Week 23, Day 1

I can't believe it! Week 23! The belly is officially a belly now. I've gained about 12 pounds total - not too bad. The total healthy weight gain for a healthy weight pre-pregnancy female is 25-30 pounds. Holy. Moly. There are still 15ish more pounds coming!?

So, lets discuss lying down. And how... its impossible. You aren't supposed to lie on your back (the weight of your uterus bears down on the vena cava... interrupting blood flow to your heart), not to mention that is terribly uncomfortable anyways. Side lying is good - with pillows strategically arranged between legs, under stomach and chest and one propped up to help w/heart burn. Okay, but no one ever told me what to do if I want to roll over.
Rolling over.
It seems simple enough.

It isn't. Last night I told Matt, "This is only going to get worse! You are going to have to push me over by the end!"
The weight in my stomach is so strangely distributed that becomes quite the feat to get from one side to the other. The blankets are ripped off of poor, unsuspecting Matt and it takes me about 3 minutes to make it from one side to the other. I can't explain it - its just that when you are lying down you don't have much leverage.

Matt and I spent last week on a mission trip w/our college ministry in S. Padre. Almost the whole ride back home yesterday Zoe was kicking straight down. She always chooses straight down. The cervix/bladder don't appreciate it. She is growing stronger every day! Those little... bubbles? of movement I felt at the beginning are no longer questionable. Last night in bed I think she was drumming - 5 strong hits to the front.



I'll add some pictures soon - I forgot to bring my camera to work with me today.

Here is what babycenter is saying these days:

How your baby's growing:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

How your life's changing:

You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention.