Week 27

Oh man! With report cards being due this week, I really haven't had a chance to do much else. Well maybe a few other things...Todd and I decided to take advantage of the lake effect snow and go snowshoeing at the Clarence Nature Center again. We found a new path that ended up leading us to Uncle Carl's backyard!

But was I sore that night! This hasn't been the first time I felt discomfort especially after exercising so after self-diagnosing myself online (smile), I think I may actually have an acute case of Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)?? I was actually a little fascinated with what I found. According to http://www.i-am-pregnant.com/,

"During pregnancy, your body produces hormones and body parts shift to meet the demands of your growing baby. Your body produces a hormone known as relaxin during pregnancy. Relaxin softens the ligaments in your pelvis to enable your baby to pass through your pelvis. Normally, the two halves of your pelvis do not move very easily because the symphysis pubis is strengthened by ligaments. If one side of your pelvis moves more than the other side, you can experience pain and inflammation. This can happen when you walk or move your legs and the pain can become severe."

In addition to my SPD (ha ha ha), Sarah, one of the midwives, called on Monday to let me know I'm slightly anemic and my glucose was slightly higher than it should be (my levels were 144 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood plasma - the cut off is 140 mg/dL). Luckily the anemia can probably be taken care of with an increase of iron and folic acid in my diet.

However, because my glucose levels were just above normal I have to go for a THREE HOUR glucose tolerance test on Friday - ughhh!!! That means I will need to fast for at least 8 hours (nothing but sips of water), go to a lab, have my blood taken, drink some glucose solution, and have my blood taken after 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours of sitting in the waiting room.

One would think the best time to go would be first thing in the morning; however, I wouldn't get back to school in time to just take a half day. So I will be going on Friday at 1:45pm. It may actually kind of work out because I'm hoping it will be okay for me to get up at 5:30am to eat some cereal before going 8 hours without any food - yikes! Wish me luck and that I don't pass out from hunger!

Time to shuffle off to bed!!


Baby Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Your little one's brain continues its rapid growth. Don't forget to share music, conversation, and even books with your baby!
• Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. Your baby's hearing continues to develop, he or she may start to recognize your voice as well as your partner's.
• Lungs continue to grow and prepare for functioning outside of the womb. Each day in the womb greatly increases survival rates!
• S/he also continues to take small breaths and although s/he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born.
• Eyelids are now open more. Your baby can distinguish between light and dark.
• Retinas have formed.
• Your baby will grow over a half inch this week alone! You may suspect this phenominal growth rate repeats in the preteen years!
• Average size is now 14.4 inches and 1.9 pounds.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)