26 weeks

(Written on Monday) Baby was doing gymnastics last night multiple times. So I'm pretty sure baby is now feet down since I'm getting so many low low kicks today. Those gymnastics are pretty cool to feel though.

Only 14 weeks left and almost in the 3rd trimester. Today (Tuesday) marked 6 months pregnant. 3 months and 5 days left until my due date.

We are estimating that baby will come on September 29th which is 40+5. Any guesses?

How your baby's growing:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. That's amazing how baby has gone from a tiny little cell to close to 2lbs in 26 weeks... wow. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Are you rushing around trying to get to childbirth classes and prepare your baby's room while still taking care of all your other daily tasks? Make sure that you also continue to eat well and get plenty of rest. Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly, although it's probably still lower than it was before you got pregnant. (Typically, blood pressure falls toward the end of the first trimester, and it tends to reach a low at about 22 to 24 weeks.) BP is already higher than it was before pregnancy. I wonder if that puts me at a higher risk for pre-e... Childbirth classes are booked and I'm hoping baby stays put until the end of them on Aug 30.

Preeclampsia — a serious disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in your urine — most often shows up after 37 weeks, but it can happen earlier so it's important to be aware of the warning signs of this condition. Call your caregiver if you have swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week). With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms. Let your caregiver know immediately if you have a severe or persistent headache, vision changes (including double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision), intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen, or vomiting. I think I'm doing well on this part so far. Hoping for no surprises at the Dr. in a few weeks here, before we head down to visit hubby's family in Nevada. I have no swelling in my feet or anywhere else it shouldn't be. I can't wear my rings overnight so I leave them off all the time because of the pain that comes if I forget to take them off at night (but that's probably because of regular weight gain as I found it hard to wear them overnight when I was heavier before WW as well).

If your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus — which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your abdomen. I have all this already and use it most nights. It does help sometimes but other times it's just comfier not to have to move a pillow around when I change positions.