Tomorrow I'm officially 31 weeks.
How I'm Feeling Physically
Now that it's getting hot here and the part of my belly that hangs out of my non-maternity tees (usually what I wear just aroung the house) is starting to morph from cute and poking out to stretch-marked and heading south, pregnancy is getting a bit more uncomfortable. Pretty much everytime I have to stand up I also have to pee. If I'm standing for any length of time my back kills me. I bought a maternity support band. The one I bought was made by Medela . I really didn't like it. It did help my back a bit and even the frequent urination, but it wasn't very comfortable. I was always relieved to just get it off. So, I'm going to return it. The belly bands on my maternity jeans are also more uncomfortable now. They kind of squeeze me a bit, just around the top of the band and leave an indention when I take the jeans off. Part of me really wants to buy another pair of jeans and maybe some denim capris, both with either the elastic under the belly or the full belly panel (mine are mid-belly). With only a couple of months left though I'm not sure it's worth it. The Motherhood Maternity outlet by me has them as low as $16 sometimes, but I only ever find the full belly panel in petite sizes. :( The hot flashes are still here. I get up and drink a big glass of water whenever I get one. Leg cramps try to get me every morning too. I just immediately point my toes up stretching out my calves and they stop in their tracks. Evil leg cramps! My hands have started cramping up. Lately I've been sewing a lot, trying to get the crafty projects I wanted to do done for the nursery, and usually my fingers kill the next day for a little while. My lower back will hurt sometimes when I'm sitting, but I've found that putting a small pillow behind me really helps with that. A couple other pregnant body phenomena I'm not exactly loving are a little return of nausea and food aversions and the reaction my body has to vegetables. On this Blue Ribbon Baby diet you're suppose to eat 2 serving of greens a day and a serving of another vegetable. In my particular case, I could probably just do that and ask my doctor to please change me to a prenatal vitamin WITHOUT a stool softener in it. :/ Ewww.
Other Feelings and What I've Been Up To
Lately the people I was so bummed about ditching me during my pregnancy have really seemed to double up their efforts to support me and spend time with me. A nice and welcome surprise. My husband has been supportive the whole time, but instead of just doing it through words he's really been taking extra steps to help me in little ways that I never expected. Also, there were a few friends I invited to my baby shower who I really didn't think would show. They pretty much all either RSVP'd just recently or confirmed that they couldn't be there for whatever reason, but had sent us a gift. It's awesome when people surprise you in a good way.
I've been having definite mood swings. Sometimes I just really don't feel like doing anything but sitting here. I don't want to watch TV or surf the net or eat or anything. I just want to sit here. Usually when this happens I end up spending the whole time sitting here thinking about all I should be getting done and feeling guilty. So, I've started giving myself a time limit on "just sitting." I'll tell myself I can sit here for 30 minutes, then I HAVE to put the clothes in the washer into the dryer and unload the dishwasher, for example. Usually, once I'm up and doing something, I can snap myself out of the fog and stay productive.
I did a bit of shopping lately. I ordered some really cute maternity shirts from Gap. I should get them soon. I really wish they had a maternity store close to me, but at least they offer free returns. I also have a Gap card so I get free shipping. Although Gap and Old Navy are by the same company, Gap is such better quality. The maternity clothing I've purchased from Gap has been constantly comfortable and durable. The shirts I've purchased from Old Navy have not fit as well in the right places, have faded or shrunk, and are just over all not as good quality garments as my Gap purchases. If I did end up buying another pair of maternity jeans I think I'd go with Gap this time. Despite the higher cost, I'd still be saving money over many other maternity jean brands. Besides clothes, I bought some shampoo and conditioner by Aveda. I absolutely love them. My mom is a hairstylist. So, I'm pretty much always using professional products on my hair. Now that I'm pregnant though, I want to be able to look at the label on the products and know exactly what I'm putting on my body. So, I've switched to Aveda and am happy so far. Another recent purchase of mine has been new glasses and contacts. I was due for a check up and figured I better go now or I might not make it in for quite a while after the baby comes. I spent a little more on new frames than usual this time. I have been thinking more about how I am feeling about my changing body now and how I will feel as I transition back into a nonpregnant body and decided that it's ok to spend a little more on the things that I'll be able to continuously use no matter how much weight I gain or lose.
On the subject of body image, I have been a bit down about my body shape lately. I haven't gained any weight since I started this new diet. I will fluctuate up or down a pound, but I always stay within that range. No clear gain. It's been over a month so I'm a bit concerned. I have a prenatal appointment next week though. I'll mention it to my OB. I'm constantly eating and definitely getting all my servings of milk, protein, whole grain, fruits and veggies, and fats every day. The baby is just as active as ever too. My belly is also growing. The scale just isn't moving. So, we'll see what the professional has to say. I wouldn't worry, but I know it's normal to gain around a pound a week in the third trimester, about half of which goes to the baby as she gains weight. So, I just want to know she's growing ok mostly. If she wants to take her little fat stores from mine, I'm totally ok with that. :) I've gained 30 lbs so far and wouldn't mind stopping there as long as the baby is getting 100% of what she needs from me.
I had a little pregnancy photoshoot last week. I didn't like any of the shots with my upper arms in them. I've become a bit self conscious about my arms. My legs were never a favorite part of my body and are now a bit more jiggly. My face is also a bit more round. That really doesn't bother me as much though. I would just love to be prancing around in cute little flowy summer dresses or at least to switch my tops for a cute maternity tank or two and some comfy shorts. Not going to happen though I'm thinking. I bought a maternity bathing suit earlier in my pregnancy that'll most likely never see the light of day. :( I don't like being that way. I'm sure if I'd actually uncover a bit and get some sun on my jiggly parts I'd be able to stand looking at them a bit more. I'm more comfortable covered though I guess. This all definitely motivates me to work hard to get fit again once the baby is here. After I've gotten a bit used to the new-parent daze that is.
On a funner note, my baby shower is the end of this week. I'm so excited. I'm mostly excited to reunite with friends I haven't seen in forever. The presents will be great I'm sure; definitely appreciated. I'll just hate everyone focusing on me while I open them. Part of me wants to peak at my baby registries to see what we got! Bad, I know! But it won't be as fun that way. I paid for and put togther the favors and did the invitations. I figured it was the least I could do. I also found a bunch of ideas for activities online and let my sister pick the ones she wanted to do (that's her part of the shower). My mom is doing the food and decorations. I just need to pick up the little bundt cakes on the day of the shower to add to the favor bags and transport my sister-in-law and her husband from their hotel that day and show up to the party. So, besides figuring out what to wear, I'm not letting myself stress about anything. :)
I'll let you know how everything goes!
~Jessy
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Week 29 - A Sneak Peek
What I've Been Up To
Another busy couple of weeks have gone by. I went through a mini shopaholic phase the beginning of last week. I bought a belly chime, Glowology lotion and body wash set, 2 sets of books for the baby that I grew up with, 3 movies that I really like and wanted to have on hand for her, and 4 tank tops.
There is actually a Belly Chime website that you can google and find pretty easily. Their chimes are around $40 though plus shipping. They were also out of stock when I visited their website due to some kind of silver problem. I found mine by searching for "Harmony Ball" on ebay. I bought one from a seller named Oakvail. Her store is called "Granny Has One" if anyone else is interested. The pendant ended up being around $27 including shipping. I just went to the craft store and bought a leather necklace kit (came with hardware) for $3 to put it on. These chimes are supposedly based on the Mexican baby bola. They are a little chime (much like those Chinese meditation balls if you have heard the sound those make) that you wear hanging near your belly while you are pregnant. Whenever you move the chime makes a sound the baby can hear while still in the womb. I guess as times goes on the baby associates this chime with comfort and continues to be soothed by the sound of it once they are born. I read about some mothers using them as breastfeeding necklaces too. Something for the baby to play with while they are feeding.
The lotion/body wash set I bought is Glowology's Simply Divine by Noodle and Boo. I love that they are both pthalate and paraben-free. They contain many organic ingredients and are made for sensitive skin. Erbaviva can be a little overpowering scent-wise in my opinion. These 2 Glowology products, however, both have a gentle scent. Like a very light honey/floral mix. The tubes are a nice size and will most likely last me the rest of the pregnancy. The body wash is a bit thin, but does the job. The lotion, on the other hand, is extremely nice and luxurious. Thick enough to hydrate, but not so thick you can't completely rub it in.
The books I ordered were the Little Miss and Mr. Men books by Roger Hargreaves. They are usually around $3 each book and many of the books in each set are no longer being printed in the U.S. I did find them in 2 little 'Library Bus' sets from Amazon.co.UK though. These are books that I loved as a child for bedtime. I remember looking at the back of each one and wishing I could read ALL the books in both sets. So, I had to have them for the baby.
My other must-have was 3 movies by Hayao Miyazaki. I came across them when I first became interested in Japanese anime. They are: Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl's Moving Castle. I own most of the movies I cherished as a child, but these are new additions I'd like to pass on to my kids. I love the character expression and complex feelings embraced by Japanese animation. Some of it is very adult-oriented, but these three films I think are ones that can be appreciated in different ways as a child grows older.
The tank tops I bought on a shopping trip with my sister. They aren't maternity or anything too special. I found them at a store called Styles. They come in some nice bright somery colors, are long enough to cover the belly and have lace with a few sequins along both the top and bottom. I like that the straps are adjustable on them. That way you can shorten them to give a bit of cleavage coverage if you wear them alone or lengthen them if you are using them to add a pretty layer to something.
I've also been reading a couple of good books I definitely recommend. One is Raising Baby Green by Dr. Alan Greene (a pediatrician) and the other is the American Academy of Pediatrics New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding.
Besides reading and shopping I taught myself how to do Amigurumi. I haven't officially finished my first piece (a blue teddy bear), but I definitely have the hang of it. It's so fast and once you figure out how to start out (I use the magic adjustable ring method) things come together rather quickly. I'll post a picture once I have the bear all situated.
My in-laws were in town the beginning of the week too. It was a nice visit. My mother-in-law really appreciated the 4D ultrasound I had done while she was up. It helped her feel more a part of the pregnancy and attached to the baby. I had hoped it would. It was the funnest ultrasound so far for me too becaue my mom and sister were there with me to "awww." I know some husbands cry during ultrasounds and are extra sensitive to that sort of thing, but mine isn't really like that. He says it's because he comes from such a large family and all his friends our age have children. So, babies are just kind of part of life for him. So there wasn't much mushiness or any tears during my medical ultrasounds.
Lastly, I had my 29 week prenatal appointment yesterday. It was a normal short visit. Everything is looking great. The scheduler made all the rest of my appointments until my due date. Then she said "unfortunately" for me, I probably would be there, still pregnant, for my appointment scheduled on my actual due date. I was thinking I'd rather that than be in the hospital way early with complications or premature labor.
How I'm Feeling Physically
I have to say that this Blue Ribbon Baby diet has helped me immensely. The swelling in my hands and feet that had started went away. I took a little break from it when my in-laws were here, then it started to come back. Once I started the diet full force again, the swelling went away again. So, that was a nice surprise. I haven't had any surprises on the scale. Even though I feel like I'm eating all the time, my weight is in check nicely. I just feel really good.
I have gotten more stretch marks in the past few days. That's not too lovely. My hair, on the other hand, is looking great finally. It's full and shiny and healthy looking. I love it.
I think my main physical complaint would have to be hot flashes. I get SO HOT all of a sudden. Usually I jump up and change my clothes to something lighter or get a drink of water. Whatever I can think of. Then the flash passes and I'm bundled up under a blanket because my house feels cool again.
How I'm Feeling Emotionally
I was a little worried because it seemed like the baby would be way active one day and then I would barely feel her the next. I asked the nurse during my prenatal visit if I should be doing kick counts since it worries me. She told me I could. She said to just lay on my left side and count 10 kicks in an hour each day. She said that the position helps and that I could drink some orange juice before to help. I guess the sugar will get her moving a bit. She also said not to worry too much because babies aren't in very good shape. That's why their heartrates are affected by things so easily. If the baby is way active one day, she may need to just rest a lot the next day. That helped put my mind at ease. I would of course call my OB's office if her lack of movement started to worry me still. For now though, she's been active enough to keep me confident the past couple days.
The 4D ultrasound did help me feel a lot more connected to the baby. It gave me comfort too to see her developed so well. She looks a lot like her daddy in those images. :) We played the DVD for my husband and father-in-law later that afternoon. I think my husband really enjoyed it. He cracked a joke or two, but I can definitely see a difference in his level of interest in the baby since he saw it. It's cute.
So, overall, it has been a very eventful/busy/enriching kind of week for me.
~Jessy
Another busy couple of weeks have gone by. I went through a mini shopaholic phase the beginning of last week. I bought a belly chime, Glowology lotion and body wash set, 2 sets of books for the baby that I grew up with, 3 movies that I really like and wanted to have on hand for her, and 4 tank tops.
There is actually a Belly Chime website that you can google and find pretty easily. Their chimes are around $40 though plus shipping. They were also out of stock when I visited their website due to some kind of silver problem. I found mine by searching for "Harmony Ball" on ebay. I bought one from a seller named Oakvail. Her store is called "Granny Has One" if anyone else is interested. The pendant ended up being around $27 including shipping. I just went to the craft store and bought a leather necklace kit (came with hardware) for $3 to put it on. These chimes are supposedly based on the Mexican baby bola. They are a little chime (much like those Chinese meditation balls if you have heard the sound those make) that you wear hanging near your belly while you are pregnant. Whenever you move the chime makes a sound the baby can hear while still in the womb. I guess as times goes on the baby associates this chime with comfort and continues to be soothed by the sound of it once they are born. I read about some mothers using them as breastfeeding necklaces too. Something for the baby to play with while they are feeding.
The lotion/body wash set I bought is Glowology's Simply Divine by Noodle and Boo. I love that they are both pthalate and paraben-free. They contain many organic ingredients and are made for sensitive skin. Erbaviva can be a little overpowering scent-wise in my opinion. These 2 Glowology products, however, both have a gentle scent. Like a very light honey/floral mix. The tubes are a nice size and will most likely last me the rest of the pregnancy. The body wash is a bit thin, but does the job. The lotion, on the other hand, is extremely nice and luxurious. Thick enough to hydrate, but not so thick you can't completely rub it in.
The books I ordered were the Little Miss and Mr. Men books by Roger Hargreaves. They are usually around $3 each book and many of the books in each set are no longer being printed in the U.S. I did find them in 2 little 'Library Bus' sets from Amazon.co.UK though. These are books that I loved as a child for bedtime. I remember looking at the back of each one and wishing I could read ALL the books in both sets. So, I had to have them for the baby.
My other must-have was 3 movies by Hayao Miyazaki. I came across them when I first became interested in Japanese anime. They are: Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl's Moving Castle. I own most of the movies I cherished as a child, but these are new additions I'd like to pass on to my kids. I love the character expression and complex feelings embraced by Japanese animation. Some of it is very adult-oriented, but these three films I think are ones that can be appreciated in different ways as a child grows older.
The tank tops I bought on a shopping trip with my sister. They aren't maternity or anything too special. I found them at a store called Styles. They come in some nice bright somery colors, are long enough to cover the belly and have lace with a few sequins along both the top and bottom. I like that the straps are adjustable on them. That way you can shorten them to give a bit of cleavage coverage if you wear them alone or lengthen them if you are using them to add a pretty layer to something.
I've also been reading a couple of good books I definitely recommend. One is Raising Baby Green by Dr. Alan Greene (a pediatrician) and the other is the American Academy of Pediatrics New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding.
Besides reading and shopping I taught myself how to do Amigurumi. I haven't officially finished my first piece (a blue teddy bear), but I definitely have the hang of it. It's so fast and once you figure out how to start out (I use the magic adjustable ring method) things come together rather quickly. I'll post a picture once I have the bear all situated.
My in-laws were in town the beginning of the week too. It was a nice visit. My mother-in-law really appreciated the 4D ultrasound I had done while she was up. It helped her feel more a part of the pregnancy and attached to the baby. I had hoped it would. It was the funnest ultrasound so far for me too becaue my mom and sister were there with me to "awww." I know some husbands cry during ultrasounds and are extra sensitive to that sort of thing, but mine isn't really like that. He says it's because he comes from such a large family and all his friends our age have children. So, babies are just kind of part of life for him. So there wasn't much mushiness or any tears during my medical ultrasounds.
Lastly, I had my 29 week prenatal appointment yesterday. It was a normal short visit. Everything is looking great. The scheduler made all the rest of my appointments until my due date. Then she said "unfortunately" for me, I probably would be there, still pregnant, for my appointment scheduled on my actual due date. I was thinking I'd rather that than be in the hospital way early with complications or premature labor.
How I'm Feeling Physically
I have to say that this Blue Ribbon Baby diet has helped me immensely. The swelling in my hands and feet that had started went away. I took a little break from it when my in-laws were here, then it started to come back. Once I started the diet full force again, the swelling went away again. So, that was a nice surprise. I haven't had any surprises on the scale. Even though I feel like I'm eating all the time, my weight is in check nicely. I just feel really good.
I have gotten more stretch marks in the past few days. That's not too lovely. My hair, on the other hand, is looking great finally. It's full and shiny and healthy looking. I love it.
I think my main physical complaint would have to be hot flashes. I get SO HOT all of a sudden. Usually I jump up and change my clothes to something lighter or get a drink of water. Whatever I can think of. Then the flash passes and I'm bundled up under a blanket because my house feels cool again.
How I'm Feeling Emotionally
I was a little worried because it seemed like the baby would be way active one day and then I would barely feel her the next. I asked the nurse during my prenatal visit if I should be doing kick counts since it worries me. She told me I could. She said to just lay on my left side and count 10 kicks in an hour each day. She said that the position helps and that I could drink some orange juice before to help. I guess the sugar will get her moving a bit. She also said not to worry too much because babies aren't in very good shape. That's why their heartrates are affected by things so easily. If the baby is way active one day, she may need to just rest a lot the next day. That helped put my mind at ease. I would of course call my OB's office if her lack of movement started to worry me still. For now though, she's been active enough to keep me confident the past couple days.
The 4D ultrasound did help me feel a lot more connected to the baby. It gave me comfort too to see her developed so well. She looks a lot like her daddy in those images. :) We played the DVD for my husband and father-in-law later that afternoon. I think my husband really enjoyed it. He cracked a joke or two, but I can definitely see a difference in his level of interest in the baby since he saw it. It's cute.
So, overall, it has been a very eventful/busy/enriching kind of week for me.
~Jessy
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