Baby makes three...

Wow - 23 weeks already. I know, I say that every week.

We had another midwife appointment this week, so that was great - there was only one woman in the practice I hadn't met yet, so now I've had appointments with all three. The baby's heartbeat was easily found and was 150. I always get a little nervous right before they find it. My blood pressure was nice and low again, as I had noticed it creeping up just a bit at my last visit and hoped that wouldn't keep heading in that direction.

I also got to discuss the ultrasound. It was almost a month ago but I hadn't been in since then so I never got the result, though I assumed everything was normal since I hadn't heard. The baby seems to be growing well, with a head around the 85th percentile, a body around 75th percentile and thigh length around 56th. So it's got a big head and short legs! But it's completely normal to be a little disproportionate here and there - aren't we all? My impression is that the figures/proportions aren't really indicative of much except that it's growing as it should and isn't completely off the charts one way or the other. The baby is only a pound now (so probably a lot less 4 weeks ago) so there's still lots of growing to do. Let's just hope that head stays in check though!

I also found out that I have an anterior placenta, which means it's at the front. Most people have it at the back. I had suspected it was anterior since I always seem to be a bit lopsided when lying down, and I figured the baby couldn't always be on my right. An anterior placenta doesn't really affect anything, but it is surprising how early I felt the baby - even Julian could feel it by 18 weeks if he was really patient.

I'm finally starting to feel a bit better and have not been so tired this week. Keep your fingers crossed that continues. The midwife had some good recommendations about cutting back on sugars, like juice, as a way to keep fatigue in check. She also warned me to be careful about the way I get up so that my stomach muscles are protected as they can sometimes separate during pregnancy. I am learning to roll like a big beached whale when I get up off my back, rather than using my abs. She also recommended that I take some calcium magnesium to ward off Braxton Hicks, which I have been getting for weeks, so I've been doing that and haven't noticed them so much in the past few days.

I have noticed that the baby has become a lot more predictable in the past few days. If I eat a square of chocolate, which I am inclined to do now and then (hey - it's practically health food these days, right?) I get a lot of kicks. Also, after eating, s/he's pretty active. Before, it was just sort of random.

Anyway I better get to work as I started my bar course today and I want to stay ahead of the game to avoid the last-minute panic I experienced in April. Should be a lot easier now that I am feeling better.