29 Weeks

 

How far along: 29 weeks - EDD 09/10/15

 

How big is baby: The size of an acorn squash - She is growing fat deposits under her skin, and her energy is surging because of it. She is starting to get a little cramped in there as she continues to grow.

 

What are we having: A sweet baby girl

 

Symptoms this week: My acid reflux is out of control, to the point where I'll need to ask my doctor about it at my appointment. No matter what I eat, do, or try, it's there. I feel like I'm burning from the inside. Hopefully my doctor has a solution other than Tums, because those have stopped helping.

 

Weight gain/loss: Still on track for my 1 pound gain per week, for a total of 13 pounds.

 

Food aversions/cravings: Fish. Any kind, it doesn't matter. I won't cook it at home, since J isn't a fan, but if we go out I can pretty much guarantee that part (if not all) of my meal will be fish of some sort.

 

The baby belly: I feel huge. Almost abnormally so. Strangers keep saying to me, "You must be ready to pop!" and then look shocked when I say I still have 11 weeks to go. I'm definitely all belly, but it makes me wonder how much larger it's going to get,

 

Movement: I think baby girl has been having a growth spurt. She's still active, but has had more quiet time recently. I've found that after quieter days, she'll have super active days, but that hasn't really been the case this week. I know she's fine, I think she's just busy growing.

 

What is freaking me out: Thinking about just how close we are to having an actual baby to care for. Obviously, I'm aware that pregnancy results in a newborn, but it's scary to think about sometimes!

 

What I'm totally loving: How wonderful my shower turned out. Everyone went above and beyond, and I'm just so grateful to have such fantastic people in our, and the baby's, life.

 

What I'm looking forward to: J and I took the week off before the 4th of July to finish up baby projects, spend time with my mom for the first half of the week, and then just spend time together... since it'll be our last days off as just the two of us for a while.

 

28 Weeks

 

How far along: 28 weeks - EDD 09/10/15

 

How big is baby: The size of an eggplant - She is starting to develop more fat, so her wrinkly skin will begin to get smoother. Her lungs are mature enough to strongly increase her chance of survival if born now.

 

What are we having: A sweet baby girl

 

Symptoms this week: Still heartburn, nothing new here. My fatigue from a couple of weeks ago passed, but I definitely get tired easily. It's not a "I need sleep" type of tired though, but more of a "my body needs a break" tired.

 

Weight gain/loss: Up another pound for a 12 pound total gain.

 

Food aversions/cravings: I still spend most days eating salads, fruit, and cookies. I don't know if it's because I'm craving those things, or if it's because it's what I've been eating since pretty much day one of this pregnancy.

 

The baby belly: My belly button is getting weird. I have a big red spot at the top that sticks out, which is most likely due to the scar tissue from my old navel piercing. The rest isn't so much popping out, as it is flattening itself out. Definitely a huge change from my normal, super-deep navel.

 

Movement: Baby girl is active, but on a schedule. She won't start moving in the mornings until the alarm goes off (which I find odd), then she's quiet most of the day, then active again right before bed. If she moves during the night, it has yet to be enough to wake me up.

 

What is freaking me out: I feel like time is flying! By the time my shower gets here I'll be 29 weeks, turning 30 weeks a few days afterwards. This pregnancy has gone so incredibly fast, and I feel like she's going to get here in September and I'm not going to be ready mentally.

 

What I'm totally loving: Still being able to paint my toes! It's a stupidly small victory, but I can still do it! haha

 

What I'm looking forward to: My mom is coming to visit and my baby shower is next week! I feel like we've been planning this for so long, but now that it's here, it feels like time flew by.

 

 

27 Weeks

 

How far along: 27 weeks - EDD 09/10/15

 

How big is baby: The size of a rutabaga - She's practicing inhaling and exhaling with her rapidly developing lungs. Her brain is officially showing activity, and will keep on getting more complex.

 

What are we having: A sweet baby girl

 

Symptoms this week: Holy heartburn. Citrus? Heartburn. Spice? Heartburn. Bread? Heartburn. I'm now fully stocked with a supply of Tums at all times.

 

Weight gain/loss: It looks like I'll be going into third trimester with 11 lbs gained. I seem to be putting on one full pound per week at this point, which would put me right on track for around 25 lbs of total gain by delivery.

 

Food aversions/cravings: Still fruits and veggies. I can't get enough! Cookies are definitely my go-to treat, though.

 

The baby belly: I feel round. I think the bump is starting to move up and out, since I'm losing some of the low roundness by my hips. I still have a waist, so that's a win (for now).

 

Movement: I felt a limb of some sort slide across my belly this week. It's the first time I've felt that. There are tons of bumps and thumps, some of which are strong enough to hurt, but that was the first type of that gliding movement I've felt.

 

What is freaking me out: Umm, third trimester is well underway starting next week! Where is the time going?! My OB appointments have now been increased to every two weeks, I took my gestational diabetes test, and I need to start working on my birth plan and hospital packing list.

 

What I'm totally loving: I feel officially pregnant at this point. It sounds ridiculous, since I've been visibly pregnant for months, but it's really starting to hit home that I'm a big pregnant woman who is going to have a baby soon.

 

What I'm looking forward to: Finding out the results of my gestational diabetes test. The drink wasn't nearly as bad as I thought, and I have no reason to think that I have it, but I'll just feel better with the confirmation that everything is okay.

 

26 Weeks

 

How far along: 26 weeks - EDD 09/10/15

 

How big is baby: The size of a head of lettuce - Her eyes are forming and will soon start to open. She's prepping her immune system by soaking up antibodies, and she is taking breaths of amniotic fluid.

 

What are we having: A sweet baby girl

 

Symptoms this week: I hate to say it... I really, really, really hate to say it... I'm tired. I'm sleeping fine, not doing as much, but I'm starting to get that "I need a nap" feeling in the afternoon. I can push through, since I obviously don't have a choice at work, but weekends are begging me for nap time.

 

Weight gain/loss: Officially in the weight gain double digits... Up to 10 total pounds gained this week.

 

Food aversions/cravings: Fruit. Give me all of the fruit, especially melon. I devoured a massive fruit salad this week, and am fully stocked to make another one. Between the fruit and my daily salads, I almost wonder if I'm giving birth to a herbivore. It's actually amusing since J is a total carnivore, and won't touch most veggies.

 

The baby belly: I took the bump out for her first public appearance in a bikini this week. It was quite successful. I still (knock on wood) don't have any stretch marks, discoloration, or awkward hair growth, so I was pretty confident about showing it off. We'll see if that keeps up all summer, or if I go out and buy a one piece at some point.

 

Movement: I was finally able to catch some kicks (punches?) on video this week. Most movement is still pretty low, but depending on her, and my, position it can be really easy to see my belly jumping around. Nothing is defined enough yet where I can say, "Oh that's a foot," but if I press around I can usually find what I'm assuming is her head.

 

What is freaking me out: Third trimester is coming up so quickly! I'm very nervous about losing my energy, starting to be more achey, and not feeling as great as I have been so far. There's no guarantee that I'm going to start feeling like crap, but I get anxious every time I feel like I need a nap.

 

What I'm totally loving: We had our hospital tour and I didn't totally freak out, so that's good. The reality definitely hit home that she needs to come out of me though. In just three short months we're going to meet our baby girl!

 

What I'm looking forward to: Getting the nursery, and the rest of the upstairs, finished and all put together. All of the big projects are done, but there is still a good amount of decluttering and cleaning that need to be done... Preferably before my mom gets here for her visit.