(Almost) 24 Weeks & Counting!

Tomorrow I’ll be at the 24-week mark.  For most pregnant gals, this is the part of the pregnancy where they feel their best and are in the “honeymoon” period.  For me, it’s a step in the right direction because I’m moving out of the “sick-and-puking-every-day” phase and into the “only-queasy-every-now-and-then-at-night-but-have-massive-heartburn” phase.  But it’s also a big step because according to the national average, 50% of babies born at 24 weeks survive.  We’re now in the 50/50 odds, folks, and I am relieved for that.  The survival rate is actually higher here locally in Iowa City, but of course that’s assuming you actually are in the hospital (or at least in close proximity to the hospital) when the baby is born.  ;)

The latest ultrasound continued to show good news: my cervix is still measuring at a good length, no funneling, and my placenta has moved up to where it should be.  In fact, all is so well that my doctor is willing to wait three weeks to see me for the next appointment instead of two.  Progress!  Lil Mac is still hanging out very low and even had his face crammed up against my uterus.  It’s no wonder I’m so uncomfortable and have so much pelvic pain and pressure.  The doctor says it’s fine for me to take some Tylenol to help ease my discomfort a bit and has reassured me that the baby is not going anywhere outside of the womb thanks to everything else looking as it should; apparently he has just decided that he’s where he wants to be so I need to adjust.  It was hard getting a good photo of him at the last visit because his face was smashed into me, and he would turn away from us every time we went in for a closer look.  Little stinker.  At one point, we saw him reaching for his toes, which was cute.  He’s still my little rock-n-roller and is quite busy in there at all times.  I was reading that maybe he has the hiccups and that could be some of the activity that I’m feeling.  Who knows; I just know that he’s much more active than Adalynn ever was, and I am still fascinated by how much movement goes on in there.  He’s got a heck of a lot more energy than I do, and I worry I won’t keep up with him when he’s here.

Adalynn’s reaction goes in spurts.  Now that we’ve made progress on the nursery, I’ve seen a jealous side of her.  She’ll say she wants the baby’s room now.  But other times, she hugs and kisses my belly and acts so loving towards her little brother already.  She still sings to him, and now she’ll “read” her books to him as well.  I know for a while I was worrying that Mac doesn’t have the same attention focused on him that Adalynn did in the womb, and I worry that he’s second-fiddle.  My friend, Petra, pointed out that he has different advantages that Adalynn never had – like a big sister to sing and read to him.  Petra's so right.  (He seems to like Adalynn the best anyway!)