20 weeks + 3 days

Well my 20 week day was on Thanksgiving, so it's been a busy weekend! ;) My sister in law works at Right to Life and brought me a 20 week fetus model to see, I can't believe its that big already!

It's been kicking/moving pretty regularly now although it is uncomfortable/painful sometimes, I love feeling it and knowing that it is there, alive and well.

Well this is going to be a short update, the next one is THEE BIG ONE! On Wednesday I have ultrasound and find out if this is a boy or girl! I am SO excited! :) 3 more days!!!!

How Big is the Baby at 20 Weeks Pregnant?

By pregnancy week 20, your baby is now almost 10 to 11 ounces and is 10 inches long! The pregnancy week by week changes occurring at this stage are truly remarkable. Note - starting at 20 weeks, length measurements are calculated from your baby's head to it's toes.

Your Baby's Growth and Development By 20 weeks, your baby is now practicing breathing and swallowing on a regular basis. Your baby continues to grow and fill out, with the head becoming slightly more proportional to the rest of the body.

Your baby's skin is becoming more complex now, forming different layers. The epidermis, or surface of your baby's skin, has four layers that contain ridges for fingertips. The layers that form in your baby's palms and feet will provide him with his own unique fingerprint later in life.

19 weeks :)

Today I am 19 weeks! Woohoo almost 1/2 way there :) Less than 2 weeks til I find out what this little one is!! I am feeling pretty good, but pretty tired. I started working a 2nd job at Kohls for Christmas. I requested only 12-16 hours in 4 hour shifts, but this week I'm training and working 5 days in a row and about 22 hours. Next week is only 2 days and 10 hours, so hopefully I will get rested up!

My grandparents bought us a stroller/car-seat combo and we put it together on Sunday night, so much fun :) Can't wait til I have a real baby to put in it :) Well I guess that it's for this week! Check out what's going on with baby below :) Looking a little squished in there! ;)

Brit

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

18 weeks

Today I am 18 weeks! Only 22 more to go :) I am feeling very good and have so much more energy the last few days! After dinner, I clean and do dishes and laundry where before I was exhausted and just want to lay on the couch and watch TV all evening!

FINALLY I can definitely feel the baby moving! It started very subtle, but the last day or 2 the little kicks and tumbles have been much stronger, and I KNOW its not gas bubbles ;-) It is definately a night owl and I feel the most movement at night, but today I felt something just about a 1/2 hour ago :)

I can't wait to stop calling the baby "it" and say HE or SHE!!!! Only 20 more days til my next Ultrasound :) My husband couldn't make the last one so I'm excited for him to "see" the baby moving for the first time. So, so much to look forward, but the thing I'm looking forward to most is holding my child in my arms. I love you so much little one!

At 18 weeks pregnant, your baby is hitting the height chart at five and a half inches long (remember, that's crown to rump) and weighs about five ounces (the weight of that boneless chicken breast you're making for dinner).

And now for the skill of the week (drum roll please…): The art of the yawn has been mastered by your baby (someone's sleepy!). In fact, you might catch a glimpse of that adorable yawn if you're getting an ultrasound this month. You'll also catch a glimpse of all the fetal movement your baby's doing — twists, rolls, kicks, and punches. And would you believe your baby is finally big enough for you to start feeling those movements now (or anytime in the next few weeks). So get ready!

Something you won't see on the ultrasound, but you'll know is in working order, is your baby's nervous system, which is maturing rapidly at this time. Nerves, now covered with a substance called myelin (which speeds messages from nerve cell to nerve cell), are forming more complex connections. And those in the brain are further specializing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. Talking about hearing, your baby's is growing more acute, making your little one more conscious of sounds that come from inside your body (which means you could both be listening to each other hiccup — a skill that your baby has by now).

17 weeks

Today I am 17 weeks and feeling pretty darn good! I'm pretty fortunate that I'm able to get around 10 hours of sleep a night, I know time is running out to do that!! ;)

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and it was my first appointment where I had GAINED weight since last time, 3 pounds, yippie! I am starting to notice the "baby bump" more and more! Baby is getting pretty big, over 5 inches now :) I'm not sure if I have felt anything yet, I'd like to think I can feel little movements when I am still and quiet, but it could just be my imagination! Hopefully within a few weeks I will feel some definite movement :)

The appt went well and very quickly! Checked my weight and blood pressure, asked if I had any concerns, then got to hear the heartbeat again! :) I love hearing that swishing heartbeat, knowing that my baby is alive and well, its so reassuring at this stage when I can't see or feel them yet!

I made my next appt which will be my regular checkup AND...(I'm SO excited for this...)....my ultrasound to find out if its a boy or girl! The suspense is just killing me! Only 27 more days (December 1st) and I will know!! I look at all this cute stuff at the store and I just wish I knew if it was a boy or girl so I could buy something! Even just one little outfit to keep and look at :) Soon....

I've also been working on my registries a little more. I now have 3, Target, Babies R Us and Walmart. I was hoping to only have 2, but was unable to find everything I wanted at only 2 of them. I never would have thought of Walmart, but they have great prices and selection (online) of the big things like strollers, carseats and cribs. And they have the Site-to-store option so you can buy things online and have it shipped free to your local Walmart.

Well I guess that it's for now :) Maybe my next update I'll add a photo of me and my growing belly if it starts showing a little more ;)

Brit



Here is some more interesting info from www.womenshealthcaretopics.com

Fetal Development at 17 Weeks Pregnant
By pregnancy week 17, your baby is practicing his first breathing movements. With each little "breath" baby takes, his diaphragm contracts and his chest wall moves up. Fluid is also pushed out of the lungs. These "breaths" last less than a second, and your baby may even open his mouth and swallow amniotic fluid at the same time.

At this stage of fetal development, these breathing movements occur only occasionally. It is not until the end of the second trimester, around 24 weeks pregnant (when air sacs form in the fetal lungs), that your baby will spend more time practicing his breathing movements.

At 17 weeks pregnant, your baby can now open and close his mouth. He can also yawn and swallow amniotic fluid.

Your little one's skin is still transparent this week, and there is little fat underneath the skin. If you were to take peek inside your womb, you could easily see your baby's blood vessels.

It's common for your baby to bring his hands to the face and even suck his thumb. However, sucking is not coordinated at this stage of development.

Your baby is a little acrobat in the womb at 17 weeks pregnant. He is in a constant state of movement - changing positions, stretching and curling his arms and legs.

This week, your baby's heartbeat may be strong enough for a doctor to detect with a Doppler ultrasound. At this point in your pregnancy week by week, your baby's heartbeat is twice as fast as your own.