28 Weeks

How Far Along: 28 weeks, which--according to my doctor--begins the third trimester. That's about 7 months, because I know normal people do not measure things in weeks. 

Total Weight Gain: I have not been able to get what I think is a good reading. There are so many variables: time of day, random swelling, etc. It can fluctuate by a LOT. So I really have no idea and am just counting on the doctor to tell me if she thinks it's getting out of control. At this point I think all I will be able to do is wait until a "final" weight and then be able to tell you how much I gained in total. And how I'm going to lose it (scary). Let's just say that my self-assessment tells me that some people gain less than I have and some people gain a lot more. 

Size of Baby: Baby is about 2 1/4 lbs (I would guess Boomer is a bit bigger, as he was already 2.1 a few weeks ago and seems to be hanging out at the upper end of the range). This is "the size of a Chinese cabbage" (I give up).

He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. I hope they are fancy and beautiful lashes. His eyes have some color, but final pigmentation requires exposure to light. His final eye color may not be apparent until months after birth (side eye BA). He's developing millions of neurons in his brain (note to self: do more intellectual things) and adding more body fat in preparation for life on the outside.  

Maternity Clothes: same. Hope you like my Uggs. 

Movement: He has a discernible schedule at this point, which is kind of funny and kind of a pain (most  notably the 11pm dance party). Other jam sessions take place around 8am, 11am, and 3pm. Movement is now more center, and last night he had the hiccups. I felt them low center rather than higher right, where I had been feeling a lot. I am wondering if this means he has moved and possibly turned, which would be an excellent development. If not, that's ok--there's still time (I keep telling myself)--but I've got an eye on it. 

Sleep: The wheels are coming off the sleep train. Rapidly. The less said about this the better. 

What I miss: The bladder freedom of the carefree second trimester. He's got his feet in that territory, I believe (or did until yesterday), and...yikes. 

Cravings: I'm still kind of fixated on that turkey sandwich. A rotisserie chicken was purchased and has been an acceptable stand-in. Apples. Doughnuts. All the food in the world ever. Last night for dinner I had pineapple, grapes, and an apple. 

Other crazy symptoms: Pretty much the same suite of super-attractive issues. They all come and go, so it's manageable. 

I also have some aching/tingling in my right arm and hand that a quick Google search (BAD) suggests is either a pinched nerve from sleeping weird (possible) or carpal tunnel syndrome caused by swelling (could I be more of a bunk-ass broken-down old lady)? It's not painful but is definitely not a welcome addition to the final hours of the dissertation-submission countdown. I think I should take a break from sitting at the computer. 

I don't know if this is a pregnancy thing or I've just had some culinary misadventures, but I am really sensitive to food seeming over-salted. I do not want any of that. Probably because it makes me swell up. So, basically, things taste wrong.

Best Moment this week: I think you'll probably understand if I skip this one--it was a weird week, with highs and lows and everything in between. Just working through a lot of feelings. 

I will say that I was especially proud that Madigan and Abita were named Friday's Dogs of the Day at Camp Bow Wow...we'd been gunning for it for a while. It probably helped that BA asked if they accept bribes, but I like to think that they were selected on their own merit. 

Beast and Creature wish you a happy weekend. xo

How We Can Help

Thank you to all of those who have sent kind thoughts to Hillary via me or on your own. I would imagine that the sadness, confusion, and anger that I have experienced is only a fraction of their own emotional journey. Physically, she is doing about as well as can be expected, and I know everyone is grateful for that.

One of the most natural human responses to the loss or grief of others is to ask what we can do to help. As I've written before, I think it's an unfortunate truth that there is nothing that anyone can do that meaningfully reduces the sadness of another person. That's just not the way grief works. It's a tricky animal. However, there are often small gestures we can make in an offer to lighten the load for another, or to try and bring good out of darkness.

In the event that you feel you'd like to do something for them, I am passing along some information from the family that I received this morning (paraphrased).

First, Hillary and Chip are appreciative of all the kind words, prayers, and messages they have received over the past few days. I think that sometimes the best and most supportive thing we can do is to let people know we are thinking of them. Even if you don't know them personally, I think that there's some sort of karmic value in sending helpful thoughts up to the universe or something, or even just pausing to reflect on what loss can show us about our own lives.

Second, they have set up a website to support the Twin-to-Twin Transfusion syndrome (TTTS) Foundation. This site helps foster a community of people who have been affected by TTTS and provides educational, emotional, and financial support to families and medical professionals. I know this community's support was helpful to them throughout their journey, and I imagine it will continue to be of use to them as they move forward. They have asked that those who would like to do something on their behalf consider making a gift to the foundation.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so by clicking this link to go to their page.

They express that any gift, however small, is appreciated, and that they are thankful for your well wishes.

With a Heavy Heart

Previous updates can be seen here.

Friends,

We received an email from Hillary's brother-in-law with sad news yesterday. Some time in the past few days, at about 26 weeks, their baby's heart stopped beating.

I don't have much additional information, and I certainly have no explanation for why these things happen. I am struggling to understand, as is everyone affected.

Her brother-in-law states that they have no specific needs at this time other than your thoughts and prayers. You can let me know if you would like additional updates as they become available.

This is not a happy thing to share, and I am not sure of the best way to go about it. However, I felt an obligation to share the information with those who have been reading for a while and especially considering that I had recently written about her story and her etsy shop. If you have placed orders, I would just ask that you are patient and understanding until the appropriate time and until next moves become clear. I will also share that Hillary had emailed me after I posted and indicated that she already had several orders. So for that, I thank you. Even though this did not unfold the way everyone had hoped and envisioned, you still offered support to her when asked, and that is an important gesture.

Hugs to all.

With gratitude,
J

27 Weeks

Sorry for the delay--I've been having trouble with Blogger. Not much to report, anyway. 

How Far Along: 27 weeks with child. Some sources say the third trimester begins now, while others say it is 28 or 29 weeks. I am confused, so...that's all I know.

Size of Baby: head of cauliflower, rutabaga...same ol', same ol'. All we know for sure is that he's over 2 lbs already.

Maternity Clothes: Same as before, but some of the smaller (shorter) tank tops are getting too short. 

Movement: Plenty to go around. I think his head is still up top and his feet are way down. He moves sideways sometimes, but seems to return to that position. He better flip soon, or we're going to have a talk. 

Sleep: Some nights are better than others, but it's still generally fine. 

What I miss: I'm starting to feel a little limited (physically), which you can probably imagine is not going over well. 

Cravings: A turkey sandwich (with the leftover Thanksgiving turkey. But someone ATE IT ALL).

Other crazy symptoms: My hands and feet fall asleep much more easily. Thankfully, not all at once. I always think of baby Miller, who used to say "my foot is sparkly!" when it would happen to her. My feet are more likely to fall asleep when I am sitting at the computer, sometimes crosslegged. My hands fall asleep while I'm sleeping, which leads to lots of weird dead-arm wakeups. 

Best Moment this week: Lots of great times...just a good week with a lot of gratitude. 

Winner Winner!

Commenter #3 was randomly selected as the winner of the giveaway. Stephanie, congratulations on winning that--let us know what you do with your red burlap bubble wreath. 

Thanks to those who read and especially to those who entered a comment. Hillary and I are grateful for your support. 

If you need some retail therapy to drown your sorrow over not winning, I'm sure Hillary would be happy to provide some crafty solace for you: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BedRestCrafting

I wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

26-week Photo Shoot

This morning we went in for another ultrasound--a followup to this one 4 weeks ago. They just wanted to check the size of baby's stomach one more time.

Stomach looks fine, everything else looks good, and everything from heart rate to tippy toes was pronounced "perfectly normal." We are very grateful for that. It also sounds like they don't want to do another followup, so I think it's a while until the next (and possibly final) ultrasound.

Slightly less good news: he was in the "worst position possible" for pictures, so the party favors are limited once again. He's all balled up in my ribs, with his hands by his face. His feet are indeed down low, which confirms what I wrote yesterday about him kicking me deep in my soul. He's also face down (facing my back), which seems to be a pattern in our photo shoot sessions. So he is breech and upside down in every way possible, which is also the worst position possible for getting born, so I hope he flips eventually.

26 weeks. Hand still by face.

Once again, we had an excellent sonographer. She was friendly, but quick, and explained everything she was looking at. She really liked his nose--she kept talking about how cute it was. I guess babies' noses look different? Obviously we think it's the best nose of all the baby noses. 

Comparison shots: 

Top: 22 weeks

Bottom: 26 weeks

Growth measurements are on target, and he's weighing in at about 2.1 pounds. We saw him waving around and also grabbing his toes. I have a regular checkup appointment next week, but this is just the phase where we kind of wait as he gets bigger, so I don't expect much to report. 

Happy weekend from both of us and Baby A! As a reminder, please check out the post about Hillary's etsy store and enter to win her generous giveaway by leaving a comment on that post. You can enter until Saturday night, and a winner will be announced on Sunday. 

26 Weeks

If you missed yesterday's post (free stuff!), be sure to check it out. **If you are having trouble with your comment, or it is not showing up, let me know.**

How Far Along: 26 weeks of weird-bellybutton glory. Under 100 days to go...

Size of Baby: Baby is about 1.6 to 2 lbs and 14 inches long. This is the size of a head of lettuce or an English hothouse cucumber (really? REALLY?!?). 

is this better or worse than a picture of an eggplant?

Baby is continuing to put on fat. Eyes are forming (I am going to pretend they've been there all along, because that creeps me way out). 

Maternity Clothes: Same as it ever was. Still liking my regular-but-long tees and my fave leggings. Uggs are looking like the footwear of the future. Does anyone know if they make, like, all-gel shoes? Maybe with some clouds?

Movement: Frequent and emphatic. I can tell he's getting bigger because I'll feel near simultaneous movement in points that are pretty far from one another. Also, some part of him (a kicky part) is way down low, which is new and strange territory.

Sleep: I am fully aware that I'm going to jinx myself, but this week has been really good. I have been sleeping soundly and well. Minimal restless legs or insomnia. Reports from the other side of the bed indicate the snoring situation is under control. For now. 

What I miss: Not having to plan a thoughtful and precise approach to how I'm going to put on a given pair of shoes. Being able to say words without messing them all up. 

Cravings: None. Fortunately for the grocery bill and the bathroom scale, I think the phase of nonstop eating has abated. For now. 

Other crazy symptoms: Hip pain. But overall, I've felt really good this week after a tough round last week, so I'm happy for that. There's still heartburn, but I'm much better at managing it now and it's not bothersome. Unless someone is bothered by the fact that I carry Tums everywhere. 

Best Moment this week: I don't know if there was a high moment, but overall it has been a great week. I feel good, physically and emotionally. Looking forward to the holidays, some upcoming baby showers, and general good times. 

Shopportunities and a *Giveaway*!

--This giveaway is now closed, and we have a winner (congrats, Steph!)--

Dearest Friends,

Like it or not, 'tis the season. In the spirit of giving, I wanted to give something to you all. Well, I'll give you all the opportunity to win a real thing, as it were, and one of you will actually win it. But I'm also giving you the opportunity to learn about and get involved in a little project that will help out a friend of mine. What could be better?

This friend is at about the same point in pregnancy as I am (but she's having a sweet little girl...don't worry; we've already talked arranged marriage), and is currently on bedrest. She has shown fierce determination in a difficult situation, which I admire greatly. On top of that, she has opted to turn a challenging situation into a positive opportunity. She started making items for her own nursery to pass the bedrest time, and posted photos on FB. More than one person suggested she open an Etsy shop with more wares available for sale. Eventually, she did. Here is her description:

Bed Rest Crafting is a small little Etsy store that I started in order to keep my sanity through a rather difficult pregnancy. Not only is it an extra source of income while on doctor ordered bed rest, but more importantly, it is very therapeutic. I make items that I like and have around my house. Obviously, the nursery inspired crafts were created through my “nesting” process, while the burlap wreaths and home decor were items that I had created for myself long before pregnancy. I truly enjoy passing the time by crafting and keeping my creative juices flowing. I hope my crafts bring some joy and inspirations to all those that visit my little shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BedRestCrafting

I am passing this on to you in hopes that you consider the aptly named BedRest Crafting Etsy store as you think about your holiday shopping. As you'll see from her page, there are holiday (and year-round) decor items available, as well as nursery items. 

"But wait," you say. "I don't need a pink 'A.'" No worries...all her crafts are custom and made to order. Friend is having a boy? No prob. Need a different initial? Consider it done. Saw something on Pinterest you'd like to have for yourself, but are not the glue-gun type? She'll make it for you (probably. If it's not weird). 

So click on through and contact her to talk about a custom gift. Or treat yo'self. 

BUT WAIT. There's more. Hillary kindly offered to donate an item to me (like I'm a real actual blogess or something) to do a giveaway. Behold...

16" Red Burlap Bubble Wreath

One lucky reader will win this cutie. I think it would be perfect for Christmas, but I also envision Valentine's Day options, party headwear...the list goes on. 

In addition, the winner may also add the wooden initial letter (or other flair) of his/her choosing. 

THE DETAILS:

• To be entered to win the red burlap bubble wreath, you must leave a comment on this post.
• In your comment, please include your name (or something we can call you) and a lovely thought. Perhaps how you would use the wreath, or how you came to find this blog, or how great Hillary is.
• VERY IMPORTANT: be sure I have a way to let you know if you won! You can leave an email address, or--if you prefer not to do that--make a pinky promise to yourself that you will check back to see if you won in case I can't track you down. 

Once the deadline has passed, I will randomly draw a winner from the comments. I will announce this winner on Sunday, November 18.  This should give you time to get your wreath before the holiday decorating season. 

And if you don't win, you can always order something up from the store for yourself! Thank you in advance for your generosity. I know Hillary (and her little family) appreciate your support. 

xo

Boots's Favorite Things

Nothing fancy here, just some things I like enough to share with you fine folks. Some are old faves and some are new faves, but I thought they might also make fun stocking stuffers or what have you. And they're not (directly) baby related, so you get a break if that's not your thing.

[Not that you thought I was this important, but I wasn't compensated for any of this. If you would like me to say nice things about something and compensate me for it, I am not above that.]

1. Goody Quikstyle brush

This is a new fave. I guess the gist of it is that it's a regular paddle brush with blue microfiber nubby things, so that your hair dries faster when blow drying. 

I can attest that this gives a more-than-passable blowdry result, which is pretty darn good for a shortcut. It won't be as cute as a full 'do, but that's really not tragic. I'm thinking:

• people with babies or small children who are trying to get pulled together as quickly as possible
• post-workout gym blowdry
• you, like me, are lazy and don't really like doing your hair 
• you're not an everyday blowdry person and maybe are a little scared of the round brush

Not only does it cut blowdry time, but the result is a pretty smooth mane. Unlike many of my beauty faves, not pricey. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up.

I got mine at the grocery store (Green Hills Kroger, if you're local and searching). Somewhere else I checked did not have them, so you might have to look around. 

2. Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer

with SPF 20 (yay!)

mine is in Nude. 

If you knew about this and didn't tell me, shame on you. I don't really need to waste a lot of words describing it, but I've tried a lot of tinted moisturizers (from the drugstore) and never really got hooked. This one is good. On the pricey side, so fair warning. 

I got mine at Sephora (in the checkout line where they put all the small stuff to upsell suckers like me. Fail). About 20 bucks for the "travel size," which I think is a pretty decent size. Also at Nordstrom. 

3. Hair texturizer (this is just a more socially acceptable way of saying "dry shampoo"). 

Again, I am lazy most days and don't really like doing my hair. This will stretch the blowdry another day in the event that you choose one more round with the snooze button over a shower. Not that I've ever done that. I have 2 that I like, for slightly different purposes, but they both do the trick. 

by Oribe

by Furterer

both available at the Cosmetic Market. 

4. Upstairs, Downstairs (the new one). 

Don't want to say too much here, but if you're looking for something to fill the time until Downton Abbey returns, peep this series. On PBS: check. Also British: check. There may or may not be a war and/or social unrest coming: check. Fancy people, grand house, and servants: checkity check check. Same genre, sliiiightly different time period. Bonus: HAS A MONKEY.

Season 1 must have been a test season or something, as it only had 3 episodes. They suck you in, then leave you hanging. The second season has just started in the US, so you can catch up. It's on On Demand (if you have Comcast) under Masterpiece Classic. You may have to watch Season 1 online or on DVD. Netflix has it. 

5. Garnier Anti-Dark-Circle Eye Roller

This doesn't really need a ton of explanation. Exactly what it says on the box. I've been using it for about two years now (alone or under concealer), and I just like it. 

6. Belabumbum jammies

I have a little bit of a jammie-buying problem. I always want to be effortlessly cute and casual, like these girls in the pics who wear full makeup to bed and have perfect hair. So I buy cute sets at Target and the like. Only...they're not comfy. The tops move around (surprise boobs!), or the shorts ride up your booty. So I end up back in BA's old boxers.

These are a new find for me (and YES, it's sort of pregnancy related because they have maternity and nursing stuff but also regular strength jammies for you skinny people), but so far I like mine. Minimal seams, drawstrings, etc. Maximum stretch. I got a top and short set that I don't see on the current website. I also got a little matching robe for it, which I love: 3/4-length sleeves and all t-shirt material, so it's not too hot.

Pricey for jammies, I grant you. But I got mine on Gilt, so if you're a member there (and you should be), you can keep your eye open for a deal. 

Their site: http://www.belabumbum.com/

7. Keurig

I have this one, but there are many fancy options to suit your needs:

This is actually in its second life as one of my favorite things. Last year, I bought it for the office to help us all get through the crazy season that is December. It also makes tea, cider, or hot chocolate for the non-coffee crowd (insane people). 

I recently brought it home as it wasn't being used at the office anymore. I use it to make a cup of heartburn decaf in the afternoons, so I don't have to make a whole pot of coffee. Starbucks got on board with the K-Cup thing, so I buy their little decaf ones. 

I purchased my Keurig at Macy's. K Cups are available there, at the grocery, at Costco...lots of places. 

****

TA-DA! Now you know my current faves. Let me know if you try one out or have something to suggest. 

Thanks for stopping by. You stay classy. 

Best Toys: The First Year

If you want to read the first installment (Best Toys Across Ages), click here.

I'll speed through the lecture from Child Development 101 to just give a brief overview of what's going on the first year. Essentially, babies are learning about and interacting with the new world around them. This includes the obvious progression toward the development of language as well as the gross motor (large muscle) skills like rolling, sitting, creeping/crawling, and eventually walking. But from a play or toy standpoint, the most salient trends are the development of reaching, grabbing, and manipulating the environment.

You can see this progress from random flailing and reflexes to emerging control of arms and hands, with attempts at intentional reaching or batting (around approximately 4 months). From there, that progresses to definite reaching and grabbing (say, your hair). Then it's all about refining the grasp and moving with purpose. Around the end of the first year, you'll see the "pincer grasp" (think: picking up Cheerios) in addition to the whole-hand grab. This progression to the pincer grasp is important because it leads to breakthroughs in self-help skills--such as feeding oneself--and will be important for holding a writing implement and other tools down the road.

Ideally, that quick lesson will help explain the common threads between the items that seem to be most popular with this age.

First up: a list from elsewhere on the interwebs detailing what one person suggests are the best toys for boosting development during the first year. While it's true that anyone on the internet can have an opinion, this woman is an occupational therapist--meaning she focuses on those fine motor/small muscle movements--and knows what she's talking about. So in lieu of reinventing the wheel, I'm sharing and crediting her work.

Fifteen Toys for Baby's First Year

I'll just highlight and expand on a few things she says. 

Books. 

It's worth repeating, because you really can't have too many. And, unlike play gyms, it doesn't really matter if baby already has one. Variety is the spice of life. If you're unsure about what baby might already have in his library, don't worry about it. Duplication is even welcome, because you can keep one in the diaper bag/car/wherever. Babies thrive on the repetition of reading, so having two Goodnight Moon board books isn't going to hurt anyone. 

Need some direction?

- Parenting.com has a list of the Top 25 Books for Baby - this wouldn't be my Top 25 exactly, but the classics are on there and you can't go wrong.

- How well do you know the parent? This is one of those "why didn't I think of that??" moments:

mom and dad will chuckle, if nothing else (it's for the parents, obviously). Tip: search for it just as "go the f to sleep"...

- Tips for reading to baby and some book suggestions

These Things. 

Remember these? 

They're still pretty popular with the infant set. In my opinion, if something stands the test of time, it's best to assume that means it's on to something. Of course, these look a little different now, but the basic premise is the same. Babies have to learn to manipulate the levers/dials (fine motor) to see the character pop up (cause and effect). Now they come with noises and singing pals and what have you, but a classic, non-noisy one is just as good for baby--maybe better, so they don't get over stimulated--and better for your sanity. You don't need every bell and/or whistle out there, I promise. 

A more current version: Fisher-Price Boppin' Activity Bugs from Amazon:

Baby powered. No batteries needed!

Just search "pop up toys" on Amazon, and you'll get several options. They will also usually have these at Target and similar stores, but they might tend toward the battery-operated versions. Purchase noisy toys at your own peril, depending on how much you like the baby's parents. 

Similar, but a little different: squeaky egg toy.

they love 'em.

Rings/Links.

These are on the OT's list as well, but I have heard this repeated across the internet. Another blogger I read has said she will begin wrapping all baby shower gifts in these.

Link to Lots of Links

Even if/when baby isn't as intrigued with the rings themselves after a while, they can be used to attach more interesting toys to jumpers/carseats/what have you.

Stacking cups.

Man, babies are pretty easily entertained. At first, it probably won't be stacking or nesting, per se, but more like crashing and banging. Whatever works. 

Stacking Cup Set

More on push toys.

Yes, these are also on the OT's list, but I had a little more to say. It doesn't have to be this one, but here is an example: 

Melissa & Doug Alligator Push Toy

Don't be fooled by the larger, walking child. These are also good for the less mobile set because babies can also interact with them in different ways: lying on tummies, sitting, etc. That's the key thing you'll want to look for if you're interested in one of these. Ask yourself: "could a child who can't yet walk be engaged with this for a reasonable amount of time? After s/he can walk, is it still interesting (and safe)?"  On the toy above, a sitting child could play with the spinning blocks or the alligators. The images on the wheels would also be engaging for a child lying at that eye level. 

Search "push toy" on Amazon for more examples. FYI, my professional opinion is that the VTech ones (and similar) have too much going on and are actually overstimulating to babies without the developmental payoff. I've said it before and I'll say it again: a higher price tag (and more electronic bells and whistles) does NOT equal a higher-quality toy from a learning standpoint. 

Other considerations for gift giving.

The following suggestions don't really have anything to do with promoting baby's development. However, I originally started this series with the holiday gifting season in mind. I wanted to share some other ideas that new parents might appreciate in case you don't want to go toy shopping, don't know what baby might already have, or would just like some other ideas.

• Baby clothes. Depending on how old baby is, s/he might have already outgrown a lot of the cute outfits that mom got at her baby shower. Sizing of baby clothes is not consistent, nor are the growth curves of infants. They can skip entire sizes entirely. It might be worth helping the new parents stock up in sizes that might have been overlooked. Baby's feelings won't be hurt...he's still too young to really be mad if you didn't get him a fun toy.
• iTunes gift cards. There are a lot of ways new parents can put these to use. 
• Apps. There are some great ones for tracking all the things you need to track with a newborn, such as Baby Connect, which has been recommended to me by more than one new mom. Other less-baby-related apps are also helpful, like Wunderlist, which can help parents keep track of lists (e.g., grocery lists) and sync them across devices (e.g., mom's phone to dad's phone). [For the record, a more comprehensive app post is forthcoming]. They're on their iPads and phones and laptops a lot, so this is a high-value item.
• Movies and TV shows. For those middle-of-the-night feeding sessions.
• Music. Lullabies for baby, of course. Or just white noise. 
• Amazon gift cards. Amazon is a lifesaver for new parents. It does the trick when a trip to Target just seems too overwhelming. Also, they can use it however they'd like: diapers, baby needs, something they've had their eye on...because Amazon has EVERYthing. Most new parents have Amazon Prime and/or Amazon Mom and are already pros at this. They'll appreciate a little addition to the diaper fund, and a gift card helps avoid the confusion of you having to pick a size.
• Babysitting. Or maybe just a bottle of wine. Or a nap.
• Check the registry. This could be more or less useful, depending on baby's age. But registries stay active for a while, even after baby's arrival. This might give you a peek into something that the parents wanted but never received. 

And there you have it. Best of luck shopping for the little nugget in your life, and hopefully providing some developmental benefits in the process. Don't stress about this one too much, because at this age they are really more in to a wooden spoon, some wrapping paper, your keys, and the cat.

Any favorites for the 0-12 month set I've left off the list? Let me know in the comments!

25 Weeks

How Far Along: 25 weeks

Total Weight Gain: Thought I'd be ready to discuss this point in more depth this week, but not quite. I will, though.

Size of Baby: Like a rutabaga or something totally pointless. 

Baby is beginning to have a primitive memory and is putting on fat and hair. Basically, he and I have a lot in common right now. 

Maternity Clothes: The same--pants and some dresses. My fave are the Ingrid & Isabel leggings. I foresee a new challenge with outerwear coming soon...

Movement: Same as it ever was. The posse of witnesses (kick feelers) continues to grow, including friends and colleagues. 

Sleep: Travel sleep was dicey (I cried into regular lame pillows out of longing for the body pillow) (not really). Now that we're home for a stretch, mostly pretty good. 

What I miss: Not having heartburn. Or reflux. Is there a difference? Basically, not having a burning sensation in my chest. Man, this came out of nowhere. There is a stash of Tums in most rooms in the house, as well as my purse. Jules suggested "just drinking Maalox" so I'll put that on the ol' grocery list. 

Cravings: None, really. 

Other crazy symptoms: Not a great week, physically. It just kind of felt tougher. I also think I was more worn out from our travels and adventures than I had realized. The main weird new thing is burning lungs (or so it feels). I googled "pregnancy lungs burning" and it turns out this is probably reflux--it just feels different because everything is all in new locations now. So we stocked up on some Tums and will see how that goes. Also, quite the stuffy nose. This is called "rhinitis of pregnancy" and really just means "stuffy nose but also you are pregnant so can't take anything." Nasal sprays (e.g., Afrin) are allowed, but the rebound issue with that means I only want to use it in dire straits--feeling like a pregnant drug addict who can only think about the next hit of Afrin is kind of bad. On the non-drug front, a neti pot works surprisingly well. 

BA would also like to report that a humidifier and an extra pillow seems to have the snoring under control. I would like to report that I am grateful to all the ladies who have assured me I'm not the only one with this symptom. Also sometimes he snores too so there. 

Best Moment this week: Totally lame and boring, but being home and wrangling things back into some semblance of order after a marathon of house neglect (dissertation, two trips). Made some progress on the nursery. I'm starting to feel like things are getting a little more under control, and am excited about the holidays (the "real holidays," as BA put it--right after the last trick-or-treater left) around the corner. 

Is That OK?

So we were at Taste of Nashville last night (a fabulous event; props to the organizers and participants. If you couldn't make it, get it on your calendar for next year). Other than my ill-advised decision to wear high-heeled boots, this party was basically a pregnant girl's dream: you walk around lots of booths and eat tasty morsels from local restaurants/food purveyors. A city-wide all-you-can-eat buffet, if you will. I had a serious plan for this. No haphazard, slapdash mosey-and-eat. No. We did a loop, scoping out the options. I then made a plan of attack for real food, intermission (bathroom break), then dessert foods. I couldn't take advantage of the open bar, so had to get my BA's money's worth on the food before it got all picked over or cold.

It's early in the real-food portion of the plan. I hit up a table that is manned by two ladies (can I say something is "manned by ladies??"). The name of the restaurant shall be withheld because of manners or something, but...I really wish I could tell you. It's an older lady and a younger lady, who apparently was also pregnant but I did not notice this at first because she was wearing one of those black chef's jacket/shirts and I am self-centered and really it was pretty boxy.

like this.

I will say at the outset that she was working and I was at a party, so she gets some Grace Points back in her corner.

Me: [takes cup of food that I cannot identify to you as it would ruin secrecy]. This looks good! Thank you.

Younger Lady: Oh, how far along are you?

Me: About six months (gracious smile).

YL: Funny, me too! But you're much bigger than I am.

Me: <blink blink blink>

I asked her what she was having and she said a girl (thank GOD because it allowed me to mumble something about "well, this one's a boy so maybe he's bigger..."). I'm pretty sure I also gave her my congratulations but I honestly cannot remember.

I suppose I had braced myself for bumbling and/or backhanded comments from people without babies, or people who were once pregnant but have forgotten, but this was straight preg-on-preg violence.

SO...what say you, loyal legion? Is that ok? Am I overly sensitive? Does she get a pass for also having pregnant brain? Help a sister out.

P.S. then I ate Jeni's ice cream, pumpkin spice biscuit bread pudding, and a mini cupcake.

GTT = NBD

Recently, I had a checkup that included the dreaded glucose tolerance test (GTT). I didn't really know what to expect--it didn't seem like anyone could give me a good synopsis--and I was kind of worked up about this one. I've had some wacky blood sugar episodes in the past, so I was unsure how my body would react. I wanted to provide this roadmap to you (if and when it's relevant to your experience). I know it helps me to know in detail what to expect beforehand. Shut up.

The Background: Why and When?

The purpose of jumping through this hoop is to screen pregnant ladies for gestational diabetes. While there are risk factors, anyone can develop gestational diabetes, and it occurs in about 2%-10% of pregnancies. Surprising precisely no one, it is on the rise right along with regular diabetes (the sugar diabeetus) at the moment. It's not a terrible thing to have, and if you do, it can be managed pretty easily. However, there are several reasons they want to screen for it in order to identify those who do have it:

• a diagnosis of gestational diabetes increases your risk of developing diabetes in the next 10-20 years
• when untreated, it can be associated with some poorer outcomes for the baby (related to blood sugar, but some can be serious)
• THE BIG ONE (literally)...gestational diabetes is associated with very large babies. Like 10+ pounds. The objection here is obvious (ow ow my body), but there are also associated risks, such as all the things that can go less-than-awesomely when you/your team are trying to deliver a very large baby: use of forceps, emergency c-section, and so on.

That sounds scary. But that's generally when the diabetes is untreated. If you can treat it, it's very manageable. And if you can catch it, you can treat it. That is why all pregnant ladies are screened for gestational diabetes (can I call you gestdi? GD? I'm tired of typing all that). For the purposes of precision: a screen is a test that the entire population takes--in this case, ladies who are with child--and you either "pass" (no further examination needed) or "fail" (follow-up testing required, but you may or may not actually have GD). So it basically tells the doctor whether or not more info is needed. 

This screen is generally performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, because that's about when the GD tends to show up. My screen was done a little early (23 weeks) because they don't math very well over there, but the doctor didn't seem to think it was a problem. Basically they'll do it at whatever point in that time frame you already have an appointment. At that point in pregnancy, you are going for checkups every 4 weeks at a minimum.

The What and the How Gross Is It?

Like I said, I was worked up about this one. You hear lots of bad stuff, ranging from how barf-inducing the drink is to how people pass out afterwards. I was so nervous about drinking the sugar drank that my blood pressure was normal (as opposed to very high, which it usually is because I'm so nervous about having my blood pressure taken). So it totally distracted me from the usual BP freakout. All that is to say that I would like to assure you up front that it is not that bad. At all. I wish someone had told me that. I am working on a theory that a lot of pregnant ladies are just drama queens. 

Here's the rundown...

Before the test: You can eat and drink normally prior to the test. I think there's a lot of confusion about this. There is such a thing as a fasting glucose test, but that's not what this is. So cross that worry off right away! Now, my doctor did suggest against rolling in with a "bear claw and a Big Gulp in hand"--I'm sure that much sugar is not a good idea right beforehand. I told her that if I came in with a bear claw and a Big Gulp, I've been kidnapped and I'm trying to signal you.

I had a bowl of cereal and some OJ. I flirted with the idea of a mega breakfast but just decided to keep it normal so my baseline would be pretty accurate. Normal breakfast, just like going to a normal appointment. Sans coffee, because...see above with the blood pressure. 

Some offices will give you the sugar drank prior to your appointment, and you drink it before you come in. This is not how my office did it, but just know it can go either way.

At the appointment: The first source of much drama is that you have to drink a sugar drank. The brand name is Glucola, and it won't be hitting your neighborhood grocery any time soon. The premise is that the sugar drank has a known quantity of sugar in it (50g of glucose). So if they know your initial intake, and they know how much time has passed since you drank it, they know what your blood sugar SHOULD be at the measurement point. 

Gluuuuuuuuucolaaaaaa

In case you can't tell, it's about the size of one of those small glass soda bottles you might get on an airplane or at a cheap friend's soda party or something. Not bad at all, quantity wise. 

Ok, but how does it taste? Everyone is like "ew gross I gagged and then died and then I gagged some more." Cool it, Anthony Bourdain. We're not at a wine tasting here. Let's use a little context. It does not taste bad. I wouldn't order it at a restaurant, but it does not taste bad. It just is sweet. I would liken it to flat soda or concentrated Gatorade. You will be fine. Phew--that scary is out of the way too.

As an aside, my doctor gave me this tip: choose the orange flavor, and drink it really cold. Well, that was a nice joke, because I didn't get a choice. I ended up with the red drank (fruit punch?) and it was also fine. I have heard the "lemon-lime" is not a good choice (then again, these peeps love the dramz), so I would say opt for the orange or red if it's up to you. They keep it in the fridge, so it's cold. 

the red drank tasted like this, which is to say childhood. 

Don't act like you're all too sophisticated now.

So you drank the drank and did not die or gag. Nice work. Here's where it gets technical. At the moment you finish, they note the time [I guess if they give it to you in advance, you note the time when you finish and then head in to the doctor's office]. You don't have to re-awaken your college chugging skills, but a brisk drinking experience is best for measurement purposes. So, for me, the nurse wrote down 10:09am and sent me back out to the waiting room.

PreCISEly one hour after you finish the drank, they will draw your blood. I moseyed up to the lab, checked in for that appointment, and waited for my timed blood draw.

The Wait (How did it feel?): So you can do whatever you want for that hour, except eat or drink (water is allowed). I will say that I got a brief sugar rush--probably on the order of a few Pixy Stix, a la Toddlers & Tiaras--and a little while after that, the baby had his own little go-go juice party. So mostly we wandered around (my mom was there with me as fainter-catcher...thanks Jules!) and sat and watched the baby kickbox my guts. None of the following happened: shaking, vomiting, fainting, feeling woozy, yucky tummy, dying*. Of course, I can't promise that YOU will feel like a million bucks, but I think I would be more likely than the average bear to have had a blood sugar roller coaster, and I was fine. If you eat a normal breakfast and don't try to run 10 miles in your hour-long wait, you should be able to process the sugar drank (provided, I guess, that you don't have the GD). 

*My point here is not to imply that these things can't happen to you (except perhaps for the dying) or that something is wrong with you if they do. I just think that if your main source of information on these procedures is your email newsletters, with their comment sections and message boards, you get a bit of a response bias. People only weigh in if they had an unusual experience, so you get a skewed picture of how it goes. I would merely like to assure people that it's most likely to be just fine. There are enough things to be anxious about as is; this shouldn't be one of them. 

Then they drew my blood, which is fine. At this point in pregnancy, you have already given them about a gallon of your blood, so this one is no big. One vial. If you have issues with blood draws, you'll have to deal with that in your own way, but this one is small in the universe of pregnancy blood draws. 

Later that day, I got a notification that my results were normal, so no follow-up needed. Thus, I can't speak to what happens if you need the follow-up test, but I think it's more of the same (you might have to fast, it's a bigger drank, and a longer series of timed blood draws). I can find out if you need to know. 

I also had a very large lunch, which I highly recommend. Get things back to normal and go on your merry way. 

Cheers!

24 Weeks

How Far Along: About 6 months down, friends. 

Total Weight Gain: Ehh...I'll talk about this next time. 

Size of Baby: Baby is about the size of a cantaloupe, which I do not even like. He is about the weight of a "lengthy paperback novel" (according to one source) or "a Harry Potter book" (according to a way better source).

my favorite one

Baby's hair is changing to the color it will be at birth, and his lungs are developing more and preparing for breathing. Skin is more opaque, and new capillaries are making it a healthy pink color. 

Maternity Clothes: Yup. Pants and some dresses. All shirts are still ok, but will need to be sure to stick to the longer non-maternity ones pretty soon. 

Movement: Indeed. BA has now felt the Boom, and we can sometimes see movement from the outside. Kicks are getting strong enough that some of them definitely give me pause. The other day he was very busy but also waaay over on my left side, and I felt lopsided all day.

Sleep: All in all, pretty good. 

What I miss: Not having sore feet and ankles. Being able to bend over without thinking too much about it. I'm still perfectly mobile, but sometimes when I drop something on the floor it's pretty tempting to leave it there. 

Cravings: Cereal with vanilla yogurt, bananas.

Other crazy symptoms: Leg cramps. Nosebleeds. Definitely some swollen feet, but it makes a big difference if I just elevate them for a bit at the end of the day. So far, I have felt pretty good, but I'm starting to get a glimpse of some of the experiences that are coming down the pipeline. 

Best Moment this week: Posting from this office isn't so terrible...

We're down in Florida with two other couples...our last little vacay before we go on travel lockdown. The weather has been lovely and it has been a nice, relaxing time. Pretty much just like Spring Break.