Sunday, May 31, 2009

Butternut squash and skeletal growth

So, yeah. Here's the facts from BabyCenter

How she's growing:
"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 his 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."

And then there's the below, which so far just does not apply to me:
--no heartburn, but when I'm full (it takes liquid to achieve this delightful effect), the little flap that should keep my food out of my throat and further down my digestive tract is not flapped closed, so I can bend over, hike up a hill, or roll over in bed and announce: "ew, tastes like I just threw up a little in my mouth." But, no burning!
--no hemorrhoids, yet...
--constipation has not returned. I'm all regular and happy about it! (But, um, the poo is stinky in a new way. From the fish oil supplements?)
--I can still sleep or kick it on my back
--Dizzy everyonce in a while. It passes, so, no big.
--Boobs! Still got 'em. Still lovin' 'em. New addition to boobage area: big blue veins after a bath or a hike. And every once in a while the left, sorry, my left boob (they're so darn big I sometimes forget they're mine!) aches a bit. I think it's cause they're busy getting ready for baby. Cool!
--She/Ginger Crash/Kahli/August/yeah, we don't know yet kicks a lot! And maybe punches. It's still cute and not yet uncomfortable. So, more yay!

How the experts say my life should be changing:
"Your baby's very active now. Your practitioner may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let her know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.

"Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion, which in turn can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation as well.

"Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy and usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth. If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Also avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your practitioner before using any over-the counter remedies during pregnancy, and let her know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.

"Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy, where laying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might note that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins" lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing."

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