30 Weeks!

How far along: 30 weeks!

Baby is the size of:  A small cabbage. Didn't I already do that one? This website is all messed up methinks.

Physical symptoms: Calf pain, fatigue, stretching pain and a hell of a lot of irritability. 
 
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Up 34 pounds. Only 6 pounds in the last month though which is good for me since I was hanging around 10 the last 2 visits.

Maternity clothes: Can't live without them.

Stretch marks: Maybe one on my lower belly? Can't really get a good angle to tell for sure.
 
Sleep: My body has decided it has to wake up at 6:30 every morning whether I need to or not. Awesome.

Best moment last week: It's 30 weeks! That's the best.
  
Movement: Alllllll the time. She's big and feisty.
 
Food cravings: Sweet things. I don't have any actually crazy cravings.

Sex:  Still girl I assume.

Labor signs: Please no. 
 
Belly button: It's half popped out.
 
What I miss: Being comfortable.

What I am looking forward to: Baby shower #1 is in 2 1/2 weeks!
 
Milestones: It's week 30!!! This is the best! Yay for weeks that begin with 3's! We are in the homestretch, finally!

29 weeks!

I almost forgot to do this today. I've been soooo tired all day and just dead to the world. Bleh.


How far along: 29 weeks. 

Baby is the size of:  A butternut squash.

Physical symptoms: Still calf pain and some headaches, also fatigue has come back and hit me like a truck.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Up 33 pounds.

Maternity clothes: Yep.

Stretch marks: Still nothing that wasn't there before pregnancy.
 
Sleep: Would be better if I didn't pee every 30 seconds.

Best moment last week: Her antics are getting more and more pronounced.
  
Movement: Oh yes, she's a mover and strong. She keeps pressing on my lungs and kicking my ribs and lower pelvis.
 
Food cravings: Lemon flavorings and citrusy things. Sugar is always nice.

Sex:  Girl!

Labor signs: Nope.

Belly button: Still weird and popped out on the side with a regular button in the middle.
 
What I miss: Bending, sleeping.

What I am looking forward to: Almost week 30! Goodbye, 20's! 
 
Milestones: Just getting to this point feels like a milestone. Almost in the homestretch!

NIAW

I've developed a post for Facebook about National Infertility Awareness Week that I'm planning on sharing later in the day. I'm a bit nervous about it since it addresses the controversy of Pregnancy after infertility and the guilt that comes with it. This is what I wrote:

April 19-25 is National Infertility Awareness Week. 1 in 8 couples suffer from infertility. What is infertility? It is a medical condition defined as 1 year of consistent unprotected and timed intercourse not resulting in a pregnancy for a couple under the age of 35 (6 months for a couple over 35). It is caused by many different factors that can be based on a man’s health, a woman’s, a combination of both or have no known cause. Infertility can also be defined as secondary infertility where a couple already has children, but struggle with conceiving a sibling, or in the case of recurrent losses (3 or more).

As I have posted before Steve and I have suffered through infertility. One particular thing that is not talked about often is the emotions and potential consequences after pregnancy is achieved. Pregnancy, adoption, even parenthood, is not a cure for infertility. While infertility does not define us, it also does not change or go away and will always affect us on some level. There are stories and cases of those who have no problems conceiving after their first was a struggle, but they are interesting cases because they are not that common.

The fact of the matter is infertility is not just a physical issue, it is an emotional one. The feelings of anxiety never leave even after pregnancy or parenthood has been achieved. It’s not easy being pregnant after going through struggles. The anxiety is heightened, for some (including myself) it’s hard to get excited because the fear of something going wrong. There are also issues with guilt when you know people who still struggle and you don’t want them to hurt knowing how they feel when they see you or your updates. It’s also knowing that when we decide to have another child it will most likely not be an easy road.

One very important thing to keep in mind if you know and love someone who is going through infertility is to be careful with what you say. Many hurtful things have been said to us, even though we know that they were not meant maliciously. This article right here does address these things, why they are hurtful and what can be said instead. Thank you for your time.http://www.resolve.org/support/for-family--friends/infertility-etiquette.html

A bit TL;DR, but there's just so much to say that needs to be said. No one should have to hide in the dark. 

28 Weeks

How far along: 28 weeks. 

Baby is the size of:  An Eggplant.

Physical symptoms: Minor headaches, not as bad as last week. Calf pain still most nights, but better now that S massages them before bed. I've also developed some Acid Reflux.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm up 30lbs since beginning of pregnancy. :(

Maternity clothes: Definitely.

Stretch marks: Nothing new.
 
Sleep: Comes and goes.

Best moment last week: Making it to the third trimester.
  
Movement: All the time, I think we have a little spitfire on our hands. She moved so much the other night that my belly was shaking back and forth for 20 seconds.
 
Food cravings: Usually Lemonade, other Lemon or Lime flavorings are good too.

Sex:  Still Girl!

Labor signs: No, luckily. We had a long trip to L&D for possible pre-eclampsia signs on Friday, but everything is fine.

Belly button: The edges of it are popped out. It's totally weird. 
 
What I miss: Bending over.

What I am looking forward to: Being done with the 20's in 2 weeks! Also first baby shower in about a month!

Milestones: We're definitely in the 3rd trimester now no matter how you count it! Aside from that every week feels more and more like a milestone.

27 Weeks!

How far along: 27 weeks. 

Baby is the size of:  Cucumber.

Physical symptoms: Still with the calf pain. This week it's also headaches, but that could also be do to the constant storm systems we've had move in.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Too high.

Maternity clothes: Oh yes.

Stretch marks: There may be a couple small ones near my belly button, but I'm not sure if those ones weren't there already.
 
Sleep: is getting a bit better.

Best moment last week: Just moving along!
  
Movement: Oh yes. I can feel her move near my pelvis and near my ribs at the same time. 
 
Food cravings: Lemonade mostly.

Sex:  Girl!

Labor signs: No, no, no.

Belly button: S says it looks like a cat's asshole.

What I miss: Moving easier. I feel like a turtle or an old person lately.

What I am looking forward to: 3 more weeks until my next visit! Shower invites should start going out this next week as well!

Milestones: IT'S 3RD TRIMESTER! Woohoo!!! This both excites me and terrifies me.

26 Weeks!

How far along: 26 weeks. 

Baby is the size of:  Head of lettuce or a turnip. Baby is a salad.

Physical symptoms: Calf pain. So much calf pain.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Bad gain again. I don't want to talk about it.

Maternity clothes: Yes.

Stretch marks: Nothing has popped up yet.
 
Sleep: Is for fools.

Best moment last week: Nursery progress! We finally moved the computer desk out and made room for the crib. We also got our bookends in and we sort of have decorations.
  
Movement: All the time. She's stubborn though and always stops when S tries to feel.

Food cravings: Lemonade.

Sex:  Still a girl!

Labor signs: Nooooooo.

Belly button: It looks like an asshole.

What I miss: Walking without pain.

What I am looking forward to: 1 more week until 3rd tri! I also had my glucose test today and I'm looking for the results of that. Because of my weight gain and higher blood pressure they also tested me for pre-eclampsia and thyroid function. Awesome. I'm nervous and hoping everything is okay.

Milestones: One more "4 week" visit and then we move on to bi-weekly appointments!
 



I took a comparison shot this week to show the difference within 12 weeks. Baby girl is growing!