25 weeks

I went out with Ryan for his evening walk every day this week, which wasn't exactly "easing into" the walking like I was planning. But I figured out how to carry myself better so that my back didn't hurt each time, although instead I was having some abdominal tightness. I figured that was because I was trying to talk as we were walking (I apparently can't walk, talk, and breathe, so breathing was the first thing to go), but after our childbirth instructor was describing Braxton-Hicks contractions (abdominal tightness without accompanying pain), I am now wondering if that's what's going on instead. Braxton-Hicks are apparently perfectly normal, although I'm supposed to take it easy when they happen and drink more water, as they may turn into real contractions otherwise. I'm going to try to cut down on my talking during our walks to see if that helps, and will check with the midwives too at my next visit to see if this is anything to be concerned about.

In other news, I still can't sleep. I'm getting closer to accepting that I may never sleep well again, which was partially so that I wouldn't get frustrated when I wake up in the middle of the night and then have troubles getting back to sleep... and now that I'm slightly less stressed about it, I am having more troubles falling back to sleep. That is not the way it's supposed to work. I took another nap this weekend, so hopefully I can start making that a habit and catch up on some sleep that way - I seem to be able to sleep really well for a solid two hours before I wake up, which is good and hopefully gets in some of the deep sleep I'm probably not getting too much of otherwise.

Also starting up this week was some general achiness... I did some work out in the garden for the first time this year, which was probably a large part of it, but on Sunday (which is generally my yoga/housework/laundry day) I was so tired and achy that I found myself consolidating trips up and down the stairs much more than normal since my legs were hurting and burning so much. In other fun news, I've also had a few bouts of acid reflux, which is not at all pleasant. I'm not sure if that's triggered by food, but if it is, I will definitely need to figure out what's causing it so I can avoid eating whatever it is again... at least for another few months :)

The baby has also been moving much more this week. I think I can feel movement just about every hour now, still usually more in the mornings and then later at night. Ryan got to see the baby kicking from the outside this week too, and finally felt it move again - he had only felt it move once before, since I think the baby senses when Ryan's trying to feel it kick since it usually doesn't cooperate then :)