin to secrete surfactant which covers the inner lining of the air sacs which then allows the lungs to expand normally during breathing. Besides the active lung growth, the brain kicks in with brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems.

Week 25
Topic: Baby
Today is the first day of week 25 and, for those of you more familiar with the 9-month schedule than the 40-week schedule, it is also the first day of month 6!

MOM
Colby and I occasionally can actually see Baby's kicks on my tummy! I’ve read that my uterus is now the size of a soccer ball. My back has definitely not been letting me forget this!

BABY
Baby’s skin is translucent and wrinkled. His/her ears are now fully functional. S/he can hear my gurgling stomach, my voice, and may even blink in reaction to a loud noise. The brain is growing rapidly. Baby’s head is now well-proportioned with its body. The structures of the spine - 33 rings, 150 joints and 1000 ligaments - begin to form. The blood vessels of the lungs are developing and the nostrils begin to open this week. Baby's first meconium stool has been formed in the large intestine and will be excreted (pooped) in the days following the birth. Isn't that cute? I read that some babies will pass some meconium in the amniotic fluid before the birth, which would mean suctioning at the time of birth. Something to look forward to, I guess...

Week 24
Topic: Baby
The 7th lunar month of the pregnancy begins today. It’s been an exciting week! Baby’s moving a lot these days. So much so that Mama Kelly, Papa Rudy and Mama Debbie all got to feel Baby through my tummy this past week!

MOM
No stretch marks yet, but I think I see the “linea negra” appearing (the mysterious dark line between the belly button and pubic bone). Achy back, but other than that, feeling quite good!

BABY
We reach a milestone this week: Baby will reach its "premie safe date," meaning that if Baby is born prematurely, but after this date, he/she will have a chance of survival. Baby gains about 6 ounces this week as the body begins to fill out. This weight is in muscle, bone mass and the growing organs and tissues. Rapid eye movements are beginning. The eyes open and shut frequently, and Baby’s got its little eyebrows and eyelashes.

Week 23
Topic: Baby
BABY
Baby's lungs have begun to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs to expand following birth. Baby’s fingernails are now completely formed. The body is becoming better proportioned each day, and the bones of the middle ear begin to harden.

MOM
I had a bit of a scare during our trip this week to Arizona. It must have been a combination of the pregnancy, the heat, and probably dehydration, but I passed out while talking to one of Colby’s insurance agents. All I remember is laying out at the pool while Colby was golfing and feeling incredibly hungry. I had just eaten lunch a couple hours ago, but I hear that a common symptom of dehydration is a sensation of hunger. Anyway, I walked over to the hospitality suite to see if there was anything besides alcohol being served. I found some chips and grabbed those, then ran into Alan on the way back. As we were talking, the sun was on my back and I remember wanting to sit down, but there wasn’t a chair near enough for me to grab without interrupting his story. The last thing I remember is holding onto the table next to me as my vision and hearing faded, and asking God to please not let me pass out. Next thing I know is my chips are on the ground, Alan?s all freaked out, and people are ushering me back inside the hospitality suite, giving me water and drilling me with questions about the last time I ate, who I was there with, if I felt any pains, etc. Alan said that while he was talking to me, my expression had just gone completely blank and I started to sway backward. He grabbed my shoulders and asked if I was ok, but decided I wasn’t when I only responded by swaying forward instead. I was grateful to know that Alan hadn’t allowed me to have completely fallen down, causing any more of a scene than I was already aware of. My mom recalls passing out and finding her head in a planter or two during her third trimester and relates it to low blood sugar levels, which is something that will be tested at my next appointment in less than a couple weeks. In the meantime, I'll be drinking more water and staying out of the Arizona sun!

Besides that, Baby’s 10 million strong and growing. He/she’s been bouncing around in there like crazy -so much so, that Colby finally got to feel it a few times!

Oh yeah, and since (after convincing Colby) I had my chance to try to find out if we’ve got a pink or blue bun in the oven and Baby didn’t cooperate, we’ve decided to nix the 4D ultrasound idea and go the old-fashioned surprise route!

Here are a couple growing belly pics, as promised:

Week 22
Topic: Baby
BABY
Baby now has eyelids and eyebrows and has developed fat, which helps to keeps it warm. His/her teeny, tiny ears can now hear sounds from outside and the brain begins rapid growth.

MOM
For those of you tracking the growth of my uterus, =) it is now about an inch above my bellybutton, which feels quite strange. I’ll probably be gaining weight more steadily now as Baby continues to fill out. I’ll post some belly pictures soon (don’t worry, there won’t be any Demi Moore shots!) The extra weight is already taking its toll on my back and hips, but I’ve found sleeping with a pillow between my knees helpful.

Week 21
Topic: Baby
MOM
Today is day one of the 21st gestational week of pregnancy (of 40), meaning my pregnancy is half over! If you’re more familiar with the 9-month schedule, my 5th month began last Monday. My belly is growing bigger and bigger & I feel Baby moving every day! I’ve gained a total of 14 pounds, (10-15 being considered normal -phew!), since taking on this new task of growing a new life. With the pukiness of the first trimester being a mere memory, and the heaviness of the third trimester being yet to come, I’m feeling quite good!

BABY
The week-by-week websites I’ve been following are claiming that baby should be ~ 14oz, yet our 18 week ultrasound detected that Baby was 1lb. 8oz. Doc says that’s a normal size for this stage though, so no giant baby’s here. The rapid growth phase begins to slow down this week, as Baby is now busy putting fat onto those bones. The heart grows stronger this week, and the legs are reaching their relative proportions.

Right now, Baby is practicing the important task of breathing, explaining the little jerky motions I’ve been feeling as hiccups!

With lots of amniotic fluid providing room to move, Baby is very active. According to the websites, babies have sleep and wake cycles. I’ve found that Baby is performing its in-utero gymnastics around 8-9am, especially when I’m eating my breakfast at my desk, and around 10pm at night, when I’m ready for bed… greeeat… =)

Week 20
Topic: Baby
Today is the first day of week 20, and going into the 5th month, which means we are half way through the pregnancy! This past week has been pretty exciting, as I’ve finally gotten to feel what is called “quickening,” the flutters of the baby’s movement in my belly. The questionable, occasional twitch became a flutter this last weekend, while at a retreat with Mama Debbie. Maybe it was all the candy she bought me!!! Sometimes I think that when I poke at the baby, he/she pokes back, but it could just be my imagination. Regardless, I can’t help but smile with the rush of excitement whenever I know Baby’s awake.

The significance of week 20:
It’s the beginning of my sixth lunar month, whatever that means… What else… My innie may become an outtie as a result of stuff pressing on it from behind. So far, still an innie, but I’ll keep you posted. Colby did however generously pointed out that it’s gotten bigger and he can now see the back of it, whereas before, it was too small and scrunched up to see in there.

Enough about my belly button -what’s up with Baby?
Baby has as much sleep and awake time as a newborn. His/her scalp hair is beginning to grow. If there’s a girl in there, by this week she’s already got six million eggs in her ovaries. Makes me think about some day becoming a grandma, myself… weird.

Week 19
Today’s the first day of 19 weeks’ gestation. During last Tuesday’s ultrasound, baby was measured to weigh 1 lb. 8 oz. Is it just me or is that big for this early in the pregnancy?? At this stage, Baby is covered in vernix, a white, cheesy "cream" that protects his/her skin from the long bath in amniotic fluid (preemies are covered in vernix at birth, while "posties" have almost none). This week, permanent teeth buds are forming behind the milk teeth buds. Organs of reproduction are developing rapidly, getting ready to sustain future generations.