Baby #2 - 39 Weeks

Let's hope this is my last weekly update :)

I am officially out of clothes to wear and am popping out of my maternity tops - yikes. Last week Robert and I both got some sort of 24 hour bug, which was not fun at all. I spent most of 24 hours with my head on a pillow feeling like death, unable to eat or drink anything, but am happy to report that all is (mostly) well this week. Every other day I seem to have lots of energy, while the other days I am planted on the couch. My doctor's appointment on Friday went well and baby boy is still happy and moving around in there.  
Don't get too comfy big boy.

Cooper knows what's up

Other than that, I am just enjoying my maternity leave with yoga, errands, visiting Robert at work, organizing, baking (!), and relaxing. Next appointment is on Friday..

What's the baby up to? 

• The average baby is about 20 inches and weighs about 7.5 pounds. 
• The baby has reached its final birth position. 
• It will be cramped inside your uterus for much movement.
•  Your baby will continue to punch and kick but lower in your abdomen, under your pelvis.

 The average baby weighs in at over seven pounds, but can be as much as one or two pounds heavier or lighter. It can vary with each baby, and there is no cause for concern. Your pregnancy is considered full term now. At birth the umbilical cord will stop working when the child takes his first breaths of air outside of uterus. The child's breathing will trigger changes in the heart that will force all blood to go through the lungs. Baby is restricted in movement as there is no space left in the womb. You should be finding it easier to breathe now that the uterus is dropping away from the diaphragm.
You may be experiencing the nesting syndrome by attempting to clean, cook, shop and prepare for the new arrival (mm hmm). This is very common, just be careful that you do not wear yourself out. You need to conserve your energy for the hard work ahead in labor and birth

Baby #2 - 38 Weeks

I am officially off of work - whoohoo. 

We spent Monday under the weather, so that wasn't great, but Tuesday Robert was back to work and Hunter was in daycare. I got a lot of stuff done around the house (nesting craziness) and treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. Blissful. I was also able to pluck my eyebrows - amazing what you can do when you have some extra time on your hands!

no make-up and no work clothes, ahhh

I am feeling a lot better about the baby arriving now that I have prepped the house. I set up his bed, changing station (those diapers are tiiiiinnyyy), and clothes in our room, cleaned out closets, made room for bottles in the kitchen cabinets, packed my hospital bag, and rearranged some storage in the nursery. Makes it all feel so real!

teeny tiny things

I've hit the point in pregnancy where I wake up feeling really hungover and feel like I've been hit by a truck. I remember this from last time and it's no bueno. I also have headaches and feel like I have a cold, but I am positive it's just a pregnancy symptom as I had it for most of my pregnancy with Hunter.  

My next appointment is on Friday and I will find out if the baby has made any progress. In the meantime I will be cramming in lots of Cooper walks, yoga, and errands while I have the freedom.

I bought my first muffin pan and baked!

What's the baby up to?

Length of a leek

• Baby is about 20 inches and weighs about 7.5 pounds.
• The soft down, which covered the body throughout the pregnancy, is now disappearing.
• The body fat is continuing to build up, baby putting on about 1oz a day.
• The wrinkled skin is becoming 'baby' smooth.
• The baby may have reached its final birth position.

Development is complete, baby's main job is to gain weight. The body continues laying on the fat stores at a rate of about an ounce a day, that will help regulate his or her body temperature after birth. Baby may have a full head of hair now, an inch or more long, but some babies are born with only peach fuzz. Speaking of hair, most of the downy coat of lanugo that covered your baby for weeks has disappeared. This week, your baby weighs around seven and a half pounds and measures about 20 inches head to toe. You are almost at the end of your pregnancy. Your weight should not increase much from this point. It should remain between 25 and 35 pounds until delivery (hit 25lbs).

Baby #2 - 37 Weeks

Full term! 

Nesting is in full effect and I find myself consumed with to-do's. I know if he came tomorrow we would all survive just fine, but as a planner I can't help but check as many to-do's off of my list as possible. Happy and relieved to report that I only have two more days of work. I feel silly walking (waddling) around with my patients and honestly it's awkward because I look like the pregnant patient looking for labor and delivery instead of an employee.

Sleeping is still good, aside from a few nights here and there when I wake at 2/3am. I am so thankful for the sleep, as I know my dreamy nights are limited. I am still feeling wiped in the early afternoon but usually get a second wind around dinner time when the dinner, clean-up, bath, etc. rush happens. Side note: Hunter puts himself to bed now and it is the cutest thing ever. After dinner he pulls out his baby or stuffed bunny and says "nigh night!" The first couple times I thought it was a fluke but he keeps doing it..so funny.

a peek into our blurry mornings before work

Other than the above, I feel the same a last week - pressure, headaches, and contractions. Can't wait to meet this little boy. I am so curious to see if he looks like Hunter! A million questions go through my head and I just can't wait to lay my eyes on him. I also can't wait to know what his name will be.

What's the baby up to?

• Typically, baby now measures 19.5 inches from the head to the heel.
• Baby weighs up to 7 pounds.
• The head diameter is over 3.5 inches.
• The water could break at any time.

Gaining one ounce per day, your baby is growing rapidly. An elbow, foot or head may protrude from your stomach when baby stretches and squirms about (yes, ouch). Soon, as the wall of your uterus and your abdomen stretch thinner and let in more light, your baby will begin to develop daily activity cycles.
Even though you are three weeks from your due date, you are now considered 'at term'. In most cases, nothing will be done to stop your labor once it starts, even if it is before your 40th week.

Baby #2 - 36 Weeks

Less than a month to go!

This week I am experiencing the typical nine month pregnancy symptoms - cramping, back pain, lots of contractions, headaches, tiredness, etc. By 1pm I am ready for a nap and my brain pretty much turns into mush. I packed about half of my hospital bag and we pulled out the infant car seat to install. I also flipped through some pregnancy books to review, but honestly just don't have the time or motivation to read them. Ignorance is bliss at this point and I am trying to just make it through each day instead of stressing about the things I can't control.

To do: install car seat, buy baby a going home outfit, buy a stroller, arrange a space for the baby to sleep, and finish packing the hospital bag. I'll probably end up doing all of this on my first day of leave. We did narrow down our name list of three names, so I think we'll take those to the hospital and wait to meet the little guy before making our decision. So hard this time around :/

I started training my replacement this week at work, which is exciting and hard to believe. I am happy to be handing over the torch for a few months, but also nervous about leaving my work in the hands of someone else. I just keep reminding myself that I get to wear yoga pants and spend my days staring at a newborn and then the work stress melts away :)

I am so, so excited to have a newborn again! <-- I might be eating my words next month sometime around 3am, but that's okay.

What's the baby up to?

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (about the size of a head of romaine lettuce). He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath.

Baby #2 - 35 Weeks

..and 35 days to go. 

This week we discussed names and managed to cut our list of thirteen names in half - I'd call that progress. We are also getting closer to buying a new car, so we are slowly but surely moving in the right direction. 

I came down with a cold and also experienced my first migraine - ouch. Now I know what auras look like and hope to never experience them again. Also, my left hand went numb during all of this which was pretty alarming. After a quick call to the doctor and lots of water and sleep, I am feeling a little better. I had my coworker check my blood pressure this morning and all is good there, so I am hoping it was a one time thing.

What's the baby up to?

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (about the size of a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Baby #2 - 33 Weeks

So.much.pressure this week. I feel like I am literally going to pop. Not sure how seven more weeks of baby growth is possible.

I officially have my last day of work before maternity leave on January 19th and am excited to have the countdown on my calendar. Hello yoga clothes, goodbye dresses and heels. 

Excuse the cherrios everywhere. I can't be bothered with bending over anymore unless I'm not getting back up for awhile. 

What's the baby up to?

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark (about the size of a pineapple). He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal.

32 Week Ultrasound

Baby boy is head down and healthy! He is measuring 32 weeks, 4 days and just over 4lbs. He is still in fact, a boy..we confirmed that. His head, legs, body are measuring in the 64th percentile and the doctor is estimating a 7.5lb baby. 
Sounds a lot like his big bro :)

baby looking at the camera - black spot is his right eye

ps: my doctor hasn't improved his photography skills since the last time around. He takes the worst photos!

Baby #2 - 32 Weeks

Just trucking along here at 32 weeks. Still dealing with some dizziness, hard cramping, and super-power baby kicks. This kid is strong and can take my breath away! In addition to those symptoms I've noticed my back has been pretty sore, especially in the morning. Walking through the hospital is increasingly becoming more difficult, but I do think it's good to be moving around. I find myself out of breath while trying to talk to my patients and that's embarrassing, but o'well! Luckily I am still sleeping at night, which is an improvement from my last pregnancy. I have nights that I am awake for a couple hours at 2am, but for the most part I am sleeping like a log from 8:30/9pm-whenever my human alarm wakes me, and I am thankful for that.

What's the baby up to?

By now, your baby weighs 3 3/4 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby (thanks baby!). In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (if he's anything like Hunter, he'll be a baldy for awhile).

Baby #2 - 31 Weeks

Single digits with nine weeks to go. The last several weeks have already flown by so I can only imagine how fast the next nine will go with Christmas and the New Year!

My little cheese ball had a rough few days and nights with a fever and teething. Thankfully we all slept last night and he seems to be feeling and eating better (he is laughing in that picture, such a morning guy!). 

Pregnancy-wise I am starting to feel maxed out: big, tired, and baby is constantly shifting the belly around. I've had a few dizzy spells and light headedness which I don't remember having with Hunter. It's a little concerning at work when I am out with patients so we'll see how the next few weeks go. 

I am thankful to have time with baby #2 still in utero, as we are so not ready yet! Take your time little guy :))

What's the baby up to? 
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3 1/3 pounds (about the size of a coconut) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Surprise Baby Shower

Totally blown away by my clinic - they managed to surprise the medical director and I with a joint baby shower! Our due dates are four weeks apart and both expecting our second boys. We were so surprised and not sure how they pulled that one on us since we are such a small group. The food was amazing, the decor was cute, and baby #2 got some new stuff for himself! Very sweet and I am still feeling the love.

Baby #2 - 30 Weeks..

...10 to go!

This week was better than the last few. It was nice to be home with my family for a day and catch up. Also, having a short and slow work week is a welcomed break. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving and a long four day weekend.

I pulled something in my back which has made moving and picking-up Hunter pretty painful, but I think it's on the mend, so lots of hot showers and stretching in the meantime. 

The belly is b-i-g these days - heavy and feeling lots of pressure. I seem to hit my wall around 3pm during the day, but thankfully am still sleeping through the night (sometimes 8pm is a totally acceptable bedtime).

The baby is moving non-stop in there and sometimes hurting me! He is very strong and occasionally gets a limb stuck in my hips, ribs, etc. When he rolls around he puts a lot more pressure on me these days and that can be painful.

See where we were the first time around at 30 weeks...

Baby #2 - 29 Weeks

We are now at the point where I see my doctor every two weeks - getting real! I feel sad for this baby, as we haven't done anything for him yet besides buy him a pair of leggings that were on sale at target. 

He has been moving around a lot this week and actually made me pretty uncomfortable this past weekend. Up until this point I haven't had much back pain, but over the weekend my back and hips were sore. Makes chasing Hunter around quite a workout. 

I pre-registered for the hospital, but other than that, we still have time for things like installing the infant car seat, buying a stroller, buying another infant car seat base, packing the hospital bag, and dusting off all the infant gear <-- cue the anxiety..so.much.stuff. 

In the meantime I will be doing as much yoga as possible (flip baby, flip) and trying not to freak out about everything. 

What's baby up to?

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (about the size of a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain.

Baby #2 - 28 Weeks

Yesterday marked 28 weeks and brought on lots of pressure, braxton hicks, cramping, and claustrophobia.

This week was tough, as our daycare was closed for four days and the back-up daycare we arranged (a month ago) cancelled twice last minute. One of the days we didn't even know until 7:30am! Talk about stressful. We both ended up having to take time off work on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. Work is crazy right now for both of us, so while I tried to enjoy my days home with Hunter, it was a challenge being out of the office. Fortunately, Grandma and Grandpa were able to come up and spend Wednesday with Hunter while we both caught up in the office. Thank you!

Robert saw my belly yesterday and noticed baby boy looks a lot lower. I think he flipped positions a few days ago and I am hoping he is head down. I have an appointment tomorrow for a heartbeat check and our next ultrasound is at 32 weeks so we'll know within the next month what he is doing in there. 

What's baby up to?

By this week, your baby weighs 2 1/4 pounds (about the size of a large eggplant) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels.
He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Baby #2 - 27 Weeks

Happy third trimester to meeee. I feel like I've been in it for awhile now so I am happy it's finally here. No news other than the usual exhaustion and over all feeling of being brain dead. Oh, besides insomia - that kicked in and really helps with being tired all the time :)

I am looking forward to maternity leave. I need a break from work and can't wait to meet this little guy and spend all day with a newborn. A smooshy, sleepy newborn. 

Our homework from the pediatrician is to buy a babydoll for Hunter to get him used to having another baby around. So you will find us bottle feeding and holding fake babies in the near future.

Baby boy two now weighs 2lbs and is 14.5 inches long. He is compared to a cauliflower this week (hmm). 

Baby #2 - 26 Weeks

Six and a half months pregnant and feeling alright. I am starting to get pretty uncomfortable when sitting for too long or laying on the couch for too long. Resting on my hands and knees relieves a lot of the heaviness, so I try to do that when watching TV or playing with Hunter, but since I can't do that at work, my days can be a challenge.

I finally purchased something for baby boy #2...a pair of newborn mustache leggings! They were on sale at Target, so I had to. 

I also started making a list of things to do since I know time is going to fly by with the holidays and before I know it January will be here. Basic things like: where is the baby going to sleep and where are we housing his clothes/gear? And pre-registering, installing infant carseat, etc., etc. I feeling kind of bad we haven't done anything for this baby yet, but life has been jam-packed and we are doing our best. 

It's hard to believe next week I will be in my THIRD trimester. Reminding myself to make an effort to slow down, enjoy the pregnancy, and maximize the last few months as a family of three.  

What's baby up to?

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 1 2/3 pounds and measures 14 inches from head to heel.

Double Digits

99 days to go...

My coworker kindly reminded me I only have 14 more Mondays until my due date. Yikes!

Baby #2 - 25 Weeks

Feeling very pregnant (again) this week. I seem to remember this last time, when the baby starts moving up and everything starts feeling more clausterphobic. If I drink too much water, eat too much, or sit in certain positions I feel uncomfortable.

Other than that I am still sleeping great, baby's heartbeat sounded strong, and I passed my glucose test! I drank the sugary drink after fasting for 12 hours and had three blood draws. Happy I passed and can still eat my nightly chocolate chips. 

One thing that's bothering me right now is really dry and itchy skin. I am doing my best to drink water, but that doesn't seem to help. Hot showers and coconut oil to the rescue. 

my belly buddy

Baby #2 - 24 Weeks/6 Months

 

Feeling preg-nant this week, whew. The belly is large and in charge and baby boy is on the move. Sometimes I get self-conscious at work that people can see my belly dancing around, hah! This week is viability week, which means if the baby were to come out now, there is a chance of survival, hooray. Check out last time we were at 24 weeks here.

I was supposed to have a check-up today but had to reschedule last minute for Friday, as work got too hectic.

What's the baby up to?

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at about 1 1/3 pounds. Since he's almost a foot long (about the size of 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.

Baby #2 - 23 Weeks

Baby is on the move this week! I'm trying not to compare my pregnancies too much because I know each one is different, but this baby seems to be calmer in there than Hunter. In the last couple weeks he's finally started dancing a lot more, which is reassuring. 

Starting to feel the aches and pains if I am on my feet too much with work, but overall feeling good so I can't complain. I have an appointment next Wednesday and looking forward to hearing the heartbeat. I think I have to do the glucose test next week or the week after, which isn't very pleasant. The nice thing is that I can do this downstairs from my office, so I won't have to take a chunk of my day off!

bellies!

Baby #2 - 22 Weeks

Yesterday I hit 22 weeks, phew. Feeling pretty good this week. Really random but this week the baby is the size of a spaghetti squash, which we happen to have for dinner last night!

Some pregnancy updates...

 Feeling braxton hicks - mostly if I over exert myself or am not drinking enough water.

Craving healthy food - yay for salads.

Baby is busy in there after dinner time, pretty quiet during the day.

Sleep is good!



 What's new with baby?

At 11 inches and almost 1 pound (about the size of a spaghetti squash), your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn.  The little hands have developed bigger and stronger nerve endings, so he has a sense of touch in his fingers.  His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums.