Keepin’ It All Straight

Week 16

I broke down and got some new clothes. I got a maternity swimsuit, a skirt, and some dress pants. It was also time for some new undergarments.

Another checkup: I gained two pounds since my last visit, four total. The doctor said, “This baby is a mover and a shaker!” She was trying to find the heartbeat and baby kept moving. The heartbeat was 150. Andrew was so excited that we got to schedule the ultrasound. He really wants to know baby’s gender.

I think I felt the baby move! I was lying in bed, waking up. It felt like a little wave inside my tummy. Most women feel the first movements between week 16 and 20. I’m not feeling movement regularly yet and I only feel something when I’m lying still. I dreamt we were having twins! I woke up at 4am and couldn’t fall back asleep.

I’ve been trying to put my feet up to avoid swelling. I work mostly at a desk. A cardboard box is good enough, no fancy foot rest necessary.

More excitement this week: My poor husband ended up in the emergency room Friday afternoon. Everything turned out okay, but I was a wreck with worry. Fortunately he recovered quickly. He was back to work on Monday.

Week 18

Ok, so I’m officially wearing maternity clothes. Most of the maternity tops are still too big, but the pants are so much more comfortable. I’ve found there are a lot of empire waist shirts in the junior’s section that are very flowy.

We went to a car show in Wisconsin Dells over the weekend. We had lots of fun, but I stayed up way too late. I took a nap after work on Monday. It’s important not to get too tired. The baby’s rapid growth will compound the demands placed on mother’s heart, lungs, and kidneys. Baby will grow from five and a half inches to as long as ten inches this month.

I’ve had some back pain lately. I think it’s mostly from trying to sleep on my left side. Some tips to try are maintaining good posture, avoiding extra weight gain, elevating your legs while sitting, and wearing good shoes.

I found it fascinating not only that baby’s hair has started to grow, but that in one month baby’s hair can be an inch long!

Please view my other blogs:

• Terra’s Announcement
• Terra’s Trip to the Midwest
• My Little Secret
• Terra’s First Few Weeks

Please view my profile on Mommy.com here .