21-23 Week Update

FETAL MOVEMENT

Around weeks 21-22 I began to feel more sure that I could feel the baby move. It no longer feels like flutters, it often feels like he’s flipping around in there or something, though I don’t feel it often, maybe only a few times a day. I’ve noticed the movement increases more when I have my legs up nearer to my stomach.

BABY BUYS

We’ve gathered a few more things for the baby over the past few weeks, including; about 3-6 toys, 3 more bags of clothes from op shops up to size 1, a playmat (which came free with our baby monitor that cost $50), a monkey ball that wobbles around when rolled on the floor, an old-style brown teddybear, and some weird dinosaur thing that sings about 12 songs.

I gathered my box of baby things that I was collecting since my own childhood, and put the boyish / neutral things in the nursery. We still haven’t hung anything on the walls or got a name plate or decals yet.

CLOTHES HAUL SO FAR

The built in robe looks pretty full of clothes now. we went to the local discount store and got all matching dark blue hangers. Hubby counted that we had about 110 articles of clothing on them! I’m now in the process of figuring out what I have of which items in various sizes. So far I seem to have around 4-6 winter weight sleepers in most sizes, and I have 4 pairs of jeans in size 1, and only 1 pair in size 00. our 000 collection is the biggest, and our 0000 and 00 selections seem the smallest. We don’t plan on getting too much 0000 though, as the baby should only need this if premature.

NURSERY

I also sorted out the draws into cloth and disposable nappies, burp cloths (though we need more of these,) blankets, sheets, feeding equipment, etc etc, and I packed the nappy bag full of spare diapers, a bottle, and my nipple shield, etc. it’s not completed but it’s a good start.

SLEEPING and POSTURE

Over the past week I’ve found it harder to sleep, and I’ve wanted to curl up more when sleeping and laying down. It’s pretty uncomfortable to be on my back now. Hubby has been good with giving me shoulder and high back rubs, which has been great after coming home from hours of sitting and being hunched over a desk / piano.

This week I think I burnt myself out with teaching too much, as I worked till late on the weekend, and then from 8 till 9pm on monday night, so when tuesday came around I slept through my alarm and missed my first school, as I woke up at midday! I had to reschedule lessons for yesterday (Friday.)

MATERNITY LEAVE PLANS

I’ve decided that I’m going to take the last 2 weeks off next term, so that I have a month before the baby is due to finalize things, rest, and as a safeguard in case he comes early.

VEINS and WALKING

My varicose veins have gotten worse. My doctor suggested stockings, but I can’t find any in my size, so yesterday I wore leggings, and they seem to have reduced in swelling a lot. I found another skirt that fits me, and I’ve been wearing black pyjama pants and my large pair of trackies to work sometimes when i run out of clothes. the weather has been gorgeous lately. it’s a pity I’ve been too busy working to enjoy it, though we’re planning a walk today.

WOES

I was hoping to go to the Royal Adelaide Show this year, being the last year without a baby, though I doubt we will now, as there’s only today and tomorrow left, and I wouldn’t be able to go on many rides etc anyway. Plus it’s hard to trust their food in case of getting listeria, etc.

CHECKUP

I had my antenatal appointment on thursday, and we got to hear the heartbeat again; It was around 140, which the doctor said was normal, and my blood pressure was ok. We transferred appointments to the closer hospital from now on. He wants me to have another glucose tolerance test to check for diabetes in week 26, and I’ll probably get another ultrasound to check progress, which is exciting. We’re still heavily considering doing a 3D scan and double checking gender after 29 weeks.

TV

Yesterday there was a show on called “The Secret Life Of Babies.” We didn’t get to watch it from the start but it was quite interesting. They talked about what babies have natural aversions to, etc, and why they do what they do, eg: eating everything.

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES

I still doubt I’ve got the hang of pelvic floor exercises, so I’m wearing regular pads daily for my light incontinence. I’ve also been getting heartburn about every hour now! I’m going through those Quick-Eze pretty fast.

FOOD

I’ve been eating a lot of vietnamese roast pork and chicken rolls at lunchtimes. I’ve been wanting more milk for breakfast and in the evenings now, and I’m loving orange juice. meat is a bit more tolerable to be around now when I go to the supermarket – I used to hate being around meat. Chocolate and crisps have been a MASSIVE craving over these past few weeks.