Pregnancy Week 21

You've got a baby bump, you've got a baby bump! If you haven't moved passed the "food baby" stage, this week it will happen! Don't be surprised if you wake up one morning and go "oh, wow!" your little 'maybe bump' will most likely bloom into an obvious BABY BUMP this week. Now if you have had an obvious baby bump before this, you will still see a noticeable growth, although it may be more difficult to tell since you see yourself every day.  I suggest wearing an outfit that you recently wore and washed, this comparison of your body in the same outfit a few days apart will really highlight the changes.  This happened to me today, I wore a maxi dress a few days ago, and I just washed it so I decided to wear it again (since it's a million degrees outside) and I was like "wow, I've grown a lot a three days!" Even my hubby noticed, so that should tell you something! But we didn't even realize it until we saw my bump in the same outfit only a few days apart. Anyway, there is a lot going on this week.

This week your baby is about 7 inches long and weighs about 11 ounces, about the size of a carrot. Also, this week your baby is beginning to swallow a bit of amniotic fluid each day for nutrition, hydration, and to practice digesting.  The really cool part about this is that now whatever you eat not only does he get via the umbilical cord, but he will TASTE when he swallows amniotic fluid! So expand your diet (but still eat healthy) so you can expose your little one to all sorts of different tastes, you never know what he will end up liking!

Now for your body, at this stage you might start noticing some stretch marks around your belly, butt, and breasts as they start to grow and stretch the skin.  Stretch marks can be pink, red, or purple, and occur when tissue under your skin gets torn as the skin stretches during pregnancy.  It's important to note, that not every woman gets stretch marks and a lot of research shows that your chances of getting them may be genetic. So, if you want to figure out what your odds are, look at your mom, sister, aunts, etc to see how they fared during their pregnancies.  But this is not always the case, if you gained weight rapidly or had a breast enlargement this may play a factor.  This is what happened to me during my first pregnancy.  I have breast implants so the skin was already stretched, and the stretching of the pregnancy caused me to get some stretch marks on my breasts.  This was the only place I got stretch marks and my mom never had any so I attribute them to the augmentation.  BUT, since they were not in my genetic make up (and the fact that I used cocoa butter) they ended up fading and being very light and almost unnoticeable.  There is no guarantee that cocoa butter will help prevent stretch marks, but what it can help prevent is you skin from getting so dry, which will then prevent you from scratching your stomach with MAY reduce stretch marks.  Also, using cocoa butter and a belly wrap after delivery may also help reduce the stretch marks you developed and prevent new ones from developing.

Additionally, you have probably already found out the sex of the baby through the 20 week ultrasound, so this may be the time you start thinking about your baby registry.  There is really no "right' time to do your registry, any time after 20 weeks should be fine.  It really just depends on your schedule (and the schedule of anyone going with you) and when your baby shower is going to be.  You want to make sure you give yourself enough time to make changes to your registry and that there is enough time to send out the shower invites to your guests.  I suggest doing your registry a couple months (2-3) before your shower date.  The reason for this is that scheduling can be tricky especially with doctor appointments, working, other kids, etc so having ample time will reduce stress. Also, I know from experience that people (myself included) tend to get a little "trigger happy" during registry time.  Don't be surprised if you find that you a scanning non-stop!  If you leave yourself a few months in-between the creation of your registry and your shower you will have time to view your registry online with a clear head and see what items you actually need and want.  You can take your time an add stuff you missed, remove items you decide are necessary, and adjust the quantities of items.  I also suggest reading reviews on the stores website for your registry items, it's always helpful to read what real mommies though of the product as they used it.  All of these strategies will hopefully help reduce your chances, of receiving something you don't really want, getting a bad product, or having to return items.  You can also check out my lists of the best and worst baby products for registries, these are items I've used and either recommend getting, or recommend running away from.

Week 20
Week 22

Pregnancy Week 20

Congratulations! You are now officially half way through your pregnancy! Take a moment to bask in the glorious fact that you are half way done with GROWING A FREAKING HUMAN BEING! Now that you have basked in the glory that is you, lets get started on some of the cold hard facts about week 20.

At this stage your little one is approximately the size of a Mango measuring 6.5 inches from crown to rump and weighing about 10 ounces.  At 20 weeks babies begin to be measured from crown to feet since they are now able to stretch out more and measurement is much easier.  I few are going from crown to feet, your little one measures closer to 10 inches and is about the length of a banana. This will also be the week you get to do the anatomy ultrasound! This is seriously the coolest test you will have done during your pregnancy, and it is also the time when you get to find out what you're having (if you haven't found out through genetic testing yet).  If your having a girl, her uterus is now fully formed with her ovaries holding up to 7 million eggs! When we were pregnant with Isabella our doctor was able to see her uterus and fallopian tubes during the anatomy ultrasound!  Now if you're having a boy (like I am this time around) his testicles are beginning to descend from the abdomen to the scrotum (kind of weird when you think about it).  By this point in your pregnancy you should be able to feel your little one moving inside of you because he has grown large enough that you will feel his tumbles (although you won't feel all of them).  These will usually feel like bubbles or popcorn popping so be on the look out!  If you haven't felt any of those sensations yet, don't worry about it, but let your doctor know so they can carefully review your ultrasound.

Now that you are half way through your pregnancy you will start showing a nice little bump (if you haven't already).  This will likely bring about smiles from passersby and a lot of very nice behavior, like opening doors for you and offering you seats in waiting rooms.  Although, unfortunately I wouldn't expect this behavior to be as consistent once your bundle is here, sad I know but from personal experience it's true.  In addition to the nice smiles you're getting, you will also notice you nails are getting stronger, unless they are getting dry and more brittle (I know, pregnancy is so contradictory). Also, your hair is thicker and more fuller, although this will occur all over your body so be prepared.  This is due to those ever present pregnancy hormones and the increased circulation which is pumping said hormones throughout your body in rapid succession.

Some symptoms you might have felt so far include, but are not limited to: heartburn/indigestion, increased vaginal discharge (yay), occasional headaches, occasional faintness/dizziness, leg cramps, mild swelling of ankles/feet, and maybe a protruding belly button.

Week 19
Week 21

What's in your bag?

As delivery approaches us mommies to be are constantly told to "have our bags packed and in the car." We are told this so much that it often becomes a daunting task, because it's OBVIOUSLY supper important (why would they be telling us all the time if it wasn't) but this is a totally new experience so we have NO IDEA what to bring.  If you are like me, and most first time moms you will probably pack WAY to much because girl code states: when in doubt, bring everything! So with this in mind I wanted to give everyone out there some advice on what to bring and not to bring.  Granted this is based on my personal experience so take it with a grain of salt, but I think that hearing various experiences helps you make more informed decisions. Now, before we even start packing you need to do some homework first.  The first thing you need to do is take a tour of the hospital or birth center you will be delivering at.  The reason I suggest this is because the tour guide will usually tell you an "extras" that the hospital/center gives and doesn't give so you know what will be waiting for you.  If the guide does not do this, feel free to ask questions like: "are there any necessities the hospital provides?" or "What are some items I need to bring for my stay here."  Bring a notebook and paper so you can take notes and remember what will be provided to you so your baby brain won't kick in while packing.  For instance I delivered at Good Samaritan Hospital in LA and I was provided with a fleece robe (so soft) fleece socks/booties with no-slip grips, diapers, large sanitary napkins, squirt bottle for after care (the doctor will explain what this is for), and out choice of a stroller or car seat...pretty cool. With this in mind I new there was a lot of "recommended stuff" I didn't need to bring because it would be provided for me. So here are my suggestions of what you NEED for your hospital stay when you deliver.

1) Baby book: Put this in there ASAP! I forgot to put mine in and the nurses offered to put my little's hand and foot prints in and I was (and still am) devastated I didn't get them.

2) The good camera and video camera: Even if you're not planning on doing a birthing video it's nice to have the option to take video once baby arrives, and yes, smartphones do take good pictures but I like the quality of a DSLR better.

3) Nursing bras and bra pads: You may already be in them depending on how big your boobs have grown, but make sure you pack at least two sets because you may leak while you are getting use to the whole breastfeeding thing.

Just because they're "granny panties' doesn't mean they can't be cute

4) Granny panties: You will NOT feel like getting into anything remotely sexy right after delivery, and besides you're going to be using those sanitary pads for a few weeks so you need something with a lot of coverage to hold them.

5) Pajamas and baggy pants/yoga pants: You will not be back to your pre-baby tummy right away no matter what. I was "all baby" and it still took a couple weeks for my uterus to go down enough to put on old pants. Besides, after all the work you're going to be doing, yoga pants will be WAY more comfortable.

6) Maternity clothes: Yeah, you will still need to be in maternity clothes for a little bit due to your uterus size (see #5) and while you may be able to squeeze into pre-pregnancy clothes, you'll be wanting to go with comfort at this point.

7) Hair brush, tooth brush, toothpaste: I would suggest buying travel sized items and just throwing them in so you don't accidentally forget to grab them on your way to the hospital, and don't forget a toothbrush and hair brush for daddy too!

8) Clothes for dad: Remember, he's going to be there just as long as you are so pack something for him too.

This is WAY over the top obviously, simple granola will do, he doesn't need a luxury meal.

9) Snacks for dad: Now my hubby didn't need these because I had a very short labor, but I would advise packing some little snacks just in case you guys are there for the long haul...just make sure he knows not to eat them in front of you.

10) Swaddling blankets and receiving blankets: Bring a few of these because while you're getting the hang of feeding, burping, and diaper changing yucky stuff WILL get on EVERYTHING. So pack a few of each.  With my first I think I packed three for each day (so six of each) and that was perfect. This also depends on the season you're delivering in, my daughter was born in December so I packed a lot more blankets.

11) Hospital and going home outfit for baby: The hospital outfits don't need to be anything too pretty (your bundle will probably be swaddled most of the time) but make sure you pack  cute going home outfit because you will be taking A LOT of pictures of it. I also suggest speaking with the grandparents and seeing if there are any cultural traditions regarding the going home outfit they want to provide.  My mom, always provides the going home outfit for all of her grandkids because she wants to follow the Colombian tradition of an all yellow outfit.

12) Birthing aids: This depends on what you are planning to use, if you are using a doula see if she will bring items such as birthing ball, heating pads, ice pads, etc.  These are all very specific to the type of labor you are planning to have and the pain management you are planning to use.

13) Boppy pillow: This was really helpful for when I wanted to put Isabella down but still wanted her close to me.  I would put the pillow on the bed in between my legs and be able to still have her close but have my hands free.

So those are my recommendations for what to pack in your hospital bag, also be sure to leave some room because people will be bringing you things while you're in the hospital.  I remember when we were leaving the hospital with Isabella it took at least an hour to go because my poor hubby had to take about a ten trips from our room to the car because of all the stuff we had.  I know some lists say to bring books, iPads, computers, etc but I found I didn't use any of those.  Mainly because we were too busy with our newborn (she slept in the hospital room with us) to use any of those things.  And when she was asleep we had visitors so we weren't using any of that stuff.  This is also where the hospital tour comes in handy, because we saw that the hospital had satellite TV so we knew we didn't need anything else.  Like I said, you're list is going to be very personalized based on where you are delivering, how you plan to handle pain, where the baby will be sleeping, etc.  There is not cookie cutter list for packing a hospital bag.  But it is important to realize that a lot of the items in other lists, or that you may think you need, you actually don't.  This is why I suggest the first step in packing your bag is to tour the hospital and ASK QUESTIONS!  I hope this list helped you guys!

Test, Test...

For every fun and truly amazing part of pregnancy, there is one not so fun and lets face it pretty damn sucky part.  And one of those pretty sucky parts (at least to me) are all the damn tests we need to do throughout pregnancy! Seriously, sometimes I think my Dr.'s office is actually a blood bank because of all the blood tests they run.  Now I don't know if any of you read American Baby but I received a copy in my registry packet and they had a very interesting article about all the tests that the typical pregnant woman will receive during her pregnancy.  I thought that it would be helpful to go over the tests and also put in any information I can give about my experiences with the tests.

• First trimester screen: Done between 11 and 14 weeks and all pregnant women are offered the test. This screening is a simple blood test that analyzes the plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG). An ultrasound measures the nuchal fold at the back of the baby's neck and examines the nasal bone.  This screening is used to assess your baby's risk of Down syndrome, Edward's syndrome, and Patau syndrome, which are all chromosomal abnormalities.  This test has an 88% accuracy and a 5% falls-positive risk.

• Cell-Free fetal DNA test: Done at 10 weeks and on.  Women 35 or older or those at a high risk for certain chromosomal abnormalities may take this instead of the first trimester screen.  This is another simple blood test.  It can detect the baby's risk for chromosomal abnormalities such as down syndrome, Edward's syndrome, and Patau syndrome.  Something else that is extremely cool about this test is that what it does is it separates the baby's DNA from the mommy's DNA and because of that it can tell you super early the sex of your baby, by looking at the chromosomes!  We did this test, not really to find out about chromosomal abnormalities, but because we were so excited to be able to find out the sex of the baby so early!  My doctor said that this test will soon take the place of the amnio (see later in the list).  This test has up to a 99% accuracy and a false-positive rate as low as 0.1%.

• Chorionic Villus Sampling: This is done between 10 and 14 weeks and is for women whose first trimester screen revealed a potential problem. This is primarily for women who are 35 or older or those who have a family history of a genetic disorder.  This test will determine if your baby has a chromosomal abnormality or other genetic disorder, and this test will also tell you the sex of the baby.  For this test the doctor will insert a thin, hallow tube through  the cervix or a needle into your abdomen to remove a sample of chorionic villi. This process takes about a minute.  Now there is a 1% risk of miscarriage for this procedure, so if your main reason behind it is to find out the sex, stick to the Cell-Free fetal DNA test.

• Multiple Marker Screen: This is done between 15 and 20 weeks. This test is for women who didn't take the first trimester screen; those who are at risk for chromosomal abnormalities; and those who had an abnormal ultrasound.  But, it could also be the preference of the doctor.  My doctor for instance does not offer the first trimester screening unless there is a family history, but she does do the multiple marker screen.  This test reveals your baby's risk of having a chromosomal abnormality or a neural-tube defect such as spina bifida. The screen also correctly identifies about 80% of women carrying a baby with Down syndrome, but it also has a false positive in roughly 7% of cases.  This tests is done by drawing your blood (yay) and it is analyzed for levels of four substances: maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estriol, and inhibin A.

• Amnio: This is done any time after 15 weeks gestation and is for women whose previous screening test revealed a potential problem, who are 35 or older, and who are at increased risk for certain conditions.  This test is like the CVS test in that it will show whether your baby has a chromosomal issues, and can be used to test for a gene disorder, such as cystic fibrosis. And this can also tell you the baby's sex as well.  In this test the doctor inserts a thin, hollow needle into your abdomen to remove some amniotic fluid, which contains cells with baby's chromosomes and DNA. You may feel pinching or stinging and some cramps.  It is important to note that there is a 0.5 percent risk of miscarriage as well as a small risk for rupture of the membranes.  However, I am not sure how long this test will continue to be in use.  According to my doctor the Cell-Free fetal DNA test is most likely going to take the place of the Amnio since it is so accurate and has no risk of miscarriage or membrane rupture. But, we don't know when or if this will actually happen.

• Anatomy Ultrasound: This is by far the best test of them all because you get to see such a detailed ultrasound of your baby!  This is done between 18 to 20 weeks and all pregnant women are offered this.  With this test you will learn your baby's location and heart rate and your amniotic fluid level.  You will also see if certain birth defects (such as heart defect, cleft palate, or limb abnormalities among others) are present.  It is also at this time most people find out the sex of the baby if they have not done the other tests.  During the screening the doctor or technician (my doctor sends all of her patients to a perinatologist which is someone specifically trained for determining defects through ultrasound and monitoring high risk pregnancies) will conduct a 20-minute sonogram (3D if you're lucky). Key areas like the brain, heart, spine, kidneys and other major organs will be looked at and assessed for abnormalities. My perinatologist was even able to tell us the sex of our first child without a doubt (he showed us her ovaries, and uterus).  It is pretty much an ultrasound of your baby while he is still in you! It is the coolest thing ever!

Now it is important to note that these are not all the tests that will be performed by your doctor (such as the test for gestational diabetes).  But these are the main ones that you will be talked to ab out.  It is also important to note that it is completely up to you and your partner as to what tests you have done, and don't have done. It is important to think about what information you do and do not want to have and when you will want to have it to make any decisions related to your pregnancy. Remember it is your baby and your pregnancy and you have the ultimate say as to what procedures are done.

Pregnancy Week 19

We have reached week 19!  If you have yet to feel those little wiggles and kicks you will be soon, as most women feel them around week 20.  If you're not sure if you've felt them yet, the first movements are usually described as butterflies fluttering in your stomach, or popcorn popping in your stomach.  They are very light and delicate at first so don't feel bad if you come to realize you've been mistaking those baby movements for gas!

This week your little one is about the size of a mango or sweet potato, approximately 6 inches long and half a pound! This is one of those weeks to be thankful we don't have a little window in our belly's to look in.  This is because this week your baby starts to get covered with the cottage cheese looking film called vernix caseosa.  This oh so beautiful film covers your baby's skin, protecting it from the amniotic fluid.  Even though the thought of your baby being dipped in cottage cheese makes your stomach a little queazy, it serves a very good purpose, without it your baby would looked wrinkled an prunish when he is born (think sitting in a pool for nine months-eewww).  But fear not, there vernix caseosa usually disappears as delivery come close, however some babies are born with the coating. However, after labor you're not looking  all that fresh yourself and quite frankly you don't care what the baby looks like, you're just so happy he is here!

Following the theme from last week, muscle pains are abound this week as well.  Once again this is due to your growing belly pushing your spine out of alignment and adding extra weight to your legs and hips.  So don't be surprised if you are getting ready to fall asleep when, BOOM massive leg cramp that has you thinking labor is going to be cake.  I usually ask my wonderful husband to massage my legs before going to bed and this usually helps, also a warm bath can also help.  Another trick for overall muscle relief is take a bath with epsom salt, however check with your OB to make sure there aren't any issues in your pregnancy that prevent the use of epsom salt. Additionally, you can do a prenatal massage to releave muscle pain, or try a prenatal chiropractor to help realign your spine and hips.  Once again, check you your health care provider before doing these and see if they have anyone they would recommend.

Along with the wonderful muscle pain you might also be experiencing tingling and numbness in your fingers and toes.  It feels weird but it is totally normal.  While no one really knows why it happens, one theory suggests that it may be a result of your swelling body tissue pressing on nerves...fun! However, I also suggest letting your health care provider know what's going on with you even if you think it's normal, because if it persist various symptoms could be signs of more serious issues.

So that's our overlook to pregnancy week 19.  While you may be an emotional eating machine who is plagued with muscle and joint pain, just remember the second you feel that wiggle or kick, every ache, midnight pee, or snack is completely worth it!

Week 18
Week 20

Pregnancy Week 18

Week 18, WOO HOO!!!  The little munchkin is now the size of a sweet potato (but MUCH cuter), and measures in at  about 5 1/2 inches and about 5 ounces.  If this is your first pregnancy this may be around the time you feel those first flutters!!!! This is because baby is now big enough to feel him twisting around in there.  If this s your second or more pregnancy, you may have felt your little one moving much earlier due to you knowing that "feeling".  If you haven't felt him move yet don't worry about it, many first time mommies don't feel the baby move until around 20 weeks!  If you are just bursting out of your skin waiting to feel those first flutters, you can try to sit or recline in a quiet room and just relax.  It is usually at this time that 1) baby will start to move because he's not being rocked to sleep by your movement and 2) you are more likely to feel those little flutters or bubbles when you are still and not distracted.  Now not only is your little sweet potato probably big enough to feel, he is learning to yawn, and hiccup; both of which you will begin to feel soon as well.  Along with these new skills he is developing his own personal set of toe and fingerprints!

At this point you've probably developed a true baby bump (I know I have).  Now this can be a double edge sword in that you actually LOOK pregnant and are no longer in that weird "she maybe pregnant, or she maybe fat" stage. For me, this really helps boost my self esteem, because while I always know my shape is due to my growing little boy, everyone else doesn't and it makes me a little self conscious (I know I'm not the only one), but now I can wear that obvious bump with pride! Now for the con of this new bump...MY FLIPPIN' BACK FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO FALL APART!!!!  I swear, every time I walk more than 20 feet, I feel like my spine is about to collapse and I'm going to fall into a heap of skin (dramatic I know, but it's true).  This is due to the fact that your uterus is now about the size of a cantaloupe, which results in your body's center of gravity shifting.  This pulls your lower back forward and pushes the abdomen out.  In addition to this, the join relaxing hormones, such as relaxin, are making your muscles and ligaments more elastic and more sensitive.  This all adds up to a painful lower back.  This may be worse for you if this is a subsequent pregnancy because your uteran muscles and ligaments never go back to their pre-baby settings, which results in them being weaker which each subsequent pregnancy, and this then can cause lower back pain earlier, and/or sciatic nerve and round ligament pain.  OUCH!

Week 17
Week 19