28 Weeks - a Chinese Cabbage

These are late - sorry!! I am actually 29 weeks, but I like being on a every 2 week update schedule, so there are from last week that I forgot to post.

Literally.....huh? A chinese cabbage? These are just getting silly. However, they usually feel like cabbages in there.

Baby Stribs - 28 Weeks

How your baby's growing: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. (Mine weighed over 2 pounds at my 26 weeks appointment- so we must be way ahead of schedule)She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

How your life's changing: You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester. (Oh Great!!!)

At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. (Already have been for a while now) Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. (Oh I can already have the babies by this point) Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. (Already done, and passed - Whew!, LOL - just kidding mom) Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (Mine is, so I have already has two shots throughout this pregnancy so far - yea...)

Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. (Well, I haven't "relaxed" or slept well thsi entire pregnancy, so hmmmmm) If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.