Baby #4: 22 Weeks

 

This is going by so fast!  Every Thursday seems to come quicker and quicker and the weeks just keep ticking by.  I'm really trying to savor the kicks, belly and all before it's gone for good.

Nothing big these last few weeks since I haven't had any appointments.  I love feeling all the kicks and movements.  It's the best feeling!  Norah sat on the couch with me this week and felt some kicks and punches.  Her eyes lit up and she thought it was the coolest thing!  Scarlett has tried a few times but she isn't as patient haha.  She does think baby will be a girl though and wants to name her "Tot"! 

So far I'm still feeling pretty good.  My boobs are growing and super sore all the time, awful!  I feel like my belly is the size of a 30 weeker.  I'm really staying on the colace and magnesium to keep the constipation at bay.  Also taking collagen powder almost daily since that's the main thing I have found to keep the round ligament pain at bay.  Whew a lot going on but not complaining!

We have two more weeks until viability at 24 weeks!  We have a family beach vacation in a few weeks, last one before we are a family of 6!  Lot's of things to look forward to for sure. 

Baby #4: 20 Weeks

 

How on earth is this going by so fast??  We are halfway through and I just can't believe it.  I had my big anatomy scan last week with MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) which I was pretty nervous about.  Kit wasn't allowed to go (thanks COVID), and I was hoping my placenta, incision and baby looked good.  Luckily I got my wish!  Baby is measuring 68th percentile weighing 12 ounces!  My placenta is measuring posterior and healthy and uterus looks and measures thick! Haha, all good things!

As far as Mama goes, thankfully I feel mostly like myself these days.  I'm tired but not near as tired as that first trimester.  I'm showing ALOT which is bringing on back pain already, yuck.  I've had to up my collagen intake to almost daily now to help with the round ligament pain.  The collagen really is a game changer!  The RLP only hits me at night so I'll pace around our room and it usually subsides pretty quickly.  No nausea, but my boobs are SO sore (that's a new one for me). 

This week I started to feel these familiar little squeezes, not painful, but tightening.  The Braxton hicks have already started.  I can chalk that up to fourth baby luck.  The BEST thing to happen this week is I started to feel baby kick and move!! This is the earliest I have ever felt it and I think it's because my placenta finally grew posterior instead of anterior (like with my last three).  Kit even felt a few kicks from the outside!! It's my ultimate favorite part of being pregnant. 

My blood pressure looks great and I've gained about 12lbs so far.  No swelling yet and trying to work out or move my body at least 30 minutes 3-5 days a week.  My CrossFit gym closed so I'm using the YMCA or my garage for now.

I splurged and ordered our last baby it's own crib.  I worked an incentive shift at work for the extra cash and it will be so worth it!  It's on wheels and can be a bedside bassinet that converts to a full size crib then toddler bed when we are ready.  I have ordered a few gender neutral swaddles and clothing items but nothing too crazy until we know for sure the sex.  I did start a registry on Amazon for some things we need.

Speaking of...we are waiting again to find out the sex at delivery!  What better way to celebrate our last delivery.  We have a long list of names we both are "eh" about, so hopefully next month we can sit down to a date night and finally make a decision.  The morning we went to the hospital to have Hazel we STILL didn't have a boy name picked out!

We have a lot coming up these next few months, so I know this pregnancy will just speed up from here.  We hired a contractor to install some built in drawers in what is now Norah's closet so that we can build bunk beds in that room for the two older girls to share!  Then we will move Hazel upstairs to join her sisters and still keep a room downstairs for baby and retain our guest room.  We have a Spring Break beach trip planned.  Our last family vacation before baby!  Norah's birthday party in May and me working through my last month in June before baby comes.  We can't wait!

Happy Valentine's Day!

20 Week Peek