Week 19

How Far Along: 19 Weeks

Baby Size: Mango.

Symptoms: 
Low blood pressure. Feeling dizzy but this is getting less and less.
Frequent urination. Somedays it feels like all the time, other days not as much. I think it all depends where baby is sitting.
Fetal Movement. I can feel the baby move all the time. Love the little kicks or punches and rolling feeling

Weight Gain: Up 4.5lbs!

Sleep: I'm having trouble getting comfortable to fall asleep, but once I do I'm out until I wake up to pee. Sleeping solidly between those breaks.

Best Moment of the Week: Gilles feeling the baby kick! It was amazing to see his face. Hearing the heartbeat at 157. Realizing the baby responds to deep voices. Gilles has a deeper voice and I've noticed I get kicks more often when we're relaxing and talking.

Worst Moment of the Week: Feeling dizzy

Any cravings or aversions: Nothing strong

Wedding ring on or off: On. My hands are so cold my rings still feel big on me

Belly button In or Out: In

What I'm looking forward to: Our ultrasound on Saturday. Can't wait to see the baby and have Gilles there

What I miss:  Watching a movie without having to pause.

Emotions: Elated. We're reaching the halfway point. Most people can notice I'm pregnant now. My bump is much bigger and I'm still so excited. I love every change, every feeling and know that although this is temporary, I'm doing something amazing.

Nursery: Gilles set up our dresser. Took him a long time with all the pieces, but it's done! We also started researching ideas for the wall colours.

Shopping: Bought a video monitor on sale.

To-do: Relax and enjoy this week. 

Week 18

How Far Along: 18 Weeks

Baby Size: Sweet Potato or Papaya or Pickle. I have three different apps that tell me different food.

Symptoms: Low blood pressure, I think. I've been really faint the last few days and having to lie down a lot.

Weight Gain: Up 3 lbs since prepregnancy.

Sleep: Still sleeping soundly. Getting harder to flip over.

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling more kicks. Having someone notice my belly!

Worst Moment of the Week: Feeling faint a lot

Any cravings or aversions: Nothing this week

Wedding ring on or off: On

Belly Button In or Out: In

What I'm looking forward to: Feeling more movement

What I miss: Sleeping on my back as an option

Emotions: Happy. I love being pregnant and all the changes

Nursery: Our crib, dresser and stroller came in on Friday. Set up the stroller already and will check the boxes for the rest. Can't set up the nursery until after Christmas but nice to have most of what we need

Shopping: I bought 2 dresses on consignment. Wore one to a Christmas party

To-do: Prenatal appointment this week. I also need to start doing my workout more consistently

To Doula or not to Doula?

When we first got pregnant, the one thing I wanted to research right away, was a doula. I knew that I wanted one there for our first child and birth experience. My oldest sister had one with her last of 3 kids and had a natural birth. The research supporting the success of having a natural birth with a doula is enough to convince me it is worth every penny.

I had to convince Gilles that a doula is not a replacement for him. He is my main support, my rock and the one I want by my side through the birth. A doula is simply there to help him, me and remind us of the decisions we intended to make. They've been there, they have experience.

I went through the doula websites in our area of the city as a way to narrow down the search. I found one website that just felt like "the one". At around 8 weeks I emailed to get a meeting/interview with them. I fully intended to make more meetings with a few others, but after we ended up talking for so long with the duo and being kicked out of Starbucks because it was closing, we knew we'd found the right team.

The Serene Mama Doula team is great. We essentially get 2 doulas for the price of one. We meet with them both for all our meetings and on the day our baby comes, one of them will be there with us. They are each others back up and we get to know them both.

We get support through the moment we hire them to a few days after we get home with our new bundle. They will go through everything from nutrition, tips for exercise and relaxation, a lending library of books, videos and just a quick call to reassure me when I have questions. They help us picture our perfect birth, and help us achieve it. They also talk with us about realistic expectations. They don't shy away from the details or the things no one talks about.

For us and our birth plan, we are planning to be in a hospital. From experience with my sisters and reading books, I feel like having a resource there for the duration that knows what is going on and provide support is key. The OB or Dr comes in infrequently and really only when it's time to push or there is something wrong. Nurses can be great, but depending on how long your labour is, you may see a number of different ones. Having Gilles and a doula there as constant support is priceless.

Week 17

How Far Along: 17 Weeks

Baby Size: Onion, 5 Inches long

Symptoms: Stuffy nose. Hungrier a lot more, but having to eat smaller meals. My back has started to breakout a little which I haven't had since high school. Hopefully that stops soon. It could be due to dairy intake, so I'll play with that a little. I have about a two hour window before I have to pee. Back aches if I walk too much or sit too long.

Weight Gain: Up 2 lbs from prepregnancy weight

Sleep: Definitely side sleeping permanently now. I have to get up 1-2 times a night to pee now.

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling more movement from baby.

Worst Moment of the Week: Feeling irritated for no reason

Any cravings or aversions: Milk. I love just having a glass.

Wedding ring on or off: On

Belly Button In or Out: In

What I'm looking forward to: Gilles being able to feel the baby.

What I miss: Relaxing on my back

Emotions: Alternating between being super happy and content to irritated.

Nursery: Went through everything that we have for baby already and did inventory. I didn't think we had much left to register for, but we will have plenty. 

Shopping: I bought a two new shirts this week. One is sparkly for Gilles Christmas party this weekend, and the other was 50% off. Also picked up new undies!

To-do checks: Blood tests Tuesday. Prenatal appointment Friday

Week 16

How Far Along: 16 Weeks

Baby Size: Avocado

Symptoms: Back ache, Round Ligament Pain - had really researched this much but wow can it smart a little. I had some pain while sitting at dinner in a restaurant one night. I had one day of morning sickness that hit me hard. Thought I was rid of it, but apparently not.

Weight Gain: Nothing this week. Still up 1lb.

Sleep: I dug out the wedge to have under my belly when I sleep on my side. It's not always needed, but helps sometimes when I'm having trouble getting comfortable. Still sleeping like a rock.

Best Moment of the Week: Gilles telling me about a dream he had about our future baby. I'll leave the sweet details out, but it was the best thing to hear. Fitting into my first pair of maternity jeans!
Feeling flutters! Very soft, but definitely flutters.

Worst Moment of the Week: Morning sickness coming back for a day

Any cravings or aversions: not feeling chicken wings at all. Tim Horton's breakfast sandwich.

Wedding ring on or off: On

What I'm looking forward to: Feeling stronger movements

What I miss: Shrimp

Emotions: Excited still. I'm still loving being pregnant and enjoying all the changes

Nursery: We bought a crib, dresser, stroller/carseat and bedding this weekend! They will be delivered after Christmas - by choice - so we can get it, set it up and not have to store it while we host family over the holidays. At least I think it will. The confirmation email said next Friday, so we'll see when we actually get it.
We also got a Pack 'n' Play that we'll wrap up for Christmas. My mom is giving it to us as a gift, but I picked it up on sale now. 

Shopping: I bought new bras and underwear and a new pair of tights. 

To-do checks: Go for blood tests.

Week 15

How Far Along: 15 Weeks

Baby Size: Naval Orange. 2.5 ounces, 4 inches

Symptoms: I'm starting to feel amazing with more energy and have a bump to show. I still have the stuffy nose feeling but that could be the cold I'm starting to catch. I'm having moments of shortness of breath. Digestion is starting to slow down.

Weight Gain: Gained 1 lb

Sleep: It's uncomfortable to sleep on my back so an elaborate pillow system is set up in bed now. Still sleeping soundly and only having to wake up once to pee.

Best Moment of the Week: The house got cleaned by Gilles. I popped. Definitely have a bump now!

Worst Moment of the Week: Back pain. Hoping that working out will help make my back stronger and ache less

Any cravings or aversions: McDonald's Cheeseburger. I felt disgusting eating it, but it tasted SO GOOD

Wedding ring on or off: On

What I'm looking forward to: Prenatal massage Friday

What I miss: Nothing this week. I had that "I love being pregnant" moment this week

Emotions: Happy, Excited

Nursery: Nada. 

Shopping: Bought some new bras and underwear. Things are expanding!

To-do checks: Get blood tests done, book next prenatal appointment, book 18-20 week ultrasound

Week 14

How Far Along:  14 Weeks

Baby Size: Length of a lemon

Symptoms: M/S seems to be gone. I'm getting hungrier. Definitely always thirsty, but I'm finding that drinking water all day I start to get sick of it and then feel yucky. Stuffy nose, but I'm pretty sure it's not from a cold

Weight Gain: 

Sleep: I have a huge body pillow that is working great for hugging between my knees. It relieves some pressure and I can sleep on my side really well. I'm starting to get cramping in my hands when I wake up which sucks.

Best Moment of the Week: Got to hear the HB for the first time. Gilles was there and heard it too. Getting to Second Trimester

Worst Moment of the Week: Dry heaving from having to clean up our dogs puke

Any cravings or aversions: I craved a Tim Horton's Breakfast sandwich one day. It was delicious

Wedding ring on or off: On and it's turning lots now that snow/winter has settled. My hands get so cold my rings always feel big

What I'm looking forward to: Having my bump grow

What I miss: Eating whenever rather than RIGHT NOW

Emotions: Excited. Calm. Powerful

Nursery: Looked around in Sears and liked what they had. Still just window shopping

Shopping: Ordered some BumGenius cloth diapers. A store in Calgary had a Buy 6 get 2 Free sale.

To-do checks: Nothing baby related. Focus on teaching and studying this week