* Babies weigh in around 5 oz and are around 5 in long- The size of turnips (not exactly the cutest fruit/veggie thus far!)
* Skeletons are changing from soft cartilage to bone
* Babies can move all of their joints
* Sweat glands are developing
* They have mastered swallowing, sucking, and blinking reflexes and might even get hiccups!
I had my 17 week check-in today with my OB. Unfortunately, he didn't even use the mini portable ultrasound today and just used the doppler listening device for the first time. He placed it in different spots on my belly and we heard a heartbeat in each spot. I'm not entirely convinced it was a DIFFERENT heartbeat in each spot. I mean, everywhere he put the thing on my belly we heard a heartbeat. He was running late, though, since I had to be squeezed in last minute because the scheduler had messed up and put my weekly appointment 3 weeks after my last appointment instead of today in the system- and thus, they were very surprised to see me today! I did get my uterus measured again and it is measuring at a whopping 26 weeks- which basically means it progressed to 3 weeks larger in the last week alone. How appropriate with triplets. I am now measuring 9 weeks ahead of a singleton pregnancy. I don't think it will be long before I will feel like Violet from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I voiced to the OB my concerns about pretty frequent contractions that I have daily, but he just said- "I'm sure it's fine." He also maintains that I will probably gain around 30-40 lbs total with this pregnancy. My research tells me that my contractions should be monitored to determine if they are in fact "real" and causing changes to my cervix, and that I should be gaining a minimum of 50 lbs. I am beginning to think that I know a lot more about triplet pregnancies than he does. I don't blame him considering it is my 24/7 job to link with many many other triplet mom's and forums online and read books exclusively on the subject when he has only had one other triplet pregnancy in his office EVER (I'm not even sure if it was his patient) and that was over 7 years ago. I have decided to try to keep better track of my contractions over the weekend and call the perinatologist's office next week to see if they have a different take on it at all. For now, I will just drink a lot of water and lie down a lot to limit them, and hope they are just harmless Braxton Hicks.
I tried to con my OB into giving me another ultrasound before my next one at the specialist's office in 4 weeks, but he said I would not need one before then. I told him we really wanted to make sure all the little girl parts still look like little girl parts (I mean, I'm trying to plan a nursery here, doctor!!) but he didn't find that to be a valid enough medical reason for another ultrasound. Oh well, worth a try :)
Onto insomnia... Due to the fact that I am incredibly inactive throughout the day (not by choice, believe me!) and constantly have a million things running through my mind either directly or indirectly related to my precious trio, sleep evades me at night. I often don't fall asleep until 3 or even 4 am, and even then it is fitful. Brent can attest that I am always
I love the cooler weather, but my dogs use it as an excuse to literally lay on top of me this time of year. I took this picture around 3 am this morning (with all of you in mind) to illustrate my limited sleep space (it is that little square of orange sheet below my pillow and above Harper's face):
Also with my faithful readers in mind, I voice recorded my husband loudly snoring last night with me chiming in in the background "shut up. stop snooorningggg" as he continued to saw away. We both found it very entertaining to listen to today, as he had never heard himself snore before. Unfortunately, I cannot find a way to upload this type of file to my blog, much to Brent's relief. I will just have to remember to video record it next time ;) To his credit, though, I can usually get him to stop snoring easily with a
17 Week 1 day Belly Shot
Current weight gain: 18 lbs
So excited to see your progress. I can't imagine your skinny little body gaining 40 pounds much less 50. Am praying daily for healthy babies and momma. Take care of you. We miss you.
ReplyDeleteThe weight thing is odd to me. I was a bit over weight to start, and was drill told I should gain about 50 lbs with twins. I'd think with your body type they would want you to gain even more if possible.Glad you're doing well. It's flying by!
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