29 week update

Your baby now weighs around 2.5 pounds / 1.1 kilograms and measures about 15 inches / 38 centimetres from head to toe. In boys, testicles descend from near the kidneys through the groin en route to the scrotum. In girls, the clitoris is relatively prominent because it's not yet covered by the still-small labia. These will grow to cover it in the last few weeks before birth. Your baby's head is getting bigger, and brain growth is very rapid at this time. Nearly all babies react to sound by 30 weeks. Your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during the third trimester. You'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium (about 200 milligrams is deposited in your baby's skeleton every day), so eat foods rich in these nutrients. The skeleton hardens even more and the brain, muscles, and lungs continue to mature.



We are off to Quebec tomorrow after the 'a-okay' from my doctor. Besides my blood pressure being borderline high everything is fine; the baby's heart rate was 148bpm, my fundus height is normal and baby is moving quite a bit. My weight was a shocker but I'm not dwelling on it as I know there's still more to add! Even Charles was surprised. I told him to be careful as I could really smother him while he sleeps, mistaking him for one of my pillows! He wouldn't stand a chance.

Kimberly Beckham

That's right! I left on the 15th for a 4 day pairing and little did I know that my life would change on my return. As it turns out, Kim decided to get a hair cut Victoria Beckham style. Next thing I know, we are getting phone calls from everybody, my soccer games on tuesdays are followed by more people. As for me, I still have my faux-hawk cut, which gives me the earlier David Beckam look. Too bad that my soccer skills are as good as a 9 yrs old.

Otherwise, things are good. The doctor's appointment today went well, nothing abnormal beside a blood pressure that's borderline to high, but that could be a result of my increasing presence at home.

Charles

Is there a trucker in the house?

This picture better describes how I feel with all my guts pressed up against my diaphragm! I cannot stress how much I am burping... ick. Even the cat thinks I'm rude! I spent all day yesterday either on the couch or in front of the computer as I was not feeling well; just a bad stomach and no energy. I did my prenatal yoga this morning and feel better but my stomach still feels off. I can't see this feeling going away until after baby is born!

28 week update

Seen that pouch underneath the left side of the uterus? Yeah, that's the bladder and the reason why I'm off to the toilet every 15 minutes!

You're in the home stretch. The third trimester typically starts at week 29 and lasts until week 40 and sometimes even beyond. (Don't worry -- 42 weeks is the maximum! After that, a woman usually is induced to give birth.) Most women gain an average of 11 pounds/ 5 kilograms during this trimester. By this week, your baby weighs nearly 2.3 pounds/ a little over 1 kilograms and may measure 14.8 inches/ 38 centimetres from top to toe. At about this time, your baby can open his eyes and turn his head in utero if he notices a continuous, bright light shining from the outside. His fat layers are forming and his fingernails appear.





By the 7th month, her key organs are already developed: The nervous system has matured to the point that it controls respiratory functions and body temperature, the lungs would be capable of breathing if she were to be born at this point. Her movements are more organized, and her muscles stronger. She exercises by kicking and stretching. Calcium is being stored and fetal bones are hardening.

I have been well but feeling the effects of carrying a growing being in my belly. I am so thankful that I am not working and can rest whenever I feel I need to. Because I never sleep through the night anymore, it's great to be able to lay down during the day. I think my greatest struggle has been the drastic change to my activities. I watch runners enjoying their workout on the pathways and feel twinges of envy and listen to Charles wake up early to meet others for a long day hike while I fall back asleep. I have been walking but only very short distances; I find once I am fatigued my belly becomes quite sore and it feels like the baby is going to fall out! Very strange sensation. I try to do my yoga every other day but have yet to get back into the pool (I stopped when I was put on bed rest). I think I just need a good kick in the bum but it would be nice to have a pool buddy.

Trouble already!

Charles on Cascade Mountain in Banff on Sunday... surrounded by thunderstorms

I have been experiencing a very sharp pain intermittently in my left upper abdomen for the past four days. At first I thought it was just 'growing' pains and tried to massage it out. It doesn't happen too often but when it wakes me in the middle of the night, it becomes an issue! So, I went to the doctors yesterday and she said it is probably the baby's foot. She felt my uterus and listened to the heart beat and determined that the baby's back is along my right side, head down with limbs pointing towards my left side. It probably is a boy then, taking after Charles already!

27 week update

Your baby now weighs nearly 2 pounds/ 875 grams and measures 14.5 inches/ 36.6 centimetres from head to toe. Her eyes open and close, she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals and she may suck a finger or thumb. Sweet dreams, little baby! Some experts believe that babies begin to dream by the 28th week. What do they dream about? No one knows for certain but the brain is active this week as well. The characteristic grooves on the brain's surface start to appear and more brain tissue develops. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of the hiccups, which are common this week and throughout the pregnancy. Your baby has them but is breathing in amniotic fluid rather than air. A paper bag can't cure her hiccups, obviously, but an episode usually lasts only momentarily. The sensation for you may be strange but not unpleasant. Since your uterus is now up near your rib cage, you may now find yourself short of breath if you haven't already. Starting now and continuing through the last three months of pregnancy, you may be plagued by leg cramps, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and an itchy abdomen.