"IT'S NOT THE LENGTH OF THE GESTATION, IT'S THE EXTENT OF THE ATTACHMENT."


Saturday, May 7, 2011

20th Week Update



I reached 20 weeks this past Wednesday! It's one of the goals I've been looking forward to this pregnancy. Next goal- viability at 24 weeks. Bring it on!

Everytime I talk to my grandma on the phone she wants to know if I'm "showing" yet. So I told her at 20 weeks I'd start taking a picture of myself to email her. Actually, she doesn't do email but my aunt can print out a pic for her. Anyway, I don't generally do full body shots, or profile shots for that matter (ha ha!) but there's something special growing in there, so I'll get over it. At one point, while Mr. H was taking this picture I asked if I should "suck it in" ha! I have a little pooch, but mostly just looks like my fat is sticking out further than it already does. For the record, I tried to suck it in, and nothing happened. :-)

I'm down about 17 pounds this pregnancy. That's right, 17 pounds lost, not gained since December. And of those 17 pounds, I've lost 11 pounds since I had surgery March 5th. I think part of it is that the surgery took a lot out of me and I just didn't have much of an appetite, though I didn't ever have "morning sickness", so I can't blame that. And the other part is that I'm already overweight, therefore haven't gained anything. The last few weeks my weight has remained the same, nothing lost, nothing gained. I'm sure that will change as I get further along though.

At last weeks appointment I got my third P-17 shot. After the first one, I had a strange odor down there, and felt a little dizzy for a few days after the injection. I asked the doctor about it and she said they didn't seem like typical side effects. I was fully expecting to have it happen again after the last two injections and it didn't. The first injection wasn't painful but it was sore for several hours afterwards. The last two didn't hurt at all and I didn't feel anything afterwards either. Maybe it was just the initial onset of extra progesterone??? Either way, they are working. Hooray!

I haven't felt the baby kicking yet and I've been really looking forward to it. I have appointments and sonograms every two weeks, so I know it's okay and growing, but to feel movement would be an extra reassurance that he's still alive and well. My placenta is right up front though and acting as a barrier between the baby and my belly. It's kind of like a pillow of padding around my belly so the kicks are muffled. I've been laying on my back and on my side, poking and prodding him to wake up and move for momma, but so far nothing. The sonographer and the doctor both said it could take up until the 24 week mark to feel anything.

I had an anatomy scan at the perinatologists office this week. Baby was folded in half, with it's feet on it's head and was sleeping the entire time. It made it difficult for them to get the measurements they needed so they just did arm/length measurements as well as checked the brain and heart. All was on track for 20 weeks gestation and the baby is weighing approximately 12 ounces. We didn't see any genitalia this week, but we did see a little something at our appointment last week. IT'S A BOY!!!

I haven't shared any ultrasound pics yet because I wasn't sure if it would upset anyone to see them. But if you want to see him (or don't) please let me know in the comment section. We got a cute 3D picture of him the other day, with a tiny button nose. He's obviously still itty bitty, but cute nonetheless.

Hope you all have a Happy Mother's Day!

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Monica,
You look great!!
Another boy?? YAY!! Congrats to you both. I would love to see a scan picture! I am so happy to read your updates. I just smile when I read them. You have been through so much and I love hearing joy in your words. I hope you feel that little one kick really soon. Maybe on Mothers Day he will give you a little nudge:)
Katie
My3sons

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Suzanne & Andrew Dupuis said...

Whoo Hoo! 20 week! Way to go! You look AMAZING!!! And another boy!!! I am SOOO happy for you both! I would LOVE to see your ultrasound pics! Congratulations again, and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!
Suzanne

(that last one was me!)

meemawfish said...

I would also love to see and pictures of that sweet baby boy. You look great and you definately have that pregant glow.

Meemaw

Allie said...

Monica, I love following along your pregnancy journey. I am so happy for you. You definitely have a glow about you :) I would love to see pictures of your sweet boy!

Virginia said...

Holy moly! 20 weeks already?? And a boy?? I was betting on a girl.... But honestly, boys are SO much more fun than I ever thought they would be (I had two older sisters so was completely mystified by the whole "having a son" thing). Yay!!

And Happy Mother's Day!!

Anna said...

Congrats on 20 weeks & counting, and YEAH for a 3rd son!
The full photo is great and you'll be so thankful later on because you can never go back to retake them. Love the format you posted it in.

Still praying for you and baby boy. Best wishes,
Anna

Kristi said...

I'm so excited for you! I hope you can feel kicks soon. Enjoy your Mother's Day!

Kristi said...

And you're looking cute as can be, Mamacita!

Celia said...

I'm glad your cerclage is going well and doing what it needs to do. Pregnancy after a 2nd trimester loss is nervewrecking, but it's so nice when you get to the viability stage. Hang in there. You look great!

froggy mommy said...

Congratulations on another boy! I would LOVE to see the ultrasound pics! Happy Mothers Day!

Nina @ crazy for cookies and more said...

Happy Mother's Day!! You look terrific..I too would love to see the ultra sound picture. I am so excited for you and it warms my heart to hear the excitement in your posts!!! Nina

Sophie said...

Happy Mother's Day! Lookin' good :)! So excited for you and your boy! Yay!

I remember it took awhile to feel a kick. And when I finally did, it didn't feel like the gas bubbles like everyone said it would feel like. It felt like something was poking me from the inside out, almost like a twitch :). One of the coolest feelings.

Anonymous said...

Monica,
You're glowing. A boy! I'm so happy for you. I'd love to see ultrasound pictures.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mel

Mrs. A said...

That is such awesome news! You look great! I would love to see ultrasound pictures, I just can't get over the 3D ones...they are just so neat!
Happy Mothers Day

Reese said...

Half way there, Momma!

Praying for the next easy 20 weeks!

Anna said...

Happy Mother's Day Monica.

Anna

Misc Momma said...

I've been waiting for a post like this forever! I want to see an u/s picture!! I've been reading your blog for a long time and am so excited for you. I too had an anterior placenta and didn't feel kicks until way late.

Hennifer said...

I SO want to see photos! You look absolutely radiant. I've been checking every few days for an update. I will be hoping you get those kicks soon. They are just so fabulous!

The Nanny said...

A boy!!! That's AMAZING! Congratulations :)

jessica said...

A LITTLE BOY?!!!!!!!! How happy must you both be? You look stunning and I am just so very happy for you. Go on with your bad self and that lovely pregnant glow... ;)

I hope your mother's day was special and full of EXPECTANT hope!