Week 19

Exciting news - We can finally stop referring to Baby as “Baby # 2” because we’ve decided on a name.  Please welcome AIDEN JAMES FRITZ to the family.  Daddy likes it because babies’ initials will be A.F. like his, and we all like it because it’s a good ole Irish name.  Aiden can be spelled many ways - Ayden, Aidan, Aden, Aidyn but they all come from the diminutive form of the Irish name Aed meaning “fire” and would imply “born of fire”, and/or of the Irish name Aodh (pronounced 'ee'), who was the old Celtic god of the sun and fire. It became a popular name in honour of St. Aidan, a famous seventh century Irish saint, noted for his kindness and generosity and for spreading Christianity.  Interestingly enough, Aiden (spelled with an ‘en’) was the most popular baby name of the decade (2000-2009).  Hopefully it has gone down slightly in ranks so he won’t have to share his name with too many classmates.   And while I originally liked the spelling with a “Y” (as with Bryce) I think he would always be correcting people so better to stick with the most common “Americanized” form of Aiden.  As for his middle name, we’ve decided to go with James after my Mom’s Dad (who went by John), and his Grandfather Captain James Tregaskis.   We’re all so excited to meet you Aiden James!!

I ordered the Peek-A-Boo monster bedding set from the same place in the States as I ordered for Bryce.  They have hundreds of sets to choose from and this was the one that I kept going back to.  A shame I couldn’t find it in Canada because shipping, duty, and conversion really bumps up the price…but it’s so cute.  The comforter appears to have raised appliqués and even metallic fabric accents.  Unbeknownst to me…I didn’t realize how popular a “character” Peek-A-Boo monster is.  You can get Peek-A-Boo everything!  There will be no issues in finding accent pieces like Pillows, lamps, pictures, change pad cover. (Just make sure you don’t ONLY google “peek a boo”- wash my eyes out with beach!)  And of course the set will match the existing brown crib and rocking chair.  I just need to purchase a dresser, paint the walls green…and we are set! (I also just stocked up on diapers which were on sale.  $15 off a box plus I had a coupon for another $10 off if I bought two boxes.  So 400 diapers for $52  instead on $92.  Think I’ll go back and grab 2 more!)  On a side note…I think I’ll re-do Bryce’s room too so that he doesn’t feel left out.  I don’t want to focus all my energy and attention on the “new baby’s room” without making Bryce feel special too.  I’m thinking of a Dino theme with new bedding and wall art.  I’ll probably leave the walls blue though.

What’s happening with baby this week? “At half a pound and six inches long, your baby is about the size of a juicy mango. And that’s pretty sweet! On the development docket this week: a total baby body wrap. Your little one gets a head-to-toe coating of vernix caseosa, a white cheesy-looking substance made up of lanugo (that downy hair), oil from his glands, and dead skin cells. Maybe not a recipe for your favorite spa treatment, but just the right one for your fetus. This waterproof mixture protects your baby’s skin from his 24/7 bath — the amniotic fluid — and lubricates the birth canal. Without it, baby would look positively prune-y at birth and would have a much tougher time getting out the door. Don’t be surprised if you see vernix remnants on your newborn right after delivery, especially if he makes an early debut. On the looks side, your baby’s monkey-like appearance of yester-week is yesterday’s news now that his legs have gone through a growth spurt and are finally in proportion to his arms. Those longer legs, coupled with the strengthening of cartilage into bone, will make your little one’s kicks and jabs more powerful. Add to that the newly-formed neurons that are sending better commanding messages from the brain to the muscles and you’ve got a formula for stronger, meaner, and more controlled movements, allowing your acrobat to take his body for some serious test-drives — and for you to start feeling them. In the coming weeks you’ll experience plenty of flutters, kicks, jabs, twists, stretches, and punches. And no matter when you begin feeling them or what they feel like, all your baby’s movements are bound to be moving.

Almost half way there!! 

*BTW my blood work came back as NOT iron deficient.  So either all the Spinach, clams, and cashew eating has made a difference…OR it was something else making me tired, dizzy, short of breath and tachycardic.   Maybe that’s just what a second pregnancy feels like while chasing around a 3 year old?? J

*AND…on Thursday Jan 22 at 9:30 (while in a meeting) I felt baby Aiden’s kick on the outside. Very light, like a little muscle spasm, but definitely him.  (The cold drink of water must have woken him up!!)

Week 18

First things first...we simply must do something about the name “Baby June Bug”.  It’s just not going to work anymore because it’s way too girlie a nickname for a BOY.  Yup....we’re having another BOY!  Yay!  Bryce was the only one who called it.  The rest of us thought girl...only because I was so sick in the beginning, and because he was measuring a little smaller at 12 weeks.   But the Ultrasound Tech checked twice and there was no doubt about boy bits being present!  I’m thrilled!

I wasn’t sure if I would feel sad about not having a girl...but I'm not! Strangely relieved! I feel comfortable being a "Boys Mom"...that's all I know! I don’t think a little girl would have stood a chance in our very boy dominated, worm picking, hockey stick swinging, Dino tossing, home anyways!  

Mom was able to come to the scan with me which was a special moment to share, and then we went shopping afterwards and purchased some little blue sleepers to celebrate the reveal.  Later that evening, I sorted through boxes and boxes of baby clothes that I kept from Bryce.  Sorry baby number 2...hand me downs will be a natural and necessary part of your birth order.  ;)  But being that babies grow so fast, there were a number of items that still had tags, and other outfits that Bryce wore maybe once before outgrowing.   Birth order aside, Baby number #2 won’t be able to live on hand me downs alone, as they will be born in opposite seasons.  In regards to the scan, Baby looks great.  He was curled up and facing down so we weren't able to get a great profile pic.  However, the Tech was able to perform all the measurements and everything was present and accounted for. Additionally, it looks like baby has had a growth spurt since the 12 week scan and is now measuring ahead by a 5 days.  Nothing seemed to be off, and she didn't linger in one spot too long.  I honestly don’t know how they know what they are looking at half the time.  Besides the obvious things like spine and foot, the rest just looks like shades of grey/black. 

It feels like once you find out the gender...you are able to bond even more with the baby.  Don’t get me wrong (if you are reading this Baby #2) I loved you from the start.  It’s just now I know more about you and can choose your name.  Plus, I can really start to decorate your room for you!  I see green walls and blue Monsters in your future!!

18 weeks with Baby # 2

18 weeks with Bryce

After staring at the Ultrasound pic for some time, it dawned on me how remarkable the conception/baby development process really is.  We just take it for granted because it happens with such frequency BUT it really is a miraculous, amazing feat.  Two tiny microscopic cells coming together to instigate and generate over 200 hundred billion cells...which end up weighing 6 billion times more than the fertilized egg itself.  All of this taking place silently within our womb while we trudge through our daily routines.  Here are some another interesting facts;

• It takes 75,000 calories to create a baby.
• Male offspring predominates over female.  106 males for every 100 females born.
• A 7 week embryo already has all the features and organs of the future adult at only 1” long.
• At birth your baby will have 100 billion ready to use neurons.
• Dreaming encourages fetal brain development and that is why babies spend the majority of their time sleeping.
• Maternal genetic influence accounts for almost entirely the baby's birth weight. Fathers have very little to do with it.
• Babies lungs are the last major organ to mature. It does not occur until at least 34 weeks.
• Second babies are bigger than first borns.
• Between weeks 28 and 32 your baby is capable of feeling and remembering.

What’s happening with baby this week?  “Your baby is now about 5 ½ inches long and weighs about 6 ounces.  During this week the baby will gain weight at an incredible pace!  Now that all of the organs have developed the baby’s body will focus on gaining weight and size.  You may begin to feel a bit off center as the baby and your uterus is getting larger. Because the baby’s inner ear has formed its bones and nerve endings from the brain have formed, hearing has become very acute.  Your baby can hear your heartbeat and the blood moving through the umbilical cord as well as your voice.  They will even try to cover their ears if they hear a loud sound!  Baby becomes sensitive to light now, as the eyes are further developed and the brain is growing very fast.  A little girl will have all the eggs inside her ovaries that she will need for her entire life.  Little boys begin to develop the prostate gland.  Meconium, or the first bowel movement continues to accumulate inside the bowel.  Brown fat begins to cover the baby, so their skin appears less transparent. This is the last week you would normally have an amniocentesis, if your health practitioner has suggested this test.  Often between 18-22 weeks your health practitioner will order an ultrasound.  You may begin to experience heartburn now, as the uterus begins to push upward on your stomach.  Try to eat several small meals and stay away from high fat items.  If you prop yourself up with pillows it can help with heartburn, too."

Only 22 weeks to go!

Week 17

Placentophagy….what’s the deal with that?!  I’m seeing more and more articles from Mom’s-to-Be touting the benefits of eating your own placenta.  And we’re not just talking about in secluded villages overseas…but right here in Ottawa!  There was an interview on CTV recently that highlighted a local business.  After birth, you simply place your placenta on ice and make a phone call.  She will pick it up, dehydrate and encapsulate your placenta, and will even make an artistic print of it for you to frame!!  All for the low price of $190.  (I’m sure I could buy a dehydrator and art paper for $50…and do it myself! lol)  So as “gross” as it sounds, the practice has been around for 1000’s of years - mostly in Eastern cultures but growing in popularity here.  Those in favour point out the fact that all other mammals consume their placenta.  Not to mention that humans have no issues eating other animal organs like livers and brains.  So what on earth are the benefits that would have people dehydrating and eating their own placentas?? Well, apparently it is full of many nutrients and hormones that stave off postpartum depression, assists with milk production, helps to shrink the uterus, and replenishes lost iron stores.  Not exactly sold on the idea…but definitely interesting!! http://www.ottawaplacenta.com/products
http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/can-eating-your-placenta-help-prevent-the-baby-blues-1.2084753

I also read an interesting article about fetal stem cells.  There has been a lot of talk/debate in recent years about using fetal stem cells in medicine.  Stem cells are harvested from non-viable fetuses and used to treat degenerative illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and arthritis, as well as injuries and disabilities from burns, spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries.  Doctor’s have known for a long time that there is a small amount of blood exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy. However, it was only discovered recently, that fetal stem cells are also able to cross the placental barrier, and remain in their mothers’ body for years! These fetal stem cells (which have the capability of transforming into ANY cell) have been identified at sites of damage and disease in the mother, attempting to repair tissues.  Crazy eh?  They suggest it’s a mechanism by which the fetus ensures maternal fitness in order to enhance its own chances of survival??  Unfortunately, having “foreign” cells in ones’ body can also lead to other problems- like autoimmune conditions. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus, occur when the body’s immune system begins attacking the body as if it were a foreign invader. Doctors don’t completely understand why but know that these disorders occur more often in Women and during child bearing years.

On to baby news, I had my monthly checkup with Dr. Daisy. Everything is looking good so far.  We discussed the results of the IPS genetic screen.  Apparently my odds of chromosomal issues were 1/60 based on age alone.  But coupled with the ultrasound and 2 blood tests, my odds were reduced to 1/2800.  (Which according to the Doctor is “remarkable for 41 years old”!)  And surprisingly, I’ve only gained 6.5lbs which she says in right on target.  I feel like I’ve gained 20!   At my visit, I mentioned Anemia.  I had it with Bryce and have been feeling quite dizzy, pale, short of breath, fatigued, and have an elevated heart rate.  She said I started out with normal Iron stores according to my blood work, but pregnancy can quickly deplete those.  (By the 2^nd trimester, we’ve increased our blood supply by 50%.  That’s a lot of new red blood cells!!)  Anyway, she gave me a requisition for more blood work and we’ll see if I need to supplement with pills.  In the meantime, I’ve been trying to eat iron rich foods but short of eating a can of clams every day, it’s hard to really rack up those numbers.

What’s new with baby this week?  “My how your baby has grown! Your little one weighs about three and a half ounces and is about the size of your palm (or about five inches long). Body fat (baby's, that is) is beginning to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of your pregnancy (join the club, baby!), so that by the time you give birth it will make up about two-thirds of his or her weight. Baby’s heart is now regulated by the brain (no more random beats) to beat 140 to 150 times per minute — about twice as fast as yours! And since practice makes perfect, your baby is sharpening his or her sucking and swallowing skills in preparation for that first (and second…and third) suckle at your breast or bottle. In fact, most of the survival reflexes that your baby will have at birth are being perfected in-utero right now. Here's some proof that your baby is truly one of a kind (as if you needed any!). Within the next week or so, the pads on your baby's fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints). Your baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises — the dog barking, the doorbell ringing — will actually startle your baby (and also get him or her used to such noises — for instance, fetuses who regularly hear a dog barking will become babies who sleep right through Fido's outbursts). Your baby's eyes (which have fortunately finished their migration to the front of his or her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed.”

Almost half way there…..

Week 16

The 3^rd most common question asked of a pregnant woman, (after what are you having, and when are you due) is what names have you chosen?! That is especially difficult when you still don’t have the answer to question one!  I remember struggling with Bryce’s name because it’s such a complex issue.  You don’t want something so common that there are 3 in every class, but not so uncommon that no one can remember it or worse yet...spell it.  Then there is making sure it’s not too cutsie and can transition well into adulthood.  Plus you want to make sure that it doesn’t rhyme with anything that they can be taunted with!  I think once I know the gender, I can really focus on first names....but in the meantime, I have some middle names picked out.  For a Boy, I’m really stuck on Elgin which is the middle name of my Dad and Grandpa.  For a girl, I really like Eliza, which is the middle name of my Grandma.  Interestingly enough, Elgin has Gaelic origins and means “Little Ireland”...which would be fitting considering both families’ Irish roots.   Lots of time to decide and it will definitely be easier to settle on after Jan. 19^th.

Bryce was NOT very happy at the thought of “sharing” his stroller...even though he hasn’t used it in over a year.  I’m afraid when baby comes, he’s going to want to sit in it too on our walks to the park.  Obviously he is too old/big for me to consider purchasing a double stroller, but they have these universal “stroller boards”.  They essentially provide a riding platform for older kids to stand on, making a faster and more exciting trip around the block, to the mall,  or grocery store etc.  I have a feeling the novelty (for ME) will wear off as I repeatedly stub my toe on the back of the board.  

I have REALLY been considering having an elective 3D/4D ultrasound.  I know, I know...I was SO against it last time.  BUT the curiosity of June Bug’s gender is killing me!!  Even though I have a gender/anatomy scan booked in 3 short (long) weeks, being able to know even earlier would be so awesome!!  Plus, there is a sale on the 3D packages...so it’s like a sign right?!  And the scan is only 10-15 minutes, using the same frequency/intensity of a regular 2D scan.  It’s only the computer software that’s different to enable the 3D picture.  Anyways, I placed a call and left my info.  (I think they are closed over the holidays)  If they are able to fit me in next week, I think I’ll go.  Otherwise, I’ll wait until Jan 19^th for the regular scan. **UPDATE** They just called to say they don’t do the scans until at least 18 weeks and therefore earliest appointment would be Jan 13^th.  Guess I’ll have to patient a little longer.

What’s new with baby this week? “Your baby is now about 4.75 inches long and weighs about 5.5 ounces.  Hard to believe when you consider that most women have gained somewhere between 5 and 10 pounds!  Just remember, your weight gain includes a lot more than just the weight of the baby, including the placenta, amniotic fluid and a larger volume of blood.Your baby now gets the hiccups, but since they have fluid instead of air in the trachea they don’t make any sound.  They also like to play, by pulling and tugging and squeezing on the umbilical cord. The baby’s legs are beginning to grow longer than the arms now and the movement of all of the baby’s limbs is becoming more coordinated.  The eyes have reached their final destination on the head and are no longer on the sides of the face.  The baby is urinating about every 40-45 minutes and Meconium – the first stool the baby produces is beginning to collect in the bowels.  Usually between 16 and 20 weeks you’ll begin to feel the baby moving about.  At first the movement may seem like butterflies in your stomach or gas bubbles.  Moms who have been pregnant before may recognize this movement sooner than first time Moms."