Well, I was officially 18 weeks as of Friday, April 26th. :) Over the weekend (April 20 & 21), while I was at work, I'm pretty sure I felt baby moving for the first time. It just feels like an occasional small muscle spasm. I was super excited! I was off Monday - Wednesday and didn't really feel anything.. so I was a bit disappointed. I'm wondering if baby moves more when I'm more active. Since I hit the 18 week mark, I've been feeling it more often (at work & at home) so that's exciting. :)
Only 3 more days till we find out the sex. I'm both anxious and excited! I can't wait to find out! I'm really getting girl vibes, though.
According to babycenter.com:
Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper)
and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs —
movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead.
His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are
now in their final position, although they're still standing out from
his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form
around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's
born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed
and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now,
but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it
count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of
empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger,
more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline
grow.
Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes,
and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower
than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or
you might feel a little dizzy.
From
now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at
least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your
uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to
your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper
leg for comfort.
If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound,
you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your
practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth
defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the
due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're
carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or
sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a
printout for your baby's first photo album!
Baby is the size of a sweet potato (or bell pepper):
How far along? 18 weeks 2 days
Total
weight gain: around 8 lbs
Maternity
clothes? yes, I can't comfortably wear my regular jeans anymore
Sleep: still waking up at least once per night.
Miss
Anything? sleep!
Movement: I'm pretty sure it's baby that I'm feeling, not gas. Woohoo!
Food
cravings: just the usual junk food
Anything
making you queasy or sick: no
Gender
prediction: not sure, but I'm still leaning towards girl
Labor
Signs: no
Symptoms: round ligament pain (OW!), increased hunger, sleepy, headaches
Belly
Button in or out? in
Wedding
rings on or off? on
Happy
or Moody most of the time: happy
Looking
forward to: finding out the gender in THREE DAYS!! Feeling baby move more, starting on the nursery, and looking more like I'm pregnant.
I'm 17 weeks today! Still haven't felt baby kick yet...at least I don't think I have. I'm kind of disappointed about that. Hopefully soon! I've been trying not to think about baby names too much until we know the gender. I do kind of like the name Lucas for a boy, though.. and Isabella for a girl. I loved the name Isabella even before the Twilight series came out! Less than 2 weeks until we find out the gender! The appointment is on May 1st. I can't wait. :)
According to BabyCenter.com:
Your baby's skeleton is changing
from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to
the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5
ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.
Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center
of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little
unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of
falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble;
trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll
also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car
— keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly
across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit
snugly between your breasts.
You may also notice your eyes
becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If
your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter
stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until
after you give birth.
Baby is the size of an onion:
How far along? 17 weeks
Total
weight gain: around 7.6 lbs
Maternity
clothes? yes, most days. I have to use my belly-band, otherwise.
Sleep: still waking up at least once per night.
Miss
Anything? coffee & wine
Movement: I don't think so. Is it baby or is it gas??
Food
cravings: just junk food... my weakness is homemade chocolate chip cookies
Anything
making you queasy or sick: no
Gender
prediction: not sure, but I'm still leaning towards girl
Labor
Signs: no
Symptoms: round ligament pain (OW!), increased hunger, sleepy
Belly
Button in or out? in
Wedding
rings on or off? on
Happy
or Moody most of the time: happy
Looking
forward to: same as usual - finding out the gender, feeling the baby kick, and finally getting my baby-bump :)
I woke up yesterday morning and felt my tummy.. it felt harder and bigger. My first thought was "oh my God! I finally "popped"!!! I was so excited to finally have a baby bump. It was 6:20am and I really had to use the bathroom.. (which is a frequent occurrence, lately!) and afterwards, the baby bump was gone! lol I thought it was funny but I was also disappointed. I was also wondering if it was just a dream. Anyway, this is a photo that I took on Friday (at exactly 16 weeks) I think I was pushing my belly out a bit, or maybe it was the angle? I don't quite have a baby bump yet, I think it's still mostly fat!
Wow, can't believe I'm 16 weeks (as of yesterday). Almost halfway there! I was pretty sick on Wednesday - had to come home from work after only being there for 15 minutes. :( I didn't feel right, and it was kind of scaring me. I felt a bit light-headed, shaky, nauseated, and my stomach was hurting. I told the charge nurse how I was feeling and we decided I should go home. I felt so bad! I've never had to do that before but I was concerned about the baby. I went home and went to bed... kept waking up from the pain. I got up around 10:30am when the charge nurse called to see how I was doing. I thought I was doing ok until I got out of bed and the stomach pain was worse. The pain was coming in waves and when it hit it was pretty severe and accompanied by nausea. :( I didn't think it was the stomach flu because I wasn't vomiting, etc.. I called my doctor and they said, based on where the pain was located, it must be something GI. They told me gastroenteritis has been going around. I took some tums and felt a little better, but the pain flared up again later. It was so bad it would take my breath away. I almost went to urgent care! It was still pretty bad even until I went to bed that night. I felt a little better on Thursday, only having occasional pain and it didn't last as long. I'm just glad I'm feeling better and that baby is ok! I did sample some cooked chicken sushi at Kroger on Tuesday... it must have been contaminated or something. Note to self : no more food samples at the grocery store, especially something that has been prepared next to raw fish! I love sushi but who knows how cleanly they were. Ugh!
Anyway, I can't wait to make my appointment for the anatomy scan!! I have to wait until I'm 18 weeks. Due to my work schedule, I'd either have to go 2 days early (4/24) or wait until the following Wednesday! I'm so anxious to go. I can't wait to find out what we're having. I'm so excited! I think it makes it that much more real to me when it will no longer be an "it." :) And I can't wait to start seriously thinking about baby names. I'll be calling on Monday to make my appointment! :)
According to Babycenter.com:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect
than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his
head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of
his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's
even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as
well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood
each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby
continues to develop.
The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and
your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and
stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as
you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being.
Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move.
While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't
feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your
first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's
movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like
little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the
following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them
much more frequently.
Baby is currently the size of an avocado:
I still don't know how I'm managing to hide an avocado-size baby! Still not showing much yet.
How far along? 16 weeks 1 day
Total
weight gain: around 4.6 lbs
Maternity
clothes? yes! Got some maternity pants at a thrift store. Much comfier now!
Sleep: still waking up at least once per night.
Miss
Anything? coffee, sushi, wine....of course!
Movement: Not quite yet
Food
cravings: sweets, as usual... and mangos, I think. No odd cravings, though.
Anything
making you queasy or sick: no
Gender
prediction: everyone else seems to be predicting a girl (except my hubby!)
Labor
Signs: no
Symptoms: sleepy a lot, headache, round ligament pain! oww!!
Belly
Button in or out? in
Wedding
rings on or off? on
Happy
or Moody most of the time: happy, for the most part
Looking
forward to: feeling the baby move (more), finding out the sex in TWO weeks, and finally seeing a baby bump! :)
15 weeks today! Time is sure flying by! I still can't believe I'm carrying a baby the size of a navel orange now! Where is it hiding? I still don't really notice a baby bump yet. I listened to the heart-rate with my fetal doppler today. HR was around 156. It's been hanging around 150-160's since about week 10. Still no odd cravings or anything. Sometimes it worries me a little. But I am a worrier. I'm excited for my 18 week ultrasound! Only 3 weeks till find out if it's a boy or girl! :)
According to baby center:
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple).
She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory
tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to
develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move
all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut,
she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for
instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for
your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds.
Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find
out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if
it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on
the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be
modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")
According to TheBump.com, baby is the size of a navel orange:
How far along? 15 weeks
Total
weight gain: around 3 lbs
Maternity
clothes? not yet
Sleep: still waking up at least once per night.. moreso when I have to work the next day!
Miss
Anything? coffee, sushi, wine....of course!
Movement: Occasionally I think I feel something
Food
cravings: mainly sweets
Anything
making you queasy or sick: no
Gender
prediction: go team pink!
Labor
Signs: no
Symptoms: sleepy a lot
Belly
Button in or out? in
Wedding
rings on or off? on
Happy
or Moody most of the time: happy, for the most part
Looking
forward to: feeling the baby move (more), finding out the sex in 3 weeks, and finally seeing a baby bump! :)
Well, I've made it into week 14 (as of 3/29/13). Still not feeling any different. I'm just tired all the time. Had my first root canal on Saturday and it's very sore today. :( The good news is that I rewarded myself afterwards with a trip to Target and I found the belly-band I've been looking everywhere for! I can wear it over my current jeans so I can still be comfortable in them and won't have to buy maternity jeans for a while. I'm still not really showing yet but my jeans are getting a little tighter. It's mostly noticeable when I'm sitting down. I want a baby bump already! When I tell people I'm pregnant, I get "oh my gosh! I had no idea! You can't even tell!!"
Still having occasional bouts of "baby brain". lol It happened at work on Friday. It was a pretty hectic day but by 5pm my brain just didn't want to work. I went into a patient's room to change the settings on a PCA and was having a hard time remembering how to get to the settings mode! How embarrassing... so I just told her "sorry! It's baby brain! haha" she asked me what I meant and I told her I'm pregnant. That's when I got the "oh wow! You can't even tell!!" I know I'm only 14 weeks and, with this being my first, it'll take a little longer to show. At least I don't have to buy maternity clothes/scrubs for a while!
Anyway, according to babycenter.com:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown,
grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his
facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one
expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he
releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up
until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now,
you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon
— and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head,
which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his
arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his
body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to
develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over
his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that
it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the
production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches
and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure
about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.
Baby is the size of a lemon:
How far along? 14 weeks 3 days
Total
weight gain: around 3 lbs
Maternity
clothes? not yet
Sleep: still waking up at least once per night.. it seems to be getting better, though.
Best
moment this week: buying my first maternity shirt and belly-band
Miss
Anything? coffee, sushi, wine....of course!
Movement: Still not sure. I sometimes get muscle-spasm-like feelings.
Food
cravings: chocolate... just sweet things in general
Anything
making you queasy or sick: no
Gender
prediction: girl! (David predicts a boy) The dental assistant yesterday predicts a girl and so does my grandma! lol
Labor
Signs: no
Symptoms: sleepy all the time
Belly
Button in or out? in
Wedding
rings on or off? on
Happy
or Moody most of the time: happy, for the most part
Looking
forward to: feeling the baby move (more), finding out the sex in 4 weeks, and finally seeing a baby bump! :)
