Today I am 22 weeks pregnant, which equals 5 months.... I am now in my 6th month of pregnancy.
Junior is starting to get really active and I am amazed by the "power" the kicks are starting to have. I can only imagine how intense they are going to be in a couple of months. Sean also got to feel it now. Every night around 10 pm Junior gets really active and so I know a little bit better when Sean can try to feel the kicks. Also they are more frequent, around week 18 I felt a little "flutter" every once in a while, but now there are always a good 5-10 kicks per session.
It was very cool for Sean to feel Junior, it makes him feel more connected!
18 February 2008
17 February 2008
9-month fair
Friday I went to the 9-month fair in the RAI in Amsterdam with my mom. This is an annual event where stores get together to give you information and of course to have you buy their stuff.
We got there around noon and it took some time to find the right exposition hall. At the same time there was another fair going on which was really busy!
I have to say it was fun and there weren't as many histerical women as I expected. Everybody seemed to really enjoy themself. The one thing my mom and I had hoped for were some free samples. Not like we were just going there for the free stuff, but since there are soooo many products out there it would be nice to be able to try some out. Besides a couple of free diapers there was none of that and the stores were mainly trying to sell the items you can get in their store for the same price. There were some fair specials, but not for the things I still need. O well... it was fun anyway. There was one store which actually had good deals on bedding and we bought a blanket, sheets and a sleeping bag there all for 20 euro's. It was very busy at that stand!
After 3 hours I was getting tired and we went back home. It was good fun to spend this kind of time with my mom!
We got there around noon and it took some time to find the right exposition hall. At the same time there was another fair going on which was really busy!
I have to say it was fun and there weren't as many histerical women as I expected. Everybody seemed to really enjoy themself. The one thing my mom and I had hoped for were some free samples. Not like we were just going there for the free stuff, but since there are soooo many products out there it would be nice to be able to try some out. Besides a couple of free diapers there was none of that and the stores were mainly trying to sell the items you can get in their store for the same price. There were some fair specials, but not for the things I still need. O well... it was fun anyway. There was one store which actually had good deals on bedding and we bought a blanket, sheets and a sleeping bag there all for 20 euro's. It was very busy at that stand!
After 3 hours I was getting tired and we went back home. It was good fun to spend this kind of time with my mom!
12 February 2008
Midwife check up (21 weeks)
Today we had another midwife appointment. Up to about 30 weeks we will go there every 4 weeks and than it increases from every 3 weeks to every week close to delivery.
We talked a little about how I was doing, the 20 week ultrasound and she also took my bloodpressure. That was perfect at 120/75. Lastly she looked at my belly and listened to Junior's heart beat. All looks and sounds great!
I really like these appointments because it is a way to get away from our busy life and only focus on Junior for half an hour!
We talked a little about how I was doing, the 20 week ultrasound and she also took my bloodpressure. That was perfect at 120/75. Lastly she looked at my belly and listened to Junior's heart beat. All looks and sounds great!
I really like these appointments because it is a way to get away from our busy life and only focus on Junior for half an hour!
09 February 2008
Ultrasound picture
So, here is finally a picture of Junior from our ultrasound last Wednesday. In the picture you see mostly Junior's face. He/she is face to the left and in the middle you see the nose, lips and chin. In addition you see the arm with the hand and fingers over the head from left to right-top in the screen.
Like I wrote in my previous blog posting, all 3 pictures we have look similar, and this one was most clear.
Sean also took some movies from the screen, in this movie you see Junior yawn. After the yawn you see the mouth and in the left bottom corner you see the heart beat too. The face is positioned the same way as it is in the picture above, by the way! Pretty cool.... and adorable!!
Like I wrote in my previous blog posting, all 3 pictures we have look similar, and this one was most clear.
Sean also took some movies from the screen, in this movie you see Junior yawn. After the yawn you see the mouth and in the left bottom corner you see the heart beat too. The face is positioned the same way as it is in the picture above, by the way! Pretty cool.... and adorable!!
07 February 2008
The big ultrasound
Yesterday Sean and I went to the ultrasound center for the big 20 week ultrasound.
I was nervous and excited about it at the same time. Since we don't want to find out Junior's gender the most important purpose of this ultrasound was to get reassurance about Juniors health.
The technician was a really nice lady and took her time checking junior top to bottom. The head, brain and spinal cord all looked good. Then she moved to the face and that was just amazing. Junior was actually yawning on the screen and also drinking the amnionic fluid. So cute!!!
The arms, legs, fingers and toes were all looking good and complete as well.
The next part of the body she checked were the organs, which all looked fine. The heart was beating very nicely and it was easy to detect the ventricals and chambers and even the valves. Then she noticed something in the left ventrical which she referred to as echogenic intracardiac foci (EIF), which is like a white spot in the chamber. She didn't really reflect on it to much and told us they see this more in Japanese people?? So we didn't really worry about it.
All happy and 3 pictures later we were outside again. I will post the pictures later, I am still trying to find a nice format, and I have to say the pictures we got were not as impressive as the images we saw on screen.
Later that day, beeing in medical research, I was curious to know more about the EIF she had seen. Big mistake!!! The other day there was a news item on tv about the fact that health care costs go up due to self diagnosis and medication. Well I know why now. The first 10 hits in Google that came up about EIF were related to Down Syndrome. So this is where my big freak out started, by the end of the day I was convinced Junior has the condition. So after an emotional night I called my midwife this morning to express my concern. She called the technician to talk it over and it is really nothing to worry about. The research on EIF is still very contradictory and because of that and the fact that it can cause unnecessary worries (really??) they usually don't even mention it during the ultrasound. Only if there are more indications present that point that direction you get a more specialized ultrasound. The EIF was an isolated indication for us, no other tests caused any concern and because of my age the change of Down Syndrome is still VERY low. But the midwife was nice and took my worries serious and away.
In 10 weeks I will have another ultrasound to check on my placenta. For now it is still really low and blocking Junior's exit.... a potential problem. But with the uterus expanding the placenta should move up too and they will check this around week 30. During that next ultrasound they will also look for the EIF again, because a lot of the times this actually dissapears.
So even though it was great to see Junior yawn and move around the ultrasound also caused some worries, but now I am doing good and I keep looking at Junior's pictures and the little movies Sean took during the ultrasound. Junior is a beauty and so adorable!
I was nervous and excited about it at the same time. Since we don't want to find out Junior's gender the most important purpose of this ultrasound was to get reassurance about Juniors health.
The technician was a really nice lady and took her time checking junior top to bottom. The head, brain and spinal cord all looked good. Then she moved to the face and that was just amazing. Junior was actually yawning on the screen and also drinking the amnionic fluid. So cute!!!
The arms, legs, fingers and toes were all looking good and complete as well.
The next part of the body she checked were the organs, which all looked fine. The heart was beating very nicely and it was easy to detect the ventricals and chambers and even the valves. Then she noticed something in the left ventrical which she referred to as echogenic intracardiac foci (EIF), which is like a white spot in the chamber. She didn't really reflect on it to much and told us they see this more in Japanese people?? So we didn't really worry about it.
All happy and 3 pictures later we were outside again. I will post the pictures later, I am still trying to find a nice format, and I have to say the pictures we got were not as impressive as the images we saw on screen.
Later that day, beeing in medical research, I was curious to know more about the EIF she had seen. Big mistake!!! The other day there was a news item on tv about the fact that health care costs go up due to self diagnosis and medication. Well I know why now. The first 10 hits in Google that came up about EIF were related to Down Syndrome. So this is where my big freak out started, by the end of the day I was convinced Junior has the condition. So after an emotional night I called my midwife this morning to express my concern. She called the technician to talk it over and it is really nothing to worry about. The research on EIF is still very contradictory and because of that and the fact that it can cause unnecessary worries (really??) they usually don't even mention it during the ultrasound. Only if there are more indications present that point that direction you get a more specialized ultrasound. The EIF was an isolated indication for us, no other tests caused any concern and because of my age the change of Down Syndrome is still VERY low. But the midwife was nice and took my worries serious and away.
In 10 weeks I will have another ultrasound to check on my placenta. For now it is still really low and blocking Junior's exit.... a potential problem. But with the uterus expanding the placenta should move up too and they will check this around week 30. During that next ultrasound they will also look for the EIF again, because a lot of the times this actually dissapears.
So even though it was great to see Junior yawn and move around the ultrasound also caused some worries, but now I am doing good and I keep looking at Junior's pictures and the little movies Sean took during the ultrasound. Junior is a beauty and so adorable!
04 February 2008
Halfway point at exactly 20 weeks!
Today I have reached the halfway point. Looking back at the first half of my pregnancy I can say I have been pretty lucky, but it also hasn't gone completely smooth. Sure I never got sick to the point where I was throwing up all day, but I definitely felt very nauseas for 5 weeks and thus overall didn't feel that great. Also I have been very tired, also after the magic 3 months. Last week I found out that is due to slight anemia and a slow thyroid. Hopefully with all the medication and extra iron I feel better soon.
But I guess I shouldn't complain about all this, I have been able to go to work, function somewhat normal and when I take it down a notch I am fine overall.
I am now really looking forward to the second half of my pregnancy. My belly is starting to show and I just feel more pregnant. The first 3 months I really had to sort of get used to the idea. It is going to be great!
But I guess I shouldn't complain about all this, I have been able to go to work, function somewhat normal and when I take it down a notch I am fine overall.
I am now really looking forward to the second half of my pregnancy. My belly is starting to show and I just feel more pregnant. The first 3 months I really had to sort of get used to the idea. It is going to be great!
03 February 2008
Belly pictures and Africa atmosphere (week 20)
This coming Tuesday we will reach the half way point! Whow, sometimes I can't believe how fast it goes. On Wednesday we have our big ultrasound and of course I will post pictures of Junior soon after that. For now I will just have to post some pictures of my belly at 20 weeks.
My waist is now 82 cm, so 5 cm up from where we started.
Sorry for the not so great picture quality. I tried to take them myself and used a tripod which makes it hard to focus the pictures.
Also we have added some Africa items to the babyroom. Mr. Giraffe and mr. Hippo are just hanging out on the wall and in the crib. Also my parents gave us a nice musical mobile for the playpen with all animals attached to it, a chipmunk, an elephant and a zebra. For now we attached it to the crib, but it will move to the playpen once we have put that together. How cute.... Junior is going to love animals (I hope).
My waist is now 82 cm, so 5 cm up from where we started.
Sorry for the not so great picture quality. I tried to take them myself and used a tripod which makes it hard to focus the pictures.
Also we have added some Africa items to the babyroom. Mr. Giraffe and mr. Hippo are just hanging out on the wall and in the crib. Also my parents gave us a nice musical mobile for the playpen with all animals attached to it, a chipmunk, an elephant and a zebra. For now we attached it to the crib, but it will move to the playpen once we have put that together. How cute.... Junior is going to love animals (I hope).
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