Pregnancy: 22 Weeks
Hi friends, happy Tuesday! I'm currently sitting at 29 weeks (gulp) and holding on to every last week we have left until this baby arrives. Pete and I are starting to get more mentally prepared, but June and life with a newborn seem so far away. Yet at the same time, I find myself yearning for the time to pass quickly so we can experience sun and all that comes with those warm temps sooner than later.
Looking back at 20 Weeks
Around 20 weeks, we had our anatomy scan and found out that Baby Moe is a sweet little boy. With Henry, we didn't want to find out the gender, so were told to look away about half the ultrasound.
This time, we did want to know and it was very evident when the ultrasound tech told us we were having a boy that it was indeed a male. Admittedly, I teared up a bit as I had hoped we'd have a girl, but I am now really looking forward to having two boys who will hopefully grow up to be two peas in a pod.
Also, a side note about ultrasounds. Why do they have to be so weird with the excited expectant parents asking questions about what's on the screen and the tech having to dance around each question? It would be so nice if they could just say "These are the types of things I can and can't tell you for X,Y & Z reasons..." from the get go.
Instead, we got to the end of our ultrasound and I still didn't know if my hemorrhage had shrunk and if the baby was looking "normal" as she gave us no indication. It wasn't until I asked about the hemorrhage that she went back to my charts, compared the measurements and then noticed I was 35 to which she then needed to alert the doctor and have him talk to us about genetic testing.
I know there are protocols and such, but I left feeling as though I wouldn't have known the baby was looking "normal" or that indeed the hemorrhage had shrunk if I hadn't asked and she hadn't noticed I was 35. The doctor confirmed baby looked good and he didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
Week 22 // February 2018
When Pete and I counted the months left until Baby Moe 2.0 arrives recently, we both looked at each other a little wide-eyed. It's four and a half months if you're wondering. That feels so soon.
This week, besides the realization that baby will be here before we know it, is the general feeling of "Ugh, I am getting so big." I know, I KNOW I have a lot further to grow, but still.
As I was telling a customer at the store the other day, it's hard when you feel like you have lost control of your body after years of being able to generally monitor your body's ebbs and flows through nutrition and exercise. And that's probably compounded for me because I'm not able to run and experience the endorphin high as I did most of my pregnancy with Henry.
The other strange thing about pregnancy is the way your body is on display. When your body appears as it normally does, no one really says much. But when you have this round belly, people comment. Some days, I'd like to walk around with a little sign that reads "No comments necessary." š
What am I loving about this stage? I am finally feeling the little guy kick from the outside several times a day. There is nothing like having your hand on your belly and feeling a little foot or hand jab out at you!
Pete even got to feel the little guy kick for the first time last week. Now I just need to try and get Henry to feel it when the baby is kicking repeatedly in the same spot.
I'm also starting to think about what we might need or want this time around. We have all of the major things covered, but there are a few things I am thinking about: a video monitor (we didn't get one the first time around, just an audio one), a big boy bed for H so we can use the crib again for baby, a double stroller (won't need this right away, but I think it would be nice to have even though the kiddos will be 3 years apart) and probably a few other things.
I am really relieved that we don't need a ton of new things this time around because we already have an infant carseat, travel crib, rock 'n play, bouncy seat for around the house, play mat, Bumbo, bottles, breast pump, etc.
Exercise these days: a few 2-3 mile walks a week with short running intervals thrown in, weight lifting at home ~3x per week (roughly 25 min each)
What I'm wearing: maternity everything or larger, stretchier athletic clothing. I had some items from my first pregnancy that I'm wearing a lot and my mom has also bought me a few long sleeves from Target I've been wearing. Last night we actually went to the local Motherhood Maternity here because I don't have much to wear and the one pair of jeans that still fits well just isn't cutting it.
I got a few more t-shirts, another pair of full panel lighter denim skinny jeans and a soft, fitted dress that is SO comfy (and was on major clearance). Now I just need to find a place to wear it!
I would like to get another pair of maternity leggings (I have one pair of these) as it would be nice to have a second pair to rotate in for workouts and just plain comfort.
Looking back, I would have bought a high quality pair of maternity jeans during my first pregnancy as I haven't been impressed with the jeans I have bought. They seem to get baggy and saggy after one wear, which is no bueno when you have two pairs of jeans to get you through an entire week.
Baby is: the size of a spaghetti squash, about 11 inches in length and ~1 lb in weight
Related: My week 22 pregnancy post with H and Exercise during the Second Trimester last time around
Okay, that's all for now! I'll check in soon with my 25 week recap.
Looking back at 20 Weeks
Around 20 weeks, we had our anatomy scan and found out that Baby Moe is a sweet little boy. With Henry, we didn't want to find out the gender, so were told to look away about half the ultrasound.
This time, we did want to know and it was very evident when the ultrasound tech told us we were having a boy that it was indeed a male. Admittedly, I teared up a bit as I had hoped we'd have a girl, but I am now really looking forward to having two boys who will hopefully grow up to be two peas in a pod.
Also, a side note about ultrasounds. Why do they have to be so weird with the excited expectant parents asking questions about what's on the screen and the tech having to dance around each question? It would be so nice if they could just say "These are the types of things I can and can't tell you for X,Y & Z reasons..." from the get go.
Instead, we got to the end of our ultrasound and I still didn't know if my hemorrhage had shrunk and if the baby was looking "normal" as she gave us no indication. It wasn't until I asked about the hemorrhage that she went back to my charts, compared the measurements and then noticed I was 35 to which she then needed to alert the doctor and have him talk to us about genetic testing.
I know there are protocols and such, but I left feeling as though I wouldn't have known the baby was looking "normal" or that indeed the hemorrhage had shrunk if I hadn't asked and she hadn't noticed I was 35. The doctor confirmed baby looked good and he didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
Week 22 // February 2018
When Pete and I counted the months left until Baby Moe 2.0 arrives recently, we both looked at each other a little wide-eyed. It's four and a half months if you're wondering. That feels so soon.
This week, besides the realization that baby will be here before we know it, is the general feeling of "Ugh, I am getting so big." I know, I KNOW I have a lot further to grow, but still.
As I was telling a customer at the store the other day, it's hard when you feel like you have lost control of your body after years of being able to generally monitor your body's ebbs and flows through nutrition and exercise. And that's probably compounded for me because I'm not able to run and experience the endorphin high as I did most of my pregnancy with Henry.
The other strange thing about pregnancy is the way your body is on display. When your body appears as it normally does, no one really says much. But when you have this round belly, people comment. Some days, I'd like to walk around with a little sign that reads "No comments necessary." š
What am I loving about this stage? I am finally feeling the little guy kick from the outside several times a day. There is nothing like having your hand on your belly and feeling a little foot or hand jab out at you!
Pete even got to feel the little guy kick for the first time last week. Now I just need to try and get Henry to feel it when the baby is kicking repeatedly in the same spot.
I'm also starting to think about what we might need or want this time around. We have all of the major things covered, but there are a few things I am thinking about: a video monitor (we didn't get one the first time around, just an audio one), a big boy bed for H so we can use the crib again for baby, a double stroller (won't need this right away, but I think it would be nice to have even though the kiddos will be 3 years apart) and probably a few other things.
I am really relieved that we don't need a ton of new things this time around because we already have an infant carseat, travel crib, rock 'n play, bouncy seat for around the house, play mat, Bumbo, bottles, breast pump, etc.
Exercise these days: a few 2-3 mile walks a week with short running intervals thrown in, weight lifting at home ~3x per week (roughly 25 min each)
What I'm wearing: maternity everything or larger, stretchier athletic clothing. I had some items from my first pregnancy that I'm wearing a lot and my mom has also bought me a few long sleeves from Target I've been wearing. Last night we actually went to the local Motherhood Maternity here because I don't have much to wear and the one pair of jeans that still fits well just isn't cutting it.
I got a few more t-shirts, another pair of full panel lighter denim skinny jeans and a soft, fitted dress that is SO comfy (and was on major clearance). Now I just need to find a place to wear it!
I would like to get another pair of maternity leggings (I have one pair of these) as it would be nice to have a second pair to rotate in for workouts and just plain comfort.
Looking back, I would have bought a high quality pair of maternity jeans during my first pregnancy as I haven't been impressed with the jeans I have bought. They seem to get baggy and saggy after one wear, which is no bueno when you have two pairs of jeans to get you through an entire week.
Baby is: the size of a spaghetti squash, about 11 inches in length and ~1 lb in weight
Related: My week 22 pregnancy post with H and Exercise during the Second Trimester last time around
Okay, that's all for now! I'll check in soon with my 25 week recap.
Comments
We actually had a shitty experience with our 20 week ultrasound. We did it at a perinatal clinic since I was considered high risk due to being on steroids. The doctor came in after the ultrasound and didn't even sit down. She said, "congrats, you have a healthy baby," gave Phil the envelop with the gender (which he never ended up opening! Our agreement was that he could but he couldn't tell me if he had opened the envelop), and that was it. Then at my next OB appt my doctor was like, "Ok, do you have any questions about the kidney issue that was detected on the ultrasound?" I was like WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. I was so upset that the doctor didn't mention the one thing that she should have mentioned from the ultrasound. We had to go back for a follow up ultrasound at 32 weeks and that doctor was much better and more thorough. And he apologized profusely for the experience we had before. But it was a really frustrating experience to see a specialist and then have them not address the one abnormality they found on the ultrasound. It was still there at 32 weeks so Paul had to get an ultrasound of his kidneys before we got discharged. One kidney is still measuring large but they don't think it's going to be an issue. But we have to go back in May for another ultrasound and the pediatric urologist said we will have to see him for 5 years for follow ups. Le sigh.