While I'm very tired of being pregnant, I've been ever-so-slightly renewed after hearing a couple stories about premature births - some that took place before the 26-weeks-14-weeks-to-go mark - and realized that while I'm very uncomfortable, it's really not about me. It's about this little person who's living inside me, who's depending on me - who really, truly needs me. She needs me to quit being a baby so that she can be a big, chubby, beautiful healthy baby.
And with that realization came gratitude. I am lucky to be uncomfortable, to be stretched and squashed and prodded and kicked. I'm lucky to attend medical appointments and get stuck with needles and be forced to drink orange flavored motor oil concoctions and any other measures to keep my little girl safe. I'm lucky to not have my baby snatched from her safe and comfortable den long before she's ready, only to be hooked up to monitors and beeping machines for the first few weeks of her life. I only hope that I continue to be lucky so that she doesn't experience that and instead is placed immediately into my arms and pronounced healthy and hearty.
Sometimes through the discomfort and emotional turbulence that can come with pregnancy, it's hard to keep sight of that fact. I don't know what I did to deserve being so lucky, but I'm glad I've been deemed worthy enough to be a Mom to this boisterous little being inside me.
And boisterous she is! I believe, according to what I've been reading, that I do have a more active than usual baby (I'm sure every new mom says that but judging by how much I'm feeling paired with my careful research, I think it's safe to make that claim.) I'm happy about that fact because her active hours actually seem to be taking place at a perfectly normal time, and not in the middle of the night - that I can tell, anyway. Here's hoping that I'll have a happy, kicky baby who is more than capable of soothing herself when she enters the big, scary world. That may be wishful thinking but she's been perfectly accommodating so far (in terms of being very showy during ultrasounds and remaining safe and happy and even sparing me the pain of morning sickness) and that's an excellent sign I think.
How far along?: 26 weeks
Baby is the size of a: Head of Lettuce - a little note here as I creep closer to the end of my 2nd trimester: she's roughly 2lbs now. Her eyes are starting to open and is still developing her lungs. Her hearing is nearly fully developed. She is putting on some fat, is more aware of and is learning to use her hands and can even hiccup (which I can apparently feel!)
Total weight gain/loss: 20lbs still - something I am glad about as I believe I have been advised not to gain more than 25. I was worried earlier because she's just going to get bigger and the weight should be coming on but I think my eating habits have changed now (smaller portions due to having no room for normal portions) so the weight has stopped piling on. We'll see what happens!
The Bump: I definitely look bigger this week. I've never seen my body like this before, it's alarming!
Symptoms/How I'm feeling: I often have these sharp, stabbing pains in my upper abs but I believe it's just nerve pain. No other interesting symptoms.
Food Cravings/Aversions: None, and the juice cravings are gone too. I do want to have something - anything - besides water and still can't stomach milk too often. I'm glad some of the cravings have gone though because it's easier to focus on what I need to be eating.
Sleep: Restless. I can't switch off. I've read that's normal. I don't feel too deprived though - still functioning!
Weddings Rings On or Off: On
Exercise: Walking. Stretching.
Any Names Picked Out Yet: Yes. Not telling too many people before she's born on the unlikely chance that we change it.
Gender: Girl!
Movement: Much more rolly-poly in there. I've had a couple punches or kicks that kind of hurt too, but nothing too painful.
Maternity Clothes: 100% (besides yoga pants)
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks - definitely started feeling them this week. Interesting, though not painful.
What I miss: I miss being able to get off the couch without needing help!
Best Moment of the Week: Just feeling her movements. It's pretty incredible.
What I’m excited about/looking forward to: Last week I mentioned that I was looking forward to another ultrasound but found out that it's unlikely (unless something is wrong) that I'll have another. So that's a bummer. But I do love hearing her heart beat and really, any chance to talk about my little girl, even if it's at the doctor's, is a good thing. I am definitely looking forward to meeting her and to seeing my husband with her.
I was just thinking that now that I hit 20 weeks I'll start counting down instead of up. Love that I'm not the only one haha!
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