31 Weeks

Approximate Stats:
Weight: 4-5 lbs
Length: 16-18"

Presh is growing so fast now! I can tell it is becoming a tight fit in there, because I can feel every little move it makes. Even if Presh is just moving an arm or rotating its body, I can feel it. I am often able to feel where the butt (or possibly the head) is-- most frequently cradled against the right side of my belly. Sometimes an elbow or foot presses out, making a very defined little lump beneath my skin. If I push on it at all, Presh moves away. It is so fun to already be interacting with our baby in this way.

It has also been very exciting to notice a few patterns that our Precious has developed. For instance, he/she loves music! Every time mommy sings, or there is loud music playing nearby, Presh starts dancing! I feel twisting, turning, kicking and wiggling!






Another new habit that Presh has adopted, which is not quite as pleasant, is kicking my bladder! Every so often, I feel an urgency to pee like I have never felt before. It lasts only an instant, but it is not a pleasant instant!

I am still having trouble sleeping through the nights, and have developed a dwindling appetite. I think my tummy is so full of baby, that there is no room left for my stomach, which means I don't feel hungry very often. After I eat, I feel extremely full no matter how small a portion I consume.

30 Weeks

Over the Hump

I am 30 Weeks! I feel like I have made it over the hump and it is all downhill from here (in possibly more than one way...). The time has flown by, and now that I am in the 30's, it will only accelerate. I am more and more ready to be done everyday. I am excited to meet this baby, though I am really enjoying the time Jared and I have alone, just the two of us. I am struggling with that a little. Once this baby comes, we will never, ever just be a couple any longer-- there will always be our child. Which of course is a blessing, but will definitely take some adjusting.

I have only continued to grow more uncomfortable. My belly is stretching constantly and I swear I can feel it getting bigger. It doesn't matter what position I am in, it is uncomfortable. The only way that I can find some level of comfort is laying on my side in bed with my Snoogle. (This pillow is the best purchase we have made to date, worth every cent. Without this pillow, no sleep would be had by this prego.)

Speaking of sleep, that is another area that has been giving me more trouble. I have not slept through the night all week. I have heard that this happens during the last trimester in preparation for all the sleepless nights ahead once the baby's born. Let me tell you-- I am not too fond of it. I wake up at least every two hours, sweating or numb and have to roll over (which takes quite a bit of maneuvering!) and throw off the blankets.

I have also been increasingly clumsy, which is getting OH-SO-OLD. I honestly cannot help it, but couldn't get more frustrated with myself every time I drop something, spill something or knock something over. Here are some of the best examples:
1. When I bend over to pick something up off the floor, I have to swipe at it at least three times before I actually get ahold of it. Then half the time, on my way back up again, I drop it.
2. EVERY time I have eaten in the car for the past week and a half, I have spilled something on my shirt. Best part? I have never been the one driving when it happens. I have always been in the passenger seat. You'd think I could control my hand-to-mouth coordination with no distractions. But no. My Tide-To-Go stick has been working overtime (which honestly doesn't work that well). I have now lost three of my favorite tank tops to ketchup and grease stains. One time, I set my sandwich in my lap, and then leaned forward to get a napkin. Stupid idea?

Um Yes. My beach-ball-belly obviously leaned right into the grease/ketchup/mustard oozing from my burger. Brilliant!

29 Weeks

After finding out my hemoglobin was low last week, I have had steak twice, and started taking a new iron supplement. Hopefully, the combination of these things will help.

As a result of the new supplement, I have had a bit of a harder week. Let's just say where food is concerned, I am not all that interested. I don't feel hungry most of the time, because my stomache constantly feels full and a little upset. Then, after a long battle, I finally eat something and my stomach still feels upset. So the process has not been too rewarding to my comfort, but if it is nourishing the wee one, then all is well.
I have been getting more and more excited about all-things-baby. I have been planning games, food and decorations for baby showers, browsing the baby section at any store that has one, washing all our little onesies (for the second time) in preparation, planning what to pack in my hospital bag, scheduling maternity photos, deciding on Presh's "going home outfit," etc. There is a river of baby thoughts constantly flowing through my mind. I am so excited as I enter week 30 in just a few short days! That means that baby could be born anywhere between 4-10 weeks from now (hopefully closer to 10). That seems unreal.

Approximate Stats:
Length: 15-16 inches
Weight: 3-4 pounds

Baby is now able to use all five senses!

• Hearing sounds
• Seeing bright lights
• Tasting
• Touching
• Smelling the amniotic fluid

Glucose Challenge!

The glucose challenge WAS NO BIG DEAL! I seriously do not know why I have heard so many awful reports about it. I went in and the nurse handed me a glass bottle (maybe 10oz?) of fizzy orange soda that tasted exactly like Orange Sunkist. It was no sweeter than pop. It was no thicker or more syrupy. It was just a plain replica of orange pop, which I love and have not partaken of in many a month! The nurse handed me a timer that was set for 5 minutes and said that is how long I had to down the bottle. I just looked at her quizzically, wondering why she thought I would need 5 whole minutes to gulp down such a yummy treat! It took me exactly 1 minute 3 seconds to polish off every last drop of the orange ambrosia. Then I was handed a timer set for 55 minutes and told to come back when it went off to get some blood drawn. At that point, we went in for our monthly checkup with the midwife.

I measured at 28 weeks (right on, yay!), gained only 4 lbs (the exact amount recommended, yay!), had excellent blood pressure (96/52) and listened to the beautiful thumping of Presh's heart (which was 140 bpm). This baby is determined not to reveal its gender through that heart rate wives tale. (Over 140bpm= girl, under 140bpm= boy). It just keeps riding on the line!

Then we went back to the lab, where I got a finger prick. Two drops of blood were taken-- one to check my glucose levels, and one to check my hemoglobin level (the iron level in the red blood cells). I passed the glucose challenge with flying colors! They want to see my glucose level below 140, and I was 102! My hemoglobin was low, however, so they drew additional blood from my arm to perform various tests on. I suppose I will have to go home and eat some steak this week, doctor's orders!

28 Weeks

I have found myself daydreaming more frequently now about the end. I like to think about the excitement of going to the hospital, knowing that when we come home, there will be another little Nourse in the car with us. I like to think about all the ways that Jared will try to support me through the intense pains of labor. I like to dream about after the baby is born, and seeing all the visitors' faces light up at the sight of our new little one. I also ponder the not-so-lovely aspects, like how long my labor will be, how intense the pain will be, if there will be any complications, if everything will go smoothly, if there will be room at the hospital, etc. The end is getting closer with each passing day, and my excitement is growing at the same rate.

As for the pregnancy, I have been pretty uncomfortable this week as my uterus expands more rapidly. Every time I tell people that I am uncomfortable now, they laugh at me and say "Just wait!" Well, ugh, I am already uncomfortable enough. It has become more of a challenge to maneuver myself in and out of bed, and bending over for any reason is not a pleasant sight. I have noticed a dramatic increase in the need to run for the bathroom (to pee), only to release a few small, annoying drips. Over the past few days, I have been encountering a constant, crampy ache across my lower abdomen. After 24 hours and the ache had not subsided, I called the midwife on-call. I explained my symptoms and she told me that is more than likely sore ligaments, which are like rubber bands and in charge of holding the uterus in place. When the uterus grows rapidly and gets heavier, the ligaments stretch and that causes them to ache. Last night, Cara was my hero and massaged my ligaments for me (a technique she learned in chiropractor school), and the pain is much lighter today!

Today is the glucose test check-up. Jared and I are going to Woodwinds after he gets off work, and will be there for about an hour while they monitor my blood-sugar levels to determine whether or not I have gestational diabetes. Before we leave today, we will schedule the remaining appointments for the rest of the pregnancy, and I will start visiting the midwife every two weeks from now on. Then next Tuesday, we start our Preparing for Birth class! Things are starting to move rapidly now!

FLASHBACK!

Now that I am into my third trimester, Erin suggested doing a flashback! Instant replay. Reminiscence. Retrospection. Recollection.

So let's go back to the beginning....




15 weeks versus 27 weeks




It truly is amazing how much the body can change in such a short period of time. I really do marvel that there is actually room inside my already full body to fit a 7lb (or so) baby! When you look at the diagram of a non-pregnant woman's body, there literally IS NO ROOM where the baby is supposed to be. Then this little miracle happens, and God MAKES room for that little life. This is one of the most amazing and wonderful miracles in all of life.



See? No room!


*Due to an overextended schedule, a house that looks like it exploded on the inside thus making it nearly impossible to find anything (i.e. the camrea), AND a pregnant memory, I have not taken my 28 week photo yet. I will tonight, and post soon thereafter. Sorry for the delay.

27 Weeks

91 Days to Go!

As you can see, both baby and momma went through some changes this week! I was getting restless with my hair once again, and since it is my favorite experimental outlet (at least I don't experiment with anything more permanent), I decided it was time to change it up. I started by getting this cute little haircut, and then two days later, went blond (well, sort of...). I am loving the result, and the baby told me that it likes the change too ;)

I am offically now in my third trimester!

This week marked an important milestone in the baby's development too. Baby's lungs are now developed enough to breathe air! This means that should I for any reason go into labor early, baby would be fine (with with proper equipment)!! That is both exciting, and relieving.

I have been feeling pretty good again this week. I did get some mild cramping again, but nothing to be alarmed about. Also, I experienced my first Braxton-Hicks contractions. These are "practice contractions" that prepare my muscles for the real deal. The muscles across my lower abdomen tighten and feel rock hard for a moment. They are painless, but feel a little strange. My face always wrinkles up into a funny little smile when I experience these, because I am not used to my muscles acting independently of my brain!

I have been feeling a lot of movement and kicking lately too! Whenever Jared puts his hand on my belly and feels a kick, it always makes his face light up and he lets out an excited giggle. I love to watch his reaction. It never gets old to him, and he is just as excited to feel the last kick as he was to feel the first. That makes this momma happy.