This is what my baby looks like right now at 29 weeks...
How my baby's growing:
My baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, I need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, I need to find a good source of it (not cow's milk!) such as goat's or sheep's milk dairy products, green leafy veg (spinach, parsley, broccoli), garbanzo beans, brown rice, and some nuts and seeds (like sesame seeds)... to name a few. This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in my baby's hardening skeleton each day. In regards to nutrition, with the extra time on my hands at the moment, I've been focusing more on eating well. I made a chart of all the vitamins and minerals I should be getting every week, and the foods that I can get those nutrients from. I am then planning weekly meals around them to ensure I get everything I need!
How my life's changing:
My baby's very active now. Mark is often able to feel him kicking... even if we're hugging!
An old friend — fatigue - has returned. I don't like taking naps because I always feel there's more to do (although I do like the actual laying down in bed/napping/sleeping part), but lately I've been giving in. As much as I don't feel like sleeping is useful, I need more of it, and thankfully I am able to get it.
My growing uterus has also contributed to a haemorrhoid! I wasn't sure what it was at first, and in case you're not quite sure haemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in your rectal area. They are common during pregnancy and usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth. Mine thankfully hasn't been itchy or painful, just sort of there. I'm supposed to avoid sitting or standing for long stretches (difficult!).
Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy, where laying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. I think it's because the weight of the uterus is bearing down on a major artery. I actually don't get this too bad, but in general I've been a lot more uncomfortable when I'm trying to sleep. I'm using two pillows for my body, in varying positions, to accommodate my restless nights. I'm also working on moving slowly as I go from lying down to sitting and then standing.
I've been regularly working out at least 3 times a week, which has been great. I've also checked out some helpful book from the library, "Pregnancy Yoga," "Pregnancy Pilates," and "Aqua Yoga for Pregnancy." (Are my commas and period in the right place there?) The stretching has been really good.
It's fun actually looking pregnant, and having people take notice. Now I'm wondering how much bigger I'll get. Sometimes I feel huge, at other times I still feel quite small. I'm enjoying the challenge of getting dressed everyday. I can fit into most of my clothes still, it's a matter of finding something that looks cute on my growing bump!
I think I've been sitting too long now, so I'll let you go. Thanks for reading!
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