Pregnancy Week 20! Baby is the size of a sweet potato 🍠 An emotional week + Baby kicking non-stop!
👶🏽 Baby Status: This week baby is 16.5cm and 280g (around the size of a sweet potato). He is kicking every day on the hour. I feel when he is sleeping and I feel when he is moving around. He's a very active little nugget and also loves to throw some punches throughout the night that make my entire body jolt. Guillaume says he is practicing his free-flying for skydiving. Baby is still breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid, and is starting to produce meconium, the sticky black substance that will make up his first poop. He's also sprouting teeth buds underneath his gums, as well as lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Cute!
🤰🏽 Mama's Status: Half way wooooo! This week I'm feeling short of breath with everything from exercise, to walking down the street, to talking. My uterus has started pressing up against the lungs and boy I'm feeling it. My breaths are much shorter. Aside from us having record hot weather is South East Queensland, I'm running that little bit hotter than usual and have been loving the ocean and aircon lately. I'm definitely noticing darker skin pigmentation which is due to extra oestrogen and progesterone in the system too. This pigmentation is definitely at play on my nipples too (it's said that darkened nipples are to make it easier for newborns to find ze booobie). This week has also been demanding and intense with work. Working for yourself has both its perks and its downside. So it's been less time for self-care, less time for exercise, and less time for sleep.
Weight: +8kg. This week I felt body conscious in bikinis and even taking photos for this blog. It's been almost 2 weeks since I weighed myself and stepping onto the scales today really left me feeling emotional. I dropped straight into this space of picking myself apart, comparing myself to other mama's bodies at 20 weeks, followed by a good cry. I want to be a mama who is strong and confident, but I also want to be real. Some weeks I bloody LOVE my new curves. But right now, this is where I'm at. I'm having to constantly remind myself not to be too hard on myself and that everything is purposeful. That these extra kg's are fat stores for lactation. That these new pimples are my body expelling toxins to keep a safe environment for bub. That my body isn't meant for me right now - it's meant for this little boy and my only responsibility is to be as physically and mentally healthy as possible. When I frame it like this, nothing else matters. I could literally turn into a hippo with cystic back-ne and face warts and it wouldn't matter if this baby is healthy. So gently reminding myself of this to interrupt any negative thought patterns that arise.
Diet and Cravings: Lately I’ve been craving sugar. Ive been craving the strangest things that usually wouldn’t crave. I’ve never been a fan of soft drink and lately have found myself daydreaming about drinking it lol! I’ve been experimenting with some vegan dessert recipes too like custard And trying to keep it on a healthier side. I got tested for blood sugar levels this week and was slightly low so no wonder sugar is my go too. It’s not uncommon for expecting mama‘s to be low on and require more sugar.
Pregnancy Exercises and Yoga: Laying on my belly in yoga, even if I'm demonstrating for a couple of seconds while teaching, is no longer possible. Even laying on my belly in bed is just a resounding no. I've still been moving my body with stretching, slow runs, and some gym. Though this isn't as much as usual. Which I also suspect is a contributing factor to my mental health this week.
Products I'm Loving: This week I started using Biologi skincare which was highly recommended by friends. All-natural and vegan so much gentler for pregnancy.
Self Care Ritual This Week: Leaving the office for lunchtime pool swims and having dinner by the ocean for sunsets with Guillaume. So easy to get warped into startup life - I really treasure those moments we can step away from the computer, reflect and check-in. Though since writing this blog I realise I need to up my self-care game next week and go that extra mile for myself and baby.
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✌🏽 Thanks for taking the time to read and connect. I'm sharing my pregnancy journey online for friends, family and other mamas out there. If you have any questions, tips or anything you'd like to share, please comment below.
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