22 full weeks - Where did the belly come from?!

Every time I walk pass a mirror I'm flabbergasted. There's a big bump in the front. Where did that came from?! And when? It's just been sneaking up on me and suddenly just exploded! Seriously.

Otherwise Peanut is kicking away in there. Make mum wonder what's going to become of him/her. My darling got to feel a smallish kick the other week, but since then Peanut has been shy again. I can feel it rummaging around in there, but as soon as my darling puts his hands om my belly Peanut goes still. It's kinda weird.

I got a package from my darling mother yesterday, filled with presents for Peanut. And I went shopping for some baby clothes on Monday to celebrate everything looked fine at the antenatal clinic. :-)

Week 22: Welcome to raisin country!
Peanut: The grow must go on! No wonder you’re getting so big, you’re now housing a wonder-baby who weighs nearly a pound and measures nearly a foot in length. Their perfect little pancreas is now further developed and they’ve also started producing their own hormones! Your baby's future in the circus as a world-famous tight-rope-walker is secure: their inner ear is now developed to the point that they have their own sense of balance. Lucky for your little explorer, balance also promotes physical dexterity, which has them actively feeling out their surroundings where skin, body parts, and the resident umbilical cord are the big sensory experiences. Your foot-long baby, is looking a bit like an oversized raisin right now as more and more wrinkles are showing up each week. Not to worry, all that excessive wrinkling is just their skin’s way of planning ahead for the time when they’ll start piling on that irresistible baby chub.

Me: Take a moment to think about this: your uterus has now stretched to such unholy proportions that it extends beyond your navel! The not-so-exciting part of this remarkable fact is that growth like this tends to leave stretch marks and can itch like nobody’s business. If it makes you feel any better, stretch marks on the belly are extremely common. Don’t get suckered into buying really expensive creams that supposedly make stretch marks ‘magically disappear.'Stretch marks are scars on your skin and won’t disappear with a topical cream . But feel free to apply all the aloe-vera (and other anti-itch lotions) to alleviate the itching. In terms of preventing their appearance, cocoa butter-based creams and creams full of Vitamin E have a reputation for helping-- but there's still no guarantee that those pesky stretch marks won't show up despite your best creaming-up efforts.

Also, your doctor may offer you a glucose screening test sometime in the upcoming weeks. The test checks for a high blood sugar condition that some women are susceptible to during pregnancy. At most, 5 percent of women actually test positive for this problem, but if you do, you will probably have a few more follow up tests to be sure. If you end up with a positive test, make a plan with your physician or nutritionist for treatment. Untreated, the high sugar content in your blood enables the overproduction of baby fat for your little one, and often results in overly high birth weight which can induce premature birth and/or the necessity to deliver via cesarean.

Visiting the antenatal clinic and checking my bloodsugar

So today I went to the antenatal clinic again. Finally. It's been ages since I was last there. Today I had to drink a sugar drink and than wait two hours to check if my blood sugar was normal. And it was. We also listened to Peanut's heartbeat, it ticked on with 149 beats per minute. Very good. I have also only gained one kilo since last time. That's very good. :) I'm impressed. Well, since I'm a bit on the chubby side I'm not supposed to gain too much wait. My blood pressure was also excellent. I'm so healthy! ;)

So everything looked fine! Now I'm off to the city to visit a friend and perhaps do some shopping. I'm in desperate need of new bras. Both mine recently broke. Not good.

21 full weeks and Peanut knows how to make mummy happy!

I had a dreadful time getting home yesterday. The bus I usually take didn't show so I had to cramp in with all the other people on the next bus. No seats left. So, do you think anybody got up to offer me, the pregnant one, their seat? No. I had to stand all the way from Uni to Rimbo. That's like one hour. It sucked. I thought I was going to faint several times. I was so close to call my darling and ask him to pick me up at half way because I thought I was going to fall down. God I thought I was going to just break down and cry. But I got home and once in the car just cried. My first pregnancy breakdown. It was horribly. My whole body ached from standing in a rocking bus for an hour. I was so pissed off. I mean, I usually give up my seat when somebody needs it better than me, but what do I get from that? Nothing.

But later that night Peanut decided to give me a sign that s/he's in there. I have taken to sit wiht my hand on my tummy, just in case I feel something, and suddenly I felt a kick right under my hand! Oh what a feeling! It was so awesome! It really made everything right again! :)

My belly has completely exploded! Check it out:

Week 21: Look Mummy, I'm dreaming!

Peanut: Your beautiful little miracle-gro baby will be putting on a full ounce and a half this week (and weighing up to 16.5 ounces), but that’s just the beginning! Within the next five weeks, they’ll really be packin’ it on! For now, we’re pleased to report the addition of rapid eye movement (REM) a key component to any healthy baby’s sleep schedule. While in the dermatology department: their thin soft skin is very red, rather translucent, and a bit wrinkled. Not to worry, it’s not a premature aging disease. It's just their clever little body setting them up with extra space that will smooth out once your little one starts packing on the baby-fat. That won’t be for a few more weeks, though. So for the time being, your munchkin is still a little lean mean growing machine! The beginnings of what is commonly called “brown fat” is just starting to fill in to help your baby retain some body heat, which is crucial as they’re not yet capable of regulating their own body temperature.

Me: We’ve hit trimester two and you're in full-swing pregnancy mode. Most moms are feeling pretty good right about now. Funnily enough, you may already be noticing some mild uterine contractions—don’t panic, this is completely normal. Actually, your uterus contracts throughout your whole life—only now that there’s enough pressure on the uterine muscles you can feel them more distinctly when they contract.

If you’re still deciding whether or not to buy gender-specific clothing, it’s time to bite the bullet and head in for an ultrasound... unless you’re not the planning type. Now that we have the technology, it’s fairly obvious to modern couples that determining the sex early on makes it easier to plan ahead, prepare the nursery, inform the family and purchase the right colored cigars. Of course to some parents, that’s not the point. You're going to love your little one whether they've got a cheeseburger or hot dog. Really though, many couples enjoy the suspense and choose to leave the sex as a final surprise. Talk with your partner and figure out what feels right for you. Just keep in mind that once you know, you can’t turn back!

A baby pram richer and 500 sek poorer

I am happy to tell you that we have made the first real purchase for the baby. And a bargain to that. A very well kept brio duo pram with very nice pattern. I fell for it when I found it on Blocket. And it was very cheap, only 500 sek, compared to a new one that will cost you about 6000 sek for everything we got with it. We got the seat unit, rain cover, mosquito net and a nursery bag. I am so pleased! One thing less to worry about. I think we really need to make a trip to IKEA as soon as possible. Lots of other stuff to buy...

A trip to Skansen

So Peanut's been to Skansen for the first time. Not really sure what Peanut thought of it. No reaction to speak of really. :) We looked at most of the animals, well tried anyway. The lynx for example did not show itself. But other animals we got to see was the elk, seals and peacocks. Watch the pictures here. After that it was rock 'n roll the rest of the night. Backyard babies was quite alright, I think I had heard about four songs before...

Backyard Babies on stage

Between Backyard babies and Takida they thought it wise to have a sort of middle act. Firebreathing freaks or something. It was entertaining for like five minutes and then it got boring. So we sat down and eyed the public, lots of different styles and ages. Very amusing. ;) Then it was finally time for Takida to enter the stage. And oh, what a show. I'm phyched. This was absolutely not the last time I'll go see them.

Takida

Peanut, however, did not seem impressed. Not a kick during the whole night. Perhaps it was because its father contantly kept his hands on my belly to feel if Peanut decided to kick, maybe s/he is shy. Well today at the bus s/he could kick lots of times. Hmph! No wonder my darling feels left out...

Halfway!

Yes, I am halfway! 140 days to b-day. Yikes! I started panicking yesterday when I realised all things we have yet to buy. And basically, that is EVERYTHING. We haven't bought anything yet. Yesterday I called our housing office to ask for a bigger apartment. That's big. That's grown up. It's really scary to know that in four and a half months time there is a little person arriving, totally dependent on us. You cannot really prepare for that. You have absolutly no idea about what is going to happen, or how you will react. Yes, I am freaked!

Well on to more happy thoughts. Tonight me and my darling is going to see Takida and Backyard Babies on Skansen. It's gonna be great! Fun to walk around Skansen and check out the animals and stuff. I haven't been for ages! I'll probably check out some shops as well because I'm in desperate need of another pair of trousers and sweaters that cover my whole belly... ;)

Week 20: Congratulations, you now have a mini-baby!
Peanut: This week you're carrying about 10.5 inches and 10.5 ounces of solid baby-miracle-goodness! Their little delicates bones continue to ossify and toughen while their itsy bitsy finger and toe pads are finishing up. Your little monkey now has teeth buds, although they’re hidden beneath the gum line. And finally! Their limbs have reached their relative proportions—no more alien baby! Their cute pink lips are more defined, and might be helping out in a bit of prenatal thumb-sucking. If you have a little boy, then their tiny testes are descending, though they have not yet passed the abdominal wall. What’s more, eyelashes and eyebrows are also visible. At this point, your little one really looks like a miniature baby—and we do mean miniature as your little swimmer currently weighs a mere eighth of their final birth weight. With half the pregnancy behind you, the most significant gains are yet to come!

Me: Not that we need to tell you, but your baby may sometimes seem like a kick-boxer in training with no appreciation for your exhausted-pregnant-momma sleep needs. Still, before you start yelling at them to calm it down in there, remind yourself that your busy baby really have no idea if you’re rolling out of bed or cozying up to your partner for a good nights rest. Unfortunately for your sleep schedule, your little independent thinker will continue to operate on their own time table throughout the rest of the pregnancy. And you thought rebellious behavior only started around puberty!

Have you enrolled in a Lamaze course yet? The now-renowned courses teach various alternative birthing and breathing techniques, not to mention the oh-so-valuable lessons involved with natural pain management. (Visit http://www.lamaze.org/Default.asp for more information.) If you have already enrolled in a Lamaze course, consider coupling it with either a swimming or yoga course (or both!). Both forms of exercise focus on controlling your breathing (a large part of the Lamaze philosophy), while at the same time increasing blood flow, strength and flexibility. What’s more, many yoga studios and swimming pools cater to pregnant women (and couples) offering low impact sessions perfect for you and your partner.

There was a mail...

I got an email forwarded from the Becoming Jane Fansite. One of my fans had written about my video Hopelessly Devoted to You and wanted me to make a video based on the song You're the One by The Carpenters. Happy to oblige I looked up the song on youtube and fell in love. Pat was right, the song fits perfectly with Becoming Jane. Of course I sent a reply back to the lady in question and found out she was a 67 year old lady from USA, a hopeless romantic and after watching Becoming Jane decided to make a trip to England and Ireland, to follow in Jane Austen's wake. Of course I had to make a video!

19 weeks - Time Flies!

I'm as shocked as you! Very soon I'm half way! Unfortunately I have started experiencing a major heartburn from time to time. It really hurts. But it disappears as soon as it starts. I'll have to ask next time I talk to the midwife if there's something I can take to ease the symptoms.

Tonight I dreamed that I gave birth to a boy whose name was John. I would not call my son John. Never. Not on my list at all! ;) Fresh picture from yesterday, what's it gonna be? Is it a boy in there? 19+0 days:
The guess list:
Me: Don't know
Darling: boy
Linn: boy
Robin: boy
Sussi: girl
My mother: boy
Ann: ?
Katja: girl
Brother in law: boy
Mother's boyfriend: ?
Jenny: boy

I'm beginning to feel the baby more often now. Seems to be a lively one! ;) It's nice to be able to say it's the baby for sure, and not just air. My darling keeps on pressing my belly in hope of feeling Peanut kick, but nothing yet. I tell him not to worry, I don't really feel the baby! ;) He will.


Week 19: The Poop Factory is now Open!

Peanut in week 19: Your amazing little baby is now around 10 inches in length! If this seems a bit shocking, you’ll be relieved to know they’ve not actually grown over 3 inches, but that their little legs are now straight enough to be measured. This is when doctors begin measuring fetal growth from head to toe, (no longer “crown to rump” or CR). Lanugo (little hairs) covers their whole body now, trapping that charming cheese-like vernix caseosa (see week 18) to the surface to the skin. This week your lil’ fetus will start on an appetizing diet of amniotic fluid which they are now capable of swallowing, digesting, and passing the fluid as far as their tiny “large” intestines. Fortunately for you, this nice little lump of baby-poop won’t be coming out while they’re still in your womb. Some time shortly after they’re born, this fun lump will become the first in a long line of baby poops. (What finally comes out— commonly known as “meconium” to the science world, will be black and sticky, and you’ll be very glad it happens only once!)

Me: Unlike generations of women before you who were taught pregnancy was practically an ailment (10% of women DID die in childbirth back then), we now have scientific evidence that exercise is a good thing when you’re pregnant. In fact, most physicians recommend continuing or starting a pregnancy-friendly proper exercise regimen. Walking, running, swimming, weight training and yoga (see week 20) are all good for your heart and overall physical stamina during this physically challenging time. Not to mention proper exercise can do a lot towards increasing your overall flexibility (at a time where your body wants to stiffen up) thereby somewhat reducing the pain and tension during labor. Last but not least, exercise can keep you from gaining unnecessary amounts of weight (which you’ll have to fight off later after birth if you don’t do it now). Obviously, you’re going to want to avoid sports where you are at risk of falling or being hit in the stomach. Basically, stay away from sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer, and skiing. Instead, opt for the pool, weight room, and/or yoga class. We’re not saying you should stress yourself out trying to be a world-class athlete, but if you’re eating right and getting enough sleep, exercise during this health-critical phase of your life, will keep your collective energy levels higher and increase your feeling of well-being, as well as ensuring that you and your baby are in top physical and mental condition.

New hair and my darling giggles...

(the new hair)

Well, not because of the hair, obviously, then I would whack him or something. But because I have today used my maternity-jeans for the first time. They are a bit big and with large waistband that allows the belly to grow, and well, the actual waistline then is drawn up till my breasts. He thinks I look like a clown. Evil man. I think my belly looks awesome and very round and beautiful in the pants. It's nice to have a pair of jeans now that it's starting to cool off.

(the belly in w 18+4 days.)