We also found out we're having a BOY! Here's a picture of our little guy :)
Thursday, December 27, 2012
20 Week Sonogram. It's a... ?
We went to the doctors on Christmas Eve Day and received the best present of all: getting to see our baby and hear reports that he's growing healthy and strong. At 20 weeks, our little miracle weighs 13 ounces and had a heart rate of 146. The examined the heart, brain, fingers, feet, kidneys, distance from the eyes, placenta, blood flow and much more, and thank God all looks good so far.
We also found out we're having a BOY! Here's a picture of our little guy :)
We also found out we're having a BOY! Here's a picture of our little guy :)
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Things NOT to say to a Pregnant Woman
Although I'm starting to slow slightly, I'm amazed at what two people have said so far - one of whom was my darling husband:
Didn't your moms ever tell you if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all? Granted pregnant women want to maintain a healthy weight gain but as long as we're having a healthy, normal baby who cares if you look like an elf or having twins?
- "How's it feel to be getting fat?"
- "You're getting huge" - Rob isn't very tactful with pregnant people since he recently told one of our friends who is pregnant "You're ginormous!" This poor girl also had people asking her if she was having twins when she was clearly only having one baby. Some people are so rude!!
- "You're so cute pregnant.. like a little elf!" - I'm guessing the connection is the height because Im' short and have been wearing flats lately, but really? You a) know elves and b) have seen them pregnant?
Didn't your moms ever tell you if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all? Granted pregnant women want to maintain a healthy weight gain but as long as we're having a healthy, normal baby who cares if you look like an elf or having twins?
Weeks 18 & 19
Weeks 18 and 19
How far along?: 19 weeks
Total weight gain: Between 7-9 pounds.. slowly climbing
How big is baby?: Week 18 - Bell Pepper or Sweet Potato, Week 19 - Mango
Sleep?: Still sleeping but some nights it's hard to fall asleep, or fall back asleep after getting up in the middle of the night
Best moments?: Feeling the Bambino move. I don't think that will ever get old
Movement?: Yes and I love it :)
Other symptoms: The occasional heartburn, which has been happening more than usual lately, and feeling a little winded
Food cravings?: Today I wanted biscuits and raspberry lemonade from Cracker Barrel, but I think it was more because we were talking about what to do for dinner and I was thinking of what I'd order wherever we went, and was aiming for someplace close
Food aversions: Luckily, no
Labor signs?: None
Belly button in or out?: Innie
What I miss: Maybe being able to sleep on my stomach but it's not the worst since I sleep with lots of pillows
Milestones: Telling more people, knowing we have the big ultrasound on the 24th, and starting to browse at baby furniture and gear today
How far along?: 19 weeks
Total weight gain: Between 7-9 pounds.. slowly climbing
How big is baby?: Week 18 - Bell Pepper or Sweet Potato, Week 19 - Mango
Sleep?: Still sleeping but some nights it's hard to fall asleep, or fall back asleep after getting up in the middle of the night
Best moments?: Feeling the Bambino move. I don't think that will ever get old
Movement?: Yes and I love it :)
Other symptoms: The occasional heartburn, which has been happening more than usual lately, and feeling a little winded
Food cravings?: Today I wanted biscuits and raspberry lemonade from Cracker Barrel, but I think it was more because we were talking about what to do for dinner and I was thinking of what I'd order wherever we went, and was aiming for someplace close
Food aversions: Luckily, no
Labor signs?: None
Belly button in or out?: Innie
What I miss: Maybe being able to sleep on my stomach but it's not the worst since I sleep with lots of pillows
Milestones: Telling more people, knowing we have the big ultrasound on the 24th, and starting to browse at baby furniture and gear today
Gender Predictors
Being that I'm nearly 20 weeks and we go for our big ultrasound on Monday, Dec. 24 (yay!) I figured I'd do some little predictors before to see how this pans out for boy vs. girl:
It's a boy if:You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute (The last few dopplers have been pretty steady around 155-ish)
You are carrying the extra weight out front
Your belly looks like a basketball (Too early to answer, but its definitely in front so far so maybe a deflated basketball?)
You are carrying low
You are craving salty or sour foods (Nope!)
You are craving protein -- meats and cheese (yes!)
Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy (This one is iffy since they've always been pretty cold)
The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy (n/a - I'm Italian.. enough said.)
Your hands are very dry (n/a - I've always moisturized a lot especially since it's winter)
Your pillow faces north when you sleep (don't really have a compass handy to tell..)
Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you (not sure..)
Pregnancy has you looking better than ever (I think I look about the same)
Your nose is spreading (No I don't think so)
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles haven't tried this)
You are having headaches (just a few, I think more in the first trimester, but nothing crazy)
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number - no
It's a girl if:
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute
You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear
Your left breast is larger than your right breast
Your hair develops red highlights
You are carrying high (Too early to tell)
Your belly looks like a watermelon (Too early to tell)
You are craving sweets (I'm surprised definitely not!)
You are craving fruit (yes!)
You crave orange juice (yep, but more so milk than OJ)
You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy (I think I look the same)
You are moodier than usual during pregnancy (I was moody? lol)
Your face breaks out more than usual (Since getting off the pill I've always had bad skin)
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread (no)
Your pillow faces south when you sleep (again, no compass so n/a)
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side to side
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number - yes
So that's 3 quizzes that predict boy and 2 for girl. I'm guessing 60-40 boy, so we'll see what Monday tells us!
- The Lunar Chinese Gender Precdictor, which calculates my age and time of conception, says girl
- The other Chinese Gender Predictor on The Bump which uses my actual age rather than some Chinese age chart says boy
- Madam Z's Birth Predictor, which asks a lot of very random questions, said: "The day you deliver, outside will be cold. Your baby will arrive in the late evening. After a labor lasting approximately 16 hours, your child, a girl, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 10 pounds, 11 ounces, and will be 17 inches long. This child will have dark violet eyes and a little patch of brown hair." - First off, if it's that cold in May, that stinks. Second, a nearly 11-pounder? I know I keep saying all I want is a healthy baby but ouch, that's like a toddler!
- The Old Wives Tale Boy or Girl quiz said boy
It's a boy if:You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute (The last few dopplers have been pretty steady around 155-ish)
You are carrying the extra weight out front
Your belly looks like a basketball (Too early to answer, but its definitely in front so far so maybe a deflated basketball?)
You are carrying low
You are craving salty or sour foods (Nope!)
You are craving protein -- meats and cheese (yes!)
Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy (This one is iffy since they've always been pretty cold)
The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy (n/a - I'm Italian.. enough said.)
Your hands are very dry (n/a - I've always moisturized a lot especially since it's winter)
Your pillow faces north when you sleep (don't really have a compass handy to tell..)
Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you (not sure..)
Pregnancy has you looking better than ever (I think I look about the same)
Your nose is spreading (No I don't think so)
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles haven't tried this)
You are having headaches (just a few, I think more in the first trimester, but nothing crazy)
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number - no
It's a girl if:
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute
You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear
Your left breast is larger than your right breast
Your hair develops red highlights
You are carrying high (Too early to tell)
Your belly looks like a watermelon (Too early to tell)
You are craving sweets (I'm surprised definitely not!)
You are craving fruit (yes!)
You crave orange juice (yep, but more so milk than OJ)
You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy (I think I look the same)
You are moodier than usual during pregnancy (I was moody? lol)
Your face breaks out more than usual (Since getting off the pill I've always had bad skin)
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread (no)
Your pillow faces south when you sleep (again, no compass so n/a)
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side to side
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number - yes
So that's 3 quizzes that predict boy and 2 for girl. I'm guessing 60-40 boy, so we'll see what Monday tells us!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
We have a mover.. Weeks 16 & 17 Update
Weeks 16 & 17
How far along?: Today is my last day at 17 weeks. Tomorrow marks 18 weeks - and two weeks until our next sonogram!
Total weight gain: Between 5-6 pounds.. slow and steady
How big is baby?: Week 16 - Advocado, Week 17 - Onion
Sleep?: Yes but my back is starting to hurt in the middle of the night
Best moments?: Feeling the Bambino start to move :)
Movement?: Yes!! I'm pretty sure I first felt the baby move in between week 15 and 16. It was actually on Thanksgiving Day as I was laying in bed. It felt like a little piece of popcorn popping. Since then, the baby has definitely gotten more active and for the first time tonight - Dec. 9 - Rob got to feel a kick. It's hard to concentrate on anything else once I feel the first one since I'm patiently waiting for the next kick/punch to come
Other symptoms: The last few days I've been getting heartburn on and off, with it actually waking me up in the middle of the night. The more annoying symptom is "pregnancy brain." I am definitely forgetting a lot more these days, like misplacing my cell phone or going to a different floor/room for something and forgetting what I needed to get. I always prided myself on being organized and now I feel like I'm loosing brain cells by the minute. Hopefully that means the baby will be a smart cookie!
Food cravings?: It's not really a craving but I enjoy orange juice (no pulp) or a cold glass of milk
Food aversions: Although food doesn't turn my stomach for some reason a particular mouthwash makes me feel sick
Labor signs?: None
Belly button in or out?: Innie
What I miss: Nothing really.. maybe a turkey sandwich or cup of coffee but not like crazy
Milestones: Besides feeling the baby move, last weekend I bought my first pairs of maternity pants. I'm officially short and fat... a size small petite in maternity!
How far along?: Today is my last day at 17 weeks. Tomorrow marks 18 weeks - and two weeks until our next sonogram!
Total weight gain: Between 5-6 pounds.. slow and steady
How big is baby?: Week 16 - Advocado, Week 17 - Onion
Sleep?: Yes but my back is starting to hurt in the middle of the night
Best moments?: Feeling the Bambino start to move :)
Movement?: Yes!! I'm pretty sure I first felt the baby move in between week 15 and 16. It was actually on Thanksgiving Day as I was laying in bed. It felt like a little piece of popcorn popping. Since then, the baby has definitely gotten more active and for the first time tonight - Dec. 9 - Rob got to feel a kick. It's hard to concentrate on anything else once I feel the first one since I'm patiently waiting for the next kick/punch to come
Other symptoms: The last few days I've been getting heartburn on and off, with it actually waking me up in the middle of the night. The more annoying symptom is "pregnancy brain." I am definitely forgetting a lot more these days, like misplacing my cell phone or going to a different floor/room for something and forgetting what I needed to get. I always prided myself on being organized and now I feel like I'm loosing brain cells by the minute. Hopefully that means the baby will be a smart cookie!
Food cravings?: It's not really a craving but I enjoy orange juice (no pulp) or a cold glass of milk
Food aversions: Although food doesn't turn my stomach for some reason a particular mouthwash makes me feel sick
Labor signs?: None
Belly button in or out?: Innie
What I miss: Nothing really.. maybe a turkey sandwich or cup of coffee but not like crazy
Milestones: Besides feeling the baby move, last weekend I bought my first pairs of maternity pants. I'm officially short and fat... a size small petite in maternity!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Weeks 12, 13, 14, 15
Weeks 12, 13, 14 and 15
How far along?: Yesterday marked 16 weeks, but since I'm so far behind and just starting week 16 I'm not going to count it yet :) To my defense, between being busy at work, 1+ week without power because of Hurricane Sandy and our anniversary trip, things have been busy
Total weight gain: Between 3-5 pounds - it fluctuates but I'm glad it's going up
How big is baby?: Week 12: Lime; Week 13: Tangerine; Week 14: Nectarine; Week 15: Apple
Maternity clothes?: No
Sleep?: Yes but still getting up in the middle of the night for the bathroom. I'm also at the point where I'm trying to sleep just on my side, although it just looks like a little bloat and not a big belly
Best moments?: Getting the results back of my Tay Sachs test that I'm not a carrier, and having a safe trip to London and Paris with Rob for our anniversary
Movement?: I thought I felt a little blip the other day although most websites say it may be a little early
Food cravings?: I wanted a vanilla milkshake for a while and Rob got me one when we got back from our trip - yay!
Food aversions: I've been pretty lucky and haven't had anything really turn my stomach (knock wood!)
Labor signs?: None
Belly button in or out?: Innie
What I miss: Nothing really, although watching what I eat around the holidays has been stressful. I accidentally had a small bite of goats cheese; drank about a cup of tea each day while in London (although I had several small cups during a tasting at the Twinnings Tea museum), and got a cold and sore throat after our trip so I had some Vitamin C cough drops. I thought that would be safer than herbal or medication cough drops.
Here's a photo from our 12 week sonogram:
Milestones: Officially in the 2nd Trimester!
How far along?: Yesterday marked 16 weeks, but since I'm so far behind and just starting week 16 I'm not going to count it yet :) To my defense, between being busy at work, 1+ week without power because of Hurricane Sandy and our anniversary trip, things have been busy
Total weight gain: Between 3-5 pounds - it fluctuates but I'm glad it's going up
How big is baby?: Week 12: Lime; Week 13: Tangerine; Week 14: Nectarine; Week 15: Apple
Maternity clothes?: No
Sleep?: Yes but still getting up in the middle of the night for the bathroom. I'm also at the point where I'm trying to sleep just on my side, although it just looks like a little bloat and not a big belly
Best moments?: Getting the results back of my Tay Sachs test that I'm not a carrier, and having a safe trip to London and Paris with Rob for our anniversary
Movement?: I thought I felt a little blip the other day although most websites say it may be a little early
Food cravings?: I wanted a vanilla milkshake for a while and Rob got me one when we got back from our trip - yay!
Food aversions: I've been pretty lucky and haven't had anything really turn my stomach (knock wood!)
Labor signs?: None
Belly button in or out?: Innie
What I miss: Nothing really, although watching what I eat around the holidays has been stressful. I accidentally had a small bite of goats cheese; drank about a cup of tea each day while in London (although I had several small cups during a tasting at the Twinnings Tea museum), and got a cold and sore throat after our trip so I had some Vitamin C cough drops. I thought that would be safer than herbal or medication cough drops.
Here's a photo from our 12 week sonogram:
Milestones: Officially in the 2nd Trimester!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Yes, I'm a Worry Wart
I've always had a type A personality. For example, I wouldn't change out of my uniform unless my homework was done. I'd freak if my bed wasn't made. I'd never leave my room without it being organized and everything in it's place. I studied all the time so I got good grades. Yea, that kind of crazy. What 5-year-old do you know acts like that?
Anyway, with that type A personality always came a barrell of nerves and the pressure to get straight As. That self-inflicted pressure has just gotten worse since I found out about the baby. I've opted for almost every prenatal test. I worry if what I'm eating is okay for the baby. If how I'm laying is affecting him or her. If Buster jumps on my stomach is it hurting the baby? The list has been endless. They say it's common with first time parents and I'm sure it will just get worse when my little one is born. But I want to vent about how these blood tests have been the death of me lately, especially when I just want them to come back saying everything is okay.
To start, during my first visit I had eight viles of blood taken. I don't mind the blood being withdrawn and thank God they all came back negative so I don't have any crazy disorder or disease. However, since Rob is of Jewish decent he got tested for Tay Sachs and it turns out he's a carrier. Fabulous, right? I was a wreck. I had to go for bloodwork to make sure I'm not a carrier and am now patiently waiting for those results. On top of doctors not being responsive, the blood tests taking weeks to process and the hurricane/blizzard/10+ day power outage which has managed to delay the results, it's been stressful to say the least.
Then last week I had a neuchleal translucency scan. High point: we got to see the baby again and got some really cute pictures. Low point: finding out my blood test shows a low PAPPA-A protein in the placenta, which can affect the baby's growth and put him or her at risk for Downs Syndrome. Although I'm still in the intermediate range it's still very scary to have your risk of having a baby with a chromosomal abnormality be 1 in 496 rather than 1 in >10,000. Unforunately it's all out of my control and there's nothing I can do except go for more ultrasounds to make sure the baby is developing properly. If he or she isn't growing on target by 28 weeks, I'll be put on bedrest and probably have to have the baby early. The nurse was somewhat reassuring during yesterday's appointment saying that in 85% of the cases everything is fine and that she has this conversation around 1-2 times per week. However, it's still very nerve-wracking. It's not like I'm pregnant at 45 and expecting to be in these high risk situations. I'm 29. Jeeze!
Even before the test, all I was praying for each and every day is a healthy baby and those prayers still continue in full force. Stay safe and grow strong, my little bambino. Mommy loves you! xoxo
Anyway, with that type A personality always came a barrell of nerves and the pressure to get straight As. That self-inflicted pressure has just gotten worse since I found out about the baby. I've opted for almost every prenatal test. I worry if what I'm eating is okay for the baby. If how I'm laying is affecting him or her. If Buster jumps on my stomach is it hurting the baby? The list has been endless. They say it's common with first time parents and I'm sure it will just get worse when my little one is born. But I want to vent about how these blood tests have been the death of me lately, especially when I just want them to come back saying everything is okay.
To start, during my first visit I had eight viles of blood taken. I don't mind the blood being withdrawn and thank God they all came back negative so I don't have any crazy disorder or disease. However, since Rob is of Jewish decent he got tested for Tay Sachs and it turns out he's a carrier. Fabulous, right? I was a wreck. I had to go for bloodwork to make sure I'm not a carrier and am now patiently waiting for those results. On top of doctors not being responsive, the blood tests taking weeks to process and the hurricane/blizzard/10+ day power outage which has managed to delay the results, it's been stressful to say the least.
Then last week I had a neuchleal translucency scan. High point: we got to see the baby again and got some really cute pictures. Low point: finding out my blood test shows a low PAPPA-A protein in the placenta, which can affect the baby's growth and put him or her at risk for Downs Syndrome. Although I'm still in the intermediate range it's still very scary to have your risk of having a baby with a chromosomal abnormality be 1 in 496 rather than 1 in >10,000. Unforunately it's all out of my control and there's nothing I can do except go for more ultrasounds to make sure the baby is developing properly. If he or she isn't growing on target by 28 weeks, I'll be put on bedrest and probably have to have the baby early. The nurse was somewhat reassuring during yesterday's appointment saying that in 85% of the cases everything is fine and that she has this conversation around 1-2 times per week. However, it's still very nerve-wracking. It's not like I'm pregnant at 45 and expecting to be in these high risk situations. I'm 29. Jeeze!
Even before the test, all I was praying for each and every day is a healthy baby and those prayers still continue in full force. Stay safe and grow strong, my little bambino. Mommy loves you! xoxo
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