19w0d

WEEKLY UPDATE

How far along: 19 weeks 0 days. Crciket is the size of a mango. Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature. Approximately 8.5 oz.


Total weight gain/loss: Just shy of 21lbs this morning :( 134.2.

Maternity clothes: Oh, yeah! Been using the bella band to cover gaps below shirts and cover up the maternity pants stretchy band.  Plus it gives the belly more support...feels less jiggly, and therefore more comfortable.

Stretch marks: Hip and thigh ones are flaring up from puberty.

Sleep: Able to sleep harder now in between bathroom runs :) Lovin' that! I am up to something like 10-ish hours a night. What a BUM!

Movement: Pattern seems to be after food is the most active, due to my spike in blood sugar, but she is also active late in the evening, and in the car pretty often. 

Cravings/Aversions: Cravings: Nothing specific this week. Aversions: Stinky odors, red meat, and whatever doesn't agree with me on any given day.

Gender: at this point, we have decided not to find out...let's see if we hold steadfast to that! DH says boy, I say girl.

Symptoms: That chemical called Relaxin that loosens up your joints?  There is NOTHING relaxing about it if you already have joint problems.  I am so going to be on a cane as I get further along.  Oh, well.  I'm used to that, so no big.

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach. My feet...anyone seen them?  Ease of movement.  Hubby laughs when I try to get out of the recliner...calls me a turtle on my back.  LOL. 

What I look forward to: Seeing Hubby's face when he gets to feel her move. Ultrasound in 1 week - soooooo excited for that!

Moods: Pretty happy overall :) 

Milestones: I have lost the ability to lift my legs up high enough to climb over the baby gate into the "cat room".  LOL.

Medical Concerns: Hypothyroid, anxiety, migraines. Ready for the list? Syn.throid 50 mcg, Zo.loft 100 mg, Zo.fran pump, Iron, D3, B12, Vitamin C, Folic acid, no more prenatals, Bene.fiber, stool softeners. I feel like a major pill popper.

Weekly Wisdom: Let Hubby play his video games until all hours of the morning for now.  Because in 5 months, it's GAME OVER for a few months.  LOL.

Best moment this week: Overall less illness.  Still there, but lessening each week.  This is majorly good!
Worst moment this week: Pain in my hip and sciatic so bad I often cannot move off the couch.  Blech.

A couple questions came at me this week in comments, so I thought I'd answer them.

Are your BBs still all veiny?  Yup, but it's not terrible.  Just more than used to be there.  I'm dark-ish skinned, so it's harder for that stuff to show up.

What do Braxton-Hicks feel like?  Ack, this is difficult to explain, but I will try.  Make a loose fist.  Now tighten it.  Feel that pressure?  That's what it feels like my uterus is doing.  But it's not necessarily painful.  It is uncomfortable, and can make me stop for a minute, and it's WEIRD.  And it makes me instantly have to pee, LOL.  And it makes me waddle if I try to walk through it.  They have been pretty frequent this week.