Pregnancy Update: WHOA! We're halfway there!

<<< 17 weeks with both my babies >>>

<<< Bump today >>>

Time while mothering is a funny thing. Days can feel like forever and then suddenly weeks and months seem to have flown by in the blink of an eye! The same is true for this pregnancy. Somehow, I am halfway through. I am 20 weeks pregnant — 21 weeks tomorrow actually. And here I am writing my first “bumpdate.” Ah, such is life with a toddler. Delilah keeps me busy and leaves little time for creative pursuits or penning blog posts. (Once she goes to bed,I’m ready for sleep myself!) But it is important that I document this pregnancy, just as I did hers, as best as I can — even if the updates aren’t as frequent and the bump photos not as cute! Without further ado, I’ll jump in, using the same “pregnancy update” format I used the last time :)

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Let's begin with a few images of baby from today's anatomy scan...

Due date: July 26, 2019

Gender: As we announced, Baby Thilgen No. 2 is a BOY! While I didn’t have a strong feeling either way with Delilah, for some reason I felt like this baby was a boy. Greg and I were kind of hoping it was a boy since we already have a girl. But we also would have been overjoyed either way. It would have been so sweet to give Delilah a sister (and maybe someday we will!) but instead she is getting a little brother. Since they will be close in age — about a 21-month gap — I have high hopes that they will be great friends growing up. Not to be naive or delusional, I know it will be quite an adjustment for Delilah at first and there will be sibling rivalries I’m sure along the way, but I believe having a sibling will be a gift for both of them.

Baby’s size: Baby boy is the size of a banana this week. At our 20-week anatomy scan today, he was measuring right on track at 14 ounces.

Weight gained: Weight gain was slow in the first trimester but has picked up steam the last few weeks. I’m up almost 10 pounds. I’m about how much I weighed when I had Delilah, which is somewhat alarming, BUT I have to remember that I also weighed 10 pounds less when I got pregnant with Delilah than when we transferred our embryo this time around. Plus, Delilah came early. I surely would have gained a few more pounds at least if she had arrived on her due date! I’m trying not to stress too much about the number on the scale. My OB said Monday that she is happy with my weight gain thus far and just to keep eating healthy and try to walk a bit everyday — something that was easy to achieve while pregnant with Delilah thanks to working in retail! But my toddling-almost-running little girl does keep me on my toes and now that the weather seems to be slowly warming up, I’m sure we’ll be outside a lot more.

Symptoms & Sleep status: Well, this is not pregnancy related, but week 20 has been spent sick with a cold. Ditto for Delilah, and Greg recently joined the sick club. As far as pregnancy symptoms go, I don’t really have many now that I’m in my second trimester. The first 14 weeks I was predictably exhausted, and probably even more than I was with Delilah because this time I have a toddler to care for and cater to from morning to night! But during the first trimester there were many days where I felt like I could legitimately sleep all day. I could nap for hours. After about 12 weeks or so my energy came back, but motherhood itself still makes me tired. Once I/Greg put Delilah down for bed and the dishes in the kitchen are clean, I turn into a couch potato and all motivation and productivity is lost.

Movement: Just like with Delilah, it took a long time to feel baby move. With Delilah, it wasn’t until 20 weeks. With baby boy, I finally felt him *for sure* at the start of 19 weeks. And then I felt him every day — usually at night, but I’m feeling him here and there during the day, too. He also gets more active when I eat, ha!

Food love: Carbs like last time, but honestly I just love carbs in general. But I have been in the mood for pickles and olives more lately, and I’m dangerously addicted to the garlic dip from Trader Joe’s. So strong flavors are a preference it seems. I will say that during the first trimester, Chick-Fil-A always sounded like a good idea, and since there is a drive-through about five minutes down the road I gave into that temptation (too) many times. (Meaning, I sent Greg to get the goods.)

Food hate: I haven’t had many food aversions this time around. The first trimester was tricky because I was nauseous fairly consistently throughout the day, but never to the point of throwing up. Food often didn’t sound appealing though, or I’d finally eat and regret what I ate. Or I’d have a bad taste linger in my mouth for hours! That was annoying. Suffice to say, I’m glad all that is over with now. If I remember correctly, those pesky symptoms magically disappeared with the start of the second trimester. It’s weird how that works.

Currently living in: The standard SAHM uniform: leggings! All my pretty Anthro dresses that I wore last pregnancy are hanging in my closet, untouched. No reason to get all dolled up these days. But I am at the point — and have been for a few weeks — where my pants don’t fit comfortably or at all, even my stretchy ones. So leggings really are where it’s at right now. I think I may need to invest in a few new pieces soon, but I’m hopeful that warm, sunny days are near and that at least some of my bump-friendly dresses can come out of hibernation. 

Baby/pregnancy-related purchases: We have bought our little dude a few small things so far. For our announcement photo, I purchased a darling nautical romper, a mustard-hued muslin swaddle, a wooden rattle, and a cuddly little bear wearing a matching romper! While at TreasureFest recently, I picked up a handmade wooden “pocket car” toy and an adorable two-piece outfit with a badger embroidered on the shirt. And then while at IKEA this past weekend I got him a colorful soft ball to play with and another stuffed bear (I see a theme forming) with a big heart on the front.

We won’t be creating a full, separate nursery just yet, which makes me a bit sad, but since he’ll likely sleep in our bedroom for at least six months it would be silly to takeover our only guest space right away. So I’m instead going to create a “nursery nook,” as I am calling it, in our master bedroom. On the list of things to buy: changing table, storage baskets, hamper, another diaper pail (yippee!). And I may DIY a mini “wardrobe” for hanging special clothing.

What I miss: Oh, the same as last time: Eggs Benedict and wine! But the eggs more than the vino. Except on those exceptionally long toddler-taming days when a glass of red would really hit the spot.

What I’m loving: Feeling the baby move! 

Looking forward to: You know, I’d love for Delilah to be able to understand what is going on, but I’m not sure she will be able to until he is here. But maybe in another two months or so she’ll be able to grasp the concept that there is a baby in mama’s belly.

Best moment of the week/month: Feeling (with certainty) baby boy kicking and flipping. It took almost half the pregnancy to finally feel him move with consistency, and in a way that was unquestionably the baby (and not just gas). It was worth the wait!

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Now for a few more bump shots. (I have only managed to capture the bump at three different points in time this pregnancy... all via mirror selfie, all appropriately in leggings!)

17 weeks (and one day)

19 weeks (and four days)

20 weeks (a day shy of 21 weeks)

The Post-Bump Bumpdate: Third Trimester, Weeks 31-36

Even though our daughter is here, I thought I’d take a quick look back on the final weeks of my pregnancy. I had planned to do another “bumpdate” once I was on maternity leave and had a bit more free time, but of course we know how that turned out! 

Childhood friends.

At the time of my last pregnancy update, I was on my way to Southern California for a babymoon with my hubby in Pismo Beach, followed by my baby shower! I was 30 weeks pregnant and feeling good — “pretty normal” is what I kept telling people who asked how I was feeling. And in the five or so weeks that followed, not much changed. Pregnancy really treated me well. I was starting to slow down a bit at work; squatting became more of a challenge and my feet, or I should say the bump, didn’t want me to move quite as quickly sometimes. But because I hadn’t gained all that much weight — topping out at about 17 or 18 pounds at week 36 — I was still sleeping fine (no crazy pillow needed) and I didn’t have any aches or pains (besides my sore feet from working retail in heels!).

Babymooning in Pismo Beach at 30 weeks pregnant.

With my bestie at my baby shower, 31 weeks pregnant.

The only troubling or out-of-the-ordinary thing I experienced happened on Sept. 22, when we rang in 32 weeks with a bit of a scare that led to me leaving work and going to Labor & Delivery for evaluation. I had just finished my first bridal appointment of the day and while saying my goodbyes to the bride and her mom I felt a little something “leak” out. I honestly didn’t think much of it. I thought it might have been a bit of pee actually and figured I just needed to go to the bathroom. (Babies like to press on bladders!) I was so unworried that I spent another five minutes or so cleaning up my gowns and chatting with my coworkers before I finally headed to the ladies room. When I wiped I saw a scary surprise — bright red blood. 

Naturally I freaked out, though I tried to maintain some composure since I was at work. Standing in a corner of my store, right outside the restroom, trying to be inconspicuous as shoppers walked around me, I called my OB’s office and spoke in hushed tones. I was put on hold while the nurse conferred with a midwife and I remaining relatively calm until the nurse got back on the line and told me that I should go to L&D to get checked out. That’s when the crying started. I hadn’t even been to the hospital yet! I didn’t know where L&D was! Am I really going to Labor & Delivery today? What is happening, what does the blood mean? Is baby OK, is she going to stay put? All these thoughts were running through my head. 

To make matters worse, my husband had decided to drive to about an hour south to San Jose that morning to go pick up a car seat. I texted Greg while I was on the phone with the OB to let him know that if he was on his way to San Jose to turn around. He hadn’t gotten to San Jose yet but he was farther away from me and baby than he would have liked to have been at that moment and he was freaking out too, especially as he battled Silicon Valley traffic to get to the hospital in Walnut Creek.

So I drove myself to the hospital, which luckily is only about 10 minutes away from my work, and when I checked in at L&D I was a teary, anxious mess. Fortunately, my doctor was actually there (to perform a c-section as it turns out… foreshadowing?) and when he came up to me at the check-in desk I immediately grabbed him and hugged him. I think it was comforting to see a familiar face. I was then taken into a room and hooked up to monitors to track baby’s heart rate and any uterine contractions. As it turned out, I was having some mild contractions, many of which I couldn’t feel and those that I could felt just like pressure. But baby girl’s heartbeat tracings were perfect. It wasn’t long before Greg ran into the room, panicked as he scrambled to my side, and the nurse told him not to worry, to take a breath, that baby and I were fine. 

Forcing a smile during my unexpected trip to Labor & Delivery at 32 weeks pregnant.

I spent about three hours that afternoon being monitored, and I was given medication to calm my uterus. In the end, there wasn’t a definitive reason for the bleeding but the doctor’s best guess was that the intestinal troubles (read: very frequent and soft bowel movements) I had been dealing with for about a week may have irritated my uterus, causing it to contract and, perhaps because of my low-lying placenta, expel blood. All in all, it seemed like a minor and isolated incident. But out of an abundance of caution, I was put on modified bedrest for the following week.

One of the last ultrasound captures of our baby girl.

Speaking of low-lying placentas, that brings us to the only other issue I faced in pregnancy. At my 20-week (almost 21-week) anatomy scan on July 6, Greg and I learned that my placenta was located too close to my cervix and that it needed to move at least 2 centimeters away in order for me to give birth vaginally. When we checked again two months later, on Sept. 7, the placenta hadn’t shifted much. Then, on Oct. 5, an ultrasound revealed good news — and bad news. The good news was my placenta had moved the requisite 2 centimeters! There was no longer a placental reason for a c-section. However, baby girl — who had been perfectly positioned four weeks before — was now Frank breech. Her head up by my ribs, her little bottom down by my pelvis, her legs kicked up in front of her face, by her hands. My hope at that point was that she would turn on her own, especially since I was back at work and moving around again after nine days of bedrest.

No such luck though. At my OB checkup on Oct. 20, baby was still breech. Since I was 36 weeks pregnant, the chances that she would flip on her own were slim to none. Baby girl was starting to outgrow her cramped quarters and my amniotic fluid would only decrease in the weeks ahead, giving her even less wiggle room. I had already read up on external cephalic version — a procedure in which the baby’s position in the womb is manipulated manually, from the outside — and my midwife recommended that we schedule one for the following Monday if I still wanted a shot at a vaginal delivery.

As you know, what happened next is not what anyone expected! Stay tuned for Delilah’s birth story.

In the meantime, a few photos from my last weeks of pregnancy…

33 weeks pregnant.

34 weeks and 5 days pregnant.

The last bump photo I snapped, at 35 weeks and 3 days pregnant.

In Full Bloom: A Shower for Baby T

Last month, Greg and I traveled from the Bay down south to our hometown of Simi Valley for my baby shower. The big event was held Sept. 16, when I was 31 weeks pregnant. My best friend since third grade (that's 24 years!), Marielle, planned the whole thing and it could not have been more beautiful. The theme, the decor, the food... everything was perfection and suited me and Baby T to a, well, T! In every detail I could tell how much time, energy and love went into the execution of what was such a wonderful and memorable day. I am so thankful to have a friend like Marielle who, along with a couple helpful family members, carefully crafted and curated a shower that was lovelier than I could have imagined. And I'm also grateful to everyone who came out to celebrate this joyous time and the sweet blessing the hubby and I have been given. Baby Thilgen was definitely spoiled and added many new clothes to her wardrobe :) 

Without further ado, I'd like to share a collection of snapshots from the day. As always, thank you for your continued support of us, this pregnancy, and our baby girl.

Family photos after the jump...

Pregnancy Update: Second/Third Trimester, Weeks 26-30

^^^ Same night, same bump, at 27 weeks. ^^^

This bumpdate is a bit overdue… I’m actually writing it as the hubby and I make our way down to Southern California for a much-needed vacation, that is bookended by two joyous events. We’ll babymoon in Pismo for several days but first up is my best friend’s daughter’s first birthday party (which, as of finally posting, was yesterday!) and the following weekend we will celebrate Baby T at my baby shower.

Baby’s size: At 30 weeks (can you believe it?! only 10 weeks left!), baby is estimated to be 15.7 inches long and weighs around 3 pounds — about the size of a large cabbage, or a butternut squash. I had an ultrasound on Thursday and the technician measured Baby T to be 3 lbs 4 oz, with a strong heartbeat of 145 bpm.

Weight gained: Just about 12-13 pounds. Still relatively low (or, at least, lower than my and other’s expectations) but every medical professional I ask assures me that baby and I are A-OK! And they tell me to enjoy it :)

Fur baby and the baby bump. 27 weeks.

Symptoms & Sleep Status: Really good! Looking back on the second trimester, and even the first, I’ve had a fairly easy pregnancy, for which I feel so grateful. Getting pregnant was not as easy as for me as it is for most, so I consider it a gift that I’ve been able to enjoy being pregnant with no major aches, pains or other issues that would otherwise make carrying this child an unpleasant process. I’m able to work, sleep, eat and generally go about my life much as I normally would.

Movement: I’m so happy to report that I’ve been feeling Baby Girl quite frequently now! She is still most active in the morning and evening, as well as after I eat,  but I’ll notice her even during the middle of the day while I’m at work. I’ll be talking to a bride or entering notes and she’ll give me a kick — somewhat distracting, but no complaints here. I’ll take every kick, jab, roll and squirm she can dish out. Though, I will say that sometimes it feels like there is a wriggly little worm in my belly and it is the oddest but most wonderful feeling.

Rocking my maternity leggings in the mess that is (or, will be) the nursery. 27 weeks.

Currently living in: Not much has changed on the wardrobe front. Almost everything still fits since I’ve always been a flowy dress kind of gal. I’ve been on the lookout for more fitted pieces though, since at this point I really want to show off the bump!

Baby/pregnancy-related purchases: The biggest recent purchase is a rocking chair for the nursery. A mid-century style rocker that I’d had my eye on finally came back in stock so I jumped on it. The chair is similar to the Nursery Works Sleepytime Rocker that I loved but it has a higher back (that is hopefully more comfortable for tall folks like me who may want to rest their weary heads) and a lower price. Fingers crossed I like it when it arrives since I ordered it online and wasn’t able to try it out.

What I miss: Not much, and nothing I haven’t mentioned before. Wine, eggs benny… Things that I would give up again and again just to feel my little one kick.

What I’m loving: This is obvious: Feeling my daughter moving and growing inside me.

One for you and one for me. So hard shopping for other mama's babies
and not getting something for your own!

Looking forward to: My baby shower! I know my best friend has put so much time and energy into planning something special and memorable for me, and I can’t wait to celebrate Baby T with my friends and family.

Best moment of the week/month: There have been several highlights but one is my thoughtful coworkers showing me so much kindness and support and showering me with beautiful gifts for baby girl.

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A few more photos from the past few weeks:

28 weeks + 3 days: A Sunday fun day at the Presidio of San Francisco.

Me and my (3!) babies in the San Francisco sunshine, enjoying the Presidio Picnic.

28 weeks: Morning cup of decaf with the bump.

30 weeks + 2 days: A rare shot of me in a bikini,
taken at my best friend's daughter's birthday party yesterday.

A recent peek at our little one, during an ultrasound on Sept. 7 (a day shy of 30 weeks).
She loves to hide her face with her hands!