Week 28: Chinese Cabbage (weight)

Wow … 28 weeks … that’s 7 months. Holy cow!!! It’s moving along all so quickly I can barely believe it. I kept thinking we’d have so much time for everything but the time is flying by!! As normal … everything from www.babycenter.com …

How your baby's growing:By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

How your life's changing:You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.

At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)

Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.Sleep easier.

3 Questions About Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a complex disorder that affects 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women. A woman is diagnosed with preeclampsia if she has high blood pressure and protein in her urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most women who get preeclampsia develop a mild version near their due date, and they and their babies do fine with proper care. But when preeclampsia is severe, it can affect many organs and cause serious or even life-threatening problems. The only way to get better is to deliver the baby.

Q1. What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia can come on suddenly, so it's very important to be aware of the symptoms. Call your midwife or doctor right away if you notice any of these warning signs:
Swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, or excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles.

• Rapid weight gain — more than 4 pounds in a week.

• Severe or persistent headache

• Vision changes, including double vision, blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision

• Intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen

• Nausea and vomiting
Preeclampsia can occur without any obvious symptoms, particularly in the early stages, and some symptoms may seem like normal pregnancy complaints. So you might not know you have the condition until it's discovered at a routine prenatal visit. This is one of the reasons it's so important not to miss your appointments.

Q2.What puts me at high risk for preeclampsia?
It's more common to get preeclampsia for the first time during a first pregnancy. However, once you've had preeclampsia, you're more likely to develop it again in later pregnancies. Other risk factors include:
• Having chronic hypertension

• Having certain blood clotting disorders, diabetes, kidney disease, or an autoimmune disease like lupus

• Having a close relative (a mother, sister, grandmother, or aunt, for example) who had preeclampsia

• Being obese (having a body mass index of 30 or more)

• Carrying two or more babies• Being younger than 20 or older than 40

Q3.Is there any way I can avoid getting preeclampsia?

No one knows for sure how to prevent preeclampsia, although there's a lot of research going on in this area. A number of studies have looked into whether taking extra calcium, vitamins, or a low dose of aspirin can help, but the results have been mixed. For now, the best thing you can do is get good prenatal care and keep all your prenatal appointments. At each visit your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure and test your urine for protein. It's also important to be aware of the warning signs of preeclampsia so that you can alert your caregiver and get treated as soon as possible.For more information on pregnancy complications, see BabyCenter's comprehensive pregnancy complications area.

This Week's Activity:Choose a doctor for your baby. Get names of pediatricians or family practitioners from friends, co-workers, neighbors, or your pregnancy caregiver. Make sure the doctor accepts your health insurance, keeps hours that work with your schedule, and has an office that's convenient for you. If you can, schedule face-to-face interviews with your top candidates. If it seems too early to be thinking about this, consider that your baby will have his first doctor's visit shortly after birth.

As for me …

• I really hope I don’t gain another 11 pounds throughout this trimester although if he continues to grow as he has I know I will. I’m amazed at how much I’ve already gained. Although I *KNOW* that I still look like me just with a big bump so I definitely count my blessings. But I’ve never seen the scale get so high. And I don’t really want to be weighing the same as Mike when he has 7 inches of height on me!!


• My next appointment is scheduled next week (Tues April 6th) and then I’ll be going every two weeks. \


• My glucose screening test came back great so need to schedule additional … although it wasn’t all too terrible. Drink sugary stuff … wait an hour … get blood drawn. Getting blood drawn was never a big deal before and isn’t especially now that I’ve done it more for the pregnancy. Just don’t give me the kid at the student clinic in college again that made my blood spurt!!\


• I already have a bit of RLS on my own so this isn’t new and thankfully for the time being has subsided a bit. Or I’m getting more used to it and dealing better. The worst part is that when it’s bad … it feels like my WHOLE body has it and that is really uncomfortable. Ask Mike … poor guy gets frustrated because he doesn’t know how to help me and I must look terrible.


• So far I’ve been in the clear … good BP (blood pressure) and no protein in my urine samples. So for the moment I’m in the clear for preexlampsia. But the swelling on my feet has us all keeping a watchful eye. Of course if anything changes … I’ll keep you all posted.

A Pediatrician for baby C – well this is a bit of a predicament.

• Mike just found out that PwC will be dropping Kaiser coverage as of July 1st. Fortunately … my due date with Kaiser is June 17th so there’s NO WAY they’ll let me go til then without inducing labor. So baby C will be born at a Kaiser. However, that leaves us with having to find a pediatrician to satisfy the requirement through the current insurance provider and researching for another one with the new insurance provider we choose to go with.


• Although … we have a new medical facility RIGHT by us that takes the new insurance we’re looking into. And my friend Nicole has found a pediatrician she LOVES for Kaitlyn. She’s looking into whether or not she’s accepting new patience so we’ll see. Just makes the task of finding a pediatrician interesting.


• Or even an OB for me for post-delivery follow ups. Ugh … I almost forgot about that one too … sheesh.

• We got 2 of the 3 pieces of his furniture and worked VERY diligently on his room this weekend. It’s all coming together and is even more exciting!! Got his closet cleaned out and moved some other stuff around to make room … at one point it looked like our house threw up but I managed to have it all reeled in and organized that we got it situated. Poor Mike came home from Lowe’s and ordering the blackout shade for the nursery to see the mass chaos I’d created. But I was able to walk him through it all and showed that it really did make sense and would be all re-organized prior to bed time. AND IT WAS!!! We got so much accomplished yesterday … we’re so proud. Especially since with our schedules it was really the only day to get it done for a while!!!

Baby is kicking and squirming more and more and more. We had our first “creep out” moment on Thursday night (3/25) after my parents left our place. He always gets SUPER active from about 10:30pm-12am. We tend to listen to the news in the background and watch my tummy “bump”. Well on Thursday night … he pushed out and around with his arm or head. I could see my stomach move instead of just bump. It felt SOOOOOOO weird and looked FREAKY!!!!!!!!!! Mike couldn’t see the same movement I could because of his angle but he could see how far out he pushed on me. He did it to me again Friday day and night. He was SUPER active all day Friday. Not sure what was different. But it was neat … now he’s done this several times to me. I can feel but haven’t caught it by site since that first time.

I love that he’s learning a new movement … before it was just out and now it’s around … so proud!!! We hope everyone is doing well …

Week 27: Cauliflower

And after our 3-D scans … it seems even more real than it had before. He’s more and more active and you can even sit and watch my tummy “bump” from time to time. It’s so crazy … and we can’t wait for him to make his big debut!! As always … info is from www.babycenter.com.

How your baby's growing:This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

How your life's changing:The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too.

It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it's not too soon to think about family planning. You'll want to have made some decisions about postpartum birth control before your baby arrives. If you're considering a tubal ligation, be aware that most states require you to sign a consent form at least 30 days beforehand. So if you'd like the option of having the surgery during your postpartum hospital stay, don't wait too much longer to discuss it with your caregiver. (You can still change your mind later.)Beyond orange juice

Symptoms you should never ignore

So many aches, pains, and strange feelings arise during pregnancy that it can be hard to decide what's normal and what warrants a call to your doctor or midwife. To complicate matters further, some symptoms may be more or less urgent depending on your particular situation or health history and on how far along you are in your pregnancy. Here's a rundown of symptoms that could be a sign of a problem. If you have any of these complaints, call your doctor or midwife immediately:
Before you reach 37 weeks:
• Pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby is pushing down), lower back pain (especially if it's a new problem for you), menstrual-like cramping or abdominal pain, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt)
• An increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge — if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody (even if it's only pink or blood-tinged)
At any time:
• Your baby is moving or kicking less than usual
• Severe or persistent abdominal pain or tenderness
• Vaginal bleeding or spotting, or watery discharge
• Pain or burning when you urinate, or little or no urination
• Severe or persistent vomiting, or any vomiting accompanied by pain or fever
• Chills or a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• Blurred or double vision, or seeing spots or "floaters"
• A severe or persistent headache, or any headache accompanied by blurred vision, slurred speech, or numbness
• Any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, anything more than mild swelling in your fingers or hands, or severe or sudden swelling in your legs, feet, or ankles, or a rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week)
• Severe or persistent leg or calf pain that doesn't ease up when you flex your ankle and point your toes toward your nose, or one leg significantly more swollen than the other
• Trauma to your abdomen
• Fainting, frequent dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or palpitations
• Difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, or chest pain
• Severe constipation accompanied by abdominal pain or severe diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours
• Persistent intense itching all over
• Any health problem that you'd ordinarily call your practitioner about, even if it's not pregnancy-related (like worsening asthma or a cold that gets worse rather than better)Even if you don't see your symptom on the list above, trust your instincts and call your caregiver whenever you have a concern about your pregnancy. If there's a problem, you'll get help right away. If nothing's wrong, you'll be reassured. This Week's Activity:Sign up for a breastfeeding class. If you are a first-time mom and planning to breastfeed your baby, it's a good idea to take a breastfeeding class. Ask your caregiver or childbirth education teacher where you can take one. Or call La Leche League. It can help you locate breastfeeding resources in your area.

As for me …

• I can feel him having the hiccups often. Just as I do. I think my favorite instance to date was last Sunday when I had to work. We had a game Saturday night and it was daylight savings. So getting to the office at 8:30am (my body thinking it’s 7:30am) I was A LOT tired. There was a moment when I was quite literally falling asleep at my desk. The only thing keeping me awake … his hiccups. I rubbed my tummy and told him to be quiet so mommy could sleep.


• My back … yup … Mike is giving me back rubs with a lot of frequency now. Thankfully he’s so good at it and such a great guy that he does. But I think it’s time I set up an appointment for a prenatal massage to really get deep down for me. And give him a rest.


• And the leg/foot cramps are definitely coming back. I’m realizing how important it is that I’m getting my potassium and water intake with those coming back. Because they hurt so bad. Especially when it’s my right foot since it’s still not 100%.


• We’re keeping an eye on the swelling in my feet. Each doc visit I’ve had no protein in my samples which means that I’m still out of the woods for pre-eclampsia but I still have to be aware. Another sign is rapid weight gain (4lbs in one week) and that hasn’t happened. The swelling does go down when I get off my feet and not sitting at my desk too long. I now have a little step ladder under my desk that I put my feet up on and that’s really starting to help as well. (thanks Stevie!! It’s the one she used when she was pregnant 2 yrs ago). \


• I will start my “kick counts” on Thursday this week. This means that I have to select a time (same time every day) after a meal and count how long it takes to get 10 movements/kicks. It MUST occur under 2 hours otherwise I have to call L&D (Labor and Delivery). I’ve been “practicing” and he seems to take 30 minutes or less which is the goal. \


• Classes … ugh … Mike and I are so behind. We’re just so busy. But I have to get these scheduled. We will … we have to …

I just wanted to touch on a topic really quickly … Mike and I know that everyone wants to be around for the joyous moment that which is the birth. But also realize that it will be difficult for those out of town or even close by. Given work schedules, etc. Not to worry everyone … he won’t be here in a matter of minutes even when he does decide he’s ready. An EDD or “estimated due date” is just that. Estimated. He could come on June 20th but there’s only a 2% chance of that occurring (sorry Michael … I know you really want him to be born on Father’s Day J). He can come earlier and he come later. He’ll come whenever he darn well pleases. Although I keep teasing that because I’m notoriously a “little late” in everything I do in life … that he’ll be early to prove a point to me.

With that said … for those on the outskirts or out of town … Donny/Jamie and Missy … plan on coming later. Being here “for the birth” is so hard to plan. Since I’m not a candidate for a c-section (fingers crossed it stays that way) we can’t pinpoint when he’ll be here for sure. I’d hate for any of you to take time off to be here around the time of the birth and still miss it. Whether he came early before you arrived or later after you left. Our suggestion … come when we KNOW he’ll be here. Even if I haven’t had him yet … they won’t let him stay in there forever. Because it’s not good for either of us. They’ll induce usually about 10 days later, putting me right around July 1st. So come for the 4th of July weekend. I know I’ve already mentioned this to Donny but just thought we’d share our thoughts with everyone.

We hope everyone is doing well … spring is finally starting to appear and I know we’re enjoying it here in the bay area. Don’t let work keep you too busy (take your own advice Danielle) and take a chance to watch the trees and flowers bloom!!! We love you all …

Week 26: Eggplant

Getting closer to the end of the 2nd trimester … wow …

How your baby's growing:The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (eggplant) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

How your life's changing:Are you rushing around trying to get to childbirth classes and prepare your baby's room while still taking care of all your other daily tasks? Make sure that you also continue to eat well and get plenty of rest. Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly, although it's probably still lower than it was before you got pregnant. (Typically, blood pressure falls toward the end of the first trimester, and it tends to reach a low at about 22 to 24 weeks.)

Preeclampsia — a serious disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in your urine — most often shows up after 37 weeks, but it can happen earlier so it's important to be aware of the warning signs of this condition. Call your caregiver if you have swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week). With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms. Let your caregiver know immediately if you have a severe or persistent headache, vision changes (including double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision), intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen, or vomiting.

If your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus — which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your abdomen.

Decision Guide: Should you create a birth plan?
Writing a birth plan can give you an opportunity to think about — and discuss with your partner and caregiver — how you'd ideally like your delivery to be handled. The process of creating a birth plan can be a terrific way to learn more about labor and your own preferences for care. But keep in mind that labor is inherently unpredictable, and you'll need to stay flexible in case things come up that require you and your birth team to veer from the plan.

So is it worth doing?
If you use the birth plan as an educational tool to learn more about your options during labor and delivery and as a point of departure for talking to your caregiver and communicating your wishes, you can't go wrong.

In a recent BabyCenter poll about birth plans, 54 percent of those who responded said their plan was irrelevant once actual labor started. "My birth plan pretty much went out the window once I got to the hospital. But not sticking to the plan didn't take away from my birth experience at all," said one respondent. On the other hand, 46 percent said their birth plans did help them create the birth experience they wanted.

If you decide you want to try making a birth plan, it can be as long or short as you like. Some women simply write down their birth philosophy and a general sense of how they'd like things to go. For instance, "I'd like to have as natural a birth as possible. Please don't offer me pain relief medication or do any interventions unless necessary." Or "I'd like my labor to be relatively pain-free and want an epidural as early as possible."

Some issues to consider when creating a birth plan:
• Do you want a drug-free labor or are you banking on an epidural? If you're not sure, it's okay to make a note of that.
• Do you want your delivery to be a private affair (just the attending medical team and your partner)? Would you like other family members or friends in the room for support? Is it okay if medical students or residents are present during your birth?
• Do you want a mirror brought in so you can see your baby crowning?
• Would you like to have the room as quiet as possible? Have special music playing? The lights dimmed? A video camera rolling?
• After your baby's born, do you want your partner to cut the cord? Would you or your partner like to stay with your baby during any procedures or exams?
• Do you plan to breastfeed?
• Do you want your baby to stay with you around-the-clock?
• Are you willing to pay extra for a private room if one's available?For a detailed look at all the questions to consider, see BabyCenter's online Birth Plan tool.This Week's Activity:Discuss some personal issues. Would you like to have your son circumcised? If so, do you want it done in the hospital? Will you have a religious ceremony after your baby's born? Would you like to stay home with your baby full- or part-time? These are just a few of the big decisions you and your partner should discuss now. Even if you think you both agree, it's best to share your opinions openly to avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

As for me/us …

• Mike and I have been so busy that we haven’t been able to schedule the child birth prep classes that we’d like to.


• Birth Plan … we’ve discussed a few topics for this but not gone over everything. Kaiser sent home a flier to assist me with some of these plans. I’ll also be talking with a few of my friends.


• Personal issues … we’ve discussed the very topic of circumcision quite a lot. Without having a set feeling or knowing exactly what we’re going to do. We’re still researching. As for me staying home or working … the plan right now is to work it out so I can return. If after I return I realize it’s not what I want … I’ll stay home. This is still in the air a bit. But of course the Warriors “know” I’m coming back.

Lots going on this week with renewals starting for me and Mike is still busy busy busy as well. Mom/dad are coming into town for Dad’s spring break so we’re excited to have them here for the week. And while dad’s 60th birthday passes too!!! Hope all is well with everyone …

Week 25: Rutabega

And it’s official … I’m getting bigger. Lol!! We finally took belly pics this weekend but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to upload them. And the panoramic of the nursery. Sorry! As soon as I can … I’ll send them on … I promise. Getting harder to get comfy. Which makes me anxious considering the fact that I know I still have ~3.5 months left. Eek!! As usual … below is the update!!

How your baby's growingHead to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.
See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changingYour baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.

You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.

When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Have you started thinking about baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. You may want to consider family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Atticus, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.

3 Questions About...Third trimester prenatal care

Q1.How often will I see my caregiver in the third trimester?
Between 28 and 36 weeks, you'll see your caregiver every two weeks. One month before your due date, this will increase to once a week.

Q2.What will she do at each appointment?
• Ask how you're feeling physically and emotionally and follow up on any issues raised at your last appointment. Among other things, she'll want to know if you're having contractions, vaginal bleeding, or unusual discharge; if you're having headaches; and if you're feeling anxious or depressed. Let her know if you have any symptoms that haven't been addressed.
• Ask about your baby's movements. She'll remind you to call if you sense that your baby has gotten less active. At some point, she may ask you to start counting your baby's movements for a set period of time each day.
• Weigh you and check your urine for signs of preeclampsia, urinary tract infections, and other problems. Take your blood pressure and check your ankles, hands, and face for swelling.
• Check your baby's heartbeat and do an abdominal exam to estimate your baby's size and position. She'll measure the distance between your pubic bone and the top of your uterus to see if your baby's growth rate seems normal.
• Possibly check your cervix. Don't expect a pelvic exam at every visit. Many caregivers don't do one unless they have a specific concern, such as preterm labor. Once you pass your due date, your provider will check your cervix to help decide whether (or when) to induce your labor.
• Tell you what to watch out for. She'll tell you about the signs of preterm labor and preeclampsia, and review other warning signs that should prompt a call. As your due date nears, she'll discuss the signs of labor and let you know when you should get in touch with her.
• Go over your labor and delivery questions. Make a list with your partner and bring it to a prenatal visit.
• Discuss postpartum decisions like whether you plan to breastfeed or circumcise your son. She'll also discuss your options for postpartum contraception. If you haven't found a doctor for your baby, your caregiver can give you some names.

Q3.What tests are coming up?
Depending on your situation you may be offered:
• Hematocrit/hemoglobin: This blood test for anemia is usually repeated during the third trimester. (If you were tested when you took your glucose challenge test and the results were normal, it might not be repeated.)
• Gestational diabetes testing: If you have a normal glucose screening test between 24 and 28 weeks, consider yourself done. But if your screening results are abnormal and you haven't yet done the glucose tolerance test, you'll be tested now.
• Rh antibody screening: If you're Rh-negative, the antibody screen will be repeated (usually at the same time as your glucose challenge test) and you'll get an injection of Rh immune globulin at 28 weeks. In the unlikely case that some of your baby's blood gets into your bloodstream, the Rh immune globulin will protect you from developing antibodies that could pose a risk to future babies or even this one. (Note: if your baby's father takes a blood test and is found to be Rh-negative like you, you'll know that your baby is also Rh-negative so you won't need the Rh immune globulin.)
• Biophysical profiles and nonstress tests: If you have certain pregnancy complications or you've passed your due date, these tests will be ordered to check on your baby.This Week's ActivityDedicate time to your partner this week. Treat your partner to a romantic surprise. Write down all the things you love about him, tell him why you think he'll be a great dad, or just go for a stroll while holding hands. Take time to connect on a physical and emotional level and celebrate what connects you and makes you love one another. Try to do something at least once a week that clearly communicates the importance of your partner in your life, says clinical psychologist Diane Sanford.

As for me …

• Baby certainly feels heavier than a pound and a half. Maybe that’s because the tiredness is starting to come back to me?


• Hair has always been full but it’s certainly coming out like normal. Although I will say … it’s silkier and shinier than it’s been in a LONG time. And THAT I’m enjoying.


• Yes I’ve noticed I’m not as graceful as I once was. And especially because my right foot still isn’t up to “dani speed” yet. And my ankles are swelling at the end of the day. All I can is fortunately … we only have 10 games left. Renewals are just around the corner which mean late nights too … eek!! But starting around May 1st things should be calming at the office for me and will help me out the last 2 months. *fingers crossed*


• Glucose test completed … results are good. No need for follow up. To be honest, I’m not sure if they tested the other things mentioned in this list. But doc said I’m good for now … so I’m sure if they need to suck my blood again … they’ll let me know. I’m very fortunate that the Kaiser labs are open on the weekends. It’s been VERY helpful. - We’ve been thinking about baby names for a while now. But we’re not telling … We will however take suggestions.


• I’m anxious about starting the doc visits every 2 weeks in about 3 weeks time. Only because of the season winding down and renewals starting. Makes it a little more difficult. But I have to do it … it’s best for me and baby. And fortunately I have someone on my side … even if Brandon/Don don’t understand … Brandon’s girlfriend is a neo-natal nurse she’ll help me out if he gets lippy. Lol!! But I doubt he will. He’s always been very easy to talk to when it comes to what I need for the baby and doc appts.


• It’s been suggested that I start taking my allergy medicine to prepare for allergy season since it’s just around the corner and some trees are already starting to bloom. I will start that sometime this week or weekend to keep ahead of it.


• We’ll need to start looking into pediatricians. But first we need to figure out if PwC is taking away Kaiser come July 1st!


• I’ve been given forms to pre-register for the hospital. I’ll be turning those over the next appointment. As well, starting in about 2 weeks I’ll be keeping track of “kick counts”. This means that at the same time every day, I have to see how long it takes to feel the baby kick, punch, rollover, etc. It must take less than 2 hours to feel 10 movements. If not, then I have to call L&D.

Activity this week … it seems like I’m usually ahead on these although there’s one we’re still behind on. But THIS one … we do normally without being told. We had a rough start to Sunday morning when Mike’s work laptop crashed and left him with ~5 hours of work that needed to be completed before the start of Monday. Stressed and panicked … we went for a walk to get breakfast. It was a nice morning to hang out and be with each other. Walk hand in hand and talk about how abnormal we are to have such a seemingly normal and loving relationship. J Hope everyone’s weeks are going well … busy here for both Mike and I. But we’re trucking through it like normal. Love to you all ………..

Week 24: Ear of Corn (length)

And it’s official … we’re into our 6th month. And I’m looking and feeling UGE. I don’t think Jamie knows this term … Jamie … this is the NY term for being BIGGER than HUGE.

My craziness of 6 games in 11 days is OVER and I survived. I’m not going to lie, Thursday was REALLY hard for me. And Friday Brandon let me work from 9:30am-6:30pm which didn’t happen because I STILL slept through my alarm and didn’t get to the office until 10:45am. Fortunately he kicked me out at 6:45pm though.

Now we’re getting heavy into renewal push. This is where all my hard work of schmoozing and getting to know people throughout the season pays off. Hopefully … So I’ll remain busy and Mike has events practically every week from here until mid April as well … so unless you come to us … don’t plan on seeing us much. As Debbie/Gary found out and came over for dinner last night. Anyways … here’s the update …

How your baby's growing:Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.
See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

How your life's changing:In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball.

Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition. Untreated diabetes increases your risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow too large, especially in his upper body. It also raises your baby's odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure.

Finally, if you don't already know how to spot the signs of preterm labor, now's the time to learn. Contact your caregiver immediately if you notice any of the signs mentioned below.Relief for finger pain.

This Week's Activity:Tackle your home improvement projects. Sit down with your partner and take stock of the things you'd like to fix around the house before your little one arrives. Then let your partner handle them. (You shouldn't be exposing yourself to chemicals or getting up on ladders.) Some things for the list:
• Install or check smoke detectors, get a fire extinguisher for each floor of your house, and plan a fire escape route.• Fix or remove any broken furniture or fixtures.• Paint the nursery, hang curtain rods, assemble new furniture.

As for me …

• Debbie brought over ears of corn last night to eat with dinner … *gasp* we’re eating our own son/grandson!!! Hahahaha


• Uterus is the size of a soccer ball … makes sense as to why I look so big. But I’m STILL not smuggling basketballs no matter what any silly person at the arena says!!!!!


• I’ll be having my glucose screening test this weekend on Saturday. Since our Kaiser lab is open on the weekends it allows me to not have to miss any work during this crucial time. Minus the darned root canal I’m so NOT thrilled to be having tomorrow. Man … the things I’m going through for this kid. He better NEVER tell me he hates me!!!!!!!!!

As for the honey-do list around the house. Same … we already started to work on some of these things. The nursery … looks AMAZING!!!!! Mike did such a wonderful job. He took a panoramic photo of the room that I’ll send hopefully tonight when I get home. But for the rest of the stuff … we’ll need a blackout shade for the nursery and have to clean out the closet in there. Need to move a bit o-stuff around. But we’re doing pretty good. Starting it early helps and having an idea or a vision has really helped.

Mike FINALLY felt our boy kick on Saturday!!! It was only once and it was while he was lying his head on my belly but he felt it nonetheless. So we’re very excited. I’m starting to notice a trend in times when he’s active and I’m feeling him more and more. Which means in no time Mike and others will be able to feel him kicking, karate-chopping or dancing in no time.

Alrighty kids … time to get out of here … I have a not so fun day lined up tomorrow that I still have to figure out in its entirety. Take care!!!!!!!!!!!!!