17 Weeks Bumpdate

This pregnancy is definitely going by more quickly than Ezra’s did. Things are continuing to go very smoothly.

As far as symptoms, I’m dealing with mild Braxton Hicks and round ligament pain, headaches every few days, and the urge to eat everything, all the time.

I recently said this about food and pregnancy:

1) My stomach has a nesting instinct. Or “obsessive compulsive eating disorder.” But I’m sticking with the former. This actually explains everything.

2) The other reason I eat so much is because food tastes like 10 times better. It’s like everything that goes into my mouth is THE BEST FOOD I’VE EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE! (Until the next snack or meal)

Food: 2 million
Me not turning into a hippo: 0

(Baby and Me ~ 16 Weeks)

Despite hunger and cravings, I’ve only gained 5 pounds since my 8 week appointment. Which is right on track for where I should be.

I had an appointment with the midwives this morning. Every time I walk away more confident in the care team there and encouraged that this will be a positive and healing experience for me and a healthy experience for baby.

As part of preparing mentally and emotionally for birth, I’ve been listening to birth podcasts (The Birth, Baby, and Life Podcast and the Easier Healthier Birth Podcast) and journaling in the Birthing From Within Keepsake Journal. The journal has a lot of thought-provoking questions and writing prompts, as well as interesting “birth art” therapy assignments. I’m not a fan of drawing or art in general, but I’ve actually enjoyed doodling a bit.

An assignment I did this week was to draw about what “being pregnant” is like for me. I ended up with this:

You can see, I’ve been busy with a lot of important things, like setting up baby’s room (which is about 90% done), washing baby laundry (because I have the energy now and probably won’t 3rd Trimester), attending yoga class regularly, bouncing on the birth ball, eating (and more eating), and watching lots of TV. Because, you know, priorities.

In the corner you have the “everything else category” – which is all of the other stuff that needs done as mom to an active 4-year-old who’s about to go to a new school and caregiver to my husband. It’s busy days! {That’s supposed to be an iPhone and a stick figure family, if you couldn’t tell.}

Our gender reveal is coming in about two weeks. Baby will also have an additional ultrasound between 20 and 24 weeks to double check his/her heart due to family history of heart problems. They are referring me to a cardiologist as well because of my interesting cardiac history, just to make sure everything is still fine as it’s been over two years since I last saw a cardiologist.

Beyond that, it’s just going to be surviving being hot and huge during 3rd trimester, finalizing names (if baby is a girl), and hoping that baby either comes early or doesn’t mess up the first week of school too drastically by showing up, you know, on the due date (that happens to fall 2 days into the 2015 school year).

We are all growing increasingly excited about baby and are eager to see how baby fits into and changes our lives for the better.