Week 26 - 6 months

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:

I can't believe I'm already 6 months pregnant and I have less than 100 days till my due date! I'm now starting my 3rd trimester!! I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is going compared to last time. Now that it's September and I have roughly 3 months to go, I think I should start tackling my list of things to do which include coming up with a list of names for this little one, getting Natalie's big girl room set up, buying the additional baby items and clothes we'll need, and then a few projects around the house. Given I'm due the beginning of December, I think I'm also going to tackle Christmas shopping beforehand; I'm sure I won't be up for going to the malls right after my delivery! Laura Brett will also be coming to our house after the baby is born to take her newborn photos so I want to get Natalie and DD#2 some Christmas dresses for the photos. I need to get moving!

I had my 25 week appointment last Thursday with Dr. Corvin. Everything went well -- the baby's heartbeat was very strong and she has been kicking up a storm. I also was tested for gestational diabetes at that time in which I had to drink this very sweet orange drink fairly quickly and then get my blood drawn an hour later. I got my results on Monday -- everything looked normal; I don't have gestational diabetes which is a relief! Dr. Corvin was more towards me doing a c-section but only because she thought it was easier to just plan it than wait to go into labor. She did say that because my c-section last time was not due to Natalie not fitting in my pelvis (and given that 2nd babies tend to be bigger) that she thought it was possible to try for a VBAC. She did state that if I decide to do a planned c-section, they like to schedule them for week 39 so that I would possibly avoid going into labor on my own. They would like to get it on the books at my next appointment which is in 2 more weeks. I'm still very torn! I've also put on more weight since my last appointment than I had between previous appointments. Dr. Corvin said my weight is still within range but I should expect another 10 pounds before delivery. I'm hoping it doesn't go over that. Now if I could just figure out how to fit in working out with hanging out with Natalie and resting at night.

I've been come much more tired with everything I do. When I sleep at night, my belly now feels heavy while laying on my side. I definitely can't get up and down as easily anymore. Luckily I'm still doing ok with carrying Natalie around but get tired if I do it for too long.

One difference I've noticed with this pregnancy compared to my first is that I feel more like I'm going through it alone. Not that others aren't support and Emile has been great but because our focus during the day is more on Natalie playing and running around, that others around me are not as focused on me being pregnant since Natalie is more of an immediate focus. Plus the doctor's treat me differently, or at least that's how I've perceived it. I don't have as many questions so it feels more like I'm rushed through my appointments quicker; there's no time to get the warm fuzzy feeling from my doctor's like I did before, even though I've meet them all previously during my pregnancy with Natalie. This pregnancy is just more internal for me (which has it's own advantages). But we're all excited to meet our new addition at which point I'm sure she'll be showered with as much affection as Natalie is.

Our baby measures about 9.2 inches from crown to rump and weighs almost 2 pounds now. Her hearing is fully developed. As she reacts to sounds, her pulse increases. Our baby will even move in rhythm to music. Lungs are still growing but are not yet mature. Patterns of our baby's brain waves appear like a full-term newborn. It also has patterns of sleeping and waking.

Week 25

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:Our little girl has now formed all 33 rings, 150 joints and 1,000 ligaments in the structure of her spine. The surfactant that is essential for lung function after birth is also beginning to develop. All five senses are fully developed. She's close to 1 1/2 to 2 lbs now and starting to fill out!

I'm definitely having a harder time bending over and so forth now. I make a lot of grunting noises which Emile finds entertaining. She's kicking a lot which I feel really low -- I'm guessing she's breech right now. And the never ending need to pee has started! My Braxton Hicks continue to be pretty frequent, although not painful. Tomorrow I have my next appointment in which they'll test me for Gestational Diabetes. I'm looking forward to hearing her heartbeat again and finding out how everything is going.

Natalie finds it amusing to push on my belly button that sticks out pretty predominately now. We captured a photo of her doing it recently:

When we ask her where her belly is, she'll pull up her shirt and point to it and then come over to me and pull up my shirt to point to my belly button.

Week 24

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:
I'm getting a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions now, at least 3-4 a day. It's mostly just a tightening of my uterus that goes away in about 30 seconds. It seems to occur less if I drink more water so I'm trying to stay well hydrated. I can feel her kicking all the time now which is a great feeling. She's more active in the afternoon and evening. I can now see her kicking from the outside as of last Friday (23w 3 d). Emile felt her kick on Sunday (23w 5d). I'm glad he was finally able to feel her. It helps make it feel more really for him (not that my big belly doesn't help).

She now weighs about a pound and a half and is probably around 8.5 inches long. Her lungs are gaining blood vessels now, preparing them for taking over the task of getting oxygen into the blood stream. Our baby is working out her own waking and sleeping periods.

Week 23

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
Sound sleep is a thing of the past. I'm now waking up a few times a night from both being uncomfortable and to pee. Of course, Natalie waking up and turning her Rainforest crib soother on hasn't helped. I'm definitely feeling the baby a lot more right now. A few times a day I can feel her kick and roll around. I think I may be starting to get Braxton Hicks contractions -- at least once or twice a day my belly starts tightening up, just like with Natalie (it started around week 25 with her). My c-section scar itches a lot lately also.

Our baby's pancreas is developing well and is even beginning to produce insulin. The bones in the little one's middle ear are hardening now. She weighs about a pound and is about 8 inches in length - she's the size of a small doll.

Week 22

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:

I'm definitely starting to feel our baby more. Not every day, but more frequently than before. I even felt her kick with my hand from the outside of my belly last week Wednesday (21w 1d). I'm starting to feel more sluggish and am making more noises when I get up.

She's probably around 7.5 inches long now and by the end of this week getting close to, if not more than, a pound! She's starting to get plumper now. Her body and face are starting to take on more of an appearance of what she'll look like as an infant -- how exciting! Our baby's liver is now starting to function also.

Week 21 - 5 months!

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:I am now 5 months pregnant!

I had my 20 week appointment last Thursday with Dr. Gaines. Everything looked good -- he was able to find her heartbeat right away. We discussed how I'm not feeling her as much as I did with Natalie. If I'm not feeling her within 2 weeks, I can call in to get another ultrasound just to be sure my placenta isn't blocking her kicks etc. I am starting to feel her a little bit more (maybe every few days) but I may still go in for the extra ultrasound if she doesn't pick up more -- just for the added reassurance that all is good.

We also discussed my VBAC vs. c-section options. As I expected from him, he's more for going straight for a c-section mostly because my last c-section was not due to fetal distress (which would be dependent on the baby) but rather my body not laboring on it's own. I'm still planning to wait and see how things are going come 37-38 weeks.

I'm starting to get sore hips at night sleeping (so it begins!). I have to keep rolling over periodically throughout the night. I expect this to only get worse here on out.

My belly is starting to feel harder with my uterus up much higher.

Our baby girl is about the size of a large banana right now. She probably weighs around 10.5 ounces by now. Baby's legs have grown longer and are now in the proper proportion to the rest of his body. Our baby can now swallow and has started swallowing amniotic fluid.

Week 20 -- Half Way!

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
Wow...half way already! I can't believe how much faster this pregnancy is going compared to my pregnancy with Natalie.

This week our daughter should be about 9-10 oz. and have a crown-to-rump length of about 6 inches. The amniotic fluid has reached a volume of about 12 ounces. Our baby's heart is beating at a rate of 120 to 160 beats per minute. The baby's sense of smell is present now.

I can feel that the top of my uterus is now right at my belly button. I have to pee all the time -- especially at night. I've started getting up 2-3 times a night now. I think I've started feeling her move around as of last Wednesday (19w1d); however, the feels are very different than they were with Natalie that I'm still not entirely sure. I'm looking forward to my doctor's appointment on Thursday to discuss the type of movements I think I'm feeling and to find out if he thinks I have an anterior placenta.

Week 19

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
This week has been a very emotional week for me. For some reason, I've felt more emotionally effected by things going on in my life than I typically do. I know pregnancy hormones cause a lot of mood changes which I'm sure is the main reason for this (work being incredibly slow right now doesn't help either) but I definitely didn't have this type of emotional roller coaster with my previous pregnancy. Hopefully, these hormones level off soon.

Another difference I've noticed compared to my last pregnancy is that my nose is dry constantly!!! Sometimes if I rub it the wrong way, it actually hurts! This was not something I experienced last time.

My belly is getting pretty big now although I think my uterus is starting to slow down in it's expansion because my belly is starting to look more in lines with the size at 19 weeks with Natalie. As mentioned previously, the uterus expands quicker in the beginning with a second pregnancy; however, the baby is not actually growing faster etc. Eventually the uterus stops it's rapid expansion and continues on a normal growth rate as with a first pregnancy.

Our baby probably weighs close to 7 oz. now and is 5.5-6 inches long. Buds for permanent teeth are now forming behind the buds for baby teeth. Baby's toes are not quite as developed as her hands, but they'll catch up. The baby spends about 6 hours a day awake and 18 or so asleep. This is about the same ratio as a newborn.

Week 18

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

I still don't feel like I'm feeling the baby yet. A friend suggested I may have an anterior placenta where it's in front of the baby with the baby closer to my spine and thus, I may not feel her as quickly or as much as I did with Natalie. I was reading more on the anterior placenta and it sounds very possible especially given that Dr. Anderson had such a hard time finding the heartbeat at my last appointment. I'm going to have to ask about this at my next appointment on July 23. I really hope I start feeling flutters by then. It's hard to not worry during this stage of the 2nd trimester. There aren't all the aches and pains of 1st trimester to remind you constantly that you're pregnant but yet you're not feeling the baby kick yet! I know all is fine based on my last ultrasound last week but it'll just be reassuring once I can feel her move around.

My weight gain has been much less than it was with Natalie at this stage even though I look much bigger in the belly. So far I've only gained 1/8 of what I gained total with Natalie, and I'm almost halfway through my pregnancy! I think one reason is that I recently weaned Natalie from breast feeding. From what I've read, the body tends to hold onto about 5 lbs while breastfeeding so it's possible that extra weight fell off after I weaned and thus, lowered my overall weight gain that would have occurred from being pregnant. My doctor said the amount of weight I've gained looks fine so I'm not worried. I'd love to gain less overall than I did with Natalie -- easier to get it off later.

The baby should be about 5-5.5 inches long and weigh around 6.5 ounces. You should be able to see the chambers of our baby's heart in an ultrasound now. His/her vocal cords should be fully formed also. Over the next week, our baby will start forming hair on his/her head and forming teeth buds.

I'm thinking of decorating the nursery for daughter #2 in green/pink elephant theme. Here's the one I like the most, Bella Bedding by Cocalo:

We would keep the bottom of the walls below the chair rail in the nursery the cream color it is now and paint the top a light green. Natalie will be moving into a larger bedroom, which is now her playroom. We had already painted it the light lavender that the nursery is now in preparation for her moving into it eventually. We're thinking of transitioning Natalie to a toddler bed the month before DD#2 will probably arrive to give Natalie time to get used to her new surroundings before getting used to a sister. We're looking into a toddler bed and new bedding for Natalie -- the bedding will still be lavender color like what she has now.

It's a...

Girl!! Natalie's is going to have a little sister! We're very excited. I think it will be wonderful having two girls close in age. Unfortunately, we can't re-use much of Natalie's clothes given they're different seasons (Natalie's newborn short-sleeve jumpers just aren't going to work in December) but that just means I get to pick out more cute outfits!

I had my "big ultrasound" this past Wednesday. We waited till today to show the photos because we wanted to tell our parents first. Emile's parents were traveling this week so we waited till they got home today. We told both sets of our parents that we were having a girl by having Natalie show them her new toy on the webcam -- a little baby girl doll! They loved it.

The doctor said everything looked great on the ultrasound. Everything is where it should be and measuring on-track. We were relieved. Here are some photos.

Thumbs up!

Hand and leg.

Week 17 - 4 months!

With Darling Child #2:


With Natalie:
Not much has been going on this week for me as far as the pregnancy goes. I've had a few aches and pains there and there; some stretching but nothing that is uncomfortable yet. I'm still not sure I'm feeling the baby yet. With Natalie, I felt her for sure at 17w5d -- that's coming up quickly here. As with Natalie, I find the first part of the second trimester to be stressful -- I don't have the abdominal achiness I had in the first trimester to remind me I'm pregnant but yet I can't yet feel the baby kick. I'm looking forward to our big ultrasound (anatomy scan) to confirm that everything is fine (and hopefully to find out what we're having!). I'm definitely not complaining -- it's nice not having difficult pregnancies. I hope it continues this way.

Our baby is now roughly the size of my hand outstretched. He or she has a much more normal "human" appearance now. Our baby is now able to hold his/her head more erect and his/her body and limbs are longer in proportion to his/her head. Pads are forming on the tiny fingertips and toes. Soon those individual swirls and whorls will be apparent. Our baby's eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed. Our baby's skeleton is transforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier.

I decided today to buy a maternity swimsuit -- wow, they really don't make those to be flattering! The top looks cute over my belly but those shorts just don't help the look of the thighs!! But I want to start taking Natalie to the pool and lake so I'll suck it up. I was actually contemplating just wearing my halter-top bikini. I don't have stretch marks from Natalie so I don't mind others seeing my belly but I was more worried that others around me might be uncomfortable seeing a pregnant belly (although they shouldn't be).

Week 16

With Darling Child #2:

With Natalie:
Last Thursday, I had my 15 week appointment with Dr. Anderson. Natalie came with me :). She got to hear her sister/brother's heart beat. It took a little while for Dr. Anderson to find the heartbeat because it turns out our baby is sitting higher than he originally thought. He/she was already up under my belly button. Overall the appointment went well. Everything looks good. Dr. Anderson and I also discussed his thoughts on attempting a VBAC. He saw no problems with me trying a VBAC based on my history. He also said there is not much difference between the risks due to c-section vs. risk due to VBAC (although I'd like to avoid all risks of complication!). He suggested waiting to see how I'm progressing around week 37 or 38. If I haven't progressed at all, I may have to plan for a c-section given they can't induce (because I've had a prior c-section). If I have progressed some, then just to ride it out and see how things go for a VBAC. Sounds like a good plan to me.

I don't think what I was feeling last week was the baby as I haven't felt really anything since before my appointment with Dr. Anderson. I'm hoping the baby kicks start soon! Overall, I'm still feeling pretty good. Much less tired now which is nice. I definitely have a nice baby bump formed now! Emile had gotten me a gift certificate for a massage for Mother's Day and our anniversary. Now that I'm out of the first trimester, I was finally able to use it last weekend -- it felt wonderful! I can't wait for my next one.

The baby weighs probably about 2 3/4 ounces right now and by the end of this week will be about 3 1/2 ounces and the size of my hand spread open wide! Our baby's nails are well formed. He or she has to emptying his or her bladder every 40-45 minutes. The limb movements are becoming more coordinated and vigorous. The head is erect and the legs are developed.

Week 15

With Darling Child #2:

With Natalie:
There hasn't been much of a change for me this week on how I'm feeling. I'm still tired although I think it's starting to get better. I'm starting to notice some tingly feelings in my abdomen -- it may be the baby I'm feeling. It's mostly to the left of my belly button. We'll see how things progress by next week before I'll say for sure. :)

Our baby's bones are getting harder each day. His/her skin is very thin and transparent; you can see blood vessels through the skin. Lanugo, a very fine hair, covers the body and will continue growing on our baby until around the week 26. Our baby will be about the 4 1/3 to 4 2/3 inches by the end of this week. Between this week and week 17, our baby will have grown from about the size of a softball to the size of my hand stretched out.

My next appointment is this Thursday with Dr. Anderson. I'm looking forward to hearing our baby's heartbeat on the Doppler again. Natalie will be going with me to this appointment. :)

Week 14

With Darling Child #2:

With Natalie:
My friend, Jimmie, suggested I show pregnancy photos for each week side by side to see the difference. I thought I'd give this a try with this blog. As you can see, I'm already much bigger at 14 weeks than I was with Natalie -- and there is no mistaking that I'm pregnant. I've decided to stop trying to suck it in -- being pregnant with the second means I'm more than likely going to look pregnant much sooner. Not that I don't want to look pregnant, I'm just not yet ready for the weight gain. But I can't deny it anymore -- a woman at the store last night asked me whether Natalie was going to have a brother or sister! Looking back at my pregnancy photos with Natalie, I think I may already look 17 or 18 week pregnant.

And on top of it, the top of my belly button is already starting to stick out. With Natalie, that happened at around 21 weeks!

I'm still pretty tired a lot and am starting to get more hungry. Plus, I've noticed when I lay on my side, my hips are starting to hurt again. I'm really going to need to increase my working out (or stick with it!).

Our baby is now the size of my fist and by the end of this week will be close to the size of a softball. S/he is beginning to practice inhaling and exhaling movements. The eyes and ears continue to move and develop, the neck is still getting longer, and our baby's chin no longer rests on his/her chest. The hands are becoming functional, and the baby is beginning to learn to move/use them (such as flexing them). At this point, our little one is receiving all of his/her nourishment from the placenta.