Belly Diaries – Weeks 22 and 23 June 30, 2009

Your pregnancy: 22 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby’s growing:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he’s even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you’d be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he’ll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.

How your life’s changing:

At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It’s perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you’d rather they didn’t. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate. What’s important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby’s growth is on track.

You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby. At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There’s no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching.

Your pregnancy: 23 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby’s growing:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she’s more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby’s increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won’t faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.

How your life’s changing:

You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you’ll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention. While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.

Belly Diaries – Week 21 June 15, 2009

Your pregnancy: 21 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby’s growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she’s practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby’s eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you’re having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.

How your life’s changing:

You’re probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You’re not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you’re feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.

That’s not to say you won’t have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of acne. If that’s the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don’t take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.

You’re also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there’s increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You’re more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.

You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating out from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern. Though they may be a bit unsightly, spider veins don’t cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.

(from babycenter.com)

Belly Diaries – Week 20 June 5, 2009

Half way! Had an ultrasound this morning and everything looks great. Thank you Jesus! We decided to have the baby’s gender be a surprise. heehee. 

How your baby’s growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He’s also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby’s legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the “crown to rump” measurement. After 20 weeks, he’s measured from head to toe.)

He’s swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He’s also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you’ll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.

How your life’s changing:

Congratulations! You’ve hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you’ve likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you’re getting enough iron, a mineral that’s used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

If you haven’t already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you’re a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.

(from babycenter.com)

all too familiar June 4, 2009

My heart sank when Andrew handed me the phone. It was my sister. She doesn’t call at 11pm. But when the news came I was shockingly calm. “Dad… a motorcylce accident…. he hit his head….. flew him to Rochester…..” She said that supposedly everything was fine. The trip to Rochester was a precaution because he had hit his head pretty hard. She would call me back in an hour with an update.

When she called back it was the same thing. He’s fine. Should go home tomorrow.

I knew better. I’ve been there before. My brother Caleb was in a car accident 2 1/2 years ago with severe head injuries. I knew that it took up to three days to find out the true extent of the injuries. We decided our best plan of action was to get some sleep and go down in the morning.

When I called to check on him the next morning my mom told me what I had been expecting to hear. Things had gotten worse during the night. There was bleeding on his brain and they were waiting for the results of an exam on his head and neck.

I was surprised by my reaction when I walked into the hospital. It was all so familiar. I expected it to come back to me easily. It did. Unfortunately it ALL came back. The endless nights, the wondering, the panic…. It took me a second to compose myself.

We ended up staying the night with my dad. He was having a hard time, but it would be ok. It gave me a lot of time to think. I knew that my brother’s injuries had been so much worse. Still it was almost harder seeing my dad there in the bed this time. He was my daddy. Every time he grimaced in pain it hurt me. I could see in his eyes every time he opened them that he didn’t want me to see him that way.

trying to get some sleep

getting rid of some excess energy

It sounds so dramatic, reading it that way. Dad went home last Tuesday. He has  a fractured shoulder, some road rash, and a really bad headache. He has a lot of recovery in front of him as he regains his strength and full brain function. It could have been so much worse. I keep thinking how much better things could have been if only he had worn a helmet. How much worse Andrew would have been if he had not.

I can not emphasize helmets enough people!

it was tiring taking care of grandpa. some of us couldn't even finish our dinner!

Mona Lisa’s Heart Attack June 2, 2009

For those of you who don’t know, Mona Lisa is my car. My beautiful black Mazda 5. I love her. We have been through some trying times but in the end it has made our bond stronger.

It is a Thursday afternoon. Mona Lisa starts to not feel so well. She just doesn’t sound right. So, Friday morning we make a plan. Load up all the kids, drive to Walser Mazda (about 20 minutes), drop off the car and go see a movie. On the way there Mona Lisa’s heart exploded. Yup. Big bang, puff of smoke. We thought she was dead and gone forever.

Turns out she needed a heart transplant. In laymans terms, that means “total engine replacement.” Yikes. Something like that is not cheap. With the employee discount it is $7,200. Good bye Mona.

Can’t lemon law her. This is only the third time it has happened. It has to happen four times to be a lemon. Hmmm. Luckily the first two it was under warranty.

We considered our options. It did not look good. At church on Sunday word had spread about the exploding car and someone approached Andrew telling him to wait a couple of days before he did anything about it. Not hard to do since we didn’t have a clue what we were going to do.

When Andrew came home from work that next Wednesday he asked if I wanted to hear a miracle. I’m always up for a good miracle! He went on to explain that this wonderful man from church had found us an engine, a mechanic and someone to tow the car. We were going to be able to get it all done (including a new clutch) for $2,300!!! Not only that, this man put it on his credit card so that we could order the parts immediately, and he was starting a fund for us so people from church could donate to our situation.

I cried.

A few long weeks later, she is back in all her shining glory! Mona Lisa up and running me around again! Wohoo

Now Praise the Lord!!!