Week Thirty
BAby
is already 15.7. inches long. The internet says that is the size of a head of broccoli. We seemed to bypass the size of the Dutch broccoli a long time ago, so instead he’s actually the size of the teddy bear that came with my engagement ring!
is packing on the weight, getting chunkier and chunkier which each passing day, weighing a whopping 3.5 lbs.
is running out of room in mom’s tummy which means every little (and big) movement and kick can be felt and seen… all day. And boy oh boy, is he busy (and strong).
is practicing all the skills he’ll need to thrive outside the wombs in less than 10 weeks, using his little lungs to breathe 40 percent of the time.
gets the hiccups once a day or sometimes every other day- a little rhythmic beating in the bottom of mom’s belly.
is laying with his head down, back along mom’s left side, butt in mom’s lungs, and feet kicking and moving constantly on mom’s right belly.
Mom
has some shortness of breath as baby pushes a bit more on her diaphragm but nothing too bad; just practicing some slow breathing exercises which can’t hurt in preparation for labor right?
has some minor back pains and discomfort when changing positions in bed or trying to get off the couch (like a little old lady) but nothing a little stretching and basic yoga poses she’s learned can’t help for the time being.
finally gave in to her stubbornness and took some over the counter stuff for heartburn in the few occasions it presented itself. Lifesaver.
has experience three hot flashes when in tight, warm spaces but both passed in a few minutes and seemed to go away with water, fresh air, and rest.
started doing kick counts like the internet suggests but baby was kicking so frequently she gave up. She read feeling kicks 10 times an hour is normal; this little one is kicking 10 times in 3 minutes during some parts of the day. So, I think we can conclude baby is doing just fine!
has officially stopped biking to work.
has a meeting with the kraamzorg, or “nurse” who comes to care for and help us the week after baby is born in the next few weeks.
Dad
got our little family all set up with insurance to be fully covered for the birth and care after.
is taking great care of mom.
had a flight to Tokyo, Japan for the first time.
Life
Mom and dad are legally married, though the real wedding and celebration will take place on August 5th, 2020! Read more about it here.
Mom and dad are off on a wonderful holiday, cozy in Oregon with family!
Mom and dad officially payed off the last of their loans- completely debt free going into 2020 and all the excitement it has to offer. Take that masters degree and flight school!
The family celebrated Papa Steve’s birthday, the first since he’s passed. Auntie Auby happened to find her perfect wedding dress on this day, a dress designed in and shipped from Hungary.
Family and friends spoiled baby with a beautiful shower while in Oregon.
Lessons Learned
I had convinced myself early on that I didn’t need a pregnancy pillow- we had so many pillows! So, at night I would surround myself in pillows and still wake up feeling sore! When we got to America, mom had a giant pregnancy pillow waiting for me. It’s incredible! It is, in fact, true what everyone says. So, we used a vacuum seal bag and brought it all the way home to Europe with us! Lesson learned: don’t underestimate the power of the pregnancy pillow!