Little Lentil : 28 Weeks

We made it! Twenty-eight weeks, seven months, the third trimester. No matter how you phrase it, it's incredible that our little one is growing big and strong inside of me. It is incredible how quickly time is racing by. I'm sure being so busy with classes and everyday life helps to make the time fly, but I don't know. I wish there was a way to slow things down just a bit :) Each week, the weekly updates amaze me - it's like a little human-making factory in there!

(I'm running a bit behind on my weekly posts - I'll be 29 weeks in two days time, but hopefully this post will get me back on track.)

Week 28 belly shot - not sure how much longer I can zip that coat!

Here's what's new for this week:

Week: Twenty-eight

What's going on inside: The baby is beefing up - gaining lots of weight, very quickly at this point. Their little eyes can blink, and have eyelashes now. They can respond to bright lights outside (isn't that amazing?) and their sleep cycle now includes REM cycles, just like us grown-ups. They're also starting to press on my diaphragm, which can make breathing uncomfortable sometimes.

What's going on outside: I'm beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable now. My clothes aren't fitting as well, and quite a few general aches some days. I had a charley horse (YIKES!) last Wednesday morning and I was limping from it for several days. It was at the point where I was tempted to see the doctor about it, since I couldn't press on one spot on my leg without yelping. Thankfully, today seems to be the turning point.

How big is that lentil? The baby is about 2.25 - 2.5 lbs now! They're measuring about 15" from head to heel. (That's about the size of an eggplant, for your produce lovers!)

Total weight loss/gain: I had my doctor's appointment last week and I was up 4lbs in 5 weeks. That puts my total weight gain at about 8lbs, and total weight loss at about 20lbs, which makes the overall weight gain/loss -12lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. That sounds good to me!

Food cravings: Not sure if this is a craving or just a preference, but if I want a cold drink, I want it to be cold. If I want a hot drink, I want it to be hot. I run the cold water faucet for a long time before I pour myself a glass of water. I purchased a beverage from Starbucks this afternoon and asked for the barista to make it "extra hot" - none of that wishy-washy warm drink for me. 

Best moment this week: I don't know if I could qualify this as the best moment this week, but it definitely counts. I had to go for my 28-week bloodwork last week, and I'm not the best gal around needles. Thankfully, Dan works at our local hospital and was able to come and sit with me while the technician took a few vials. He's the best - without having him there, I get really light-headed and sometimes faint (!). I'm so thankful to be able to get my bloodwork done at his hospital.

I had to do the infamous glucose test, that yucky orange drink. At first I found it like really sweet Tang (remember that orange drink?) but by the end of the bottle, it was pretty gaggy. My doctor's office called me later that afternoon and with regret in her voice, the receptionist told me that I failed the glucose test by 0.1! I had to go back in on Friday and retake the test, this time with a much stronger drink and three hourly intervals of bloodwork. Between the oodles of bloodwork and fasting from 8pm the night before until almost 11am that day, I wasn't feeling too hot afterwards. I haven't heard back as to whether or not I passed the second test. Here's to hoping!

Oh, hey baby! You're as big as an eggplant.

Happy Monday!