My Pregnancy: Week 29

Baby's now the size of a butternut squash!

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel.  Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain.  To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron.  And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice).  This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

This week has been a lot better than last, little girl.  I got over the initial shock of my diagnosis of gestational diabetes and started taking action.  I got myself registered to take a diabetes management course through the hospital (I go in tomorrow) so that I can start testing my glucose levels and get some other information.

I also took Granny D up on her offer to start walking with her (or another member of the family) each afternoon when I get off work.  It is blasted hot going at that time of the day, but I have already noticed a difference in my energy levels.

Finally, this diagnosis made me face my fears of a smelly kitchen and start cooking again.  I figured that until I get a set meal plan from the clinic, I would start off by limiting more carbs and nixing the refined sugars from my diet.  Having the motivation to cook also keeps me from laying on the couch all evening.  Overall I am feeling less intimidated by this diagnosis and more motivated than ever to ensure that I do everything I possibly can to give you a healthy start.

On a side note, a new pregnancy side effect has appeared in the last couple of weeks: my hands and feet are constantly warm.  Now, this may not seem odd or even pregnancy related unless you realize that my hands and feet are hardly ever warm.  In fact, they are usually freezing.  As such, I am even more aware of just how warm they are and it kinda bugs me.  But there is no accompanying swelling or other signs of it being a problem--just something different from my norm.

My Pregnancy: Week 28

Baby's now the size of a Chinese cabbage!

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 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.

This has been a bit of an emotional week for me.  Last Friday I went in to the lab for my 1 hour glucose test.  I was a little nervous about this test because I didn't really know what to expect.  Turns out I had a reason to be a little nervous because my test results came back high.  That meant I had to go in for another glucose test--the 3 hour one this time.  Basically I had to sit in the lab fasting for 3 hours while they drew my blood 4 different times.  Not fun.  

But even this didn't compare with the disappointment I felt when the test results still came back high.  I was officially diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  Next week I get to go to a diabetes clinic and learn how to test my levels so that I can monitor them 4 times a day for the rest of my pregnancy.  

Still, I know that there are worse things that can happen during pregnancy and am grateful that there are tests designed to catch these kinds of things early enough.  Granny D has volunteered to walk with me every day and dad has been re-evaluating the groceries he buys.  I am sure that everything will work out.

My Pregnancy: Week 27

Baby's now the size of a head of cauliflower!

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended.  She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers.  With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now.  While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning--with a lot of medical help--if she were to be born now.  Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on.  Each episode usually only lasts a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Not all that much to report on this week.  I have been working more on your nursery and am rather pleased with the results thus far.  So far we've got 2 wooden plaques, 3 picture frames, the cradle mattress, a cradle quilt (made by yours truly), a dresser, and a gilder.  Not bad, eh?