Pregnancy Update - Week 25

Week 25 - trying to smile for camera

Week 25 - just a profile shot

Week 25 - another angle

We are 25 weeks, and have a few updates!  Well, not so much updates.  One update and two observations.

   1) I had a doctor's appointment at week 23 and both James and I appear on track.  James was at 146 bpm, which the doctor finally found after James decided to stop the acrobatics in my stomach.  He's been quite active since 17 weeks, and Patric actually felt him at about 18 weeks.  In fact, when Dr. H initially put the doppler on my stomach for the heartbeat, James kicked so hard he moved the doppler.  And they only get stronger, right?
   At 23 weeks, I was also on track at 17 lbs weight gain.  I was hoping to keep right on track, and had been walking/running, but some Braxton Hicks have put a kabosh on my workout plans.  Which brings me to my first observation...

   2) Braxton Hicks.  I started having Braxton Hicks (practice contractions) at around 20 weeks.  It's a little early by some standards, but happens.  I mean, why not start practicing early?  But I do have a bit of an issue with the definitions given by some popular pregnancy sites.  For example, one site says the BH are painless tightenings of the uterus that may even pass unnoticed.  If, by painless and unnoticed, they mean clenching of my entire stomach to the point it feels like a boulder has taken up residence in it and completely stopping me in my tracks because I can't concentrate on anything else except changing positions and gulping water, then I guess that's an accurate definition.  But I really think something besides "painless" is in order.  Don't get me wrong, it's not painful, and I'm not in labor, which I'm sure will re-define my perspective on pain, but "painless" seems a little weak for explaining what is happening in my stomach.    Maybe mildly to moderately uncomfortable would be a better option.  Just saying.

   3) I also had an interesting conversation with a co-worker today.  When I told her I was finishing up my second trimester, she said "isn't this just the best time of your life?"  Um, well, not exactly.  I'm so happy to be pregnant, that I was able to get pregnant quickly, and that everything has been going well, and I can not wait to meet James, but I would not go around asking some who has gained ~20 lbs in 25 weeks, is having BH (see #2), and looks pretty darn tired if this is the "best time of her life".  I mean, James recently discovered that my bladder is a really cool punching bag, especially at 2am - that just doesn't quite fit into the "best time of my life" category.  And don't get me started on the first trimester - when throwing up is something that just gets scheduled into your normal daily routine like brushing your teeth or taking a shower or eating lunch, "best time of my life" just doesn't describe it.  I am sure there are women who have pregnancy experiences that are the best times of their life, I'm just not one of them. And I'm perfectly okay with it.