How my baby’s growing

This week, my baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 4 pounds (about the size of a coconut) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump up as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She’s probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby’s kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

How mommy’s life’s changing

Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions – called Braxton Hicks contractions – in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they’re irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand – even those that don’t hurt – may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your doctor or midwife immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor. These include an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody – even if it’s pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn’t have it before.

You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or “premilk,” from your breasts lately. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (If not, it’s nothing to worry about. Your breasts are making colostrum even if you don’t see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in, you’ll be grateful for that extra room!

If you’re having a boy, you and your partner will want to take some time to think about whether or not to have your baby circumcised. Find out the pros and cons from your doctor, and what the procedure involves.

BABY STATS:

How Far Along?

31 weeks !!

How Big Is The Little One?

My little one is the size of a coconut

Total Weight Gain / Loss?

I have gained a total of 7 pounds.  None this week.  I lost 27 pounds during the first trimester so I am doing pretty good.  I think weight gain will start to happen from here on out because baby girl is going to gain 1/2 pound a week.

Maternity Clothes?

I am still wearing my too big maternity skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans, capris, bodycon dresses, oversized tees and running tights.

Sleep?

I sleep like a baby until I have to get up to go urinate !  I do wake up some mornings around 1 or 2 am to the baby moving but I am able to go back to sleep if I do not find something on tv to watch.

Best Moment of the Week?

I have had a ball shopping for baby shower game gifts.  Since my shower is co-ed, I decided to make some gift boxes out of old wooden cigar boxes filled with brown shredded paper and topped with a shot glass, miniature liquor bottles and a Davidoff cigar that says “it’s a girl.”  For the girls, I have Victoria’s Secret perfum, perfumed mist, and lotion with a poof and I am gonna grab a similar body wash from Walmart and put it in a gift box.  I also have two Angel Ball cookie gift boxes coming from a bake shop in Cleveland.  Today, a lot of the items I ordered for the tables and decorations will arrive via Fedex or UPS.

Cerveza, Limon y cigar !

Victoria Secret Body Products & Bath gel with bath scrunchie

Snow Angel Ball Cookie Gift Boxes

Tomorrow, I will pack the car and await the custom baked cookies shaped like onesies, diamonds, rattles, etc to arrive and then put them in the car along with my bags and will be leaving for NYC on Saturday morning early.  Our friends start flying in on Saturday and several of them are staying at the hotel I blocked off.

I have to bake scones tomorrow as well, but only because my scones are ridiculously amazing and I have had few that will compare :-).   My sister is going to make southwest chicken egg rolls (mini ones) and the caterer (Butterfield Market) will be dropping off the rest of the menu items on Sunday for the shower.  Make My Cake is making the two tier cake which is for decor only.  Sprinkles is providing cupcakes and we ordered clear boxes to put them in. I am picking up silver and white ribbon today to tie around the boxes. I am still waiting on my white linen dress to arrive which was shipped days ago !  Hopefully it will be here before Friday….

In other exciting news, more baby shower gifts have arrived and I blown away at the generosity and thought put into the gifts. One of my colleagues, a guy, decided to text me yesterday and told me he sent money via Western Union because he is not good at baby shopping and feels like a bull in a china shop lol.  He sent the baby cash so I will pick out a gift on my amazon registry from him.  My sister friend in Canada sent the baby a whole wardrobe of clothing from Baby Gap and Gymboree ! She even sent tights and shoes to match !!  I was in tears looking at the clothes and it started to sink in… this baby is coming in a few weeks and she is REAL.  She will be rocking clothes and I will be able to see her, smell her, feel her and hold her !  It is still surreal to me.  I just can not wrap my mind around a real baby….   It is a weird place to be.

Symptoms?

My baby is doing flips and kicks that are more noticeable.  She is getting bigger and she responds to my touch and voice now more than ever.  If I tap or rub, she moves to that area or kicks that exact spot.

I awake some mornings feeling like I have to vomit but it passes quickly. My breasts have started a whole new level of hurt !  I experienced shooting pain the other day so bad, I could not sleep.  I got up and put on a nursing bra that looks like a sports bra to keep my boobs from moving and that provided a little relief.  After a while, I just took two Tylenol and went to sleep.  The next morning, I made my nursing tea and the symptoms subsided.

I have noticed that I am still restless at night and I often switch from the bed to the couch for comfort.  But I am sleeping…  I still have no appetite but my aversions to Chick Fil A and sweets is now gone.

My skin is ultrasensitive.  I feel like my skin is crawling sometimes.  I am also growing raised moles and skin tags under my breasts which gross me out.  My OB is referring me to a Dermatologist. 

Food Cravings?

Soda !  Mountain Dew….

Food Aversions?

Not anymore

Gender?

Baby Girl

Labor Signs?

None

What I Miss?

The normal placement of my hands and sleeping on my stomach at times. I usually sleep on my side, but I am afraid to roll onto my tummy or back.

What I Am Looking Forward To?

My baby shower this weekend in NYC, my HD Live sonogram next week, and my maternity photo shoot I will do in the next two weeks.  I am still shopping for a gown to wear.

Bump?

Still have a little soccer ball !

Navel In/Out?

In

Baby / Mommy Purchases?

This week, they had a crazy deal at SAMS Club that I learned about on Hip 2 Save.  They had 4pks of Aden and Anais swaddling blankets (normally $40+) for only $6.41 !!  At some SAMS, they were as low as $4.41.   I got six pks for me and four pks for a friend in Texas since their store didn’t have any.  So now my baby has 49 Aden and Anais swaddling blankets and six more organic cotton ones from another vendor.