Heartbeats

My husband and I had nearly 2.5 weeks of holidays. Plenty of family time, sleeping in and much needed lunch dates with my husband and son on break from university. I can’t remember when holidays during Christmas really felt restful and relaxing. Much needed and deserved. I will definitely be doing this again this Christmas. It was a great babymoon, hopefully we can fit another one in before baby comes. So far now, it’s back to work, back to eating sans Christmas feasts and treats, and back to daily exercise.

Last Friday during the 3rd set of stairs I felt a stitch on my right side. The kind you get after running or walking for a while. I suspect it to be gas because by the next day it was gone. I started incorporating enhanced Pilates and kegels in to my stretching routine. It feels great to have an increased sense of body awareness. When I asked about doing exercises on my back my doctor advised me to listen to my body. My body will tell me to get off my back if I start feeling light headed or like I want to puke. So I’ll continue until my body tells me otherwise.

Speaking of doctor’s visits, we’ve had two so far. The first at the end of November where the doctor used the fetal doppler to hear baby’s heartbeat. As I laid back I remembered this sound from my first child so I recognized it right away but when I looked over to see my husband’s reaction he was lost…clueless. He had one eyebrow up and listening intently but he was evidently not sure what he was listening too. At that moment the doctor says ‘that was your kid by the way.’ then follows with ’ Yes! Good strong heartbeat.’ Then just like that, she stopped. My husband’s next reaction was the look of ‘What did I miss?!..That’s it? It’s over?! LOL As soon as the doctor left I asked him ‘Did you hear it?’ He confirmed he had absolutely no clue what he was supposed to be listening for or what he had actually heard. The quick swishing sound he mistook for my stomach fluids swishing around. We laughed about it but I’m sure he was feeling a little cheated. So, for our January appointment, he definitely knew exactly what to listen for and based on the look on his face he most definitely heard baby’s heartbeat.

We started to document weekly pictures last weekend at 19 weeks. One profile and one lying down because the belly seems to be more pronounced that way. Since the start, I have a little more of a belly and have gained 5-8lbs. My growing uterus is more pointy than round and has reached just under my navel and I definitely felt flutters this weekend especially after ice cream. No kicks yet but still very cool.

We have officially, completed 20 weeks! 4.5 months pregnant and halfway there! Woot!