Another old post... oh to be able to relive those weeks all over again.
Week 16
Week 16
April 23, 2015
This week the baby is 5 inches long and weighs between 3-5
ounces. Tiny. And yet so big compared to where he/she
started. I have an appointment today and
realize the weeks of me having to decide what pronoun to call the baby will
soon be decided. We will be finding out
if we are having a girl or a boy. I say,
I don’t know if I can handle any more surprises.
This week seems to have been relatively calm so far, with
the exception of one highlight and I think it’s a pretty big one. I felt the baby move. Since I’m not really sure what it is supposed
to feel like, I haven’t been sure in the last week and a half if what I’ve felt
has been the baby or simply gas.
Everyone whose been pregnant before as well as the books and apps tell
me it can feel like a butterfly in one’s stomach. Prior to two days ago what I felt was more like
a worm moving on my insides but not really any butterfly. That was until Tuesday night. I hadn’t slept well the previous two nights
and I was determined Tuesday evening when I went to sleep I was going to sleep
more than the 3 and 4 hours from the nights prior. And boy did I. I feel like the minute by head hit the pillow
I turned into a rock. Most nights I
tossle back and forth from my right side to my left side while trying not to
sleep on my back or my stomach. Prior to
this surprise, I mostly slept on my right side and my stomach. Tuesday night in the middle of the night, I
was immediately awaken by the feeling of a butterfly on the inside of my
stomach moving across from one side to the other. Instantly I was awake and I knew that must
have been the baby. After the excitement
of realizing I had actually felt him or her, I then realized I was lying on my
stomach and the movement was probably because I was squishing him. I turned out, woke Jarrett up to tell him
(still mostly asleep he didn’t comprehend what I said and started snoring a
second later). I was excited
though. While I really haven’t felt a
similar movement since, I look forward to now knowing what it feels like and as
my sister so nicely pointed out, having a buddy to stay up with me at night to
watch TV when I can’t sleep.
Today I go in for my next doctors appointment and I have a
feeling it will be a quick one. I don’t
really think they do anything special today other than ask me how things are
going, make me pee in a cup and take my blood pressure. I’m not quite sure when they will start
measuring my stomach, and while I’d like to think I’m still at the hiding it
stage with my clothes on, I definitely notice a full, rounder bump making its
debut. Jarrett kindly tells me daily he
thinks I’m beautiful, while personally I’m having a hard time recognizing or
feeling anything like that… instead I feel like a bloated, buffet visitor who
ate too much. I have two coworkers who
are also currently pregnant and I’m due within two weeks of each of them (one
before me, one after me). This is both
their second pregnancies and I feel like they are both showing more than I
am. I don’t know if I should worry or it
is common to show sooner with a second baby.
The other strange thing I feel this week is what I can only
assume to be muscle stretching. Every
once in a while my entire stomach will get zingers all over. Its almost like every nerve ending in my stomach
starts tingling at the same time. It
seems to itch more than hurt but its definitely a sensation I’ve never had in
my entire life. I guess I would describe
the feeling like what happens when your arm or foot falls asleep and it starts
tingling. That’s the feeling I get all
over the outside of my stomach. And then
there’s the feeling like everything is stretching. I understand my muscles are going to have to
stretch through this process, but if I’m being honest it isn’t the most
pleasant experience. Again it feel s
like I’ve spent too much time eating and just uncomfortably full… ALL THE
TIME. My sister gave me firm orders to
put coconut oil all over my body a couple times
a day to avoid stretch marks. Honestly,
if I get it on once or twice a week, I’m feeling pretty good.
The kids (boys especially) seem to be very interested in how
this whole pregnancy things works.
Everyday there seems to be a new question they think of, mostly from
Michael, but it makes me aware they are thinking about it regularly. Today’s question was, “Mom, does the baby
have germs?” To be honest, I actually
have no idea what the honest answer is to that question but with my limited
knowledge of all things pregnancy, I gave him my best educated guess. “Well Michael, I am not sure, but I don’t
think the baby has any germs yet. He/she
hasn’t been exposed to anything in the outside world so I don’t think it would
have come into contact with any germs yet.”
He wasn’t satisfied with that… still more questions. “Does he have your germs then?” I tried to give him a satisfying answer,
“Well right now the baby is in his own little sack inside my stomach, like his
house, that is separate from my insides.
He might have some of my germs but I don’t think they will hurt him, his
or her little “house” is keeping him safe.”
He thought for a moment, paused and said, “When the baby is born, will
he or she have your germs then because you have to have him or her come out of
you?” Knowing I was way too far in over
my head, but also too deep to just stop there, I said, “When the baby is born
the baby will be exposed to germs and that’s when his or her body will be
strong enough to help fight them off. Until then the baby stays inside to build
up weight and strength to be able to live in the outside world. I’m sure the questions would have continued
except we got interrupted by Isabelle who needs to have something in her
typical urgent manner.
I’m excited that the boys are so interested and curious
about this new development. It was
something I never really knew how to bring up with them as we have the talk about
the birds and the bees and by only having been adopted I knew it was a subject
that would seem very unrelatable to their life story. Now that they will have a sibling that comes
from a pregnancy, we can talk about that life lesson through this experience. Now
how to have that conversation, how to discuss it and when to have it, I’m still
unsure.
Here are a few highlights from this week’s journey:
How far along are you? 16 weeks 5 days
How I’m feeling? Content.
Total weight gain… I go to the doctor
today so we shall see, I would guess maybe 5 pounds. Now that I’m able to keep food down and find
myself eating about every 2 hours, I would say some of that has to be sticking
around.
How big is baby? The size of an avocado.
Maternity clothes… Not yet,
although earlier this week when I was having some Braxton Hicks contractions, I
decided to wear the belly band I bought a few weeks ago to provide some
support. I thought it would help. Otherwise still wearing regular clothes and
hoping to for a few more weeks.
Definitely noticing the band around my pants is getting tighter.
Best moment this week… Feeling the baby
move inside of me.
Movement… Just that one night when I was
squishing the poor thing.
Food cravings… Not really any cravings,
I find meat tastes pretty good. Chicken
especially.
Food aversions… Still many things but I
find myself eating more and more.
Belly button in or out… In
What I miss… Mountain Dew.
Last week Jarrett and I had an impromptu lunch date at Panda
Express. It was yummy by the way. While I sipped my water, he had a tall
fountain Mountain Dew and it was calling my name like nothing else. Yet I refrained. I’m thinking I might ask for a fountain
mountain dew when I’m in the hospital after the baby comes, yet I know it will
give me one heck of a stomach ache. Oh
how I love my dew!
Until next time,
Angie
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