Monday, January 14, 2013

23 Weeks - Mini Coop #2

Due Date: May 11, 2013 - 17 weeks to go!!

Total Weight Gain (CRINGE): 7 lbs - not for long, I've got another weigh in next week!

Exercise:
M- Insanity
T - Arrichion (Warrior)
W - Insanity
T - Arrichion (MMA)

Symptoms: A fast growing mid section, major insomnia, bloody gums when flossing/brushing, getting up three times a night to go to the bathroom and ACNE!  Ugghhh.  Overall though, I feel pretty amazing and blessed that I've had another easy breezy pregnancy!

Thyroid: Next follow up appointment is in March. Lab work came back great after increasing my dosage so hopefully I can keep my appointment in March and not have to go back before then.

Maternity Clothes:  Okay, so I've got one pair of non maternity work pants that I can fit into at this point.  That will probably take me through this week, but after that, I will no longer be in anything w/out the belly band or full on maternity pants.  I tried on a couple of pairs of maternity work pants last night and they were huge!  I mean I just don't see myself getting into them until at least 28 weeks plus.  They fit fine in the waist area - it's the hips, bum and leg areas that are big.  I guess I will be sporting the belly band a little longer than I thought.

Gender: It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!

Movement:  The baby is moving more and more each week!  Every week the movement gets stronger and stronger.  Feeling her move on the outside is one of my favorite things!  It really is the most amazing part about being pregnant!  This morning in my Group Power class, she was jamming out to the music (next time I will need to remind myself to not stand directly beside the speakers!!)

Food Cravings: PANCAKES!!!  Yep, still pancakes.........  Even though I haven't had any this past week, every time I see IHOP advertise for all you can eat pancakes, I want to jump in my car and head there immediately!!

Food Aversions: No aversions this past week!  Although Steve made himself chicken livers wrapped in bacon and it took every part of me not to want to throw up!  GROSS!!!

Best Moment of the Week:  It has nothing to do with the baby, but every day I picked up Lottie from school, she had her hair in pigtails.  I couldn't believe it!!!  Her teachers tell me that she asks them to put her hair up.  WHAT???????  I am hoping this trend continues, but with Lottie you never know.

What I Miss: A good night's sleep!! Don't get me wrong, I have suffered from insomnia for years, but have always gotten through it by simply taking a sleeping pill or sleeping on my stomach.  Now that I can't do either, I am wide awake for most of the night.  :(

Differences Between 1st Pregnancy & 2nd Pregnancy: During my first pregnancy, Steve and I did the whole childbirth and breastfeeding classes.  We also did the hospital tour.  This time around, we won't be doing any of that!!  YAY!  While it was fun experiencing those classes with Steve, I am just so glad I don't have to bother with it this time around. 

Fears/Dreading: I am dreading breastfeeding again.  I could do an entire post on breastfeeding alone.  It is truly one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life.  I had more than my fair share of let downs while trying to breastfeed Lottie including, never being able to produce enough milk to her pulling away, sleeping and not gaining enough weight during check ups.  During that first month of Lottie's life, I honestly felt like I was just a feeding machine.  I felt like I couldn't go anywhere or do anything between nursing and pumping.  It would take at least an hour to nurse and pump, then an hour and a half later, I'd be at it again.  After Lottie's check ups at her doctor's office and learning that she wasn't gaining enough weight, I felt like such a failure.  I would cry and cry.  Finally after another visit with no weight gain I was told that I would have to start supplementing formula into every feeding.  Well, that just made me feel even worse.  But after supplementing formula into her feeding routine, I started noticing how much more happy she was and how much more satisfied she seemed.  That was all it took.  Since my milk production was so small (I was jumping for joy if I produced 2 oz), I decided to stop breastfeeding all together.  I breastfed for two months and after that, I never looked back.  Lottie and I were both so much happier and the time we were able to spend together not nursing and pumping was so worth it.  I am a big believer in breastfeeding, but if it isn't for you or if it doesn't work, don't fret.  Most of us babies born in the 80s were formula fed babies and we turned out just fine.  I am definitely planning on breastfeeding again and seeing a lactation specialist again.  I am hopeful that things will go a little differently this time around.  If not, then I refuse to allow myself to cry and feel like a failure.  Being a mom is the hardest, most rewarding job in the world.  It is not a cake walk, especially those first couple of months.  But time goes by so fast, that before you know it, your baby will be turning two. 

Follow Up Appointments/Ultrasounds: Next f/u appt. with my doctor is January 22nd! 1 more week!

Bump Photo: Blue skinnies from Old Navy - $14.95







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