My pregnancy: Week 24

Your Pregnancy: Week 24
At about this time the reality of having a baby is definitely setting in (maybe it's the fact that you can't see your toes). Be sure to talk about how you're feeling with your significant other, girlfriends, siblings, parents, doctor, hairdresser, the person sitting next to you on the bus ... whomever! It's totally natural to be freaking out. Voicing your concerns about mommyhood will help you actually get used to the idea.
Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:
"OK, seriously, where are my toes?"

Your Body
Hair growth during pregnancy is another one of those wacky symptoms you didn't expect. And though you may be wondering who's slipping Rogaine into your shampoo bottle, if you're among the lucky ones, you're relishing your new, flowing locks. It's the hair everywhere else that's a little troublesome.
You can thank your pregnancy hormones for your suddenly thick crowning glory. During pregnancy your hair's natural grow-shed cycle slows, leaving you with more hairs on your head at any given time. Now might be a good time to try out for one of those orgasm-in-the-shower shampoo commercials.
Unfortunately, all that hair growth isn't limited to your head. You may start to notice a random hair (or 47) anywhere from your cheeks, back, and belly to your upper lip and chin. If anyone dares to call you Black Beard, they'll totally deserve whatever's coming to them.
The good news is, tweezing, waxing and electrolysis are all generally accepted as safe during pregnancy. The bad news? All of them can hurt like, um ... like waxing. So feel free to skip the Brazilian right now. We promise, your OB isn't going to judge you.
Your Baby
Your baby isn't just sitting around (on your bladder) doing nothing, he's working hard preparing for life outside the womb—perfecting his lungs and packing on the pounds. He'll gain ½ pound this week alone. Other highlights this week:
Things are starting to get a little crowded inside the old womb as baby grows bigger and bigger. Your ribs are probably pining away for the good old days when they didn't have a foot permanently lodged between them. Hate to break it to you, but it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Your baby's ears are fully functional now. And since they are, you may notice that loud noises and sudden movements can startle the little bugger. He's getting used to the everyday sounds inside the womb: the sound of your heart beating, your lungs inhaling and exhaling air, the growling of your stomach because your partner promised he'd be right back with that double cheeseburger and he's taking forever! He'll even be able to hear your voice when your partner finally arrives and you ask him where the bleep he's been! So talk nice!
Baby's got a fully developed inner ear now. This means his sense of balance is working and he can tell whether he's hanging upside down or right side up. He can also feel you moving, so go ahead, pop in your favorite tunes and boogie.
Your little Wiener schnitzel is about the length of a foot-long Chicago hot dog and weighs about 1 1/3 pounds.

My visit to the hospital – Week 22

Not my luck yet to see the gender of the baby. He/she was facing the other side so what you are seeing is the back of it. I take liberty to mark which one is the head, heart & body so you won’t get confuse looking at it. May be I should go to the 3D ultra sound but…  I shall wait for another month. If still no luck then I might just do it :)

Another thing I was a bit upset was I gain 2 kg this month. Aaarrrggh! I have to control my diet. Doctor didn’t say anything because overall I just gain 3 kg from the beginning of pregnancy. But my mission is to gain less weight as much as I can. I guess more vege and avoid the fatty.

My pregnancy: Week 23

Your Pregnancy: Week 23
You've got this pregnancy thing down pat now: You feel good, you look great, you're eating well and drinking enough water. Everything is fabulous. It's like your birthday every day the way people fawn all over you, giving up their place in the bathroom line and so on. OK, so maybe that doesn't happen every day, but being pregnant makes you feel pretty special, even if that jerk on the bus didn't give up his seat for you.
Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:

"You don't have to tell me I look like a yummy mummy in this empire waist dress. I already know it."
Your Body
Fact: You are carrying around several extra pounds of weight located not only in your belly but in your bra as well. Who's baring the brunt of all this poundage? Mr. Shoulders and Mr. Back. Don't suffer in silence. Get sweet relief:
Even in early pregnancy, back pain can be a real bother, and when you get to the halfway point, forget about it! Try lying on a cool ice packto relieve some of the strain. Some alternative approaches like acupuncture and massage can ease the pain. And if not, having someone rub you for an hour still feels pretty darn good.
If you're noticing severe pain, numbing or tingling in your lower back and hips, you might havesciatica. Check in with your doctor.

Your Baby
Your baby's got a while to go before her lungs will be ready for air and is practicing her "breathing" on the amniotic fluid—sucking it in and out of her lungs. Other highlights this week:
Fat production is in overdrive at this point (for the baby, not you! Well, OK, maybe for the baby and you). Your baby will basically double in weight over the next four weeks! You'll be happy to know the same won't apply to you.
Your Mini is starting to look more like a newborn as her skin becomes less see-through. Her body is looking more proportional now, although her head is still kinda big compared to her cute little body.
Your baby is about 11½ inches long and weighs 1 pound, or about the length and weight of a Harry Potter book.

Your Life
You and your partner's sleep-ins until noon will be but a distant memory once your new alarm clock arrives. And while getting him to sleep through the night will be a ways off, you can con him into doing a lengthy stretch by making his bed the most comfortable spot possible.
Your options are plenty: crib, bassinet, cradle, portable playpen, your bed, laundry basket (we're kidding about that last one). As you shop, do your research on the pros and cons different types of nursery furniture and bedding to see what will work best for your own crib (AKA your home) and lifestyle.
If you're willing to do the extra legwork and safety research, you can save money by shopping secondhand stores. Just make sure any gear you buy meets current safety standards and has all the necessary parts.
And speaking of sleep: Make a snooze date with your partner. Turn off all the phones, clear your schedule and take a nap in the middle of the afternoon or sleep in extra late on the weekend. Have breakfast in bed while you're at it. In 17 weeks you'll wish you'd spent the whole day in bed!