27th Week

Today, Monday Jan. 13th, is the beginning of week 27 and was also our midwife appointment.  We analyzed and discussed in great detail the possibility of Bean's earliest predicted due date of April 9th.    Pearl said since my earliest sonogram was done at week 18 that it was a bit late for due date predicting.  Up to week 13, all babies run a very similar growth rate, so if Bean was measuring bigger at that time, then an earlier due date would have been more concrete.  Josh and I are not small people and do not have petite genes in our family (I think his grandmother and that's it) so Bean's sonogram measurements, which are 2 weeks ahead of schedule, are more about genetics than accelerated growth rate and early due date.  Pearl also double and triple checked my July tracking information for conception possibilities, etc. and feels very confident that April 20th is the best due date.  Josh's sister just pointed out that there is a full moon for April 15th or 16th so... I guess we won't be too surprised if Bean arrives then!

Some Fun Facts About Week 27:
Baby is about 2 pounds and 15 inches tall which is about 1 inch taller than a Barbie doll.  Baby is almost fully developed, even down to her eyelashes and his immune system is developing quickly.

Symptoms:
I keep reading about what I might be experiencing, such a laundry list of possibilities:  swelling of hands and/or feet, round ligament pain, skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation, heartburn, occasional headaches or dizziness, hearty appetite, leg cramps, varicose veins...
I'm so grateful and want to say right now I realize I'm in the 2nd trimester and I'm only 6 months, but I'm really loving my pregnancy.  I read that stretch marks and varicose veins are largely hereditary and if this is true then I am a lucky lady as I confirmed with my Mom she didn't have either, yay!  I have very infrequent heartburn and notice bleeding gums when I brush (helps when I eat more coconut oil), but nothing else!   My belly button is on it's way to becoming an out-e but not yet and also inevitable is the darkening of my linea alba, the line that runs down the center of your abdomen to the top of your pubic bone.  I am also fearing the temporary increase in clumsiness!!  I'm a tad on the clumsy side as it is... and read that I will drop more things in my last trimester than in my lifetime, lol.  Awesome.  Josh is still the leader on broken wine glasses for now.  I try to remember to stretch my legs out every night so I haven't dealt with any leg cramps yet.  I also need to give a shout out to my amazing chiropractor, Dr. Brett Jones at Alive Chiropractic.  I. Love. Him.  I have had very minor lower back pain considering I've put nearly 25 pounds on the front of my stomach and have dealt with chronic low back pain for nearly a decade.  He is experienced in the Webster method for pregnancy and I swear it's made my pregnancy that much more wonderful.  He's also available for a house call when I go into labor, how fantastic is that?!