 Rich and I are 29 weeks pregnant with Nova Skye Rowell, as of March 19, 2016. Here’s the latest on 28 week fetal development, 29 week fetal development, Nova’s movements and health report, how I’m feeling, and more. It’s hard to believe we’re 7 months and 1 week pregnant already! Before we know it, little Nova will be fast asleep in our arms, instead of in the womb. We’re so excited we can hardly wait! What’s Nova Doing In Week 28 and 29? If we thought Nova was active before, she’s even more so these days. Of course, that could be due to the fact that she’s much bigger now and things are getting cramped. She pretty much moves all the time with a few breaks here and there when she’s likely being lulled to sleep by my movements. I’ve also felt more of the fluttering hiccup movements, the umbilical cord pulling (ouch), as well as those fun movements that make me jump and lose my breath for a few seconds. Those last ones are supposed to be new to 29 weeks, but I was feeling them long before now. 28 Week Prenatal Visit (Ultrasound!) & What’s Next We had an awesome ultrasound. Nova was having some fun in there - so much fun that the pictures didn’t really come out as well as the last ones. She was moving too much, of course. But, we also got good news. She's fully developed and doing well -- and she's still a girl (lol). If born the day of the appointment (March 16th), according the doctor, she would have a 90 percent chance of survival that improves the closer we get to her due date. Obviously, we want to keep her in there as long as possible, so we won’t be trying to make her come out, as much pain as I’m in and as much of a relief as it would be for me. How’s the Momtrepreneur and Daddy-To-Be This Week? Mommy’s a little moody and fatigued, but daddy-to-be’s doing a good job at keeping me cheered up. I took on a little more client work than I should have and though I got it done, it was a bit more overwhelming than that amount would be normally. I often forget that my normal does not exist right now and that I cannot expect myself to be able to finish most things that would have been a cinch before. That’s hard for me, since I’m a go-getter. So I keep trying to do things I shouldn’t do and then getting upset when I either can’t do them or exhaust myself doing them. Don't worry, folks. I’m not running marathons. I’m mostly talking about writing. That’s why this post is a two-week compilation instead of the usual weekly post. I simply wasn’t able to write it until now, due to the fatigue and am actually struggling just to get these words out. I need to write for my sanity though. So, it’s a delicate balance. Rich is doing his best to keep me from doing too much and I don’t envy him right now because I can be quite a challenge when I am determined. That’s putting it nicely. At least I love him though, so I’m not mean, just persistent. Haha We’ve both been pretty exhausted and I can’t stay out of the bathroom. It’s no wonder. The third trimester is where most women have to urinate around every 15 minutes, due to the baby being right on top of the bladder. Accomplishments During Week 28 & Week 29 of the Pregnancy We’ve gotten so much done these past two weeks that it’s crazy. It’s getting to be crunch time, so we’re finally getting down to the last of the things we need to do to prepare for little Nova. We finally set up her space with all of her cute little clothing, homemade cloth diapers, her little bassinet and changing area, her swing, and so on. All that’s missing now is her and we just can’t wait! Aja's been doing a really great job of taking care of her "son" Gabe (the life-like newborn doll) and we think she's going to be an awesome big sister! Speaking of preparation, I decided to try my hand at homemade all-in-one cloth diapers -- and amazingly, I succeeded! It’s been years since I picked up a needle and thread and I’ve never made a cloth diaper, but apparently I’m an old pro. Because my diapers turned out so well and we have tons of fabrics and materials lying around, we’ve decided I’m making all of the cloth diapers Nova will need. This saves us a ton of money. New Grandma Rowell got her some more important things, such as her Evenflo ExerSaucer and we also won even more on Listia, of course. I can’t even begin to list all of the things we acquired this week, so they’ll just be depicted in the photo gallery below. Also in the gallery is a photo of Gabe eating with us when we got out one day, as Aja has to take him everywhere, like a real baby. There’s a separate gallery below that just for the cloth diapers. Check below the galleries for 28 and 29 week fetal development and pregnancy info. Click each photo for a full view and hover or click for captioned info about each item. Homemade Cloth Diapers and liners! I totally made these! All images © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved (Violators will be prosecuted; may only be used with permission by Contact Form) Interesting 28 and 29 Week Fetal Development & Pregnancy Info
At week 28 of pregnancy, you are now 7 months pregnant and into your third trimester! You’re getting closer and your baby is resembling a newborn, finally. By the end of week 29, your baby will weigh around two and a half pounds and measure at 15-16 inches long, if stretched out! Curled up, he or she is around 10 inches long and you may feel like the baby is going to just burst out since it’s getting cramped in there. Most babies are around 19 inches or so at birth, so your baby’s length won’t multiply as rapidly as the filling out and gaining of weight. Though Baby seems big now, more weight needs to be put on and much of your weight (and his or hers) will be gained in this final trimester. This is the time to really pay close attention to your nutrition. Folic acid, Vitamin C, and Calcium are extremely important right now, as your baby grows rapidly these next few months. These are the nutrients essential to this happening successfully. Though, all of your prenatal vitamins are important. Be sure to take the vitamins and supplements recommended by your doctor, as well as pay attention to what you are eating. Week 29 is when your baby’s movements get even stronger, as the room available to move around lessens. You’ll be feeling some stronger butterfly fluttering, which is your baby hiccuping to practice breathing. You’ll also feel lots of elbow and knee jabs, since Baby is more cramped. Some of the movements may even make you jump or take your breath away. Have no fear, this is perfectly normal. Speaking of breathtaking movements, you may find that even simple activities cause shortness of breath. Take it easy if you need to. Also, try to avoid lying on your back, as this can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, and shortness of breath. It may also be difficult to get back up when in this position. Brain growth for your baby is at all-time-high right now. It develops very quickly at this time, developing billions of neurons. Your baby can also regulate body temperature, thanks to that brain. Your baby’s skeleton is forming nicely and receives about 200 mg of calcium per day. This is why calcium is so important at this stage. It also may help relieve pregnancy leg cramps. Speaking of legs, in addition to leg cramps, you also may notice Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) specific to pregnancy, due to lowered circulation. Massages, warm baths, or a heating pad might help. Also, try cutting out caffeine, staying active (if you’re not on bed rest), and stretching your calf muscles. At 29 weeks, your baby is likely upside down and prepared for birth already. However, if your baby is in another position, such as bottom down (or breech), not to worry just yet. There is still time to turn in preparation for delivery. You’ll likely know when your baby “drops” as he or she will be lower in your abdomen area, with the head in the pelvic area and ready for birth. This can be somewhat uncomfortable (or even painful) for some people. During the third trimester, you should be counting your baby’s kick movements. Most doctors recommend being sure that the baby moves at least ten times every couple hours. Fewer than ten movements within that time period should signal a call to the doctor. It’s usually nothing, but can also be an early sign that things to be checked out. Your doctor will let you know what you should do. All movements count as “kicks”, including hiccup flutters, rolls, and jabs. As long as you feel something going on at least ten times every 2 hours, that’s a good sign. Some of the other “fun” things that may go on for you at 28 or 29 weeks include constipation, hemorrhoids, migraines, heartburn or indigestion, and fast-growing or brittle nails. Pregnancy brain is also very common. If you have pregnancy brain, you may lose concentration, become forgetful, or feel foggy or unaware. This is normal and stressing yourself out about it will only make it worse. Just go with the flow and take it easy when necessary. Your body is working hard to make another human right now! Stay tuned for our 30 weeks pregnant (and other posts)! Previous Post: We’re 27 Weeks Pregnant! - Milestones, Developments, Updates, and More! SOURCES Personal Experience BabyCenter What to Expect BabyCenter Similac Parenting BabyGaga Pampers Rich and I are now 27 weeks pregnant with Nova Skye Rowell, as March 5, 2016. Here’s the latest on 27 week fetal development, Nova’s movements and health report, how I’m feeling, and more.  Some of the free stuff we received in the mail from Listia wins this week What’s Nova Doing This Week? Well, besides continuing to be a cute baby, Nova’s been responding even more to various things. She continues to kick for specific foods, but even more than before. She has also been responding with movements more regularly and more intensely to everything from sounds to touch. I was reading something that says she should start pulling on the umbilical cord this week and judging by the intensified and different pains I feel when she moves, I think it’s fair to say she just might be. Next And Last Prenatal Visits The next appointment is coming up soon! For the details on what will happen at this coming appointment, as well as what happened at the last one, please read the 26 weeks post. Otherwise, I’d be saying the exact same thing here. Haha How’s the Momtrepreneur and Daddy-To-Be This Week? We actually were able to get out and take a walk recently, despite the way I’ve been feeling.I was exhausted afterward. But at least my body actually allowed me to do a walk. Can’t say I’ll be doing many more until Nova gets here, as I’m really supposed to be resting and to be honest, I feel like crap pretty much all the time. But I got extremely stressed and tired of so many activity limitations. So, on a day when the pain eased up just slightly (like, very slightly) and we were in desperate need of fresh air, we took a walk. I’m sure some of you will yell at me for doing it. But, everyone who knows me will understand just how crazy I’m being driven over not being able to be my normal super active workaholic self. We’re also getting more and more excited as we narrow down our list of needs for Nova and it gets closer to her being here. We almost can’t believe just how much we’ve been accomplishing with so very little money. Accomplishments This Past Week If you read last week’s post, you’ll know we got a free car seat and some other free items as well. Guess what?! This week, we obtained a free baby swing! I swear to you all, absolutely zero of these have been due to the five-finger discount. We’re just very determined to make sure we get everything Nova needs and I just happen to be extremely good at hunting down free and cheap things. I will have to say though, there have been times I broke down crying thinking we would never get everything we needed, since we recently fell on hard times. But the universe always has a way of providing and I will definitely trust the universe from now on. Client work is slowly picking up, other revenue sources are doing the same, and everything we need for the baby seems to keep appearing exactly on time. A couple other fun things we did this week involve both Aja (the 12 year old) and Nova. Aja is taking care of a special newborn-like doll as a homeschool project and also to prepare her for Nova. A couple days ago, she says to me, “Ma, I really need your help. My baby’s diaper is crooked.” I got to teach her how to properly put on a diaper, which is a skill she’ll need for her assignment, helping with Nova, and just life, in general. This one is really fun. Because Nova is getting bigger, we can actually feel the shape of certain parts of her through my stomach sometimes. I felt her hand outline, so I had Aja feel and she thought it was both cool and weird. Then, Nova moved and she felt that too. So, Aja learned a couple baby lessons and Nova’s big sister now knows a bit more about her.  So, this is the FREE baby swing we got yesterday. I just put new batteries in it and it works perfectly. It's a 3-in-one design. The swing detaches and can also be used as a baby bouncer & rocker or as a toddler rocking chair. It also plays 5 songs if you want it to do so. Looked it up and there are no recalls on it. Cleaned the cover in the washing machine and cleaned/disinfected the rest. So, now all it's missing is Nova. This particular model is no longer available. However, to get something new that's comparable (can't find any used ones), we'd be looking at a price tag of at least $150 and we paid exactly ZERO dollars. I love Craigslist and people who like to make use of old items that would otherwise be in a landfill. P.S. Sorry for the water heater and furnace in the background. We're obviously keeping it put out of the way until Nova is almost here. --- Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved Aaaaand OMG! We saved one of the best things for last (besides the super free swing)! Our super awesome friend San over at Informed Sharing sent us a ton of stuff! Some of it we can use right away and some will be for later, which is perfect. The right-away items are things we can now take off our needs list and the later items will fill some of the holes we had for when she gets bigger. ^^^^^^^^ Above is all the super awesome stuff San sent us ^^^^^^^^ Interesting 27 Week Fetal Development & Pregnancy Info
Every extra day in the womb increases your baby’s survival rate, if born prematurely. Therefore, do what you can to follow your doctor’s advice and keep that baby inside as long as possible until full term. Depending on the individual baby and situation, the exact rate of survival can vary. But at 27 weeks, your baby may have up to a 90% survival rate, but will likely need medical treatment. How extensive will depend on a variety of factors. But the outcome is definitely getting better as you near your due date. At 27 weeks gestation, your baby can now open and close eyes at will and also sleeps and wakes at somewhat regular intervals. You may even notice your baby being soothed to sleep when you perform certain activities. Finger sucking and hiccuping are also common at this stage. If you haven’t experienced leg cramps yet, you might be feeling them now, as the blood vessels have more pressure on them from the uterus. This is when your baby should weigh about 2 pounds and be about 14 ½ inches long. A whole inch of growth is expected during just this week alone! Your baby may also begin to dream at 27 weeks, as many experts say they should by 28 weeks gestation. More brain tissue is developing and the characteristic groves start to appear. Eyelashes are also likely appearing right now. They are important for your baby, as they shield the sensitive eyes from debris. When your baby is hiccuping, don’t be alarmed. It may feel a bit strange, compared to other movements, but shouldn’t last too long. Shortness of breath might also seem scary, but is normal from this point on, as your uterus expands to accommodate your growing baby. This is the stage when your uterus is right up against the rib cage. Hemorrhoids and varicose veins are some of the other “lovely” symptoms that may creep up between 27 and 28 weeks and continue throughout the pregnancy. The areola on your breasts got darker in previous weeks. You may now notice that the darkened area is covering even more of your breast. For most women, this darker area will expand beyond the areola and likely end up expanding to cover about half of the entire breast area. This natural and temporary change usually lasts up to a year after your baby is born and is nothing to be alarmed about. You may also be experiencing some dramatic dreams. This is not unusual for pregnant women. In fact, it’s quite common and is possibly related to the hormonal changes in your body. Another theory is that it’s the mind’s way of dealing with the wide range of new thought processes and emotions emerging throughout pregnancy. Your baby’s lungs, liver, hearing, and immune system are continuing to develop further along at 27 weeks gestation. The nervous system is even developing enough so that your baby can control some bodily functions. The respiratory system still has some work to do, but the lungs are already producing the surfactant they need in order to expand when your baby takes the first breath after birth. Your baby is likely responding to specific sounds and may even recognize specific voices. This is a good time to read to your baby, play soothing music, talk to your baby, and more. Whatever you can do to stimulate activity with positive noise will be very beneficial to your baby’s development. Also, remember to be careful about negative noise, such as arguments. Your baby can hear those too. As always, consult your doctor for exact advice. This post is based mostly on personal experience with some research and is meant for informational purposes only. Every pregnancy is different. Stay tuned for our 28 weeks pregnant (and other posts)! Previous Post: We’re 26 Weeks Pregnant! - Milestones, Developments, Updates, and More! SOURCES Personal Experience National Library of Medicine | Fetal Development Pampers | 27 Weeks Pregnant: What’s Going On BabyCenter | What Your Baby Looks Like: 27 Weeks BabyCenter | Fetal Development - 27 Weeks Pregnant Similac | 27 Weeks Pregnant Pregnancy.org | 27 Weeks Pregnant Parents | Fetal Development Weeks 27 Through 30 Spencer’s Hope | Chances For Survival Quint Boenker Preemie Survival Foundation | Preemie Info  Rich and I are now 26 weeks pregnant with Nova Skye Rowell, as of February 27, 2016. Here’s the latest on 26 week fetal development, Nova’s movements and health report, how I’m feeling, and more. What’s Nova Doing This Week? Nova’s doing a great job at growing and moving around in there. I can feel her all the way across my abdomen when she moves now. That makes sense, since by the time we’re 27 weeks along, she should be somewhere around 14 ½ inches long. Wow! She is still extremely active and we all love watching my belly move when she does. She’s also responding even more to certain sounds. We think she might already be a cat lover, as she kicks every time one of my sister’s cats is purring near my belly. She also kicks for music, loud noises, and specific voices. Obviously, familiar family voices get the most response. I noticed that her activity also decreases when I’m walking around, meaning the motion is likely soothing her to sleep. All of these activities and indicators seem to be right in line with where her development should be right now. So, we’re happy to know that she’s doing so well. Next Prenatal Visit The next visit is coming soon (March 16th) and guess what?! It’s one of our favorite things - another ultrasound! It will be the 28 weeks ultrasound, to be exact. We get to see how our cute little Nova is developing and of course watch her do what she does best - be a baby. The ultrasounds are so much fun because it’s obviously our only way of seeing her until she’s born. Then, we’ll want to put her back -- oh my gosh, just kidding, of course! No way! That’s why the ultrasounds are so fun. We’ll also get to hear her heartbeat and learn how things are coming along. Judging by her activity and the past visits, we’re not worried. But it will be great to know. How’s the Momtrepreneur and Daddy-To-Be This Week? We’re very much looking forward to little Nova’s arrival for many reasons. The first of course would be that we want to hold and care for our little one. It will be exciting to finally see her cute little face and have her grasp our fingers with her tiny hands. I’ve still been struggling with pain, sleep, and morning sickness. This is definitely not your run-of-the-mill pregnancy. I should know. I’ve done this four other times. We’re both hanging in there. But because this has been extremely difficult on me, that makes it difficult for us both. It’s a struggle to get client work done and most days, it’s done from the bed. But as soon as we see Nova, we know it will all be worth it. Accomplishments This Past Week We won and also received yet more free items from Listia. We also found great deals elsewhere, including a free car seat and a barely used Boppy for only 2 bucks. Things just seem to be falling into place for our little family. We’ve narrowed down the Baby Registry a ton. But we still have some essentials to get before Nova arrives. It’s been a struggle, but somehow we’ve been figuring it out. Right now, some of our highest priority items include cloth diapers with adjustable snaps, Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles, Avent Soothie Pacifiers, Babyganics Fragrance Free Baby Wipes, and a handful of other essentials. Let’s hope those fall into place as well. We Spent $2 total on This Whole Set of Items! Yes, Including the Car Seat! Interesting 26 Week Fetal Development & Pregnancy Info
At 26 weeks along, your baby should be hearing more noises, as the nerve pathways in the ears are becoming more developed. You might notice your baby reacting even more consistently to specific things than before. We definitely have noticed this with Nova. Not only are the ears developing more, your baby is also growing! At 26 weeks gestation, the average weight of your baby is about 2 pounds! The average length is around 14 inches long and may be about 14 ½ inches by the time you reach 27 weeks. If it feels like your baby is taking up more space in your uterus than before, you’re probably correct. Because your baby is getting larger and the gravity center is shifting some, you may be feeling more back pain than usual. You may also be feeling some different movements from your baby. Don’t be alarmed. He or she is likely trying out that gripping reflex -- on the umbilical cord! But that’s okay. It’s strong enough to handle it. Your baby may also be kicking and punching harder, as well as suckling his or her fist or thumb. This is also the stage when your baby learns to move his or head around and since the hearing is better, moving of the head toward a specific sound may occur. Your baby can also see now! That’s right, the eyes that were fused shut before are now open and your baby is learning about what it looks like inside the womb. The fact that your baby’s head can now move helps with this discovery. Footprints and fingerprints are starting to form now. Your baby’s head of hair is growing and thickening even more. Essential fats are also accumulating under the skin. Your baby is not so see-through anymore. For boys, the testicles are beginning to descend into the scrotum. This process takes 2 - 3 months in total. By the end of 26 weeks, your baby’s lungs should begin to secrete the necessary surfactant for survival outside the womb. This prevents the lungs from sticking together. Your baby may also respond to touch at this stage. We experienced it earlier than this stage. However, not all experts agree on the exact timing. As always, consult your doctor for exact advice. This post is based mostly on personal experience with some research and is meant for informational purposes only. Every pregnancy is different. Stay tuned for our 27 weeks pregnant (and other posts)! Previous Post: We’re 25 Weeks Pregnant! - Milestones, Developments, Updates, and More! SOURCES Personal Experience BabyCenter Pregnancy.org BabyCenter Similac Parents BabyGaga Pampers |
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Lyn Lomasi is founder and owner of the Brand Shamans Content Community. Services include ordained soul therapy and healing ministry, business success coaching, business success services, handcrafted healing jewelry, ethereal and anointing oils, altar and spiritual supplies and services, handcrafted healing beauty products, and more!
Lyn is your brand healing, soul healing, marketing & content superhero to the rescue! While rescuing civilians from boring business practices and energy vampires, this awesomely crazy family conquers evil and creates change. They live among tigers, dragons, mermaids, unicorns, and other fantastic energies, teaching others to claim their own power and do the same. By supporting us, you support a dedicated parent, healer, and minority small business that donates to several causes. Profits from our all-inclusive store, Intent-sive Nature support these causes and our beautiful family! HIRE OR SHOP WITH LYN | CONTACT LYN Archives
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