Papaya- Week 22

This week you measure (based on the average fetus) 10.5-11.8 inches and weigh 12.7-20.8 ounces (what a range). Your lips, eyelids and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and you're even developing tiny tooth buds beneath your gums. Your eyes have formed, but your irises still lack pigment (we are sure you will be blue eyed like both of us). Your pancreas is steadily developing along with the rest of you.

Bump selfie- 22.5 weeks

This was a pretty normal week- we had a few nice days reaching in the 50's and 60's- a glimpse of spring (supposed to snow next week). Being able to walk outside and wear flip flops was so refreshing! The sun shining and warm weather just made life a little happier in general. I am pretty sure he is growing a million inches a minute (ok that would be a lot, but it seems like it!) because I am hungry ALL the time and feeling you move a LOT. He gets very angry when I do not eat every few hours- he pushes and kicks and I start to feel nauseous. I swear you are like a little dancing, swimming ninja in there! Time is flying by- we have settled on most of the big decisions and our next step is to start gathering everything in one place for his arrival. We are having a home birth with midwives and a doula (yay for exchange of services for doula care) and are hoping for a water birth. I have been quite indecisive on what route I would like to take for a water birth, but after talking out pros and cons with the hubs I think, key word being think, we have decided which route to take. When planning a water birth there are a few things to consider- budget, space, size of the person, and the logistics of keeping the water warm and getting it in and out of the tub. For us size was a large factor. Sitting down from hip to toe I am 51" long. That is not to say I'm going to be just chilling in the tub for hours, but I want the option to extend my legs out. I also have to consider that I have long femurs- so if I were to labor and birth on all fours I would need to have the water cover my hips and then some for when baby comes up. I am 22" when kneeling (not a small person). The second largest consideration for us is how to keep the water warm. There are lots of options here- some tubs, such as the Aqua Doula, have a heating element. Other tubs which do not have a heating method suggest just draining out cold water and adding in hot water with pots or a water source, much like you would in a normal bathtub. (For those wondering why we don't just use our bathtub it is just a normal shower-tub size and would not be easy for the midwives to access me in the tub.) We decided to not go the Aqua Doula route- while the heating element is a selling point the diameter is 55.2" and has a depth of 24"- the price (typical rental price of $250) did not justify the convenience to us. That leaves us with the "blow up" tub options. For that we had a couple options- a marketed "birth tub" or a DIY route with a kiddie pool. The marketed birth tubs have some nice features and one rental that we found is $150 and includes the air pump and water supply and drain hose. The DIY route would cost us about $30 for a kiddie pool and about $35 for an aquarium tank hose (this lets you siphon water out and refill with hot water from the tap). We are going the DIY route- even if we get a new pool for the next baby- the cost is still less. Plus if we get the pool and test it out we can always use the birth tub as a plan B and use the kiddie pool as a kiddie pool. Plus it is such a fun design ;)

How Far Along: 22 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 20ish pounds- haven't stepped on scale lately

Maternity Clothes: yep

Stretch Marks: not yet

Sleep: decent- actually went 7 hours without having to get up!

Best Moment This Week:

Miss Anything: skipping meals, miss being able to

Movement: I'm growing a ninja! (or swimmer)

Food Cravings:

Aversions: ugh smells- always the smells :( Gender: boy Labor Signs: too early! Belly Button: in Wedding Rings: on Exercise: swimming and walking Odin Mood:still feeling like a normal person 98% of the time- enjoying the 2nd trimester finally! Looking Forward To: our baby moon trip at the end of the month- c'mon warm weather!