17 week update

I had a doctor appointment today to check on Bundle of Joy #2's progress.  I am 17 weeks 6 days into the pregnancy.  I've started feeling flutters of movement at night when I'm laying in bed reading.  I can't wait to feel stronger movements!  Feeling the baby move is the strongest reassurance, to me, that everything is going ok in there.  The baby's heartbeat sounded great at 146 beats per minute, my blood pressure is at 98/56, I'm measuring at 18 weeks and my weight gain is at 11 lbs.  Everything is looking great except I'm a few pounds over where I should be according to my doctor.  I guess I may have been eating a little too much, even too much healthy food adds up :( 

This pregnancy is similar to the last with some minor differences.  I seem to feel aches and pains a little more this time around.  My neck and my lower back have been bugging me so I started to see a chiropractor last week.  I've seen him 3 times so far and it seems to be helping a bit.  The chiropractor did say I move really well for being pregnant and seems a little deterred when I shake off his offer of a hand to help me get up from the table.  That makes me feel good!

 Sleep has also been an issue for me.  I am EXHAUSTED by 8pm every night, but when I lay down to go to bed I seem to toss and turn for hours.  Having to get up and pee in the middle of the night isn't very helpful for my sleep either :(  Taking care of a toddler while being pregnant is more of a challenge than I expected.  My doctor told me today that i can take tylenol PM every other night to try and get some better sleep.

I'm still playing volleyball, walking outside daily and working out at the health club a few times a week.  Wearing my fitbit helps me track if I'm active enough.  I try and stay above 10,000 steps daily and usually hit or exceed that goal.   When I say working out, it doesn't mean I'm hoping on the elliptical and doing vigorous cardio and lifting heavy weights.  My energy levels and shortness of breath only allow me to power walk on the treadmill for about a half an hour and lift some moderate weights.   I really enjoy my 'me time' at the club.

 I want to keep "working out" for as long as I can to keep in as good of shape as I can.  The better of shape I'm in the easier it SHOULD be for me to take care of Chelsea through out this pregnancy.  It's tough not having total control over how much weight I gain and how much my body changes.  I seem to be getting bigger a lot fasteer this time even with my diligence with my health. I can only eat healthy, keep active and do the best I can to take care of myself and the tiny babe I'm carrying :-) I also know that I will have a C-Section again so the recovery of getting my strength back won't be any fun.

Here are some pictures i've taken during the past week.  I compare them to when I was pregnant with Chelsea and I seem to be as big as I was at 24 weeks last time.  It's interesting how that works!

17 weeks

Chelsea showing me her belly :)

Chelsea showing me my belly :)