Week 29, March 4 - March 10
Thursday, March 4th
(84 days to go)
Another late
entry. I think after today my days will
go back to normal. Yesterday was a busy
day. I had mentioned that my computer had
to have its operating system re-installed
and then some software got to be reinstalled.
Well my computer is back up and running
better than ever. We had all ready been
talking about getting high-speed internet,
so now we do. I can update this website
and I'm not tying up the phone line. And
I can finally listen to things online, and
watch things online. I'm very happy. Also...
when we discovered that instead of owing
the IRS money this year we'd be getting
some back, we decided to get Isaac a laptop.
So we did. And its wireless as well... meaning
Isaac can do all of his work from the comfort
of the living room and not on my computer.
;) It wasn't a big deal, but lately I've
been on the computer more often, doing work
actually. And I'm hoping that I can do more
freelance work, which means I'll continue
to need to use the computer. So... we're
all connected and set. yea!
No news on the baby. Not even a phone call
from the doctor's office yet and it's 2:10pm.
I've still got another couple of hours to
worry, but I'm so hoping I hear nothing.
Baby Update: By today, there are eyelashes
present on [the] baby's eyelids. [The] baby's
eyes are sensitive to various levels of
light and darkness, but can't detect objects
yet. Since the light waves of the visible
spectrum carry visual information to [the]
baby's brain, the baby's eyes are preparing
to see after birth. - "The Pregnancy
Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.
Friday, March
5th (83 days to go)
So I didn't hear
from the doctor's office yesterday. Of course
I'm not considering myself to be in the
clear until I get a piece of paper in the
mail stating that everything looked fine.
For the last couple of days I think Ella's
been trying to push my bellybutton out with
her foot. It doesn't feel very good. She's
getting so big now that some of her movements
don't feel very good. She's filled out the
space in there, so I feel every roll from
side to side that she does. And often she
has her little rear end right up against
my ribs, which is very uncomfortable. I
try to push her back down, but it doesn't
always work. Can I say how much I want May
to be here? These last 3 months will be
no picnic.
Baby Update: This is another highly significant
day in [the] baby's development. The baby's
brain can now direct rhythmic breathing
and control body temperature. - "The
Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine
Harris, Ph.D.
Saturday, March
6th (82 days to go)
Still not heard
from the doctor's office. yea!!!!
Here is something fun some one posted on
a message board of other expectant moms
for the month of May that I frequently visit.
Good to see there are other women going
through the exact same things that I am!!
Good things about being pregnant
1) You're guaranteed to stop traffic whenever
you cross the street.
2) People look at your tummy
and can't help smiling, as if the mere thought
of your being pregnant has actually made
their day a little bit brighter.
3) You can eat a whole pint
of chocolate-chunk ice cream and not feel
guilty. Every nite!
4) You can -- no you must!
--take naps. And lots of them!
5) Getting to name another
human being.
6) Watching your husband turn
into a father when he kisses your belly
good night, reads to the baby in utero,
or stays up until 3:00 a.m. putting the
crib together -- just in case the baby decides
to come eight weeks early. (In my case,
it's Isaac developing conspiracies against
mommy with Ella before she's even born!)
7) Sex: For once in your life,
you're neither worried about getting pregnant
nor trying to get pregnant. You can have
sex just for the pure fun of it.
8) Buying a bathing suit.
It's not about hiding your flaws; it's about
flaunting your belly. (forget buying bathing
suits!!!!)
9) Those wild, intense, amazing
pregnancy dreams in which every remote person
from your past makes some sort of appearance.
None of these dreams can even begin to be
analyzed or understood.
10) The amazing anticipation.
It's like all your previous birthdays and
holidays rolled into one.
11) Imagining the possibilities.
12) More personal space! And
you have no qualms about claiming it.
13) You eat healthier, drink
more water, and carefully read ingredient
labels. Suddenly, it matters more to you
what you put in your body. (isn't this contradictory
to #4?)
14) In the middle of a boring
meeting at work or a meaningless argument,
you feel your baby squirming inside you
and the sensation takes you away. It's your
own secret communication.
15) Getting to hear the swish
swish swish of your baby's heartbeat on
the Doppler.
16) Playing "Guess the
part sticking out," usually at bedtime,
when your baby starts moving furniture around
or whatever it is she does in there.
17) The extra attention you
get from everyone -- your husband gives
you more foot rubs, and your friends call
to check in more often. Neighbors offer
to help; coworkers volunteer to get lunch
for you.
18) The pregnancy beauty package:
thick, silky hair; long, strong nails; beautiful
skin; big boobs.
19) Getting to skip to the
front of the line in public rest rooms.
20) Shopping for a person
you haven't met yet: tiny clothes, all-new
furniture, and adorable room decorations.
21) Dreaming about the first
time someone calls you "Mommy"
and the first time you hear someone call
your husband "Daddy."
22) Baby showers! They
remind you how special your friends and family
think you are. (and it's like it's a birthday
party for yourself, even though the presents
are for the baby)
23) A continuous sense of accomplishment.
You can answer "What did you do today?"
with cool things like "I made ears"
or simply "I'm making a person. What
did you do?"
24) Spending immeasurable amounts of time
trying to remember all those nursery rhymes,
children's songs, and lullabies. (and searching
for old nursery rhyme books I had when I was
a kid so Ella can enjoy them too)
25) Knowing that all the bad stuff -- the
heartburn, swollen ankles, backaches, and
the rest -- doesn't last forever. And that
in the end, it's all worth it.
26) People giving up their seat on the bus/tram
for you.
Baby Update: Each day that
passes brings the baby closer to birth and
closer to completing the prenatal phase of
their development. - "The Pregnancy Journal"
by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.
Saturday, March
6th (82 days to go) - Entry #2
I got the official
letter from the doctor today that says I do
NOT have gestational diabetes!!!! You have
no idea how happy and relieved I am. I had
the Rocky theme song playing in my head, and
my arms lifted in victory as I walked the
sidewalk back in to the house. I did not care
if any one saw me and thought me odd. :)
Sunday, March 7th
(81 days to go)
Since I don't have
anything new to report today, I thought I'd
take a moment to educate you on gestational
diabetes (even though I don't have it)...
I had some people question me as to what it
was and what that means, and since I have
friends who have yet to go through the wonder
that is pregnancy, I thought I'd share with
you what I know.
Gestational diabetes occurs 1 to 2 percent
of expectant mothers, which makes it the most
common pregnancy complication. It is easily
managed however by diet and exercise, and
some times medicine. It is a temporary condition,
and one that most often disappears after delivery.
At about 28 weeks, the placenta begins producing
hormones that that can cause insulin resistance.
If GD occurs, it does make both mother and
baby more at risk for developing diabetes
later in life. Though maintaining a good weight
and diet will most likely keep this in check.
If GD does occur, and it is monitored, both
mom and baby will turn out just fine.
There you have it. Everything you did and
did not want to know about gestational diabetes.
Baby Update: Over the next
three days or so, the baby's skin will begin
to be smoother as more fat is deposited underneath
its surface. - "The Pregnancy Journal"
by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.
Monday, March 8th
(80 days to go)
No heartbeat sound
today. When the computer crashed last week
the program I used to create the mp3's needs
to be uninstalled and reinstalled... I found
the cd, but I don't know what the serial number
is (and I have a feeling Isaac didn't keep
that around). It's just as well... the heartbeat
sounds good through the doppler but when I
recorded it it came out all scratchy and quiet.
What the hey... I'll attach the .wav
file. You may need to download it to your
desktop first before listening to it. And
here is Baby Center's take on 29
weeks.
My feet are starting to swell up. My ankles
got there before my feet did. Yesterday they
looked like elephant feet. :( They still fit
in to my shoes at least... it's just my boots
that zip up the side that don't fit like they
used to... just can't zip them all the way
to the top anymore. Other than that I've been
feeling pretty good. No back aches or other
aches and my energy level has been up. I still
tire out pretty quickly, but I've got this
big bowling ball I'm carrying in front, so
that's to be expected.
Tomorrow at noon we have the 4D ultrasound.
That's going to be so cool. As soon as I get
home I will scan the pictures and post them
on the website on a new appointment page.
And then Thursday I have another regular doctor's
visit. Let's hope this next visit is all sunshine.
The last one left me feeling depressed.
Last night I had a couple of really weird
dreams. Been awile since I had any of notable
interest. Last night's included poltergeists
in a house I was supposed to renovate, but
myself and whoever else was working were too
scared to do the work. There was another weird
one but I don't remember much about it. Okay...
enough babbling from me.
Baby Update:Over the next
three days, the baby will become more sensitive
to light, sound, taste, and smell. The touch
sensitivity of [the] baby's skin is already
well established. - "The Pregnancy Journal"
by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.
Tuesday, March
9th (79 days to go)
We had that 4D
ultrasound today. Follow
this link to see more pictures.
I made a comment in yesterday's entry about
Isaac having not kept a serial number around...
I stand corrected. Just thought I'd mention
that I didn't give him enough credit. :)
Baby
Update: By today, the surface of the baby's
skin is smoother and whiter as body fat accumulates
under its surface. The fat the baby is putting
on is white fat, not the brown fat that is
used in temperature regulation earlier in
the pregnancy. White fat is insulating and
is an energy source. Fat babies aren't necessarily
healthier babies, but some fat is needed for
normal body functioning. - "The Pregnancy
Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.
Wednesday, March
10th (78 days to go)
I guess I don't
have anything new to add... that or I'm too
tired to remember. I was up earlier than I
would have like to have been today.
Baby
Update: The baby's eyes can now move in their
sockets. The baby is practicing looking. -
"The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine
Harris, Ph.D. |