Yay!!!

So I called my doctor's office to ask for a letter saying I will need 6 weeks off work to recover from giving birth. They said no problem. Yay! This means I can apply for the voluntary leave transfer program. If people donate leave to me then I will be able to take off more time when the baby comes and still get paid for it. It doesn't mean I will get a lot of leave donated, but I can at least apply.

While I had them on the phone I asked for my gestational diabetes test results. And they were normal! Woo hoo! I had a cookie to celebrate!

28 weeks

Sorry I'm a little late on the update for what happens at 28 weeks. I have a little bit of a cold so I went to bed early last night instead of doing an update. I did whine to M over the phone that because he is away and I am here my whining results in even less service than usual. I have to get up and get my own OJ if I want some.

I get the results of my gestational diabetes test later today, so the OJ I drank for its healing powers this morning may be my last for quite a few months to come...

I'm also now up to seeing the doctor every 2 weeks to make sure Max is growing well.

I only got up twice in the night last night and got woken up two other times for leg cramps. All in all it was a pretty good night's sleep for me. I could still easily crawl under my desk and sleep for a couple of hours if it was allowed... :)

Max does seem to have a few personality traits showing through. He still loves to be in the shower. And he seems to be a morning person. Now that M is away he isn't waking up to his alarm clock. He sometimes wakes up when I do, and sometimes doesn't wake up until I am in the shower. He's been pretty active this week due to the sugar in the diabetes test and the sugar in the OJ. He seems to love sugar just as much as any other kids. :)

And here's the scoop on 28 weeks:

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-28-weeks_1117.bc
How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10241
By your 28th week of pregnancy, your baby is about 16 inches long and weighs 3-1/2 to 4 pounds. The skin is wrinkled but will become less so as more subcutaneous fat, the layer of fat just under the skin, is laid down in the next few weeks. Fine downy hair, called lanugo, and a waxy white protective substance covering the skin, called vernix, are present on the baby's body. The baby's eyes are open. The eyebrows and eyelashes were formed in the fourth month. The baby sucks its thumb and its taste buds have developed. The baby kicks, stretches, and moves frequently in the uterus. These movements, which are readily observable to others, are often keenly felt by the mother. Some mothers may find that the pressure of the growing uterus against the stomach by this week causes heartburn. The fundus, the top of the uterus, is now about one-third of the distance between the umbilicus (bellybutton) and the xiphoid cartilage. Constipation may also occur due to uterine pressure on the lower colon, as well as hormonal slowing of peristalsis (the process of excreting waste). Uterine growth combined with increased maternal weight gain contribute to a recurrence of fatigue similar to that during the early weeks of pregnancy.
By the 28th week, changes in the breasts prepare them for lactation. First colostrum, then milk, is produced by the grape-like clusters of tiny sacs (alveoli) deep within the breast tissue. Clusters of alveoli form lobules, which consolidate to form 15 to 20 lobes. Each lobe connects to a lactiferous duct. As the ducts extend toward the nipple and areolar areas, they widen into the lactiferous sinuses. These sinuses (or milk pools) release the milk through 15 to 20 tiny nipple openings when the baby nurses.The baby's organs and systems are quite well developed by the 28th week of pregnancy. If born now, the baby would probably survive but would need intensive, specialized care. The final two months of gestation are important for further maturation of all body systems and organs. Full term gestation best prepares the baby for a smooth and healthy adjustment to life outside of your uterus.

http://www.3dpregnancy.com/calendar/28-weeks-pregnant.html
(this site has a cool [and not gross] rotatable image. the cheese and hair are not shown)
Your baby has reached the magical mark of 28 weeks. The proportion of head to body is correct and if he were to be born now, he would be completely developed except for the extra fat that keeps him warm outside of the womb. That does not mean that all of his organs are working that well. It is also not very pleasant for him to have to trade in his warm nest for that scary incubator. He is still really small and vulnerable: he's just over a foot long (35 centimeters) and he weighs approximately 2 pounds (900 grams). For this reason, it's better if he stays nicely in your abdomen for now so that he can grow further.
The skeleton of your baby is changing. The cartilage is slowly ossifying into firm bones. The ossification continues until his birth. The skull bones remain the softest so that the skull can compress enough to slip gently through the pelvis and birth canal. Typically, boys will be about 2.2 to 2.6 pounds and girls will weigh between 2 and 2.4 pounds at 28 weeks gestational age.
Your child will develop more and more of an individuality and personality of his own. If this is your second or third child, perhaps you can already feel a difference from the previous pregnancies. This one might be very busy whereas the previous baby sat quietly in your abdomen. Each pregnancy and each baby is unique.

28 Week Checkup

I'm just 27 weeks and 6 days today, but I had the checkup today. I had the 3 hour glucose test with a midwife visit in the middle. The test was more horrible than last time and I felt a lot sicker after drinking the stuff. Ugh. I am so glad that it is over. I get the results back on Friday. They won't call if the results are good but they suggested I call to get the results either way.

The baby's heartbeat was good and he was measuring at 28 weeks. I also had my blood pressure checked and it was just fine. That's a big relief.

I am up a total of 7 pounds. So one pound less than last week.

I didn't get to eat breakfast before the test and I have been feeling extra hungry all day because of it. Even after my delicious dinner of baked beans on toast with cheddar cheese on top, I needed more. So I made some peanut butter balls. Mmmm. Protein is good. Mmmm.

My Baby is the Best Baby Ever

Yesterday I post about how it now possible for the baby to have hiccoughs. And he responds by showing me just what that will feel like. I was at J's class Mexican Fiesta helping to make God's Eyes out of yarn and popsicle sticks when I felt the new sensation of Max having the hiccoughs. It is definitely weird but still pretty cool. :)

Last night Max was also nice enough to give me a pair of kicks with a slight pause in between so Mark was able to feel him kicking. Max seems to almost always kick in one location, take a quick break, and then kick again in the same place. Maybe he's got a little bit of genetic OCD forming already...

27 Weeks - Third Trimester (aka cauliflower with dreams)

I'm still up the 8 pounds from earlier this week. No massive gain over last week so I am pleased. Max is still very active and kicks around a fair bit. Nothing too extreme or obvious from the outside. Sleep is still a mystery for me. I spent large amounts of time in my bed at night wishing for sleep but not very much time actually sleeping. I'm hoping to catch up some over the weekend.

So far no sign of the baby hiccoughs I hear can start this week. Just his normal couple of kicks in any location followed by a pause and then a couple of kicks somewhere else. I have my gestational diabetes test next Wednesday (the day after Xmas, what was I thinking? oh yeh, that it was the only day M was still in town and could come and get me at the doctor's office if needed) and I'm really hoping that comes back ok.

Here's the 27 week update:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-27-weeks_1116.bc

This week your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to him, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking?

http://www.maternityandbabyshoppingmart.com/pregnancy_week_27.html

By pregnancy week 27 your baby is over 2 pounds and is almost 15 inches long! That's quite large considering your baby's original size was smaller than a grain of rice! Your baby is now perfectly formed, though she still has a lot of growing to do in the upcoming weeks.
During pregnancy week 27 your baby's internal organs and systems continue to grow, mature and develop. Most noticeably, around pregnancy 27 weeks your baby's eyelids will open. Up until this point in time they were fused together. Around pregnancy week 27 and 28 they finally open. During this time the retina of the eye also starts maturing, allowing your baby's eyes to finally receive light and translate images.

You may start noticing around this time your energy starts dropping. While most women enjoy a pleasant energy spurt during the middle of the second trimester, this often fades as they approach the third trimester. Remember as you are entering your third trimester, your body is working very hard to complete its masterpiece... creation of a new life! This takes a lot of energy, so it makes sense you'd feel a bit tired.

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/27weeks/

Your baby now weighs nearly 2 pounds/ 875 grams and measures 14.5 inches/ 36.6 centimetres from head to toe. Her eyes open and close, she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals and she may suck a finger or thumb.

Sweet dreams, little baby! Some experts believe that babies begin to dream by the 28th week. What do they dream about? No one knows for certain but the brain is active this week as well. The characteristic grooves on the brain's surface start to appear and more brain tissue develops. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of the hiccups, which are common this week and throughout the pregnancy. Your baby has them but is breathing in amniotic fluid rather than air. A paper bag can't cure her hiccups, obviously, but an episode usually lasts only momentarily. The sensation for you may be strange but not unpleasant.

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And although there is no reason whatsoever to think I would have a premature baby, it is nice to know that the March of Dimes gives the baby a 90-95% chance of survival after this week...

http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1157.asp

What about babies born at 28 to 31 weeks gestation?

These babies look quite similar to babies born earlier, although they are larger (usually between 2 and 4 pounds) and even more likely to survive (about 90 to 95 percent).

Active Kicker!

So last night I went to bed with a book, like I always do. I have learned that I cannot rest the book on my tummy because Max doesn't like it. So I was sitting, somewhat upright to avoid heartburn, but somewhat slouched down to aid falling asleep. I had the book in my hands around the middle of my belly. And Max kicked so hard I was actually able to see it from the outside instead of just feeling it. A first! I went downstairs to tell Mark that I thought Max was trying to wish him a happy birthday, but apparently Max wore himself out with the strength of that kick...

Thanks to everyone who provided some heartburn tips. Tums and chewing gum are seeming to help a lot. I have also eliminated seltzer water since that seemed to be triggering heartburn regularly. Mark rejected my heartburn elimination strategy of eating a dozen holiday cookies, so luckily the tums and chewing gum options are doing the trick.

The switchover has occured

Mark and I weighed ourselves today. I now weigh more than he does. I'm up a total of 8 pounds. Not so bad over 6 months. But that's 4 pounds in 2 weeks after 4 pounds in 24 weeks. :) I did the elliptical machine and the bowflex today. At this point it looks like weight gain is going to happen and the best I can do is try to eat food with positive nutritional value and exercise to increase my chances of having the stamina I need at birthing time... Happily Krista also gave me a big book full of exercises to try. So in addition to doing what I can with the elliptical and the bowflex I can also do some targeted activities for the baby and the impact he is having on my body...