Well, week 23 is a bit bittersweet.
The American students that have been keeping me company here in Denia are leaving this week.
So, I will be "alone" again. :(
Honestly, this year the combination of the bad weather and being pregnant has made it so that I really haven't been able to spend a lot of time with any of them outside of the UNED, where they take their classes, but it is still nice to have the students around, keeping a bit of home nearby.
On the other hand, while I'm sad to see them leave, it will be nice to have more free time to get more done in the baby's room, and to prepare the rest of the house for his arrival. It will also give me more time to concentrate on preparing the house for any guests we might have here to come visit us and baby.
You can see in the picture of all of the girls of the group- I had to be first so that my belly fit :)- that from the side, you can definitely tell that I'm pregnant by now.
The last activities with the students, a last meal at a nice restaurant (the picture was taken at the beach in front of the restaurant) and an afternoon snack with the families, came at a great time. I have been ravenously hungry lately.
It seems that these bursts of needing to eat more usually only last for a couple of days, but when they do, it is impossible to try to eat less. (Sorry, midwife)
It will be interesting to see how this increase in appetite affects the scale at my next appointments over the next couple of weeks. I have an appointment with the private doctor this Thursday, and next week I have a blood analysis testing for gestational diabetes followed by an appointment with the midwife around a week later.
A lot of these things that have been happening are obviously due to hormonal changes.
Even my stressing out about a name has since mellowed out a bit, and I've been able to sleep again despite my not being any closer to finding baby a name.
So, things are going relatively well.
I feel pretty good overall, but I do get tired after doing anything for too long. That includes sitting, standing, walking... well, you get my point.
I do feel the need to get some walking in, when I get tired of sitting, and last week Friday I made it to the mall to do some walking. It was raining outside, so I had a good excuse. :)
I managed to find a relatively decently priced maternity swimsuit, too, so I bought it. Considering that none of my swimsuits seem to fit anymore, I figured it was a necessity for someone who will be at the height of pregnancy for the entire summer.
Now I just need the water to warm up a bit to get some swimming in.
After walking around the mall for a little while, though, my back started to hurt, and so did my feet! So, I guess moderation is the key to everything.
Well, for now, I better get some sleep. Tomorrow, too, I will finish grading papers!! I'll try to tell you about Thursday evening's appointment as soon as I can afterwards.
Meanwhile, though, I will leave you with the information for the 23 week point from today's email.
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. While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.
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