30 Weeks

For several months, the umbilical cord has been the baby's lifeline to the mother. Nourishment is transferred from the mother’s blood, through the placenta, and into the umbilical cord to the fetus. Their bone marrow is now responsible for red cell production. These red blood cells will continue to service your child's body by transporting oxygen and removing the wastes. Your baby begins storing iron, calcium and phosphorus.

The fetus now weighs about 3 pounds. He will gain about half a pound a week until week 38. Baby is getting fatter and beginning to control its own body temperature. Baby continues to put on fat stores and the major weight gains will occur in the coming weeks. Eyebrows and eyelashes are fully developed, and hair on the head is getting thicker. Head and body are now proportioned like a newborn. Hands are now fully formed and fingernails are growing, eyelids are opening and closing.

You may be starting to experience some swelling of your ankles and legs. If you have not experience swelling yet, it is highly probable that you will, as approximately 40 to 75 percent of women experience mild swelling related to pregnancy.

Your uterus is now about 4 inches above your bellybutton. It may feel like you are running out of room as your uterus grows up under your ribs. However, your fetus, placenta and uterus will continue to get larger, you still have 10 weeks to go. The average weight gain during pregnancy is 25 to 35 pounds. About half of this weight is concentrated in the growth of the uterus, the placenta, the baby and in the volume of amniotic fluid. At this point, you should be gaining about a pound a week.

Update on Appointment...Follow up from ER

I went to the doctor today after not being able to do anything this whole weekend! I was told I had a bad bladder infection. It did not show up on the ER urinalysis which sometimes happens. Just glad they caught it today because in pregnant women these can lead to kidney infections that will put you in the hospital for treatment. That is why I was having cramping, pressure and contractions. I will be on medicine for a couple of weeks to treat the infection. I am allowed back to work though...thank goodness! I do not know what I would do at home for the next 8-10 weeks...waiting for little Lucas! I am really going to make sure that I do slow down a bit at work though. Sometimes I do overdo it!! My next appointment is October 20th so I will let you know how that goes. I do have an ultrasound coming up...I can't wait to see what he looks like!

Oh...I almost forgot the best news!!! I did pass the glucose test and I am not diabetic and I was also tested for a blood disorder, FACTOR V, since it runs in my family. My doctor said she would go ahead and test for it since it can be a problem during and after pregnancy and because I have Scleroderma and VonWillebrands Disease. I tested negative for this!! I was so excited!!!

First ER visit

I ended up having my first ER visit with little Lucas. I was not feeling too good Friday morning and ended up having some unusual cramping later that afternoon that became stonger as I walked around my classroom. I was told by the nurse on call at my doctors office to go to the ER. I was not in any pain, just uncomfortable. I was told I was having some contractions and I could see them on the monitor. Lucas thinks those monitors are soccer balls...everytime they put one of those up to my tummy or even to hear his heartbeat each visit, he kicks them. He is too funny and already has a great personality like his Daddy. They gave me a shot to stop the contractions and I felt much better. I was not dialated and my cervix was still closed so they sent me home with some preterm labor preventions...pretty much bed rest until I talk to me doctor on Monday (today). I thought I had some time to type so I would let you all know what was going on and continue the story after my talk or visit with the doctor today.

29 Weeks

The baby's head is growing bigger to accommodate the brain, which is busy developing billions of neurons. The eyes can move in their sockets. They may be able to follow a blinking light. As well as your baby's increasing sensitivity to changes in light, they may also be able to taste. Various studies show that your baby may indicate preferences or dislike for particular tastes at this stage.
Baby is also moving from side to side, but probably still is head up. In the next few weeks, they will move to the head down birthing position. At times you may feel as if baby is performing somersaults for an olympic gold medal. Baby may be performing fewer movements because living conditions in the womb are becoming more cramped. The baby is still doing a lot of kicking and stretching. Some of your baby's kicks and punches may even take your breath away.
Baby hears things better from the vibrations all around, and can now distinguish real sounds and voices. Do not forget to continue to 'teach' your baby in the womb by exposing them to music, literature, and simply talking to them. At this stage baby eyes are almost always blue and can distinguish bright sunlight or artificial light through the uterine wall.
At week twenty nine, your baby measures about 15 inches and weighs about 2.5 pounds.

28 Weeks Update of Appointment

I went for my appointment and gestational diabetes test. Lucas's heartbeat was great and he is moving all around! Some kicks are so strong they wake me up at night. I did not pass my hour glucose test for gestational diabetes and I am going for the three hour test Monday, September 28. The doctor said this does not mean I will or will not have it. Some patients fail the hour and pass the three hour. I will have that done on Monday and find out 2 days later. If I do not pass it, I will go to a class to start a diet and that should help. If not I will have to give myself insulin shots but, only until Lucas is born. I will be seeing the doctor every two weeks now. Andrew and I are attending a birthing class on November 14th at the doctors office. I have been very active at work with my kindergarteners. They have been keeping me on my feet all day! It is my first year teaching the inlcusion class. I am going to be starting this week and taking Mondays off until Lucas is born. My joints and muscles from my Scleroderma have been very sore and stiff. I need the extra day on my weekend to rest them so I do not go on best rest! I hope that this works and I can keep working up until Lucas is born. I will keep you posted with my test and my appointments every two weeks.

28 Weeks

Brain waves show rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which means your baby may be dreaming. Eyelids are opening. Eye color may change within the first six months of life especially if your baby's eyes are blue or gray-blue at birth. Remember to talk to your baby often; reading stories, singing songs has been seen to slow the baby's heart rate. He or she can recognize your voice now and will often calm to it later after birth. Your uterus will be about 3 inches above your bellybutton. During this time of your pregnancy, your belly will grow about half an inch each week. If you have been following a nutritious, balanced meal plan, your total weight gain is probably between 17 and 24 pounds.Branches of lungs are quite developed now, so there is a good chance that baby would survive if born prematurely now. If your baby is born this week, the chances of survival is now at least 90 percent. However, some complications are still possible.

27 Weeks

Welcome to the third trimester. Congratulations! You have made it 2/3 of the way through. It may be hard to believe, but your baby now appears much like he or she will look like at birth. Baby now has eyebrows and eyelashes and hair is growing everyday. The muscle tone is improving and his or her body is getting plumper. Your little one's brain continues its rapid growth. Don't forget to share music, conversation, and even books with your baby.
The retina at the back of your baby's eyes is beginning to develop. Those beautiful baby eyes can open now, and the baby will notice and may turn his or her head if you shine a flashlight against your belly.At 27 weeks, your baby's length will have tripled or quadrupled from the 14 week mark. If your baby is born this week, the chances of survival is now at least 80 percent. However, serious complications are still possible.

26 Weeks

The fetus makes breathing movements, but there is no air in the lungs yet. Hands are active and muscle coordination is such that they can get a thumb into the mouth. Thumb sucking calms the baby and strengthens the cheek and jaw muscles.The fetal brain scan will show response to touch. Touching and playing with the baby is possible now, as they may respond to your touch through your belly wall. Brain growth continues with brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems starting to develop. Baby is probably very active in the womb, as the most active weeks are typically between weeks 24 and 28.You may begin feeling your belly tighten and relax at odd moments or irregular intervals. These are Braxton Hicks contractions. They are painless and help the uterus prepare for the birth. Many babies have developed a predictable routine for sleep and active periods. If your back is feeling the strain of your growing belly, try doing some pelvic rocks to relax it. Stand with your back against the wall, knees slightly bent. As you inhale a breath, press the small of your back against the wall. Exhale and relax your back. You may be experiencing shortness of breath as the uterus is very close to the rib cage at this stage. Some moms are not able to fully expand their rib cages; however, this does not negatively affect the baby in any way.This week marks the end of month six, which is the last month of the second trimester

Baby Shower in Erie

Grammy gave us the most beautiful shower! We got so many gifts we could not even see out of the windows in our SUV on the way back to Savannah! It was great! We have been so busy since we have been back unpacking and washing baby clothes!

I just got started back to work and we are just going to say it is very "interesting"! Lucas is very busy in the evenings kicking around. He is probably wondering what the heck I am doing all day...never sitting, loud yelling children...when I come home and put up my swelling feet he wakes up and starts kicking around. It does not bother my one bit at night because I am exhausted, I go right to sleep! Andrew has been feeling him through my tummy...so fun! I will soon post an updated belly pic...I AM STILL GROWING!

25 Weeks

Baby is now pretty well built portion wise even though it still has little body fat and its skin is thin. The structures of the spine begin to form -- All 33 rings, 150 joints and 1000 ligaments. The tiny brain is growing rapidly, and the baby is starting to fill the space in your uterus. The uterus is now about the size of a soccer ball and mom looks pregnant.
Your baby's hands are now fully developed, although some of the nerve connections to the hands have a long way to go. Dexterity is improving. Your baby can make a fist and clasp objects placed in palm. Exploring the structures inside your uterus may have become baby's prime entertainment. Fascinated by the amount of tactile stimulation a fetus gives itself; it touches a hand to the face, one hand to the other hand, clasps its feet, touches its foot to its leg, its hand to its umbilical cord. Blood vessels of the lungs develop. Your baby's nostrils begin to open. The nerves around the mouth and lip area are showing more sensitivity now. Their swallowing reflexes are developing. Baby can hear sounds outside the womb and the brain cells are starting to mature also. Already it can learn and remember and can recognize its mother and fathers voice.