23 Weeks - 25 Pounds... Eeep!

I stepped on the scale and immediately wished I hadn't when I peered over my bump at the number. Quick math in my head made me second guess my original weight to begin with, but nope! 25lbs. That's a lot of weight. According to my doctor, I should really only gain about 35lbs total. That sounds fine, right? I bet you're thinking "10lbs - that's some wiggle room!" Well, it's about as roomy as my teeny first apartment. I should have gained 5lbs or so in my first trimester and a pound a week after that. That would put me currently at about +16lbs now, and instead I'm a month ahead, weight-wise. I worry about that because I don't want to gain way too much weight! Losing 35 lbs is not nearly as bad as losing 45 or 50. Or more. Not to mention it's not very healthy for you or baby to be carrying so much extra weight. Gluttony, you and I are fighting.

Okay, enough panicking.

This week I felt more movement and even little kicks that were strong enough to feel from the outside! Feeling pretty good but also very uncomfortable. I pulled something in my back earlier in the week and as a result couldn't sleep on my left side without crying, so yep - spent a couple of nights trying to sleep the whole night on my right side only. Even if I was allowed to sleep on my back I couldn't, because the weight of my belly now makes it hard to breathe. Not very restful. I also get a stitch in my side every morning on my short walk from the parking lot to work (about 15 minutes.) But I mustn't complain as I'm certain that as baby grows bigger, so will my discomfort. With that said, stuff I am in love with this week: my new heating pad and Epsom salt lavender baths. So helpful with sore, tired muscles. Plus it makes your skin soft, and makes you smell like a meadow for hours afterwards!

A fantastic friend gave me a heap of barely used baby clothes and I'm so grateful! Winter stuff too, which is great (I'm assuming finding Winter clothing for a baby now would be quite difficult, and as I'm having my little one at the end of September, I know it will get chilly especially in Calgary.) Unpacking and sorting all the clothes really made everything feel very real, and I'm starting to let go of that grief over losing my "me time" and excitement about having a new little person to love and raise.

The very same friend also gave me a book that every new mother needs to go buy right this moment! That book is The Happiest Baby on the Block. I have already read What to Expect When You're Expecting although I found some of it completely useless as I don't live in the States, and when it occurred to me that I had no idea what to do with the little one after I had her, I bought Baby 411. Both very useful books but the one my friend gave me is, I can tell, going to be a lifesaver.

Go buy it. Now. Preferably before baby is born. Trust me - trust my friend, who said she wished she'd bought it sooner. And you should see her giggly, happy baby girl! She's an example I hope to follow.

How far along?: 23 weeks

Baby is the size of a: Grapefruit!

Total weight gain/loss: Twenty. Five. Whopping. Pounds. 

The Bump: Protruding! 

Symptoms/How I'm feeling: Some burning upper abdominal pain and round ligament pain. Today, the 23 week mark, I feel pretty good. 

Food Cravings/Aversions: Cravings: Nothing exciting. I still drink way too much orange juice. Slight aversion to milk again, and cigarette smoke. 

Sleep: Not very restful. And when I do get a good sleep-in going my cat's meowing in my ear for no apparent reason so no sleeping in allowed!

Weddings Rings On or Off: On

Exercise: Walking & Yoga - the pain in my shoulder has limited my movement significantly and I've been spending a lot of quality time with my bathtub and heating pad. Obviously not to be used together.

Any Names Picked Out Yet: Brynn (my personal favourite) Kiera, Morgan. I kind of like Indy but I think that will pass pretty quickly. Haven't had a name that really jumps out at me - it's kind of hard work to be honest!

Gender: Girl!

Movement: Lots more movement and harder kicks. It's been reassuring to feel her wiggling around - I don't feel the need to worry about her as much. J has still not felt anything, sadly.

Maternity Clothes: Mostly maternity clothes now, the only exception being yoga pants. I still need good jeans and a hoodie. My fantastic Aunt bought me some nice consignment maternity clothes, which were a steal! 

Labor Signs: None yet, but I read that I may start experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions this early! I don't know why that is exciting but it is!

What I miss: Seeing my feet. Fitting through doorways.

Best Moment of the Week: My first experimental Epsom salt bath was amazing! What I wouldn't give for one of those over-sized bathtubs though. I'm seriously hoping that PLC has a tub that I can labour in but I highly doubt it. They do have showers though, so that will be a relief I hope.

What I’m excited about/looking forward to: Meeting my OBGYNs next Friday. I turned in my doctor's note and started getting my maternity leave stuff going today too so now I'm just dying to get things started! There's so much to look forward to now that I hardly know what to be excited about first!