21 weeks

I ended up telling our infertility story over on my other blog this past week as well as announcing my pregnancy. I was unsure at first sharing our story over there but am glad I finally did. It's like a huge weight has been lifted & I can finally share my excitement on the other blog regarding this pregnancy!

With that said, I am so very sad to say that I think it is time to be moving on from this blog. For the past two & a half years, this blog has been a huge outlet of support, release & mental therapy for me. Through the infertility forums, other infertility blogs & friends who started following me by word of mouth from a mutual friend, I have met the most amazing women & have become friends with these girls for what I hope is many years to come. I am hoping that all 70+ people who follow this blog will come join me for this pregnancy journey over at A Day in the Life of HT!

Can't believe I am even saying this but this will be my very last update & post over here. As much as I've loved pouring out my heart & soul here, I am really glad to be moving on - with an amazing outcome :)

So without further ado, here is my last weekly update here:

How far along? 21 weeks (baby is 10.5 inches long, weighs 14 oz & is the length of a large carrot)

Symptoms: Heartburn is better this past week. I am also finding myself getting winded if I do too much at once.

Weight gain/loss: + 0 lbs thank goodness. Made up for it last week! (total of 10 lbs total gained so far)

Maternity clothes? yes - all the time now for shirts

Sleep: sleeping pretty much through the night now

Food cravings/aversions: been craving cheese & pasta this week like crazy - this is NOT helping with my weight gain :)

Movement? yes, Baby T is kicking & rolling around all the time now. Sometimes I feel like there is a little martial arts going on in my belly :)

What I miss? hmmm - have I mentioned cold turkey sandwiches??

Best moment(s) this week: seeing Baby T on the ultrasound, finding out we are having a boy & Shane getting to feel the baby kick & move for the first time this week!

What I'm looking forward to: going to Florida with my sister & her family & spending 5 days at Disney in 2 weeks

Next Appointment: October 8th with my OB

Milestones: Initial fluttering movements have now turned into full-fledged kicks & nudges. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has begun & indicates that he is now capable of dreaming - of what I don't know since it is dark in there?! I am discovering a pattern to baby's activity - very active after I eat candy & when I lay down for bed. Baby's eyebrows & lids are now present also.

It's a...

BOY!!!!

Let the shopping begin :)

We had our Level II ultrasound this morning & it went great! We had a different Perinatologist this time & he was awesome. He took time explaining everything he was seeing & measuring which made us feel so much better about this appointment than the last time we were there. 

Baby T was super active this morning rolling around all over & the Dr found it difficult to get the measurements he needed but eventually he got them all. Everything measured right on track, all the organs were in the right place, baby was estimated to weigh 14 oz & I was measuring 5 days ahead of schedule. He said everything looks perfectly healthy & that I didn't need to see them again unless I started to have problems.

We both walked out of that appointment so thankful & relieved that Baby T is healthy & both agreed that it is about to get "real" now! I think it's time I can start relaxing a bit & start enjoying this pregnancy :)

20 weeks - "Half-Baked"

Wow - hard to believe I have made it to the half-way point. I never thought I would ever get to this point in this pregnancy & am just so very thankful! Hoping the next 20 weeks are just as uneventful as the first 20 weeks has been!? 

 

How far along? 20 weeks (baby is 6 1/2 inches long from head to rump & the length of a banana)

Symptoms: Still having the heartburn - especially when I lay down at night to go to sleep. RLP seems to be better this week.

Weight gain/loss: + 3 lbs (10 lbs total gained)

Maternity clothes? not 100% wearing them yet since I am still able to wear my knit skirts & dresses

Sleep: same story - different week. Still no trouble falling asleep, getting up once a night to pee & have been able to fall back asleep lately which has been nice!

Food cravings/aversions: had Mexican for the first time last week & it didn't make me gag. I think my love for chips, salsa & tacos is slowly making a comeback!

Movement? feeling Baby T quite often now rolling around & little "thumps" but only on the inside...nothing from the outside yet

What I miss? sleeping all the way through the night

Best moment(s) this week: getting to the "half-baked" mark - only 20 more weeks left to go

What I'm looking forward to: our Level II Ultrasound on Friday where we find 
out if we are Team Blue or Pink - then let the shopping begin :)

Next Appointment: Perinatologist on Sept. 21st

Milestones: Baby T weighs about 10.5 ounces & after this week will begin to be measured from head - toe rather than head - rump. He/she is swallowing much more these days, which is good practice for the digestive system & is also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion that will be secreted in baby's first bowel movement.

HB @ 19w5d

One week from today we will have our Level II ultrasound & will finally be able to see if we are Team Pink or Blue. I am getting so very excited to see Baby T again & see how much he/she has grown since our 12 week ultrasound.

Unfortunately, I can honestly say that I am still very "guarded" about this whole pregnancy. When I start feeling anxious, one thing that always calms me when I am having doubts that Baby T is ok is to listen to the heartbeat with our doppler. It is such an amazing sound:



The heartbeat usually runs around 130-140's & the crackling sound is baby moving around - which he/she is doing all the time now :) It is such a cool feeling.

I am hoping that once we see that Baby T is growing normal & all looks good maybe I can start to relax & begin enjoying the rest of this pregnancy. I'm looking forward to start thinking about names, picking out nursery colors/bedding & registering for all the things we will be needing once Baby T gets here.

The last 20 weeks have gone by SO fast & I have a feeling that the next 20 weeks are going to fly by - especially with the holidays & my baby showers coming up :)

19 weeks

Had an appointment with my OB last Thursday & all went well. My weight is holding steady at 7 lbs total gained, my blood pressure was normal at 110/60, there was no sugar or protein in my urine & got to listen to Baby T's heartbeat again which was 145 bpm. My OB is pleased with my progress thus far & am crossing my fingers the remainder of my pregnancy stays this way. 

How far along? 19 weeks (baby is 6 inches long from head to rump & the size of a large heirloom tomato)

Symptoms: Still having a lot of heartburn & feeling a lot of achiness in my lower abdomen along with a lot of round ligament pain.

Weight gain/loss: holding steady at 7 lbs total gained

Maternity clothes? not 100% wearing them yet since I am still able to wear my knit skirts & dresses

Sleep: still no trouble falling asleep. Only getting up once a night to pee & have been able to fall back asleep lately which has been nice!

Food cravings/aversions: been craving a good ol' cold turkey sandwich like crazy this week

Movement? yes, feeling the little "flutters" all the time now

What I miss? like I said above, turkey sandwiches

Best moment(s) this week: seeing my favorite OB & getting a good report from her regarding my pregnancy

What I'm looking forward to: reaching the "half-baked" point next week when I am 20 weeks

Next Appointment: anatomy scan with the Perinatologist on Sept. 21st

Milestones: Baby T's arms, legs & facial features are in the right proportions to each other & the rest of the body now. The kidneys continue to make urine & the hair on the scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on the skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

18 weeks

How far along? 18 weeks (baby is 5 1/2 inches long & the size of a bell pepper)

Symptoms: Heartburn all the time - ugh! Tums are my new best friend.

Weight gain/loss: total of 7 lbs gained. Will weigh-in at my Dr's appt this Thursday.

Maternity clothes? wearing a few. Bought a couple of cute maternity capri pants this week & they are SO comfy - love them!

Sleep: same old story....no problems falling asleep but still struggle to fall back asleep after the 4am bathroom call.

Food cravings/aversions: been craving pasta this week

Movement? yes, feeling more & more of the little "flutters" - especially while laying on my back

What I miss? sleeping all the way through the night

Best moment(s) this week: a dear friend of mine who has struggled with IF also had her 8 week ultrasound this week & everything looks great. I am SO very happy for her! Hearing her news made my week :)

What I'm looking forward to: seeing Baby T again at our 20 week ultrasound on Sept 21st

Next Appointment: Thursday, Sept 6th - 18 week appointment with my OB

Milestones: Baby T is busy flexing his/her arms & legs, blood vessels are visible through the thin skin, ears are now in their final position & a protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around the nerves. If baby is a girl, the uterus & fallopian tubes are formed & in place. If baby is a boy, the genitals are now noticeable.