Momma bump - 23 weeks

Week 23!

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Whale-ly Updates 11

I can sum up what I've been feeling in a sentence "Ohhhh the heat wave!!!!!!"

1. Been sweating profusely whenever I'm not in an air-conditioned room.
2. My bump now measures 92cm.
   
3. I feel big but still blissful.
4. Had bad backaches on two occasions.
5. Body has more or less adapted to waking up multiple times a night. I now feel less exhausted in the day =)
6. Still no cravings =/ I was hoping I would crave for something, then it'll make my choice of food much easier.
   
7. At my last check up (5 feb '10) I weight 55.2kg. That's roughly a 4.2 kg increase since pregnancy.
8. And I'm still feeling.... GREAT!! =) I love this trimester!!
   

Ultrasound video - week 22

Here's the latest video of baby Bean Sprout.
=D

Baby Spurts - Week 23

See the big picture

Week 23! I'm doing great!

How your baby's growing:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention. While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.

Momma bump - 22 weeks

Here's Momma Bump at week 22!

=) I feel my tummy growing bigger by the days. No joke. =)

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My Bean Sprout Jiggles!

I started feeling bubble-bursting-like movements when I was in my 12th week. But because gynae told me I would probably only be able to feel movements in my 6th month, I dismissed them as gas.

Weeks after that, the movements began to stand out from normal gassy movements. Gas was usually accompanied by farting soon after. But the other movements were not. So okkkkk... maybe this was it!!!

It wasn't till my 16th week that I was quite certain these movements were baby movements!! We were EXCITED!! But movements weren't frequent. So it was like receiving a golden nugget everytime we felt the kicks/prods.

Week 19 onwards, I've been feeling movements everyday. And as the internet suggests, based on this movements, parents are able to monitor baby's waking and sleeping patterns. So here's what I've managed to gather about Bean Sprout thus far:

1. Week 19-20 Waking time 7pm - Lots of kicks after my dinner time
2. Week 21 Waking time around 11am and 8-ish pm. Baby starts to prod/kick me when I have a full bladder. We both found this amusing. We postulate that it's 1. baby finding a new toy (kinda like a punching bag) 2. baby doesn't like how the bladder pushes against him/her so he/she pushes/kicks back, and possibly has learned that pushing/kicking back causes mommy to run to the toilet, which then decreases the size of the annoying bladder.
3. Week 22 (this week) Waking time around 10.30 - 11.30, 12.30-1.30, 5.30-6pm, and 9pm - 11pm.
   

It's just so amazing being able to feel these kicks. And they've been increasing in intensity!! Last night, I got a big one, and it hurt a little. Kind of like if someone nudges you hard in the abdomen. Justin is now a very very proud daddy-to-be. He especially loves interacting with baby by prodding him/her back when he/she kicks. =)

But since 2 days ago, we've noticed a new phenomenon. It's as though baby knows who's boss or is trying to play hide and seek with daddy. Baby will be kicking non stop, but once Justin places his hand on the bump, baby will stop instantaneously, and only resume kicking once daddy's hand is lifted. But continues to kick even when my hand is on the bump. Hehehehe. Justin likes the idea that baby knows who's boss. Hehehehe.

Baby movements or jiggles is the best part of pregnancy so far!!!

Whale-ly Updates 10

Hello!

I haven't written about my progress in the journey towards whale-likeness for a while. So here's a compact list of what's been happening, or rather changing!

1. My waist now measures 90cm.
   
2. My bump has lifted and it's "peak" is now at the level of my belly button.
3. My belly button is shrinking by the day (according to Justin who measures it diligently everyday). It started getting shallower by the weak, then it started shrinking in diameter somewhere about middle of last week. Nope, it hasn't "popped" out yet. Am not looking forward to the popping of belly button... I still find the belly button bulge disturbing. =/
4. I've put on weight (how much exactly I have no idea, but my watch doesn't fit anymore) and I can't fit into the new ring Justin bought me for my birthday this year!!! T_T
5. I think my feet are getting bigger as my shoes are feeling snugger...
6. My breasts have stopped increasing in size, but the nipple is seriously darker and significantly bigger now. =(
7. The linea nigra (or the dark line running through the middle of my belly) has started developing above the belly button. I find it amusing that it's perfectly in the middle, like it's attempting to part my belly. hehehehehe
8. I've been having a hard time sleeping at night. I keep waking up every other hour to pee, even though I tried not drinking any liquids prior to bedtime! Wonder where all that excess fluid is coming from.
9. I AM HOT! Literally!! I've been feeling HOT HOT HOT!! I'm a person who rarely sweats. But as of mid last week, I've been finding myself perspiring throughout the day whenever I am not in an air conditioned room! That includes rainy days and breezy days. Imagine the adaptation I have to go through from never feeling sweaty to constantly feeling sweaty! As a counter measure, the air cond has been blasting whenever I'm at home. Poor Justin has to fork out more money. =(
10. Leg cramps are now my companions... accompanied by the heavy belly... these two make it hard for me to stay asleep at night. Thank God the cramps have reduced greatly following my MIL's advice on how to stretch my legs properly. =)
11. I found that exercising really helps!! If you're like me, you can't stand exercise, DO NOT FRET!!! There are BASIC stretching, leg lifting, squatting exercises that you can do, which are not hard but work! I do basic exercise coupled with 2 swimming sessions a week, and I've found that everytime I exercise, I tend to have a better night's sleep, and my abdomen and tummy doesn't feel as stretchy. =D Of course in the long run, exercise has been proven to decrease labour time and pain in delivery! =D
12. My energy level is up, but has been hampered by the lack of sleep at night.
    
13. Appetite is also up! Woo hooo.. But I still tend to gravitate towards chinese food.
14. Oooohh my doc said that I am borderlining Aneamic. So I've been drinking red date juice everyday now. It tastes yummy! I think it helps... cause on days when I drink, my cheeks are slightly rosier.
15. I've also been disciplined in drinking my Anmum Materna every morning and night. I kinda like how it tastes now =D I don't know if it's a placebo, but my clumsy spells have decreased ever since drinking Anmum!! @@

So these are my updates! I am loving the 2nd trimester!! But I'm already half way through it... awwww...

Watch out for my next update on Baby Bean sprout's movements!! Sooo exciting!