I spent last week at my parents’ house where my mother proceeded to spoil me rotten with homecooked Korean food and whatever else I was craving.
“Don’t ever ignore your cravings or your baby will come out with crooked eyes!” she repeatedly told me. (Now that’s one old wives’ tale I can get behind!)
I was sure that I would return at least 5 lbs heavier, but I was dumbfounded to find that I had lost a few pounds. Huh. Take a look at last week’s and today’s belly shots side-by-side:
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As you can see I certainly don’t look any thinner; if anything, I look bigger!
Nonetheless, I’m happy to report that what I had been predicting seems to be coming true: I’m just one of the few women who gain a lot in the beginning and plateau.
People have been telling me that I already seem to be carrying a bit high. I call bullshit on this because I know the real reason my belly is already bloated on top — it’s because of my small stature. As the baby grows and my uterus expands, it pushes the rest of my organs up. And because I’m so short to begin with, my organs have already been pushed pretty far up in relation to the rest of my body.
I know that being short already has given me some disadvantages with pregnancy. For example, it’s getting harder to do the dishes because my arms are so short. My short stumpy arms will also force me to stop driving in the third trimester, because I already drive so close to the steering wheel (and there isn’t much room left). Lastly, I need to be extra-careful in the later months because short women are more prone to falling when they are heavily pregnant.
But I don’t care. I’m just happy to be carrying a healthy child.
On to the update!
Dear Baby,
You are now about the size of a large onion or a turnip, and since you’ve consistently been measuring a bit large, I’m going to go ahead and guess that you’re about 5.5-6″ long (with legs it’s probably closer to 10″!) and weigh about 6-7 ounces.
Your skeleton is transforming from cartilage to bone, and you are finally starting to accumulate fat to keep yourself warm and healthy. Your daddy wants a big fat baby with Michelin Man-like arms and legs, so I have to keep reminding him that developing a overweight child in the womb can’t be good for you or for me.
Your ears are not yet structurally complete or fully functional, but they’re getting there — because you’re already starting to react to outside noises and sounds! Can you hear me now baby?
In just two days your father and I hope to find out your gender. We can’t be more excited for this event! Even your father has begun to admit that he doesn’t care what the sex is; he is just excited for you to be here and be healthy.
The biggest development for your mother has to be the allergy-like symptoms that are constantly plaguing me. I know that the increased blood flow is good for you but it’s given me a constantly stuffy/runny nose and rheumy eyes. The increase in snot also creates repeated sneezing which makes your father paranoid that I’m catching a cold. I have never had allergies before but I can now sympathize.
I am now also regularly feeling twinges in my lower abdomen. I’m still not 100% sure, but I think it’s you, baby! I think I’m feeling you swimming around inside of me until you get bigger and stronger and start to really punch and kick.
Please continue to stay healthy in there and I can’t wait to see you on Wednesday!
