How I am feeling: I had an appointment with the doctor at my midwife clinic since midwives don't actually check you and things were good. I tested positive for Group B Strep which they test for in the US around week 36 but they don't test for it here so I was thankful that they found it now so I didn't have to push for that test later. Now I will get antibiotics whenever I go into labor.
Funny Jake Moments/Commentary: Jake has started calling me names like whale, train and ginormous. Right now I just laugh because we both think it is funny that I am getting big but I told him once I feel big those names will not be tolerated :). I hope I am gentle on him the first time he says it and I'm not okay with it. He also said he always wondered what I'd look like pregnant and if he thought it would be weird but it isn't weird at all. I think he likes the belly. It helps that I really like seeing my pregnant belly so he gets to see it often.
Size of the Baby: 13.5 inches, Rutabaga (which I did find in the store after getting some translation help from Chelsea but decided not to buy it because it wasn't the right size and I had no idea what to do with it after the picture), 1.5 lbs
What is the Baby up to this Week: The baby's body parts are continuing to become more proportional to each other and baby fat is also continuing to fill in the baby's wrinkled skin. My uterus is roughly the size of a soccer ball . . . let that sink in for a minute. At school they were talking about a staff vs construction crew soccer game and then I looked down at my belly. George, one of my coworkers, suggested I play goalie.
Best Moment this Week: Hanging out with coworkers.
Food Cravings: I bought two different kinds of ice cream with less guilt than I normally would but I'm definitely not in the "eat a big bowl of ice cream every night" club . . . yet.
What I Miss: Random family get togethers. My parents and brothers got together to watch part of March Madness and I miss being home to do those things. When we come home to visit everything is so schedule and jam packed that I miss the impromptu stuff.
Most Looking Forward To: Going home! I know I've said this every week for the last several weeks but I was worried with the pressure I wouldn't be able to go home and I just really want to see family and friends while I'm pregnant.
Thankful for: A good doctor check up.
Weight Gain/Loss: +1.4 pounds (+10.2 lbs total)
Clothing: Maternity clothes all around. Some regular shirts still fit but I don't want to stretch them out.
Sleep: Still good.
Exercise: Only twice this week including prenatal pilates at home.
Movement: Feeling more across the belly movements and movements on opposite sides of my belly at the same time like Baker is moving his/her arms and legs.
Gender: Surprise!
Week 26, March 25th-March 31st, 2015
How I am feeling: At this point I just feel like I look really round head on.
Funny Jake Moments/Commentary: Jake has started to help me stand/get up more which is funny. I appreciate the help when I am lying flat on my back since my ab muscles are a little stretched out and it is hard to sit up without first rolling to the side. However, one time this week he tried to help me stand when I was just sitting in a chair. He grabbed under my arm and started to lift up. I just stared at him super confused until I realized he thought he was helping me. I started laughing and informed him that at this point I can stand up from a firm chair just fine on my own. The couch is sometimes harder since it is soft but it still doable.
Size of the Baby: 14 inches, cucumber, 1.75 lbs (During our ultrasound this week the doctor estimated the baby weighed 964 g or about 2.12 lbs. It should weigh 967 grams so Baker is right on track!)
What is the Baby up to this Week: The baby's lungs and brain are much more developed. The baby can now also hear more than just my rumbling tummy, such as outside noises like Jake's voice.
Best Moment this Week: We had an ultrasound this week to check to make sure things were good and my placenta hadn't dropped or done anything to cause issues before I flew home. We got to see the baby although we spent most of the time looking away so we wouldn't accidentally see any body parts or lack thereof to give anything away.
Food Cravings: Not much.
What I Miss: Home but so excited to be there soon.
Most Looking Forward To: Baby showers and showing off the bump.
Thankful for: A healthy baby and a good ultrasound so I can fly home!
Weight Gain/Loss: +0.2 pounds (+10.4 lbs total)
Let's talk about weight gain for a minute. I was always curious about how I would (emotionally) handle weight gain during pregnancy. I've been about the same weight/size plus or minus 5 pounds since high school, thanks to good genes, portion control and working out. I knew early on I wouldn't be the type of pregnant person who "ate for two" or ate whatever I wanted without thinking about it because I just don't think that is healthy. I've tried increasing my calories with extra snacks in between meals and I've been drinking milk with more fat as well drinking milk with lunch every day. You only need an extra 300 calories a day in your 2nd trimester which I feel like I am getting. My midwife here doesn't seem concerned at all so at this point I'm just going to eat mostly healthy foods when I'm hungry and go from there.
Clothing: Maternity clothes :). I am running out of shirts I haven't worn yet which means the "Emily smell" is fading from them which makes me sad.
Sleep: Still good.
Exercise: 3 days a week. I'm looking forward to buying some new workout clothes because the ones I have not aren't that great for my growing belly.
Movement: Lots of kicking and punching.
Gender: Surprise!
Week 27, April 1st-April 7th, 2015
This was one of my favorite maternity shirts that Emily wore and now I get to wear it :).
How I am feeling: I feel great! The flight home was great. I wasn't uncomfortable but we also got upgraded to business class . . . so there isn't much to complain about there :). I did use the bathroom more times on that flight than I ever had before. I tried to drink plenty of water so I didn't swell and I wore thigh high compression leggings which helped.
Funny Jake Moments/Commentary: Jake was really sweet about our luggage and making sure I didn't carry too much or lift things. He also made sure I had plenty of water on the flight.
Size of the Baby: 14.5 inches, cauliflower, 2 lbs
What is the Baby up to this Week: This week the baby looks like a thinner, redder, more wrinkled version of what he/she will look like at birth, but in the next few weeks more fat will fill out his/her appearance. The baby's immune system is continuing to mature as are the baby's lungs which are still practicing breathing amniotic fluid.
Best Moment this Week: Seeing friends and family and our baby showers! Seeing people when we are home is always so much fun but sometimes it is hard getting so excited to see someone and then the first time you see them is also the last. Since we had baby showers we were able to see most friends at least twice which I LOVED!
Food Cravings: Lots of Mexican food and Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (although those are just normal "I'm home" cravings).
What I Miss: Nothing! I'm at home
Most Looking Forward To: Seeing more friends and family.
Thankful for: Friends and family who were able to come to our baby showers. It meant so much just to see people and catch up.
Weight Gain/Loss: +1 pounds (+11.4 lbs total)
Clothing: Maternity all around plus I was able to do a little bit of shopping for a few pieces. Emily and I have very similar styles but it was nice to try something on and decide if it was me or not.
Sleep: Jet lag has been hard. I usually adjust better than Jake when we fly back to the US but the combination of jet lag and having to pee in the middle of the night means I have a hard time falling back asleep. I start thinking about friends we will get to see and baby showers and all the fun baby things and then I can't fall back asleep. Jake also has been stealing some of the pillows I've been using at night to sleep which he can't do as easily with my maternity pillow back in Stockholm.
Exercise: I didn't work out while I was home but I did lots of shopping :).
Movement: Lots of moving, mostly above my belly button. Lots of knees or elbows sticking out and Jake poking them back in. Jake's parents and my parents were able to feel the baby move.
Gender: Surprise!
Week 28, April 8th-April 14th, 2015
Oh man, I feel like I look awful in these pictures. I'm going to blame the Kansas humidity and say my hair just looks bigger than normal instead of my face.
How I am feeling: I feel great! Feeling more movement and my feet are getting a little puffy at night, which could be because I've been going 90 mph since we landed, but overall I feel awesome. Our flight back to Stockholm was great. We got upgraded again to business class (please stay friends with us, I promise we aren't hoity, toity). We brought back lots of clothes, blankets, toys and books for Baker which was really fun to unpack. Jake was unpacking and he noticed the amount of space he took up in the bag was significantly less than Baker and me. Oops, get used to it.
Funny Jake Moments/Commentary: Jake has been very protective of me which is fun and weird all at the same time. When we found out he got upgraded to business class and we didn't know if I did he asked what we should do and then said he knew I would get the seat but he wanted to use it for a little bit. He said after I'm done being pregnant that the playing field goes back to equal so whoever would get upgraded gets the seat. I think he has been in Sweden too long with all this equality talk.
When we are home we stay at our house in a guest bedroom but we sleep in our bed. #ourtenantiscoolerthanyours On our last night in our house before bringing back a baby I was excited to enjoy a peaceful night's sleep. Around 1:30 am I woke up to water dripping on me. It was storming and apparently the roof and ceiling were leaking. I tried to wake up Jake. He was very concerned but had no clue what was going on. Eventually he figured out there was water and grabbed a towel for me. He acted like I was just supposed to cover myself with a towel and go back to sleep. That is when I realized he was still kind of asleep. I told him we would need a bucket and to turn on the light. Later he said he didn't know what was going on but he was trying not to wake himself up too much until he realized it was an issue that might need more of his attention. He then tried to roll the bed over far enough that we could still sleep in it but that didn't work so we moved to the other guest bedroom for the night. Oh the joys of owning a home!
Size of the Baby: 14.8 inches, Chinese cabbage, 2.25 lbs
What is the Baby up to this Week: It is likely the baby has developed a more regular sleep schedule in 20-30 minute intervals (although with our time change I think things were a little confusing for a while).
Best Moment this Week: We are in the 3rd Trimester!!! More baby showers and seeing family and friends! We took maternity pictures!
Food Cravings: Mexican food and sugary cereal.
What I Miss: Jake. When we are home we hardly have anytime to actually talk to each other because we are so busy catching up with everyone else. By the time we get home from "dinner" which usually starts at 6:30 and lasts until 9:30-10 we are exhausted so we don't talk much before falling asleep.
Most Looking Forward To: Seeing friends and family.
Thankful for: Friends who hosted baby showers for us and everyone who made time for us while we were home.
Weight Gain/Loss: +1.6 pounds (+13 lbs total)
Clothing: Maternity clothes including short sleeves because the weather was so nice in Kansas.
Sleep: Sleep was okay. Sleeping in our bed was great (minus the leaking roof) but the jet lag was hard. And Jake continued to steal my pillow in the middle of the night.
Exercise: No formal exercise but lots of errand running.
Movement: The movements are getting pretty big and involved. No more random kicks really. Lots of across the belly movements. Most are right above my belly button or on my right hand side which I think are feet :).
Gender: Surprise!
Here is a fun progression of belly pics starting at week 4.
Sorry the post was so long but I hope you enjoyed the bumpdate!
