25-Week Midwife Appointment

My midwife appointment last Thursday was less than ideal, but I made it through nonetheless. I drank my yummy orange drink on the way to the appointment (really, it wasn't that bad... it basically tasted like a flat orange soft drink). The appointment itself started out with the usual... peed in a cup, weighed in (I have now gained 11 pounds total since my first appointment, which means I gained about four more pounds since my previous appointment), and had my blood pressure checked (which was fine). I then went into the examination room, soon to meet the third -- and my least favorite -- midwife. We went through introductions and she asked me some questions, and I made the mistake of asking her a question. Jarrett and I were curious as to how the baby gets the clue to turn head first in the birth canal when it comes time to do so. Apparently one should not ask this particular midwife questions, as she dwelled on it the entire time. She did not know the answer, and said she had not been asked the question in her many years of midwifery. She said she was very curious, though, and would have to find out the answer. But it didn't stop there. She would ask a question on a completely different subject or check the heartbeat, and then interrupt herself and say, "Hmm... that 's a really good question... I'm going to have to find that out." It was just a little odd, and I felt quite distracted through the entire visit. Again, please let Margaret deliver our baby. :) I guess we'll have to see what shakes out with the whole transitional process, and see where Margaret ends up.

The other annoying factor was that Jarrett came to the appointment with me in hopes of getting his blood drawn so we could figure out his blood type and figure out if I really need the Rh immunoglobulin injection. Everyone still seemed fine with this idea until the lady that draws the blood said that they couldn't do it -- that the only test they could perform on a man (from the insurance companies' perspective since it's an OB/GYN office) is that for cystic fibrosis. So this was rather aggravating for both Jarrett and for me. It's likely I'll just go ahead and get the injection at my next appointment (in about two weeks) unless we find somewhere convenient for Jarrett to be tested for his blood type, as there is no harm in getting the shot even if I don't need it. But I'm still of the thought that why should I get something that I don't need? We'll see what happens. I did get my blood drawn for the glucose screening, and she wielded the needle quite well -- it was nearly painless.

Anyway, despite the crazy visit, everything looked good, and I should receive the results from the glucose test early this week. Pray for no gestational diabetes.

Memorial Day Weekend 2008

Yes, I went tent camping six months pregnant -- and had a blast! I was a bit uncomfortable on the ground the first night, but probably with a combination of being slightly used to it and putting some extra padding between my knees, did much better the second night. You can read more (and see more photos) about the trip here.

How Cute are These?

Here are the outfits I picked up at the outlet stores in Hilton Head on our way back from the beach this past weekend. I think it's important to note that the dresses come with little matching bloomers... love them!

The 24-Week Belly

It's getting bigger....

The 24-Week Mark

I still can't believe this pregnancy is more than half over, but here we are at 24 weeks. According to babycenter.com, Baby Girl Helms is growing steadily, and has gained about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Her skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

She kicked me in the ribs (twice) for the first time on the drive back from the girls' weekend at the beach (you can read about the trip here on our other blog). It wasn't painful, really, just a strange sensation, for sure.

Next week is the glucose screening... mmm sickly sweet orange drink and a blood draw... can't wait.

22-Week Update

According to babycenter.com, Baby Helms is approximately 10.9 inches in length from head to foot (about the length of a spaghetti squash), and weighs nearly a pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

I can feel her kick on a daily basis now, though still not for very long periods of time, and it still feels fairly week from the outside. I imagine that as she grows, her kicks and punches will become much more exciting.

Dark Chocolate to the Rescue

I can handle this. I am not a huge fan of sweets, but I do like my dark chocolate. And, by the way, if you really want to taste some dark, rich chocolate, try Ciao Bella's chocolate sorbet. Kate introduced me to it, and I was sold at first bite. You can't eat much just because it really is so rich, but it is tasty nonetheless.