25 week OB visit summary
Overall weight gain 12 lbs
In the last month 6 lbs
Fundal Height 25 cm
Fetal Heart rate normal
Blood pressure 111/74
Now more than half way through this pregnancy and I'm starting to get a little tired of this gig. I have to keep reminding myself that this is the easy part and in four months I'll have a new born, a toddler and a post-partum body to deal with so I should really just sit tight.
My belly is getting bigger although pictures reveal it is not as big as it feels. It is roughly basketball sized. I find I can't really wear most of my pre-maternity pants with much comfort anymore. Even with the belly band the zipper itches and my pants are in constant plumber butt mode. I hated my maternity pants that are still serviceable, and the ones I wore did not live. My maternity clothes were sold cheap and made cheap. So it's off to find some new ones.
My appetite has definitely increased. I am at times experiencing moments where it seems I can't get enough to eat. I am sorry to say that I have been giving in to temptation and regularly eating baguettes with butter and jam - bad, bad, bad. I was a little surprised by the weight gain of the last four weeks none-the-less. To make up I am re-upping the protein, and cutting back on the carbs with renewed zeal. Favorite protein snacks include beef jerky that is locally made low salt organic blah, blah, Cheese, nuts, hard boiled eggs, tofu chocolate mousse (see problem of raw cocoa post).
Plus of this point in the pregnancy is regularly feeling the baby move. My girl likes to dance and do somersaults. Her dad has not really been able to feel her kicks from outside yet, still too light, or too infrequent, or aimed at my back or butt.
Sad symptoms this month include fatigue and anemia. The one pro of fatigue is that it is a really good empathy building exercise for me as a medical provider. Fatigue is depressing, and it's debilitating. Just walking up the stairs makes me short of breath. A trip to the grocery store leaves me washed out. It is difficult to make myself use my treadmill but I am making myself do it for at least three hours a week.
I did find out at my recent visit that my hemoglobin is 10.8 (11.5 is low normal for women). This can commonly happen in pregnancy, your blood volume has to increase by 50% as much, that's a lot of red blood cells to make. If you're like me and you surf a line of being normal and anemic there's nothing like being pregnant to push you over the edge. One of the main symptoms of anemia is fatigue. So I have been trying to increase my intake of iron rich foods.
List of iron rich foods 1. Mollusks 2. Liver 3. Squash seeds/pumpkin seeds 4. Beef or lamb 5. beans legumes 6. dark leafy greens
I am also full into night time charlie horses again. These are also known as nocturnal leg cramps, and are common in the second half of pregnancy. I have heard or read several theories as to why these occur including pooling of increased blood volume, shifting pelvis, and low calcium and magnesium. I definitely notice an increase in severity and frequency of cramps if I forget my liquid magnesium before bed. Chiropractic care also seems to help. But man oh man they sure are painful, and the last thing my tired self needs is to be woken up by leg cramps during the night.
In the next four weeks I am planning to have a 3D ultrasound, for fun, and so my son can see the baby (he has not been allowed in to any of our insurance covered ultrasounds). I am hoping to go for more walks outside as the weather here in Minnesota warms up. I am also committed to doing pre-natal yoga at least once a week, although I have yet to start. Wish me luck in sticking to my diet and exercise goals.
Now more than half way through this pregnancy and I'm starting to get a little tired of this gig. I have to keep reminding myself that this is the easy part and in four months I'll have a new born, a toddler and a post-partum body to deal with so I should really just sit tight.
My belly is getting bigger although pictures reveal it is not as big as it feels. It is roughly basketball sized. I find I can't really wear most of my pre-maternity pants with much comfort anymore. Even with the belly band the zipper itches and my pants are in constant plumber butt mode. I hated my maternity pants that are still serviceable, and the ones I wore did not live. My maternity clothes were sold cheap and made cheap. So it's off to find some new ones.
My appetite has definitely increased. I am at times experiencing moments where it seems I can't get enough to eat. I am sorry to say that I have been giving in to temptation and regularly eating baguettes with butter and jam - bad, bad, bad. I was a little surprised by the weight gain of the last four weeks none-the-less. To make up I am re-upping the protein, and cutting back on the carbs with renewed zeal. Favorite protein snacks include beef jerky that is locally made low salt organic blah, blah, Cheese, nuts, hard boiled eggs, tofu chocolate mousse (see problem of raw cocoa post).
Plus of this point in the pregnancy is regularly feeling the baby move. My girl likes to dance and do somersaults. Her dad has not really been able to feel her kicks from outside yet, still too light, or too infrequent, or aimed at my back or butt.
Sad symptoms this month include fatigue and anemia. The one pro of fatigue is that it is a really good empathy building exercise for me as a medical provider. Fatigue is depressing, and it's debilitating. Just walking up the stairs makes me short of breath. A trip to the grocery store leaves me washed out. It is difficult to make myself use my treadmill but I am making myself do it for at least three hours a week.
I did find out at my recent visit that my hemoglobin is 10.8 (11.5 is low normal for women). This can commonly happen in pregnancy, your blood volume has to increase by 50% as much, that's a lot of red blood cells to make. If you're like me and you surf a line of being normal and anemic there's nothing like being pregnant to push you over the edge. One of the main symptoms of anemia is fatigue. So I have been trying to increase my intake of iron rich foods.
List of iron rich foods 1. Mollusks 2. Liver 3. Squash seeds/pumpkin seeds 4. Beef or lamb 5. beans legumes 6. dark leafy greens
I am also full into night time charlie horses again. These are also known as nocturnal leg cramps, and are common in the second half of pregnancy. I have heard or read several theories as to why these occur including pooling of increased blood volume, shifting pelvis, and low calcium and magnesium. I definitely notice an increase in severity and frequency of cramps if I forget my liquid magnesium before bed. Chiropractic care also seems to help. But man oh man they sure are painful, and the last thing my tired self needs is to be woken up by leg cramps during the night.
In the next four weeks I am planning to have a 3D ultrasound, for fun, and so my son can see the baby (he has not been allowed in to any of our insurance covered ultrasounds). I am hoping to go for more walks outside as the weather here in Minnesota warms up. I am also committed to doing pre-natal yoga at least once a week, although I have yet to start. Wish me luck in sticking to my diet and exercise goals.
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