Baby, Computers and Doctors, Oh My!

My Baby
This week, your baby has come to his senses -- literally! He can now taste, touch, hear, smell, and see everything going on around him. If you tap on your belly, for instance, he may kick or poke back at the same spot you touched. So neat -- you can play with your baby well before he's born! When he kicks, try rubbing your tummy and talking softly or singing -- you might just find that it calms him down.
Right now, your baby continues to practice breathing by moving his diaphragm in a rhythmic pattern. Of course, it's amniotic fluid (not air) that's flowing in and out of his lungs, but it's good practice for the real thing. Gaining about a half-pound every week for the next seven weeks, your baby's continuing to bulk up as layers of protective fat appear under his soft skin -- creating that adorably plump, cherubic look.

My Body
Can't stop scratching your belly? It's totally normal for your skin to be a bit dry and itchy these days -- just look at how much it's stretched! Speaking of which, you may also start seeing more of those pinkish-purplish-reddish streaks, called stretch marks, on your breasts, tummy, thighs, butt, and even upper arms. More than half of moms-to-be get them, usually in the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy. And no matter what the fancy product pushers may have you believe, there's really nothing you can do to prevent them. These marks occur when the normally taut elastic fibers in your skin weaken -- yet another result of pregnancy hormone changes. Many experts believe that your genes have the biggest influence on whether you'll get them and how visible they'll be. But the good news is that they will fade significantly over time, though they won't disappear completely. There are some prescription creams and in-office laser treatments that may help lighten them, but you're best off waiting until you're at least a few months postpartum (or until you're done nursing, if you want to try certain prescription creams) to weigh these options with a dermatologist.

My Life
Does it seem like your ever-rounding tummy is like a magnet for unsolicited comments and advice? Some of it is probably downright laughable -- and that's really the best way to handle the neighbor who asks if you're planning on circumcising your little boy (and clearly has strong opinions on the subject) or the stranger who wrongly warns you against having sex ("It will make you go into early labor"). Just laugh it off and try not to let the comments worry or sway you. Your opinion and your doctor's are the only ones that matter; simply deem the rest amusing distractions. But what can hit a major nerve -- especially now that you're thinking more and more about D-day -- are the labor horror stories moms feel compelled to share with you. (Not that you asked to hear them!) So the next time someone starts sounding off on a scary story that you don't want to listen to, simply stop them by asking "Why are you telling me this?" Remember that each labor truly is unique and the odds that yours will be as dramatic as the tales you've heard is teeny tiny.

Okay, definitely the home strech now - only 10 weeks until D-Day (but hopefully a few less!) and I am getting antsy! I know 10 weeks will fly by, but I am DYING to know what my little baby looks like! I told John that this afternoon, and his answer was, "It probably looks like a baby!" Boy, I'm sure glad I told him!

Had a small scare today though. If you're a boy, or you don't want to hear gross details of pregnancy, I suggest you stop reading now. If you're okay with it, I'll continue: I had been noticing a discharge the past two days that, frankly, didn't look like anything! It was just, kind of, there! Didn't look like anything, didn't smell like anything... So I immediately think "Uh-oh. Amniotic fluid!" This morning I called the doctors office (from the school I was subbing at - that's a WHOLE different blog post) and they wanted to get me in right away. I tell them I can be there by 9:30, and off I go. At this point, I'm really worried and nervous. But I make it to the doctors, and they hook me up to a fetal monitor. Not an internal one, but an external one, to make sure the baby's heart is still beating the way it should, and to be sure I'm not having contractions. After 45 minutes of that (and a few naps in there), the doctor comes in, and does an actual exam. His findings? "Well, I don't see anything..." Of course not! Murphys Law would dictate that because I was at the doctors, everything would look normal. Which it did, for the most part. The doctor was able to determine that I do have a bacterial infection though, which could cause "premature rupture of the membranes." For anyone who's never been pregnant, that is the official term for "water breaking too early." So he gave me a prescription and sent me on my merry way. 2 hours in the doctors office, and I ended up with a prescription and a headache to show for it. I guess I'm glad that it wasn't anything more serious. Not I guess, I mean, I am glad that it wasn't anything more serious, but I was so worked up about the whole thing!

Lastly, and totally not baby related, we got my new computer up and running... again. John had to send back a few things that managed to get shorted out when the last one died. Then we determined that the monitor that we had picked out (which was actually a 20 inch LG LCD TV) didn't work well as a monitor, because the text was too blurry. So we went and picked out a Samsung LCD TV instead (I was adamant on wanting a TV). It's a 23 inch, a little bigger, but it's much nicer! The whole computer is working well now, and I am very excited to get to use my purple back-lit keyboard now!

A little behind - FROM LUNA'S KNITS

Okay, I know this blog is so far behind it's really not even funny. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it to maintain this one, since I don't really update it much at all, but then I decide I like having it to just talk about knitting stuff, so I will keep it for a while longer.

Lets see, what's new...Not much, I guess. I finally made it to Yarn Basket to pick up the Reynolds Rapture yarn I need for the Irish Hiking Scarf I am making as a gift for Christmas. That will be a good job finished. I am almost done with a couple other scarves that will be gifts, and I have 2 others that are already finished. The ones that are done were originally for me, but then I was going to sell them in a craft fair, but decided against it when I realized I wouldn't have time to finish one for everyone for Christmas gifts.

Baby stuff - still pregnant! Baby is still due in January, and things are going pretty well there. I had one minor problem come up this morning, but I have made it to the doctors, and was given a prescription, which should do the trick.That's about all the news from here now. I will try to update with photos of completed gifts in a few weeks!

A week into the last trimester, and...

My Baby
Can you believe you're already a week into your last trimester? Sooo exciting. By this week, all of your baby's bones have fully developed, although they haven't finished hardening so they're still soft and flexible. For many weeks now, she's been listening to the sound of your voice and your partner's -- and anyone else who's regularly in belly range. Chatting up your baby is a great way to help her ID your voice, of course, but did you know it could also make her smarter? Research suggests that babies whose parents gabbed away throughout pregnancy recognize and turn toward those familiar voices immediately after birth. And some evidence suggests that talking to your baby may boost her verbal skills later in life. Speaking of boosts, your baby is getting stronger by the minute. This week, her pushes, kicks, and rolls will likely occur more frequently -- and forcefully. So don't be surprised if you feel a karate chop or two!

My Body
Most parents-to-be -- especially if they're first-timers -- attend childbirth classes during the third trimester. You may want to, too, Many moms say the classes helped them feel more relaxed, confident, and prepared for labor. It's also a fantastic way to meet other expectant parents and make contacts for future baby play dates, especially during the early months when you're home from work.
These classes are offered at most hospitals and birthing centers, and your doctor or midwife can also recommend good ones in your area (if you haven't signed up already). Look for an experienced and personable instructor with solid references, a small class size, and a varied program -- one that includes lectures, tours of the birthing facility, and videos of different types of birth experiences. All of these things (particularly the video, as much as the thought of it might freak you out) can help take the mystery out of childbirth and show you that the results -- those beautiful babies! -- are well worth the, um, labor.

So here we go - week 29!! It's going so fast! That's all anyone tells you when you first tell them you're pregnant: "Enjoy this time! It goes by so fast!" (Well, that and "Get your sleep now while you still can, because you won't once the baby comes!") And it really has gone fast, but it's not always fun and pleasant. Going to sleep at night has become a daily battle for me. Not because I'm super hugely pregnant, but because I get restless at night before bed. I've found a cold shower helps this, because then all I want to do is snuggle down under the blankets. I have one person in particular (who shall remain nameless) whom I can't even complain about discomforts to, because all they want to say is to just think about the end result (or whatever it is that they say). I just want to say "Well, duh! I know where this is going!! But thinking about that isn't going to make me feel better! My back hurts now!"

Anyway, moving on... I had my one hour glucose test yesterday. I should be getting the results of that sometime today. If it comes back elevated, I'll have to go back in for a 3 hour test. These tests are to check for gestational diabetes, which wouldn't shock me in the least if I had it. Actually, I think I'd be more suprised to find out I didn't. I only say this, because I have so many of the risk factors for it. But I won't complain if it comes back that I don't!

That's about it for now. I have to work today, which I'm not really looking forward to, but oh well. Need to be able to afford diapers somehow! :-) Speaking of - am I totally crazy for already starting to pack for the hospital at 29 weeks?

Pics and baby shower info.

So, I realized after posting wedding pics yesterday, that you really can't tell how pregnant I look, so I snapped a few more this morning after getting ready for work. Without further ado...

I am in my 28th week right now, which means that there are only 12 more weeks until my due date! I can't believe how fast this whole pregnancy has gone, and at the same time, I'm ready for it to be over so I can meet my new little family member!

Also, again, I've had a few questions come up about a shower. From what I understand, it is "traditionally" a female friend or the father-to-be's family that throws a baby shower for the expectant parents. With that in mind, I don't know anything about any baby showers that anyone may or may not be throwing for me, aside from the one that my dads family is doing jointly with a shower for a cousin who is also expecting a baby. I am not throwing my own shower. I don't want to appear to be asking for gifts, because that isn't the case. If you have questions about having a shower, my guess would be to direct it to my mom, since she would be the only person I can think of that would coordinate one. Don't get me wrong - would I like one? Absolutely. Am I going to throw one just so I can have one? No. That said, if anyone out there IS planning to throw a shower, please tell me when it is, because my weekends book up really fast this time of year. Also, if I DON'T have one, but you still want to get us something, we have registries at Target and Babies 'R' Us.

I apologize for sounding cranky or irritated in this post, because I'm really not. I think I'm just starting to get on edge because I can't give people an answer when they ask me a question. All I can say is that one hasn't been planned, and I don't think it's right to throw one for myself. No one would expect a bride to throw her own bridal shower, right?

Some photos from the weekend

This weekend I had the pleasure of going to a friends wedding, and getting to catch up with some good friends from college that I don't spend nearly enough time socializing with. Of course, the fact that we are now spattered all over the country probably doesn't help that... most of us are still in NH, but some of us (who shall remain nameless... Kerry and Dave) moved to California.
Anyway, I wanted to get some photos I took from the reception up into my blog, both so that I could share them with my friends, and so that I could let you all see and decide how pregnant I look :-)

You can see all the photos from the wedding here

The home stretch! And in other news...

My Baby
This is it -- the home stretch! You've now officially entered the third and final trimester. But here's the biggie development news this week: After being sealed shut for many months, your baby's eyes will begin to open and close this week. Even if you could peek at the color of his peepers now though, they might not stay that color, as baby's eyes can change up until he's 6 months to a year old (especially if your little guy is born with baby blues).
He's also probably banging around like mad in there -- except when he's sleeping. Yep, your baby is snoozing on a regular schedule, but in very short spurts (only about 20 to 30 minutes at a time). Right now he weighs roughly 2.5 pounds and measures a little over 15 inches from head to toe (your baby's now big enough to get a better measurement this way, and he'll be stretching out fully when he's born in just a few weeks, so we've switched from crown-to-rump to whole-body length). Your doctor will track your baby's growth during checkups by gently pressing on your belly to feel where the top of your uterus is, also known as fundal height.

My Body
Speaking of your uterus, it's grown impressively large. Normally it weighs about 2 ounces and holds less than half an ounce of fluid; now, it's expanded to house your baby, the placenta, and an entire quart of amniotic fluid. In fact, most of the side effects of late pregnancy are related to this uterine expansion -- including back pain, swelling in your feet and ankles, varicose veins, heartburn, hemorrhoids, itchy skin, and heartburn. But the good news is that many of these symptoms will go away as soon as the uterus starts shrinking after delivery.

My Life
For months, the most important medical authority in your life has been your ob-gyn or midwife, but that's about to change. It's time to pick the perfect pediatrician. If it seems way too early, know that your baby will be examined by a doc within minutes of being born -- and his first office visit will usually be just a few days later. To find the right one, start with the obvious: recommendations from friends with kids. These moms and dads will have an opinion, and they'll be more than happy to share it, trust us. Once you've got a hot tip, make sure the practice accepts your insurance, then schedule a consultation (some docs charge, as insurance won't always reimburse for a visit when there's no baby present). You want to get a sense of personality -- do you feel comfortable? -- and find out how easy it typically is to snag an appointment. Ask if there are any special arrangements for newborns. Do they make an effort to see the young ones first so that your teeny baby doesn't have to linger in the waiting room with all the runny-nosed big kids? Do they routinely run on schedule, or are long-ish waits frequent? Is there a private area where you could nurse if you do end up waiting a long time?

Oh my goodness!!! This is it! Last three months! I can't believe it! Only 12 more weeks!!!! It's going to FLY by, and I'm SO excited! I have a confession - during my second trimester, I wasn't to sure about this whole "having a baby" thing. I didn't know if I really was ready for this. But that feeling is totally gone, and I'm SO excited! I'm nervous, but surprisingly relaxed about the whole thing! I just keep telling myself that things will happen when they happen, I have no control over any of the physical pregnancy, aside from what I eat and when I sleep. I've already written a birth plan, so I don't have to stress about that, and now I just need to find out if our current doctor will serve as a pediatrician, or if we need to find someone else.

In other news, John built me a new computer last week, which was great, until it died on Saturday. It was weird, because the computer wasn't even on! Saturday morning, I just got up and it wouldn't even turn on. We discovered the power supply and the motherboard had been fried. Along with that, the mouse, the keyboard and our scanner. Fortunately, it didn't fry my monitor or the printer. We ended up getting a new all in one printer/scanner/fax/copier for the house, which works great so far, so I'll be selling my old printer on ebay. Hopefully it will actually sell!

Anyway, I best get going. I need to get in the shower and try to figure out what to wear to work...

Website update - FROM LUNA'S KNITS

For the first time in a while, I finally took the time to update my website: http://luna.radiantknights.com

It is all info about my knitting and photos of current projects that will be available for sale. I'm a little bummed because I won't be able to do a craft fair that I was hoping to do this year, but there's always next November. I just don't have enough merchandise to sell, and I need to be focusing on what to make for Christmas gifts this year.

I finished an adorable baby hat the other day, and got it all blocked out. I need to get a photo of it soon, but I am happy with it. I have enough yarn to make a second one, so I will probably make another to add to my sale inventory. I need to start focusing on the things I'm making for Christmas.The hat that I made was using Blue Sky Organic Cotton and a Blue Sky pattern. It is really soft, and very cute! I'm looking forward to making another one!

Pregnancy update, and a new computer!

My Baby
It's the last week of your second trimester, and you know what that means: Just a few short months until your baby's really here! This week your baby will grow half an inch (she's now about 9.5 inches from crown to rump). She currently weighs a little over 2 pounds -- and is set to gain almost a half-pound each week for the next 10 weeks. (Yep, that means you'll continue to gain weight, too. In fact, pregnant women pack on more pounds in the third trimester than in any other). At birth, the average full-term baby tips the scales at 7.5 pounds and measures between 18 and 22 inches, although many completely healthy babies fall outside of this range. And here's another fun factoid: Although your baby has started to recognize your voice, it's hard for her to hear it clearly because her ears are covered with that gooey, protective coating of vernix. Between that and the amniotic fluid, your baby's eavesdropping ability is akin to how well you hear under water.

My Body
By now, you're putting on about a pound each week, although this does vary, so don't be alarmed if your scale-tipping differs from week to week. Your uterus has now expanded all the way up to the lower part of your ribcage, so you're probably rocking that adorable all-belly look. In fact, the only thing shrinking right now may be your libido -- so it's totally A-OK if your cravings for french fries trump your desire to do the deed. Many preggo women report that their libidos are all over the map throughout these nine months. But especially now, a growing belly may translate to feeling more tired and achy, so sex may become less and less desirable as your pregnancy drags on. But other women report a big can't-get-enough surge in their third trimester -- so if you're one of 'em, more power to you!

My Life
Are you usually one of those shy, don't-rock-the-boat types? A lot of women find that being pregnant makes them more assertive than usual -- and better equipped to set boundaries at home, at work, or anywhere. The awareness that you're responsible for another little person is often motivation enough to speak up or say no when necessary -- asking a friend (or a stranger) to stamp out her cigarette when she's lighting up nearby, for example. Pregnancy also has a way of making you hyper-attuned to your instincts. So that tiny voice in the back of your head telling you "I need a seat on this overcrowded bus -- stat!" is suddenly toting a megaphone, which helps you really go with your gut and do what's best for you and your baby. And the more you can get in the habit of setting limits now, the happier and less frazzled you'll be once you're no longer a party of two.

Week 27 and all is well! At least thus far anyway! I can't believe that I start the third trimester next week!!!

John built my new computer last night, which is really cool! This is my first blog post on my new computer, and it's running great! The biggest hassle is getting everything reinstalled. Also, I need to go on my laptop and pull off my favorite websites so I can put them back up on this computer. I am going to work on a lot of that stuff today. Also, hopefully tonight, we'll reformat my laptop, and then we can decide what to do with it. I am debating possibly seeing if I can use it as a work computer. I am wondering if I do if I can take it as some sort of deduction on our taxes, or something, I don't know. At least then I'll have a fully functioning running computer at work!

Anyway, off to get some other stuff done. I've been working on stuff for an hour or so already, and not even close to being done. I need to move my mouse next because I don't have room on my keyboard tray for both.

Week 26... only 14 weeks to go!

My Baby
What a gorgeous baby you have! This week, some of his most notable developments are cosmetic: His eyebrows and eyelashes are thick and lush now, and the hair on his head has grown longer and denser. By this time, all the parts of your baby's eyes are in place, and he's getting ready to open them in just a couple of weeks! Your baby's lungs continue to grow stronger, readying him for life outside the womb -- although it's about 10 more weeks until they'll be fully mature. To support his growing body, your baby's spine is becoming stronger and more flexible. It's about the same length as the palm of your hand, but it contains a whopping 150 joints and some 1,000 ligaments.

My Life
By now, you've probably gained around 15 pounds -- and possibly even more, depending on your pre-pregnancy weight. And we know what you're thinking: So what's the deal? Will I really ever get my old body back after the baby's born? And the answer is, well, sort of. First of all, a bunch of your weight comes off soon after delivery -- the weight of the baby, obviously, but also a lot of water weight/swelling, boosted blood volume, your placenta, etc. In fact, according to one recent study from the University of Texas at Austin, new moms hold on to just seven to 15 pounds of their total preggo weight gain at six weeks postpartum (which means that if you continued to shed a half-pound to a pound a week or so, you'd be back to your pre-pregnancy weight in about six months).
But even if you manage to drop every last pound, some parts of your body may still look a little different. Your breasts may be a bit less perky, for instance -- but hey, a sexy new push-up bra can take care of that. Or your stomach probably won't quite return to its pre-pregnancy pancake -- okay, short-stack -- flat state. But honestly, as sensitive to these possible differences as you may be now, take heart -- you're liable to care a lot less about any minor imperfections once your baby arrives. As one Parents.com reader put it, "After watching my body gestate, deliver, and nurse a baby, I felt like it deserved an Academy Award! I may not look exactly the same as I did before, but I finally love what I see in the mirror." And if it makes you feel any better, just know that every other new mom out there is experiencing the same exact changes. Even though Us Weekly-cover-worthy Hollywood moms may lose their baby weight in a crazy short amount of time, we're betting many still have to contend with stretch marks and such.

I can't believe it's already week 26! I'm so excited! Thus far, I've really enjoyed being pregnant, for the most part. I could do without the back aches and the leg cramps, but overall, it's really kind of a neat experience, especially when I can feel the baby moving around inside. Of course, I'm not to the point of being "really pregnant" and the baby doesn't hurt me when he or she does gymnastics before bed.

Anyway, that's all for now... Still looking for suggestions for my Halloween costume!

Maternity Halloween Costumes

Oh my goodness. Who would have thought having to come up with a Halloween costume when you're pregnant would be so difficult? Originally I didn't think I was going to dress up, but now I think I may. I have a few ideas, most of which have come from various websites, but I don't know if I'm going to do any of them yet. So, I am currently taking suggestions for Halloween costumes. Send me an e-mail or post a comment so that I can get some ideas!