Pregnancy Week 26

This week your little one weighs about two pounds and measures nine or more inches! Also this week, you little bug starts to open her eyes!!! Until this time her eyelids have been fused shut while the eye developed.  While there isn't much to see inside you belly, your little one is able to react to changes in lights and sounds. So if you shine a bright light on your belly, or there is a loud noise in your environment, you will most likely see an increase in fetal movements.

By this time you are probably not so happily part of the pregnancy insomnia club.  Sleepless nights have most likely become the norm whether it be from aching muscles, sciatic nerve pain, heartburn, going to the bathroom (constantly) or from all that movement your little one decides to do before bed, it's not a surprise getting a good nights rest has become elusive.  Consider it practice for when your bundle arrives!  To help with your restlessness there are many things you can do during the day and before bed.  I find that eating before I go to bed usually reduces the chances of waking up with the midnight munchies. Also, going to the bathroom right before I go to bed (and making sure to lean as far forward as possible to push out all the urine) helps prevent nighttime bathroom runs.  Also, getting a mild form of daytime exercise and fresh air can also help your insomnia.  I usually go out walking with my daughter, or take her to a park so we both get some exercise and some bonding time (two birds with one stone, yay!)

Some other fun symptoms that you may be experiencing this week are bloating, increased vaginal discharge, occasional headaches, forgetfulness, clumsiness, lower abdominal achiness (from all that stretching), and vision changes.  Keep in mind that these are all normal symptoms during pregnancy.  However if you are unsure of the frequency or intensity of your symptoms, or you just want some reassurance, don't hesitate to contact your doctor or other medical professional for advice.

Week 25
Week 27

Pregnancy Week 17

ALMOST HALF WAY THROUGH!!!!! It's okay to do a little happy dance, you are almost half way through the pregnancy.  If you think this is silly when you're not even half way through, that's fine.  However, for me this pregnancy has been a little difficult (at least compared to my first pregnancy) so I am doing a happy dance for sure.

Now lets get to baby. From last week to this one your little baby has grown like a weed (a theme that will continue even after he is born).  Your little one is now about the size of your palm and weighs about five ounces.  Also, all that yummy stuff we've been eating is now helping little baby to grow some baby fat which will turn into those adorable rolls that you will come to kiss on all the time.  Also, the brain is now in control of the heart, which means no more random heart beats, your baby's heart is now beating about 140 to 150 beats per minute!!!!  Also this week, he is practicing survival skills for after birth, like sucking and swallowing!

By this time you are staring to show (unless this is anything but your first, which means you've probably been showing for a while now).  With this new baby bump people may have the urge to touch and rub your belly.  Now as far as I'm concerned I always want people to ask if it's okay, unless your my mom or husband.  My general rule (with the exception of my mom) is if you didn't put it there don't touch it without asking.  Friends, family, and coworkers are usually pretty good about this, it's usually strangers that don't have as much common sense (weird I know). If someone oversteps, your personal space, feel free to KINDLY ask them to stop and ask next time...if they don't listen, then by all means go mother bear on them.  Your baby bump will also elicit some (un)wanted advice from friends, family, coworkers, and of course strangers.  My advice in this scenario is handle it the same way you would with the unwanted belly touching, kindly.  If that doesn't work, you can always get a a shirt stating that you don't want their advice. LOL

Along with your baby bump you will probably have an increase in the vaginal discharge that has been occurring throughout the weeks.  Now keep in mind that up to 30% of women have some brown staining to this discharge.  Generally this is not an issue as long as it isn't occurring with cramping and severe pain. I am experiencing this, and after a frantic phone call to my OB she instructed me that this was totally normal, and that at this point in my pregnancy, if something were to "go wrong' I would know without a doubt.  But by all means, if you see this in your underwear, call your OB or midwife to make sure everything is okay.

In addition to the increased discharge you might also have an increased sensitivity to allergens, and the appetite of a sumo wrestler (it's all completely normal).  You may also experience heartburn (click here for all natural home remedies).  You may also experience flatulence (fun), occasional headaches, faintness, dizziness, backaches, and stretch marks.  Don't worry, all of this is completely normal, and remember if you are concerned about ANYTHING don't hesitate to call your OB or midwife.  If they get frustrated or are unwilling to take the time with you, then by all means GET A NEW ONE! This is YOUR pregnancy and YOU have HIRED THEM! So make sure you are comfortable with your support group and the people that will be in your corner on the big day!


Week 18
Week 16

Heartburn, Heartburn, Go Away.

Now I don't know about any of you, but during both of my pregnancies I have been PLAGUED with heartburn, heartburn that last well into the night.  Heartburn that keeps me up at night and makes me as close to a monster to be around as something possibly can.  Normally with heartburn I would pop some tums and be on my way, however, since I am pregnant my general feeling is that unless it's a life or death situation I say "no thank you" to anything that isn't 100% natural, which leaves me in a bit of a predicament on the heartburn front.  So in an effort to relive my pain and help all you preggies out there is a list of natural or at least home remedies that I have found online or that I have tried myself. 

*Please not that I am not a medical professional and that I have not tried all of these remedies, some I have heard from others and some I have found through Internet research. You should speak with your doctor or midwife before adding anything new to your diet, especially during pregnancy.

1) Milk: For me there is nothing like a tall glass of milk to calm the burning sensation in my chest, the only downfall is it doesn't last too long, maybe an hour or two. But, that can be a wonderful two hours in my book, and the benefit is even if you finish a gallon a week of it it goes towards your bones, and more importantly the developing bones of your wee one. 

2) Almonds (or nuts in general):  This was a nice little trick the instructor of my first birth class gave me.  I don't know why but eating a handful of organic nuts will squash my heartburn for a good couple hours, so I definitely try to carry a baggie of them around everywhere I go.  And the plus side to the almonds and nuts is that you get a lot of that great DHA to help boost your babies brain power!

3) Chewing gum:  Having some chewing gum right after eating will help stimulate your salivary glands. This increase in the rate of salivary flow helps to wash away any acid that has built up in your gut, and therefore stops heartburn before it even starts!

4) Baking Soda: Baking soda is a base an helps to neutralize the acidity in your gut.  You can mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it all.  However, it is heavy in salt so you want to try to limit your use of this remedy as it can cause nausea and swelling.

5) Aloe: Aloe has soothing properties, and aloe vera juice reduces inflammation so "it quiets down any inflammation that is in the esophagus as well as the stomach," Dr. Sierpina says. He recommends drinking 1/2 cup before meals, but warns that the juice can be a laxative. Look for brands that say the laxative component has been removed, such as Aloe Vera Power.

6) Slippery elm: There is limited research in regards to slippery elm, but it has been used as a home remedy for centuries.  Slippery elm thickens the layer of mucous lining in the stomach, says Dr. Blum, creating a stronger barrier against acid. "[Slippery elm] is a demulcent that offers a coating or protective layer to the tissue [of the stomach]," Dr. Sierpina says. "The way slippery elm has traditionally been prescribed is a couple tablespoons in water after meals and at bedtime."