Here is my big tummy!!!
Monday, August 29, 2005
Sunday, August 28, 2005
It's 6 months today!
I'm 6 months pregnant today, so to celebrate, Dan and my big tummy and I went shopping to look at all the baby stuff we need to buy. YIKES! We need so much stuff! It's hard to tell if its all necessary or just the baby shops 'saying' we need it...
So we looked at millions of prams and this is the one we want: http://www.britax.com.au/scProductDetail.do?productId=40490 You can even see all the different states it can be in with all its 10,000 features and gadgets. Now that I've researched it a bit more online, I really really want to buy it, but I might just wait a while I guess. Maybe a sale will start soon or something.
We looked at some pretty rimu cots, but they are so expensive - surely one of those less chain-store type wooden shops would have something better and cheaper.
We also found other essentials like a crazy array of carseats, so we might have to think on that later, and a cool thing that you strap onto your front and it holds the baby so you don't have to. We want one of those.
And as for accessories - I got a list of all the 'essentials' and it's really really long!! Blankets, sheets, towels, cloths, assorted clothes etc... There are some really cute things available to buy and some really dumb things too. I want to be picky and say "No dumb old fashioned cute stuff, only actual modern cute stuff, and nothing with patterns! I like plain solid colours with a cute feature applique or something." I guess it doesn't matter anyway because we will not be having a baby shower (no friends in Auckland) so I will just go out and buy all the cool stuff that I want :)
We start our antenatal classes in about 2 weeks so I guess we will find out more about what we need to buy.
So we looked at millions of prams and this is the one we want: http://www.britax.com.au/scProductDetail.do?productId=40490 You can even see all the different states it can be in with all its 10,000 features and gadgets. Now that I've researched it a bit more online, I really really want to buy it, but I might just wait a while I guess. Maybe a sale will start soon or something.
We looked at some pretty rimu cots, but they are so expensive - surely one of those less chain-store type wooden shops would have something better and cheaper.
We also found other essentials like a crazy array of carseats, so we might have to think on that later, and a cool thing that you strap onto your front and it holds the baby so you don't have to. We want one of those.
And as for accessories - I got a list of all the 'essentials' and it's really really long!! Blankets, sheets, towels, cloths, assorted clothes etc... There are some really cute things available to buy and some really dumb things too. I want to be picky and say "No dumb old fashioned cute stuff, only actual modern cute stuff, and nothing with patterns! I like plain solid colours with a cute feature applique or something." I guess it doesn't matter anyway because we will not be having a baby shower (no friends in Auckland) so I will just go out and buy all the cool stuff that I want :)
We start our antenatal classes in about 2 weeks so I guess we will find out more about what we need to buy.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
My pregnancy update
Well, everything is going really really great :) Mostly I forget that I am pregnant until someone says "Oh look at your enormous tummy!" or "How much longer have you got to go?" (and I reply 3 months, and they take another look and go "Ohhhh...." since comparitively I am bigger than other people at my stage, but only since I'm not overweight and taller and all that).
I've got heaps of nice maternity and larger sized non-maternity clothes now so I've been having fun being a glamorous pregnant lady. I have had so many comments from people about how good I've been looking and how 'nice it is to see a pregnant woman dressing so glamorously'. I decided I was not going to be in the trackies and large tshirt group.
Had my monthly meeting with my midwife this morning. She is very pleased with my progress and even said I make being pregnant look like a breeze. I guess I've been lucky, but I put it all down to sensible eating and lots of nutrients. Haven't had any adverse symptoms to being pregnant yet apart from the odd leg cramp. Our baby is super-active and I was kind of worried that might be bad, but she said that the more active the baby is, the better - it is a sign that it is getting enough quality nutrients and that the placenta is working optimally. I'm glad I did all my nutrient-placenta research last year because so far it seems to really be paying off! She also said that they get worried if there are less than 10 kicks in a 12 hour period...but I would have about 10 kicks in 5 or less minutes when the baby is in an awake cycle! It kind of goes through periods of asleep and awake every few hours - I suppose similar to how it will be when it's born.
I have to have some blood tests in a couple of weeks :( I don't like them, but I'll be interested to see the nutrient levels :)
That's it really for now. I'm going to have lunch then go to my pedicure appointment!
I've got heaps of nice maternity and larger sized non-maternity clothes now so I've been having fun being a glamorous pregnant lady. I have had so many comments from people about how good I've been looking and how 'nice it is to see a pregnant woman dressing so glamorously'. I decided I was not going to be in the trackies and large tshirt group.
Had my monthly meeting with my midwife this morning. She is very pleased with my progress and even said I make being pregnant look like a breeze. I guess I've been lucky, but I put it all down to sensible eating and lots of nutrients. Haven't had any adverse symptoms to being pregnant yet apart from the odd leg cramp. Our baby is super-active and I was kind of worried that might be bad, but she said that the more active the baby is, the better - it is a sign that it is getting enough quality nutrients and that the placenta is working optimally. I'm glad I did all my nutrient-placenta research last year because so far it seems to really be paying off! She also said that they get worried if there are less than 10 kicks in a 12 hour period...but I would have about 10 kicks in 5 or less minutes when the baby is in an awake cycle! It kind of goes through periods of asleep and awake every few hours - I suppose similar to how it will be when it's born.
I have to have some blood tests in a couple of weeks :( I don't like them, but I'll be interested to see the nutrient levels :)
That's it really for now. I'm going to have lunch then go to my pedicure appointment!
Here is me at 24 weeks getting ready to go out to a formal dinner. I really should have got a proper side on view for the full effect of how far my tummy sticks out! But you can kind of see that my hands are underneath my tummy, and you can see that my skirt is really skinny (my legs are still normal) in comparison to my tummy.
Our baby's development 23-25 weeks
Yes I know I'm slack at updating my blog. My pregnancy is just going so well that nothing dramatic is happening!
But here are the updates for the development of our baby over the last few weeks:
23 weeks
Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.
24 weeks
Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.
25 weeks
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. His hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after he's born.
But here are the updates for the development of our baby over the last few weeks:
23 weeks
Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.
24 weeks
Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.
25 weeks
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. His hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after he's born.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Ok, well black is slimming, isn't it!! So of course you can't see much of my tummy here. I think this is my tummy at 20 weeks. You can see I have adopted a fashion tip I picked up in CosmoPregnancy - I can wear regular trousers (but not done up) as long as I use a stylish pashmina tied around the waist to cover the open trousers, and also to fill any tummy gap that pokes out from under my tshirt! I'll get another photo taken when I am not wearing black. Now at 22 weeks, my tummy looks like it is taking over my body!
Our baby's development 20-22 weeks
20 weeks
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)
A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.) Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).
21 weeks
Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night.
Yes, I can certainly feel the baby moving! Pretty much anytime I eat, lie down, relax or sit - I get some punching from the inside! It is very exciting though, and now if I lie down with my tummy exposed, I can see my tummy shaking where I am being kicked.
22 weeks
Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.
I'm enjoying being pregnant, but I also can't wait until we can meet our baby. I guess 4 months isn't too long to wait... My tummy is pretty big now so hardly any clothes fit. I went on a giant shopping spree today to buy new clothes so I actually have something to wear! And tonight I start aquarobics for pregnant people. I hope it's fun. I even bought a swimsuit especially (I doubt I would be able to squeeze into my old ones).
=
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)
A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.) Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).
21 weeks
Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night.
Yes, I can certainly feel the baby moving! Pretty much anytime I eat, lie down, relax or sit - I get some punching from the inside! It is very exciting though, and now if I lie down with my tummy exposed, I can see my tummy shaking where I am being kicked.
22 weeks
Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.
I'm enjoying being pregnant, but I also can't wait until we can meet our baby. I guess 4 months isn't too long to wait... My tummy is pretty big now so hardly any clothes fit. I went on a giant shopping spree today to buy new clothes so I actually have something to wear! And tonight I start aquarobics for pregnant people. I hope it's fun. I even bought a swimsuit especially (I doubt I would be able to squeeze into my old ones).
=
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Yay we're half way!
I'm 20 weeks pregnant now - that is theoretically half way. My tummy is definitely pregnant looking now - the other day I wore a top to work that was designed to be sort of tight under my (now enormous) boobs, and then flares out over my tummy and it must have accentuated my pregnant state since about every second customer asked me when my baby was due! It was really fun :)
Still feeling fantastic, my skin is really great (the best its ever been I think), and of course I am enjoying having a larger bust for a change!!! I have even had several random guys give me the old wink and smile come-on thing which no-one has done to me in YEARS, so it's all very interesting.
I hope you like some of the pictures I have chosen from our scan to put up here. I have about 40 images, so one day if you come to visit I can show you.
Still feeling fantastic, my skin is really great (the best its ever been I think), and of course I am enjoying having a larger bust for a change!!! I have even had several random guys give me the old wink and smile come-on thing which no-one has done to me in YEARS, so it's all very interesting.
I hope you like some of the pictures I have chosen from our scan to put up here. I have about 40 images, so one day if you come to visit I can show you.
Here is a great shot of our cute baby! Now don't get the wrong idea and think it is busy sleeping - this is one active baby! We couldn't believe how much it leaps around when we saw it on the video - just constantly moving and kicking and punching and so on... I love this picture and how you can see all the fingers and facial features. (you can double click on any of the pics to see a bigger version)
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Our baby's development 15-19 weeks
Ok, this will fast track us up to today's developmental stage.
15 weeks:
At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help develop the air sacs in his lungs. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but his taste buds are beginning to form.
They couldn't even think of a fruit for a size comparison this week! I think we decided a pear was appropriate.
16 weeks:
At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.
Wow, sounds like this week's growth spurt was good - hope I took lots of vitamins...
17 weeks:
Your baby weighs about 5 ounces now, and he's around 5 inches long — about the size of a large onion. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.
How is an onion bigger than an avocado? With the skeleton starting to harden up this week, I've decided to increase my calcium and mineral intake. I can really feel the need for these extra minerals, since I have been waking up with the most incredible leg cramps - which is a classic sign of magnesium and calcium deficiency. Basically Poppy is taking my stores of these minerals and I suffer the consequences. Easily fixed though! I have some great calcium powder to add to my daily protein shakes.
18 weeks:
Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
Yes I have DEFINITELY been feeling lots and lots of movement and kicks! It is much more noticeable now and more frequent, like whenever I am sitting still or relaxing or eating or lying down. KICK! It feels so strange. Mainly the kicks feel like the are on my tummy side of my uterus, but considering it is a 3D hollow shape, occasionally I get a kick and a punch at the same time, but on opposite sides of the uterus so it really feels like I am hollow. It's very odd. But totally amazing thinking I am growing a person inside me!
19 weeks:
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing six million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.
So we're about 15cm measured in a straight line from the top of the head to the buttocks, then legs are additional to that measurement. That's getting pretty big! Tomorrow we have a 4D scan to check on Poppy and hopefully find out if we are having a girl or a boy. Since some people are not sure if they want to know what we are having yet, I will not announce it here....you will have to email us if you want to know!
15 weeks:
At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help develop the air sacs in his lungs. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but his taste buds are beginning to form.
They couldn't even think of a fruit for a size comparison this week! I think we decided a pear was appropriate.
16 weeks:
At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.
Wow, sounds like this week's growth spurt was good - hope I took lots of vitamins...
17 weeks:
Your baby weighs about 5 ounces now, and he's around 5 inches long — about the size of a large onion. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.
How is an onion bigger than an avocado? With the skeleton starting to harden up this week, I've decided to increase my calcium and mineral intake. I can really feel the need for these extra minerals, since I have been waking up with the most incredible leg cramps - which is a classic sign of magnesium and calcium deficiency. Basically Poppy is taking my stores of these minerals and I suffer the consequences. Easily fixed though! I have some great calcium powder to add to my daily protein shakes.
18 weeks:
Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
Yes I have DEFINITELY been feeling lots and lots of movement and kicks! It is much more noticeable now and more frequent, like whenever I am sitting still or relaxing or eating or lying down. KICK! It feels so strange. Mainly the kicks feel like the are on my tummy side of my uterus, but considering it is a 3D hollow shape, occasionally I get a kick and a punch at the same time, but on opposite sides of the uterus so it really feels like I am hollow. It's very odd. But totally amazing thinking I am growing a person inside me!
19 weeks:
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing six million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.
So we're about 15cm measured in a straight line from the top of the head to the buttocks, then legs are additional to that measurement. That's getting pretty big! Tomorrow we have a 4D scan to check on Poppy and hopefully find out if we are having a girl or a boy. Since some people are not sure if they want to know what we are having yet, I will not announce it here....you will have to email us if you want to know!
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
During the day at ebay
Ok, well that was a picture view of our nightly entertainment. During the day we went to all sorts of interesting and boring seminars about how to expand my ebay business and all that. We also spent a lot of time in the huge exhibition hall, gathering goodies, and seeing what interesting tools are available to people if you want to spend all sorts of money on time saving things, pretty-making things and general selling tools.
We also hung out in the Powerseller Lounge with free drinks and internet and talked to heaps of people. We hardly ever came across two people selling the same things on ebay.
In between all that, we experimented with the local restaurants for lunch. And we went to the Tech Museum. Well actually, we decided it was too expensive so we went to the Tech Museum Shop which was very fun. Science is fun!
I've probably forgotten lots of interesting stories I wanted to share, but in the end we were very glad to be making our way back to our normal lives in normal New Zealand. It was worth going for the experience, and I did get lots of ideas for making my ebay business better...but we have no desire to go back to the US for a long time! Although I could make a lot of money there offering basic nutritional consultations to people, like REALLY basic ones on how to eat properly!
I have to go to bed now, so tomorrow I will try to update our baby blog with developmental info. I also have a picture of my expanding tummy to put up! TUMMY!
We also hung out in the Powerseller Lounge with free drinks and internet and talked to heaps of people. We hardly ever came across two people selling the same things on ebay.
In between all that, we experimented with the local restaurants for lunch. And we went to the Tech Museum. Well actually, we decided it was too expensive so we went to the Tech Museum Shop which was very fun. Science is fun!
I've probably forgotten lots of interesting stories I wanted to share, but in the end we were very glad to be making our way back to our normal lives in normal New Zealand. It was worth going for the experience, and I did get lots of ideas for making my ebay business better...but we have no desire to go back to the US for a long time! Although I could make a lot of money there offering basic nutritional consultations to people, like REALLY basic ones on how to eat properly!
I have to go to bed now, so tomorrow I will try to update our baby blog with developmental info. I also have a picture of my expanding tummy to put up! TUMMY!
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