Aug 16, 2009

19 weeks and other random thoughts

On Friday we had a doctor's appointment. He went over the results from our Ultrasound with us. He showed us with his hands how big our baby's body parts were and how big she was as a whole. He let us know that she was transverse which was no surprise because every one of my babies has spent the entire pregnancy that way. I must be more roomy sideways than up and down. (Is that code for I am short and fat??) He also let me know that the placenta is anterior. That explains why the doctor has a hard time getting her heartbeat on the doppler he has (which he confessed was a cheap model he bought off amazon!!). It also explains why her movements feel different to me, less sharp less . . . um . . .what is the word . . . defined I gess, more like pushes and stretches. But I was definitely feeling her because she was exactly where I was feeling her. And that made me smile, made me feel more connected to my baby. I noticed that I feel her when eat spicy food, or when I happen to drink coffee with real caffiene. The doctor has said he feels I may have low iron which may explain the headaches, tiredness, and heart palpitations. I have to go get some bloodwork done to find out for certain. He also said that my weight gain is within normal expectations. I am glad to hear that. I know I am overweight and I am always nervous that a doctor will give me a hard time about it, but he didn't at all.

On another note, my new cheaper, money-saving menu plan is a hit with the family so far. Prince Charming has always said that when I am forced to be creative because of budget, diet or available grocery limitations, I come up with some of his favorite meals and so far that is holding true.

And another thought I wanted to share, I watched a show today about a family that moved to the Country and restored an old stone farmhouse by hand. I watched as they settled into the hard work of living in the country and restoring the house and land and I was envious. Not that I don't have lots of hard work, but I think in my soul, I am a Country girl. I love the community of the country; I love the pace of life; I love the way you work hard and reap the benefits. I would love to be a country mom, cooking, canning, sewing, and taking care of my kids and my home. Instead I live in the city, sharing a wall in my house with neighbours. It is better than an apartment but I would love to live somewhere with lots of land, walking along the beach, letting my kids have the run of our yard, feeling they were safe and sound. I guess that is why I loved living on the west coast of Newfoundland when I did. It felt that way to me. And it explains those occassional longings I have to pick up all our stuff and just take off back the west coast for the rest of our lives.

And finally, here's all about what's technically going on in my pregnancy!

Fetal development - 19 weeks pregnant



You're halfway there! The top of your uterus now reaches your belly button and will grow about a centimetre per week. The fetus measures around 6 inches/ 15 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighs about 9 ounces/ 240 grams.

She has started to swallow amniotic fluid, and her kidneys continue to make urine. Hair on the scalp is sprouting.

Sensory development reaches its peak this week. The nerve cells serving each of the senses -- taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch -- are now developing in their specialised areas of the brain. Nerve cell production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections. If you're carrying a baby girl, she already has roughly six million eggs in her ovaries. By the time she's born, she'll have about one million.

You no doubt feel the kicking and somersaulting of your growing baby. At times, she may be so mobile that you can't sleep. The next ten weeks or so will be your baby's busiest and most active time, until the womb gets too crowded. Two will soon be three and that will mean lots of changes.

6 comments:

L a u r a said...

Blessings for your wee one on the inside and with your upcoming start to homeschooling! We are on our 5th year of homeschooling, and it has been the richest blessing to our family.

Peace and blessings to yours...

Unknown said...

what beautiful girls!! just wanted to say thanks for dropping by my blog :)

i had 2 girls in a row (18 months apart) and ur right, it has made it easier in some ways like having enough clothes for both of them. they are now 3 and 2 and wear almost the same size.

Julie said...

So, are you on iron pills or something, to help bring up your iron count? I hope that helps with the headaches!

Julie
http://scrapgrrl.com

Sprite's Keeper said...

Congratulations on your third princess! (Am I allowed to be a little, okay, very jealous right now?) I miss the kicks and gurgles I used to feel with Sprite.

Muthering Heights said...

I'm glad that your doctor's appointment went well!

Michelle said...

thanks for the update!

I'm fluffy too...but I DO NOT care what anyone says. Eat healthy, (um, exercise????, yeah.) and take care of yourself and dont worry about weight gain.

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