Week 21

How far along are you? 

21 weeks. 

How big is the baby? 

The baby is the size of a pomegranate. It is about 10.5 inches long and weighs roughly 12.7 oz. 

How I’m feeling: 

A little bit stressed at the moment. A new term of classes is just about to start so I've been extra busy getting everything ready. Plus we've had builders in since last Thursday so the house is a disaster zone. There's definitely a lack of the peace and quiet I'm used to and my normal routines are out of sync.  

So, sorry this post is late! We're out of our normal rhythm around here at the moment! 

Healthy eating? 

I was going to say I've been good this week but the more I thought about it, the more I realised that is a total lie. 

For starters, I may or may not have finished off the last third of a container of Haagen-Daaz cookies & cream while in bed one night. 

Then, I ordered more ice cream for dessert on our date Friday night at our neighbourhood Italian restaurant. Now, to be fair, I did not realise it would be a huge sundae when I asked for it. The server did shoot me a look like I was crazy… maybe I should have taken that as a hint? Anyway, I polished off most of it. To be honest, I could have easily eaten the last few bites but didn't want to look like a pig! 

On Sunday we had our awesome neighbours over for lunch. Dave grilled steak, onions, and mushrooms. I made a salad. So, generally healthy, right? But we weren't done yet! We needed dessert. So, I whipped up some good old fashioned Betty Crocker oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I know it calls for a cup of butter and that is just ridiculous, but they were SO GOOD! Even Dave, who swears he hates baked goods because they're too dry, loved them. The neighbours brought some fancy vanilla ice cream which paired with them perfectly.

So, yeah… I failed on the sugar front this week… big time! 

Food cravings: 

I still can't get enough sweet breakfast carbs. I made these banana oatmeal breakfast muffins twice in the last week. The first time I added crushed dark chocolate, and the second time I put in some raspberries and dark chocolate chips. They are pretty satisfying and full of fruit and fiber. They may not be perfect, but it is certainly healthier than my beloved butterscotch yum yums! 

Food aversions:

None. 

Exercise: 

I kept to my normal routine for the most part. Sadly, I did miss my Yoga for Birth class on Tuesday because of a stomach ache. 

Total weight gain/loss: 

+ 16 pounds

Sleep: 

I slept well this week. 

Maternity clothes?

Three of my kind clients have brought me hand-me-down maternity pants. I haven't tried all of them on yet but I appreciate their thoughtful gesture. 

Stretch marks?

Nope.

Best moment(s) this week: 

I had my anomaly scan on Wednesday at 9am. Dave took the day off so he could attend and then have some down time at home. 

At some point I hope to write about the National Health System (NHS) and my pregnancy. At the moment I am registered at the Royal Free Hospital where I have most of my prenatal appointments including my scans. 

I checked in and then we stayed in the main waiting room. After about 20 minutes we were called back to the sub-waiting area right outside of the rooms where the sonograms take place. 

The sub-wait area. It amused me that there was a sign for this. 

If you want to get copies of the scan images you have to buy a ticket for £3. This was Dave's job because he likes to use up as many of coins of a small denomination as possible. It makes him VERY happy to do so. 

Dave with the ultrasound scan receipt machine

Our scan receipt 

Me with the scan receipt and my pregnancy notes

A few minutes later we were called into one of the rooms. Here in the UK you must let your sonographer know at the start of the appointment if you would like to have copies of the images and if you would like to know the sex of the baby. I have had clients who forgot to mention one of these requests at the start and were out of luck when they brought it up at the end of the appointment. 

I got comfortable on the table, gel was applied to my abdomen and as soon as the transducer was pressed on my belly we saw our baby. We had a few quick glimpses of its body a whole. We also got a clear view of the little one's right foot. It was quite active, moving around, punching it's fists and kicking it's legs. 

Then the sonographer began to take specific measurements. He started with the head. We could see the brain, and then he showed us the mouth in between the baby's hands. I have to admit the baby's face looked a totally freaky! More like a skull than a pudgy infant face. He moved down to the chest and showed us the heart beating (149 bpm). Dave and I agree that seeing the entire spine and all of the ribs in place was especially cool. Then he moved down to the baby's abdomen where we saw the stomach. After that he checked the legs, identifying the tibia and fibula. The legs look straight, which is just what you want. The last step was to look to see if it is a girl or a boy. However, the cord was right between the baby's legs and it's knees were drawn into the chest. The sonographer gave the transducer a jiggle to try and get the baby to move but it didn't budge! 

We were not the least bit surprised the baby did not cooperate. At my 12 week scan it moved around so much that it took ages for them to record the necessary measurements. This combined with the fact that I felt the baby moving a lot since early in my pregnancy made us think the 21 week scan wouldn't be as straightforward as it could be. While we may not know the sex of the baby, we think we'll have our hands full with an active child who likes to play tricks on it's mom and dad! 

At the end of the appointment the sonographer told us that all the fetal measurements look normal. However, the placenta is low lying so I will need another scan at 34 weeks to see if it has migrated upwards. I was very happy to hear the baby is doing well but disappointed that the placenta is not in a better position. 

Afterwards, Dave and I went out for brunch and then made our way home. 

Movement: 

Yes, growing stronger each week. One of my favourite parts about the ultrasound was watching the baby move on the screen and feeling it at the same time. 

Belly button in or out? 

Still in but now you can see the outline of my belly button through my stretchy shirts. 

Symptoms: 

Itchy skin and occasional heartburn. Drinking milk before bed has helped with the heartburn. 

Gender:  

Well, we all know how the medical determination of the sex went. So, let's turn to the fun old fashioned ways of guessing if it is a boy or a girl instead!

Right before the scan we flipped a coin to determine the sex. Heads (the queen) = a girl. Tails = a boy. Two flicks in a row revealed the queen. So, the coin said it's a girl.

A few weeks ago my dad sent me a Chinese birth chart where you cross your age at conception and the month of the conception to determine the sex. It came up as a girl. 

My mom and my sister, Claire asked my nephew, Arlo if the baby would be a girl or a boy. Arlo declared emphatically it is a "girl!"

So, if we go by those predictions it's obviously a girl, right?! 

Dave has even started calling the baby Debula (his feminine version of Zebulon)!

Here are some images of Debula/Zebulon (Debbie or Zebbie for short). What do you think? Place your bets! 

Labor signs: 

No, thankfully. 

What I miss: 

I really wanted to read lying on my belly this week.  

What I'm looking forward to:

Our house is a building site. Unfortunately, the father of one of the worker's was hospitalised so rather than having two men here there's only been one for most of the week. There is dust everywhere and although I bought low VOC eco-friendly paint as a precaution, I really didn't think through how many other chemicals would be coming into the house (plaster, wood filler, grout, etc) as a result of this work. We moved the mattress from the guest bedroom down to the living room so we could sleep there and avoid as much of the dirt and toxins as possible. I'm glad we're taking care of all these small chores before the baby comes but I can't wait until all the work is finished! 

Weekly wisdom: 

I was reminded this week that I cannot always control my circumstances, but I can manage my reaction to a given situation. 

I have always appreciated the concept of non-attachment in Buddhism. The Dali Lama said "attachment is the origin, the root of suffering; hence it is the cause of suffering". This week, I was disappointed not to find out the sex of the baby and to discover the placenta isn't in an optimal spot. I am attached to knowing if it is a girl or a boy. I am attached to having as natural a birth as I am able and avoiding a Cesarean unless it is absolutely necessary. So, as a result I haven't been able to remain equanimous. These attachments were highlighted and now I need to become comfortable with the fact that I may not know the sex for awhile longer and my optimal birth scenario may not unfold. Hopefully by acknowledging and addressing my feelings about these things I can make my way back to feeling calm and centred again. 

Milestones: 

I saw my belly move when the baby kicked. At this point, it is probably too subtle for someone other than me to witness it. 

Dave's take: 

Dave really wanted me to title the email update about my sonogram "cord-gate" rather than "scan results".

I mentioned to Dave that I had watched a couple of birth videos on Youtube. I asked him if had ever seen a video of a baby being born. He didn't think so. Then he suggested we watch Lambing Live to get an idea of what's ahead for us. Funny fellow… 

Week 20

How far along are you? 

20 weeks. Halfway there! 

How big is the baby? 

The baby is the size of a banana. It is about 6.5 inches long and weighs roughly 10.6 oz. 

How I’m feeling: 

I feel happy and healthy. 

Healthy eating? 

I did pretty well this week. However, on Saturday I had a blueberry financier after lunch and a chocolate desert after dinner. Delicious but a bit much. 

Food cravings: 

Sweet carb heavy breakfast items. I don’t normally do a lot of baking but I feel better eating that type of thing if I know exactly what goes into it. On Monday I made these baked maple cinnamon doughnuts. I only gave them a light dusting of cinnamon and sugar but they were perfect for my taste. 

Food aversions:

None.

Exercise: 

My normal routine minus Zumba on Saturday. We had a ton of little errands to run on the weekend - a trip to the post office, the bank, the grocery store, etc. Since some of those places close early I skipped class. 

However, I did attend a yoga workshop for women Saturday night hosted by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli. She is the teacher who lead the Pregnancy Yoga teacher training and Women’s Wellness/Womb Yoga teacher training that I attended. Her work deeply inspires me and I firmly believe I have this sweet, little resident in my belly thanks in part to her teachings. More on that in another post... 

Total weight gain/loss: 

I have not weighed myself this week. 

Sleep: 

It’s been a good week for sleep. I still woke up a couple of times a night but just for quick trips to the loo. The vivid dreams keep coming but they haven’t been too disruptive. 

Maternity clothes?

The maternity jeans work well. They’re pretty comfortable, if on the verge of being too short. 

Lauren said my Old Navy order arrived at her house and she’s sending it to me soon. Yay! 

My bras are getting a bit tight and uncomfortable now. One of my clients recommended a maternity/nursing bra which I ordered. As I measured myself to get the fit right I called the numbers out to Dave so he could help me remember them. When I yelled out “102 cm” he responded by saying “whoa, that’s over a metre around!” Ah, just what every pregnant woman wants to hear. Honestly, it made me laugh because he was so genuinely surprised and the comment was not mean spirited at all.

Stretch marks?

No, although my battle with itchy skin continues. In fact, more than once this week I’ve reapplied coconut oil in the wee hours of the morning because my skin felt so dry. 

Best moment(s) this week: 

On Friday I received a massage from a local therapist. I’ve known about her for a couple of years but that was my first appointment under her care. It was amazing! It was one of the best treatments I’ve ever received. She is clearly very skilled and experienced. She also used essential oils which I always love. I booked another appointment in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait!

Movement: 

The baby is active. Sometimes it surprises me how strong the kicks are already. Nothing painful, but a couple have momentarily taken my breath away. 

Although I feel the baby move a lot, poor Dave is having a different experience. Zeb seems to be playing his/her first game with his/her dad - hide and seek. I’ll feel a series of substantial jabs and call Dave over to have a feel. Just as he puts his hand on my belly, Zeb disappears. I think it has Dave a little bit bummed out but we both keep reminding ourselves that it’s going to be much more obvious soon. 

Belly button in or out? 

In, but I feel like the shape is changing. This make sense since the uterus should be level with my belly button. 

Symptoms: 

It seems only fitting that as I reached the halfway mark my body sent me a signal that I may need to slow down a bit. Tuesday evening I had a strong stitch in my right side like you’d get during an intense run. I was teaching but I would hardly call the exercises I was demonstrating strenuous. It came and went over the next couple of hours. I took it easy and talked my clients through the movements rather than demonstrating them. By the time the classes ended I was fine. 

I still feel itchy. 

I still have heartburn occasionally.  

Gender:  

We’ll know in four days!

At the moment there is a wonderful group of mums and babies who attend yoga on Thursdays. I have worked with them for several months and next week is our last class together. Most of them will not return because their babies are now too mobile for the activities we do. They know we’ll find out the gender next Wednesday and were curious if I’d share the news with them. I plan to and one mum said hearing the news will be a wonderful send off. Isn’t that sweet? 

Last week the question all my clients wanted to know was if we’d find out the gender. This week everyone is curious if I’ll bring my child to the classes I teach involving babies. The answer is probably no. Real babies are unpredictable and I don’t think I’d be able to give my full attention to my clients if I had my little one present. So, I think I’ll stick with my current set-up. Speaking of which... 

Let me introduce my trusty demonstration doll, George. (Named after my grandpa.) 

George is pretty reliable. He never cries. He never needs to be fed. He never needs to be changed. He never needs to nap. This is quite miraculous for a baby. 

However, he has no neck control and cannot hold his head up. He can’t roll, crawl, or sit up.

And, frankly he’s so quiet that I *may* have accidentally left him on a shelf during class one day this week. Oops! 

Labor signs: 

No, thankfully. 

What I miss: 

Bending from the waist is becoming increasingly difficult. My bump isn’t too big yet but it just doesn’t feel very comfortable, especially when I have a touch of heartburn. So, I am beginning to miss my previous range of movement.

What I'm looking forward to:

The builders start this week! The projects include: 

Ensuite bathroom 

• Retile the floor because it is badly cracked with chunks missing
• Replace the lighting and extractor fan because they don’t work 
• Repaint 

Guest bedroom 

• Fix the damp patches along the top of one wall 
• Replaster as needed 
• Fix the moulding because large pieces are missing 
• Repaint 

Indoor/outdoor 

• Fix the mortar between the bricks where water is getting into the house and repaint these areas

We planned to have them paint the baby’s room too but the cost was exorbitant so we’ll do it ourselves. We did pick a color called “lemony” for the walls and the wainscoting will be white. At the moment all the furniture from the guest room is in the nursery but as soon as the builders are done we’ll get started with the refurbishments. 

Also, we booked our flights to the US for our trip in May! First, we’re going to Arizona for a week to do nothing but sit poolside soaking up the sun. I expect that will be the last opportunity to do so before the baby comes. My best friend Emma is planning to join us there for a couple of days. Fun! Then Dave and I will fly to Kansas. He’ll be in Lawrence for about a week and then head home to the UK. I will stay a few days longer. I can’t wait to see everyone! 

Weekly wisdom: 

Find a balance between activity and rest. 

Milestones: 

I realized I only have two more terms of teaching left. I can’t believe how quickly the time is going! 

One of the clients talked about a group of mums that take turns hosting rhyme time in their homes. She said she’d add me to list once the baby is born. I’m really looking forward to hanging out with other mothers and babies in the area. Finchley has so many wonderful activities on tap for young families! 

Dave's Take: 

Several men Dave works with have a new addition to the family or are expecting babies. In fact, one guy will probably go on paternity leave around the same time Dave does. By the sounds of things, there is a fair bit of talk about pregnant wives and babies. I find this amusing and encouraging, especially in such a male dominated work environment. 

Week 19

How far along are you? 

19 weeks. 

How big is the baby? 

The baby is about the size of a mango. It is roughly 6 inches long and weighs around 8.5 oz. 

How I’m feeling: 

I feel good!

Healthy eating? 

I'm eating lots of fruit and more veggies. I do want a sweet treat every day. 

Food cravings: 

Sweet things. I looked up the calorie count for the butterscotch yum yums and it is 529 a serving! So, I started looking for alternatives. Over the weekend I made these baked chocolate chip doughnuts. At 87 calories a serving they're much healthier. I made them in a muffin tin this time. However, I did decide it was time to order a doughnut pan. They are my favourite thing to bake so it seems like a good choice! 

Food aversions:

None.

Exercise: 

I skipped prenatal conditioning on Sunday to have a sleep in and enjoy the sunshine. Otherwise, I stuck to my regular routine. 

Total weight gain/loss: 

+ 13 pounds

Maybe I mismeasured last week? Or this week? I have felt hungrier in the past couple of days. Perhaps Zeb is having a growth spurt? 

Sleep: 

I am now sleeping with a pillow under my head, another between my knees, and one more under my arm. I still wake up a few times a night but this set up seems to help me get some quality rest. 

Maternity clothes? 

On Thursday I tried on all the clothes I ordered online. I bought 6 pairs of jeans, 4 pairs of leggings, 1 maxi skirt, 1 dress, and 1 top. In the end, only the maxi skirt and the top fit. Part of the problem is that I always buy my jeans back in the States so I don't really know my size here in the UK. Most of the stuff I tried on was too big. Like this: 

I mean, it's ridiculous, right? I burst out laughing when I put those on and ran to show Dave how silly they looked. 

On Friday I met Ria for tea and scones in Soho at Dean Street Townhouse. Oh, how I love scones with clotted cream and jam! Then she accompanied me to New Look to see if they had any of the jeans I tried on in a smaller size. They only had one style I liked available but they did fit so I bought them. 

Over the weekend there was a big sale at Old Navy in the States. They do ship internationally but the sale didn't apply to overseas orders. I asked Lauren if it was okay for me to send the package to her house and then send it on to me. She agreed and the parcel is on the way. When I was home over Christmas I tried on several maternity pieces on from this store so I know my size. Mostly I bought tank tops that I can layer under cardigans or jackets. 

Stretch marks?

Not so far. 

Best moment(s) this week: 

The sun! The sun! The sun! It is finally beginning to feel like Spring! 

A blooming tree in our yard. 

A lone daffodil in our yard.

We spent most of the weekend outdoors. On Sunday we went to the gym, had breakfast, bought groceries, and went to the garden centre. Then we went home and worked in the backyard for awhile. Dave decided to demolish a bush. I left him to it while I planted a few herbs: rosemary and parsley. Dave also cleaned the BBQ. 

Dave looks annoyed because I distracted him from his very important work.  

Dave's creative method for making more room in the green waste bin. 

On Sunday we headed back outside to plant more herbs and veggies including chives, several types of lettuce, many different tomato varieties, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, zucchini, and corn. Afterwards Dave fired up the grill and cooked steak, mushrooms, and onions. I made a corn, tomato, and halloumi salad. It was delicious!

Planting seeds! 

Mmmmmm… Dinner! 

Movement: 

I have started to feel the baby when I am in other positions besides being slumped down on the sofa. I've felt it lying on my side, standing up, and also squatting down in the middle of teaching a yoga class. 

Belly button in or out? 

In. 

Symptoms: 

Heartburn is a new symptom. Or is it acid reflux? It's flared up a couple of times at night but with enough pillows to prop me up a bit I was able to get back to sleep. Occasionally I feel it start up when I bend over too. 

Gender:  

My clients like to ask me about the pregnancy and the question of the week was if we'll find out the sex of the baby or not. Assuming the baby cooperates, we'll discover the gender at the next scan on March 26th. Not long to wait now! 

The ladies I work with also like to share their stories and I love to hear them. Most of the women found out the sex of their baby before the birth but a few waited for a surprise at the end of labour. One client raised an interesting point. She found out it was a girl at her scan and was thrilled because she'd always wanted one. However, she said another part of her was quite sad because it meant the baby definitely wasn't a boy. So, she'd have to let go of any day dreams she had about the possibility of life with a son from that pregnancy. I'd never thought of it that way before and could understand her perspective. 

Labor signs: 

No. 

What I miss: 

In Zumba class I had one of those moments when you realise everything is about to change dramatically. We were doing a cool down dance and it dawned on me that once the baby was born we wouldn't be able to hit the clubs as easily. Um, I can't tell you the last time we went dancing at a nightclub but for a fleeting moment I wished we'd been out shaking our booties every Saturday night! 

What I'm looking forward to:

I bought Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally by Janet Balaskas. I look forward to reading it over the coming weeks. I am a huge geek when it comes to the anatomy and physiology of pregnancy and birth so this book is right up my alley. I am keeping an open mind about how the birth could unfold and the resources available in this modern age. At the same time, the human body, particularly in a birthing setting, is awe inspiring and capable of so many wondrous things. I'd like to become even more familiar with the ways I can help myself during this life changing experience. I've had lots of feedback from my pregnant clients that the breathing techniques and active labour positions learned in yoga class helped them through the challenges of their births. I too would like to put these exercises to practical use when the time comes.  

Weekly wisdom: 

Read the return policy when you get a package delivered. I assumed I had the standard 28 days with one parcel and was surprised to find it was only 14 days! I realised on the last day I could return it. Whew! 

Milestones: 

I finally have a pair of maternity jeans!