28 Weeks

I took a quick break from bed rest to snap this week's baby bump. In comparison to the last one, you can really see that our little man has dropped and how low he's now sitting. Despite being in a cervical headlock, he's still kicking up a storm on the regular and letting me know he's growing big and strong. Not the most comfortable feeling but it's so reassuring for this stressed out mama.

 

How far along: 28 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a Chinese cabbage (37.6cm from head to toe)
Total weight gain/loss:  + 1kg
Stretch marks: None (moisturizing my belly, hips and tatas every night before bed)
Maternity clothes:  Being on bed rest means I can laze around in my nightie all day and night so no need for maternity clothes just yet
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: 4-5 hours a night
Food cravings or aversions: None
Gender: BOY!
Movement:  He never stops! I think he's a sleep walker. Or sleep kicker rather.
Belly button:  It changes on a daily basis. In one day, out the next.
Exercise:  Nothing, nada, zip. I'm on strict bed rest so won't be doing much of anything for the duration of my pregnancy.
Diet:  Eating small, healthy snacks most days but just indulged in my mum's pasta bake. Yum!
What I'm loving:  We're only weeks away from meeting our little man
What I'm not loving:  That my cervix has shortened all the way down to the stitch holding it all together. There's literally a thread and 1.9cm between our baby boy and the big wide world.
What I miss:  Leaving the house and doing everyday things
Sickness and symptoms:  Midnight nausea almost every night
Notes: I have the Glucose Tolerance Test on Thursday and am hoping I pass and don't need to do the 3 hour fast to determine if I have gestational diabetes. But we have our maternity shoot to look forward to on Friday. Can't wait as we're working with the amazingly talented photographer who took our wedding pictures.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 28

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

Fetal size: 37.6cm total length
Fetal weight: 1.1kg

Your baby’s eyes are now partially open and those tiny eyelids are able to blink. Even though the eyes may have some colour, the final pigmentation requires exposure to light. In some cases the final colour of the eyes cannot be determined with certainty until at least nine months after birth. Your baby is able to recognise different levels of light, even inside your womb. Even though he still has to grow a lot, the little body is getting chubbier as fat is depositing under the wrinkled skin. Muscles are developing some tone as well. He has a 95 percent chance of survival if born this week. The lungs are better prepared to breathe, but would still need medical assistance.

Just wanted to say thank-you!

My humble little baby blog has reached over 2000 page views so I wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for following this amazing journey with us. Even though I don't know many of you personally, it means a lot to have your support. We hope that sharing our story will help others going through similar circumstances as they experience the highs and lows of starting a family. This is one of my favourite quotes. It makes me smile when I'm down and having a tough time. I hope it does the same for you.

Unexpected OB visit and bad news

After waking up with pain and pressure in my hoo ha, I called my OB and was advised to come in immediately to check on my cervix and our baby boy. After both an abdominal and vaginal ultrasound, I was told my cervical length had shortened to 1.9cm and that our little one was head down, putting pressure directly onto the stitch keeping my cervix shut. Thank goodness I opted to have the cervical cerclage surgery when I was 14 weeks pregnant! Now we just have to hope and pray it does its job and stops our baby boy from making an appearance any time soon.

I'm on strict pelvic/bed rest for the duration of the pregnancy, as any pressure could cause pre-term labour. To say I'm scared and upset is an understatement, but there's nothing I can do but stay off my feet and get plenty of rest, so with that in mind I'm heading back to bed.

Your positive thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated.  xo

27 Weeks... Hello Third Trimester!

We're so excited to be starting the third trimester and reaching yet another milestone. Now at 27 weeks, our baby boy is letting me know he's keen to come out and meet us - moving around, kicking, punching, rolling over, pushing down into my pelvis and hiccuping 'round the clock. But I've made it very clear to him that, as eager as we are to meet him too, he's not allowed out for a little while yet.

We were lucky enough to have a 3D/4D scan at Baby Bond Ultrasound last week, and got to watch our little man for just over 2 hours! Typically these appointments run for an hour but because our karate kid was so active and moving all over the place, the technician spent twice as long chasing him around, trying to give us a good look. In the end, we managed to get a handful of shots but boy did he make us work hard for them!

We've just returned from our 'babymoon', where we spent 4 amazing days relaxing on Hamilton Island. This was our last holiday before bub is born and one last hurrah before we no longer have time for ourselves or each other. We were lucky enough to have perfect weather, with clear skies and sunshine every day, and were upgraded to a luxury 2-storey townhouse with ocean views from every room. It was amazing waking up to the beautiful blue water, and so much fun getting to cruise around the island on our complimentary buggy.

I managed to get through our trip away with no complications, which was such a relief given I've been on bed rest recently. This little break was just what James and I needed, and now we feel recharged and ready to take on this final trimester of pregnancy.

I spent most of our babymoon relaxing on a banana lounge overlooking the ocean from our infinity edge swimming pool. Ahh it doesn't get much better!

Here's my 27 week baby bump and preggo bikini body. It's funny how I used to be so self-conscious about getting my gear off, but now bigger than ever I'm proud to show the world my beautiful belly.

 

How far along: 27 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a soccer ball (37cm from head to toe)
Total weight gain/loss: I've finally reached my pre-pregnancy weight of 54.5kg
Stretch marks: None (moisturizing my belly, hips and tatas every night before bed)
Maternity clothes:  Not yet but I'm gonna need them soon
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: Not as bad as last week. Getting 4-5 hours a night.
Food cravings or aversions: None
Gender: BOY!
Movement:  Plenty, and lucky me is getting the occasional elbow in the ribcage!
Belly button:  Some days it's an innie, others it's out and proud. Hmm...
Exercise:  I did quite a bit of walking and climbing stairs on our babymoon, which was so exhausting. This exercise thing isn't for me ;)
Diet:  Indulged in everything while we were away so this week I plan to eat small, healthy snacks at regular intervals to avoid that nasty third trimester nausea
What I'm loving:  Making it to the third trimester!
What I'm not loving: Round ligament pain, lightning crotch, back spasms, burping, farting, insomnia, heartburn, nausea... the list goes on. But it's all worth it for a healthy baby.
What I miss:  Feeling 'normal' and not like an alien has taken up residence in my abdomen
Sickness and symptoms:  The usual but nothing worth worrying too much about
Notes:  I have the Glucose Tolerance Test coming up to check for gestational diabetes so will definitely be watching what I eat this week and praying my test results are normal.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 27

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

Fetal size: 30cm (crown to rump)
37cm total length
Fetal weight: 875g

At about this time the retina develops. The retina is located at the back of the eye and receives light and light images & information, and transmits it to the brain where it is interpreted.

The lungs continue to develop, and this week the special moistening agent surfactant production begins. Surfactant stops the walls of the lungs from sticking together when we exhale. Along with the production of surfactant, the network of blood vessels servicing the lungs increases.

Your baby has been able to hear since about Week 20 but loud, sudden, or unexpected noises may still cause your baby to jump or kick. Your baby more easily hears lower and deeper tones, however your own voice is more easily heard than your partners. When you and your partner talk, your baby can hear the rhythm and patterns of your speech.

26 Weeks

It's hard to believe but this is the last week of the 2nd trimester! Wow time is really flying now. There's only around 3 months 'til we meet our little man!

How far along: 26 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a lettuce (36cm from head to toe)
Total weight gain/loss: 1kg under my pre-pregnancy weight
Stretch marks: None (moisturizing my belly, hips and tatas every night before bed)
Maternity clothes:  I've been wearing my maternity leggings a lot lately, thanks to the rainy weather we've been having
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: Broken. I'm lucky to get 3 hours straight each night.
Food cravings or aversions:  None
Gender: BOY!
Movement:  Lots. As usual. But more rolling than kicking.
Belly button: It's officially surfaced and is now level with the rest of my tummy. Only a matter of time before it pops!
Exercise:  Still not allowed. Doctors orders. As much as I'd love to... ;)
Diet:  Trying to eat small healthy snacks rather than carb-loaded meals
What I'm loving:  How fast time is flying. Can't believe the 3rd trimester is next week.
What I'm not loving:  Round ligament pain, lightning crotch, back spasms, burping, farting, insomnia, heartburn, nausea... the list goes on. But it's all worth it for a healthy baby.
What I miss:  Sleeping through the night. On my back. Without it seizing up.
Sickness and symptoms:  I had quite a scare the past couple of days. Sharp shooting pains in my hoo ha and terrible cramping across my belly, more than likely just round ligament pain as bub's had a growth spurt this week and is as active as ever. Hopefully he runs out of room soon and sleeps the rest of the pregnancy. Ha... wishful thinking!
Notes: We have a 3D/4D ultrasound on Monday next week and are really looking forward to seeing how much our little guy has grown since we last saw him.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 26

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

Fetal size: 28cm (crown to rump)
36cm total length
Fetal weight: 760g

Your baby's body has started to grow faster than its head. This new sense of proportion makes your baby look more like a newborn. Arms and legs are stronger and bones are hardening. Eyebrows and eyelashes are present and hair on the head is growing longer. Your baby is becoming longer, and although still red and skinny, it's body is rounding out as fat deposits start to develop under the skin. Genitals are now completely differentiated.

The lungs are growing, nostrils are open and muscles start to work to give your baby breathing practise prior to birth. Your baby has also developed patterns of sleeping and waking.

As brain cells start to mature, your baby starts learning and remembering. Your baby can also hear your voice and will start to move in rhythm with your speech. Beats such as drumbeats will also register with your baby, and he/she may move with the beat. Music that is played regularly while your baby is in utero may also be vaguely remembered after birth or later in life.

It is also important to note that your baby can distinguish its father's voice if he talks to the baby in utero. This means that your baby will also be able to recognise it's father's voice and distinguish it from others after birth.

25 Weeks

I thought I'd do a comparison of bump pics taken at 12 weeks and today at 25 weeks. What a difference. Our baby boy sure is getting big! Now measuring 34cm and weighing 660 grams.

How far along: 25 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a cauliflower (34cm from head to toe)
Total weight gain/loss: Still down 2kg from my pre-pregnancy weight
Stretch marks: None (moisturizing my belly, hips and tatas every night before bed)
Maternity clothes:  Wearing my pre-pregnancy clothes but a lot of them have had some adjustments made and elastic added to accommodate the bump
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: 4-6 hours a night
Food cravings or aversions:  Still no cravings to report. Wondering if I'll ever want pickles with peanut butter or something equally as odd.
Gender: BOY!
Movement:  Plenty. Every morning without fail he wakes me with a kickboxing session at 4am on the dot.
Belly button: Innie but slowly making its way to the surface
Exercise:  Not allowed. Doctors orders. As much as I'd love to... ;)
Diet:  Say what now?
What I'm loving:  People treat pregnant women differently. In a good way. Yesterday I was shopping and 2 concerned passers by asked if I was feeling ok, as I'd stopped for a few minutes to rest my head on the trolley while waiting for a dizzy spell to subside. And they seem genuinely happy for the woman with child, smiling and rubbing the bump without warning.
What I'm not loving:  Sciatica and back spasms
What I miss:  Getting jiggy with it! Pelvic rest sadly = no sexy time.
Sickness and symptoms:  While nowhere near as severe as the first trimester, nausea has been back this week, and brought along with it reflux, burping and passing wind. Yep it's officially impossible to act like a lady while carrying a child.
Notes:  We had a bit of a scare this week after seeing our OB for an ultrasound. Bub is a little under size for gestation (although his exact EDD is questionable and I may not be as far along as everyone thinks). We also discovered that my cervix has shortenend to 2.3cm. This is now below the lowest 'normal' cervical length of 2.5cm so I'm on bed/pelvic rest, taking it easy and praying our little man won't make an appearance any time soon.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 25

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

Fetal size: 26cm (crown to rump)
34cm total length
Fetal weight: 660g


Your baby's primitive memory is beginning to develop, which means that music and voices will be leaving an impression in your little one's brain. His spine now has 1000 ligaments, 150 joints and 33 vertebrae. Inside the lungs, blood vessels are busy developing and if you could see your little one's nose, you would notice the nostrils beginning to open. With his fully developed hands, loud noises may even prompt him to cover those tiny ears to shield from sounds. His skin has now changed from translucent to a more opaque appearance. The part of your baby's brain (cerebral cortex) that is responsible for emotions, reasoning, ability to solve problems, and also for planning is the most prominent part of the brain at this point.

Remembering our angel baby

Today was a difficult day for us. It would've been the due date of the precious little baby we lost in September last year. James and I went for a walk to the beach and as the sun was setting, we released balloons and watched them slowly soar into the sky and drift away over the ocean. While it was sad, it was also a beautiful moment to remember the special gift we were given.

Although I never held you in my arms, I will carry you in my heart forever. RIP angel baby.

24 Weeks, Viability & Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! We've reached viability and our baby boy is now 32cm and 600 grams. Growing and moving around so much. Can't believe we're already 6 months along and have only 3 months to go. Time is going so fast. Third trimester is right around the corner!

How far along: 24 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a butternut pumpkin (32cm from head to toe)
Total weight gain/loss: Still down 2kg from my pre-pregnancy weight
Stretch marks: None (moisturizing my belly, hips and tatas every night before bed)
Maternity clothes:  Nope still wearing my pre-pregnancy clothes
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: 4-6 hours a night
Food cravings or aversions:  No unusual cravings but I ate my body weight worth of chocolate this week. C'mon it's Easter, I'm allowed an exception.
Gender: BOY!
Movement:  Heaps. I recorded him bouncing around for almost an hour straight the other day. Our baby boy's got some energy!
Belly button: Innie but slowly making its way to the surface
Exercise:  Does walking from the couch to the fridge count for anything?  ;)
Diet:  ... is a dirty word
What I'm loving:  Watching our baby boy kick, punch, push out, roll over and bounce around in my belly
What I'm not loving:  Feeling our baby boy kick, punch, push out, roll over and bounce around in my belly lol. His rib and pelvic jabs aren't exactly enjoyable. Also having back spasms. Yeah they're a lot of fun.
What I miss:  Sleeping on my back. It's been left side only for 6 months.
Sickness and symptoms:  Still have the occasional dizzy spells and not a lot of energy but otherwise doing well
Notes: We picked out the paint colour for bub's room and will hopefully get it on the wall some time this week.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 24

 

Your Baby

How big is my baby?
Fetal size: 24cm (crown to rump)
32cm total length
Fetal weight: 600g

Your baby continues to gain weight. Development is occurring in the brain, growth and increase in size of the kidneys, lungs and gastrointestinal tract (gut).