Week 27: Grow baby grow

Baby Bear weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, her brain is very active now.

Baby Bump: Week 27

The Good

• No stretch marks/spider veins (yet).
• We can see kicks/some movement from the outside. Very cool!
• I feel kicks/movement many times throughout the day. I love this!
  

The Bad

• I have sciatic pain. No fun.
• My ribs hurt.
• My back hurts.
• My feet hurts.

The Ugly (not really ugly just different)

• Stomach looks like a basketball, and feels like one too.
• Belly button has popped.

Prenatal check - 26 weeks: time for class

I had a prenatal appointment this morning. I talked with my OB more about anemia and it is not too big a deal. They just want to prepare me with enough iron for labor when I will experience blood loss. There is no harm to Baby Bear. So that was good to hear. Glucose screening test numbers look good.

All else looks good. I am measuring normal, Baby Bear's heart beat is good and she is moving a lot. Papa Bear asked me to ask about another ultrasound and I will get one later in my third trimester. The OB showed me exactly where my uterus was and I actually was able to feel the top of it.

I have gained a total of 20 lbs!! The OB said that was fine, but I think it is too much. I guess as long as she is not worried about it, I really shouldn't as long as Baby Bear is healthy.

Today I made appointments with the hospital for my hospital tour, infant care class, infant CPR, breastfeeding class, and Lamaze classes. I think I signed up for every class that they offered. What have I gotten myself into? I guess it is best to be as prepared as possible. This just means we are getting closer and closer to having a new baby in the world. Scary but also exciting all at the same time.

Good and bad news

The good news is that I passed!! I got a call from my doctor's office and I passed my glucose test, so I do not have gestational diabetes. That is the good news.

The bad news is that the blood tests showed that I am anemic. Not a huge deal, my doctor prescribed additional iron supplements in addition to what is already in my pre-natal vitamin.

Some symptoms of anemia include:

• being tired
• feeling weak
• pale skin
• palpitations
• breathlessness
• dizziness

These also happen to be symptoms that many women have anyway during pregnancy, anyways. I have been especially tired the last week or so. But then again, I have been working really hard and being pregnant on top of that. The anemia does help to explain a lot. I also have felt dizzy from time to time and felt weak. I all thought it was just a part of being pregnant. Hopefully, the additional iron will help me feel a little better.

Baby Bear should be fine, since she will get her share of iron before I do. But the risks I face from iron-deficiency is a higher risk for having a preterm delivery or a low-birthweight baby. So I will take my iron supplements 2 times a day as I have been told. I will also try to incorporate more foods rich in iron, like red meat, spinach, and dried fruits. I do love a good steak. And this might help to explain why I crave cheese burgers all the time.

Glucose Screening Test

Yesterday morning I went in to get my glucose screening test to test for gestational diabetes. This test won't give me a diagnosis but will determine if I need additional tests for gestational diabetes. I won't find out my results until my regular appointment tomorrow.

Basically I was given a sugar drink that contains 50 grams of glucose. It didn't taste as bad as other people had warned me. It tasted like a very sweet 7-up (I had a lemon-lime flavor). It wasn't bad but it was at room temperature, it might have been a little better if it was cold. After an hour, a blood sample was taken to check for blood sugar levels. (I passed the time crocheting a blanket I have been working on for Baby Bear)

If the reading is too high, which happens 15 to 23 percent of the time, then I will have to do the 3 hour glucose tolerance test to see if I really have gestational diabetes. Hopefully, all will be well. It is not a bad test, it is just that there are other things I would rather do with my time.

Week 26: Look who's looking

Baby Bear's eyes are beginning to open. Her eyes have been closed for the past few months so that the retina could develop. So now she can see what's going on, I don't think there is anything to exciting to see in there. But I hear that we can shine a flashlight at my stomach to see if she might kick in response. We'll have to give that a shot. It is too early to guess the color of her eyes yet, plus her eye color can change in the first few months anyways.

Baby Bear's brain is very active, she can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them. The response occur with an an increase in pulse rate or activity, another experiment to try with her. She is continues to grow and grow and soon will be a little cramped in my oven. So, she will have a little less room for her gymnastic workouts.

100 days!

Wow, I can't believe that in about 100 days my little Baby Bear will be here. Today marks 100 days until Baby Bear's estimated date of arrival. I can't believe how time has flown and how little time is left before she makes her appearance. It seems like that there is still so much to do and I haven't really done anything to prepare for her arrival.

We have a couple of baby showers scheduled at about 30 weeks and 31 weeks and everyone tells me to wait to see what we get before I go and start buying stuff for her arrival. So I must be patient and not worry about this. This is very hard for me being the planner that I am. I am trying not to worry and stress about this and I hadn't been up until now. We are entering the double digits and past V-day, so technically speaking she really can come at any time. While I can not wait to meet my little girl, I do want her to stay in my little oven for as long as possible. For one, I want her to develop as much as possible in the womb and two, we are just not ready for her yet!

I really need to start getting my act together. Eek! Hopefully, work will taper off a little bit in the next few weeks and I can devote a little more of my brain power to nesting for my Baby Bear. I have a strong urge to nest, but it has been so hard since I have been so tired from work.

Prenatal exercise

I regularly exercise and make it a priority to be physically fit. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew that this was not an excuse to become a couch potato. But I also knew that I would have to make some changes to my regular exercise routine. I did my research and talked with my doctors about exercise.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends regular, mild to moderate exercise, for 30 minutes a day for most days of the week (preferable all days of the week). It is of course very important to listen to your body, since the changes in your body may affect your exercise capabilities.

The type of exercise depends on how active you were prior to your pregnancy. This is not the time to start a new intense activity. But you should be able to continue with the activities that you were active in before, within reason.

I truly believe that I have had a pretty healthy and positive pregnancy because I was fit before I got pregnant and because I have continued to be fit. I continue to workout 4-5 days a week, I lift weights, do yoga, take my step classes, and jog. I plan to continue to exercise throughout my pregnancy for as long as I am able to. So far so good, but I am definitely feeling the changes in my body taking a toll on how much I am able to do. I am slowing down, I am not able to jog as far as I was able to in the past, I am not able to do all the choreography in my step classes anymore, I am not able to exercise with the same intensity, I am not able to do all the yoga poses I once was. For the most part it is not because I do not have the stamina, rather it is because my feet hurt, my legs hurt, and/or my baby bump gets in the way. I have a feeling that is all due to the extra weight my body is now carrying.

We'll see how long I can keep going. It is always interesting to get some looks at the gym. But everyone is pretty supportive of me and proud of me for keeping up with my routine. I was fortunate to have role models at the gym. A couple of my aerobics instructors were teaching step classes classes while they were pregnant (and even as pregnant as they were they kicked my butt!). I've also heard Papa Bear brag about my keeping up my fitness routine to others. I do feel good and I hope I can continue to feel good for the time I have left in my pregnancy.

My doctors says that by exercising I will make my pregnancy healthier, my labor easier, and my postpartum recovery faster. I am all for that!

Week 25: Breathing practice

Baby Bear is now about a pound and a half and gaining some baby fat. Her skin is turning pinker because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in her lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity. But, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when she exhales.

The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Baby Bear's nostrils are starting to open this week. This actually allows her to begin taking practice breaths.

I hate buying maternity clothes

I had to break down and buy some maternity clothes. I have several work events coming up in the next few weeks and I need to look professional. I had to buy some clothes that actually fit since there is no way I could fit into my pre-pregnancy suits. Fortunately, The Gap and Target has some decent clothes I can get away with looking professional in. Unfortunately, they do not have a lot of selection in their stores; so I have to order everything online (at least The Gap has a good return policy and it is free to ship return and I can return items from Target in the store). I ordered a bunch of clothes and because I can be so picky and I ended up returning the majority of them. I did get a couple of nice slacks and a nice skirt that look nice for work and several tops that will do. Thank goodness for online coupons, I always search for online coupon codes so that I can get free shipping and save some money, plus I always use ebates.com and always get a little bit back as well. Every little bit helps.

I got this skirt from Target in grey on clearance. Paired with a nice blouse and heels, I think it will be enough to get me through our upcoming board meeting.



I just hate the idea of buying clothes that I will only wear for a few months. On the other hand, maternity clothes are so much more comfortable with my baby bump. Regular clothes are just not fitting anymore. Oh bother.

Baby Bump: Week 24

Getting bigger. My back and my rib hurts. My belly button is on its way to popping out. Clothes are not fitting. It is worth it for my baby girl.

From Baby Bear with love

Look what Baby Bear got Papa Bear for Valentine's Day:



And what she got me for Valentine's Day:



The backside is my favorite part:





What a thoughtful little girl she is!! We can't wait until she is actually in these cute little outfits.

Week 24: V-day

Yes, it is Valentine's Day but more importantly today is the day of Viability for Baby Bear! A fetus is viable when critical organs, such as the lungs and kidneys, are developed enough to function either with or without medical attention. It is around week 24 when a fetus could be born and survive with proper care. Although I can't wait to meet Baby Bear, I would really like to keep her in my oven for the 16 weeks I have left. It is nice to know that she is now viable but we don't want her to make too early an appearance.

Baby Bear is gaining weight steadily and most that weight comes from accumulating baby fat, as well as from growing organs, bones, and muscle. By now, her beautiful face is almost fully formed, complete with eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. Isn't that awesome!! Her brain is also growing quickly now, and taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she come into the outside world.

A snoogle and maternity support

My back was beginning to hurt more and more each day. I continue to take yoga, which has always been a great help and does help. But I know that as I sleep I was having a more difficult time despite the 4 pillows I had on my bed. I had heard about a special pregnancy pillow called the snoogle. In the beginning, I didn't think I would need to spend money on such a thing. I had a ton of pillows and that would suffice. Well, last week I broke down and spent money on a snoogle. I needed something and was willing to give it a shot.

It took about a week for me to get used to it. Now, I love it. It has been such a help on my aching back and discomfort during sleep. It is a little big and takes up a lot of room on the bed, but it was totally worth the money. It is very comfy to sleep with and my back feels much better.

I have been feeling it as I continue to workout and after some research and reviews, I found that a maternity support belt might help while I continue to be active. I purchased a maternity support belt by Gabrialla. I found that this support belt was highly recommended by doctors and popular among runners. It is designed to help promote proper posture and balance while allowing to continue an active lifestyle. It not only support my lower back but also my abdominals and claims to help reduce the risk of stretch marks (hey I am all for that!). I have been using it for a week when I workout and run (more like slowly jog). It has definitely made me feel more comfortable during my run and cardio activites. I like the support that it gives my baby belly. I think as my baby bump continues to grow, this will definitely be very helpful and allow me to continue to be active longer. I want to continue to workout for as long as I am able and my OB allows it, exercise really helps me feel better and will help me in the long run with labor and delivery, as well as with my postpartum recovery.

Week 23: What a doll

Baby Bear is about eight inches and slightly over a pound. She is now the size and shape of a small doll. How cool is that, my little living doll. I am told that this week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain for Baby Bear (although I am right with her).

Her skin is reddish in color now because of the developing blood vessels underneath and hangs loosely from her little body. Not only can I feel her move, I can sometimes see her move. Now that is pretty amazing and strange!

Tips when considering child care providers

There are different types of child care provides, home child care and center-based child care. What one family decides to use really ultimately depends on the individual family. Here are a few tips that were shared with me as I began my child care search. I think a lot of these tips can apply to both a home-based and center-based child care provider.

Licensing
Licensing ensure the safety and developmental well-being of children while in out-of-home care. It provides a baseline of quality below which it is illegal to operate. While a non-licensed child care provider may provide quality child care, it is important to take this into licensing into consideration. Are they licensed and how long have they been been providing care? Licensing also places regulations on how many children care may be provided to with respect to the number of adults. This is important that you know how many children your child will be in child care with and how many adults are responsible.

Caregivers
Be sure to find out how much experience the child care provider has with infants and what kind of training they have. Get an understanding of what the caregiver knows about infant development. The primary caregiver should be educated in early childhood development. This is important because the child care provider must be able to provide age and interest level appropriate activities and expert, loving care. You will also want to make sure that they have training in in infant CPR and first aid. If there are an assistants or helpers should also have a certain level or training and knowledge as well.

You will also want to learn about their philosophies on key childrearing issues such as discipline, sleep, and feeding.

Environment: Health and Safety
The environment should be clean and sanitary and observes the basic rules of safety. You will want to see that the indoor and outdoor areas are child-proofed and escape-proof.

Parent Interaction
Consider how the child care provider communicates with parents as well as what their expectations are of parents. Do they encourage visits from parents? A child care provider should allow parents to visit so that they can observe the environment that their child experiences.

Activities
Consider the activities and program that the child care provider has. What is a typical day like for the children? How much time do they spend outside? There should be plenty of books and opportunity to learn new skills. Television and videos should have little or no part in the daily schedule. Are the activities age-appropriate? Do they have a safe play area both indoor and outdoors?


There are many other things that you might want to ask and there are several resource online. Babycenter.com has a nice interview sheet you can print out, as does RealWorkingMom.com. It is a scary task but you need to be informed and you need to do your research. In the end, you want to trust your gut. You need to feel comfortable. These are the people who will care for your child while you are away, you want to trust that your child will be cared for.

Tonight's craving: Onion dip

For some bizarre reason, I really wanted some potato chips and onion dip. Fortunately, I had sour cream and onion soup mix to make onion dip. It was really yummy.

Photo Source

Baby Bump: Week 22

Finally, an updated baby bump picture. I am definitely getting bigger and I have definitely been feeling it a lot more. I can definitely feel the weight of the bump. In many ways, it is great because I get to feel my wonderful little girl move around. But it is a little hard on my ego sometimes. I actually love to workout and I am starting to find myself slowing down from time to time. A part of it is my pregnancy and size and another part of it is just feeling tired. Sometimes, I forget that I am pregnant and I wonder why I can't do what I used to do. Then I remember that, duh, I am pregnant. Sometimes I just feel fat rather than pregnant and it really doesn't help that it is hard to find clothes that fit. I know I just need to buy more maternity clothes that fit.

This morning, I felt really fat and told Papa Bear that. He told me that I was beautiful. He is just so sweet. I love that he knows what to say to make me feel better. It will be all worth it in the end, we will have a beautiful little girl in our world!

Prenatal Check - 22 week: 7 lbs gained!!!

Yikes, I gained 7 lbs since my last prenatal appointment 4 weeks ago!!! Granted I only gained 1 lb from December to January, so on average I have gained 8 lbs which is on the right track according to my OB. Since I didn't gain so much early in my pregnancy, I guess I have caught up. I do have to watch it since it is now that I will continue to gain more weight. He was not worried at all about my weight gain, I think I was more shocked about gaining so much in such a short period of time. I need to be a little more cognizant of what I am putting in my mouth. Being pregnant is not an excuse to eat junk food all the time. I am still exercising but I have begun to feel myself slow down. I will post a belly bump picture soon (Papa Bear has our camera hostage in his truck and so I will have to get him to bring it into the house).

Otherwise, all is well. Baby Bear was moving a lot and had a strong heart beat of 159 bpm. The OB look at my AFP test results and there is nothing to worry about. He measured me and all looks good. All in all, Baby Bear is growing to be a very healthy baby girl!! Yay, for a good appointment.

I asked about some pains and cramps that I have been experiencing and all are normal. I asked about a tightening of my stomach and apparently those are Braxton Hicks contractions, which are also normal. Good to know!! Before my next appointment in 4 weeks, I will have to get my glucose test to test for diabetes. Hopefully, that will go well too.

Week 22: Touch and see

This week, my sweet Baby Bear is making more sense of the world as she develops the sense of touch. Baby Bear's grip is quite developed by now and her sense of sight is also getting more developed. She is now able to perceive light and dark much better than before. Her hair is starting to sprout on her cute little head. However, at this stage of fetal development her hair has no pigment, so it's bright white. I wonder what it will become.