past the halfway point
over the past few weeks, there have been a number of changes. even though our baby hasn’t made it to potential viability just yet [and i don’t even want to think about the possibility of her emerging any time soon], i feel like i am getting somewhere with this gestation.
i look pregnant. finally, i believe i have reached the completely unambiguous stage. strangers are asking me when i am due, and older women are giving me this weird kind smile that looks to be half knowing support and half pity.
also, my hair is obscenely long. i need to fix this — just a trim, though
i’m starting to FEEL pregnant again.
during the first trimester, i felt something, though at times it seemed more like the stomach flu and a hangover than a baby growing inside. then at around 13-14 weeks, my symptoms seemed to vanish and i felt completely fabulous [and normal].
now — i’m starting to just feel bigger, and i think the weight is starting to affect my posture and energy level a bit. i’m still running, but [other than last week’s race, for which i must have had a magic burst of energy] i’m typically over the 10:00/mi mark. don’t get me wrong — i’m completely happy with that and still thrilled to be running at all!
i have mild lower back pain when i stand too long and i’ve started to sleep with a million pillows [CRAZY because before i never allowed a single one near me — not even under my head!].
i have nosebleeds occasionally and i get random attacks of itchiness that never occurred before. and the best new symptom? i can feel our baby moving around ALL THE TIME now! josh even got to feel from the outside over the weekend while we were lying around watching movies. love it.
the rundown
new cravings: um, just food in general. i’ve been super-hungry this week. i’m trying to at least keep it fairly healthy!
baby purchases: still only her toms! i haven’t been able to bring myself to buy any practical things yet. i figure we have plenty of time. although the sale-priced BOB has been tempting . . .
once we move this weekend [down the hall], josh and i will start planning what to put in our nursery. i’m anticipating a trip to IKEA will be in order!
weight gained: i think around 12 lbs at 22 weeks. i sort of can’t imagine what i will feel like when the total is more than double that, but i think i already get why women at the end of pregnancy are ready for that baby to come OUT!
current dilemma: private cord blood banking or no? it’s rather pricey, and i have gotten mixed answers from the veteran new moms that i have asked.
name: i have one i use in my head all the time, but i’m still not 100% and josh has yet to commit. i might submit something to swistle although i am guessing they get FAR more requests than they can handle.
baby books read: 0. i’m waiting for 30 weeks for some arbitrary reason, but i have happiest baby on the block and healthy sleep habits, happy child waiting for me on the bookshelf.
coming up in future posts . . .
✰ controversial baby-related topics: breast or bottle [or both]? epidural or all-natural? cloth diapers or disposable?
✰ december goal + resolutions for 2012
✰ the hypothalamic amenorrhea post [i haven’t forgotten! but i’ve procrastinated due to feeling too much pressure to make it a scholarly article when really i just want to share what i’ve read and learned. i’m just going to charge ahead and put my thoughts out there. so it’s coming!]
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11.30.11
workout: i had an early meeting, so rest day
espanol: no, lo siento.
reading: 20 minutes on transient hypoglycemic states in the newborn/infant
dinner = leftovers. and i didn’t wait until bedtime to eat it. good thing, because josh never made it home!!! i’m glad we both have another weekend off together, even if it will involve a move down the hall.
11 Comments
I can’t wait to see what you do with the nursery! All the new baby stuff is so exciting.
You look great Sarah! My neighbors (who are major runners and outdoor enthusiasts) gave me a great tip about the Bob. My hubbs saw the Amazon sale too and was tempted to get it, but my neighbors said we should get it at REI with our membership. That way if *anything* *ever* goes wrong with it, they’ll give you a new one. REI members have the most amazing return capability. My neighbors daughter is only 6 months old, and they said that something on it already broke and REI gave them a new one. Even if it breaks 3 years down the road, they’ll replace it.
You look so great! (1) it sounds like you were lucky enough to avoid the first-trimester morning sickness/vomit-parade that lots of preggo bloggers have been dealing with. That’s lucky!
and (2) do you think your hair is growing so long because of the vitamins you’re taking now that you’ve got a pea in le pod, or is it just time for a trim?
Both my parents are MDs and my mama is a CT surgeon. Anyway, point is, when my brother and I were super little (like, I was maybe a year and my brother maybe 3) she brought us to work with her a few times, and my brother would sit at the nurses station in the CICU and draw pictures with the nurses, but I was too little, so my mom would carry me about in a snuggie and just put her white coat on top! Apparently I was like a therapy dog, only better. Patients just love a smiling baby.
I’ve heard people love the Bob stroller – esp for running!
I will be having an epidural, breast feeding, and disposable diapers. I’m too afraid of self-inoculating myself with baby’s E. Coli.
Interesting about your thoughts and other comments on cord blood. I liked hearing from the doctor people on this. I haven’t formed an opinion yet.
I saw the BOB sales too but hoping we’ll get it as a gift. And like all other baby things, I don’t want anything in the house yet!
I’m 25 weeks today, and starting to feel big and like this is going to be a long next 3 months! You’re looking cute!
I read this whole post and I kept thinking, "She doesn’t sleep with a pillow under her head??" What??
You look great.
I don’t sleep with a pillow either!! And I’ve never met anyone else that doesn’t. 😉
You look so great!! And can’t wait for that HA post – definitely doesn’t need to be scholarly. It would be even better to just hear it in your own words (simple terminology – some of the research I’ve read online about it is so confusing!) so that we can understand it all better 🙂
Netflix has Happiest Baby on the Block on DVD! Of course, I never thought to read the book before my baby was born so we ended up getting the DVD once the baby was here. As for the upcoming controversial topics – I had a natural birth, breast fed until my son was 15 months old (in addition I also pumped/bottle fed since he was in daycare starting at 4 months) and use cloth diapers! And while I wouldn’t change my choices, absolutely every family is different and every parent makes the best decisions for their baby and their family. Good luck!! One thing that I do want to add is that when I was pregnant I felt like I had to make the absolute right decision, right now or else I would scar my kid for life (dramatic much?). As it turns out that’s not true! Don’t stress like I did!! It’s not worth it. She’ll be perfect and fabulous no matter what.
I started reading Happiest Baby on the Block the day before I went into labor, so don’t put it off for too long. 😉 As for your controversial posts, I felt strongly about each of them but I ended up getting the epidural, needing to supplement w/formula, and I have no idea when my son will fit in his fancy cloth diapers! Oh well.
You look adorable as always!
Everything I’ve read (aside from the ads in parenting magazines) supports what the others have said about cord blood banking being essentially worthless. The chances of your second child needing the first’s blood are so slim… is your hospital affiliated with a public bank? Mine isn’t, but if it were I would totally do that.