So...I'm at 20 weeks now! Halfway through! I can't believe how fast time is flying. Sooner or later we'll meet our baby! Everything is pretty much the same. Baby's growing...I'm feeling more of his/her movements now! Umm...my appetite is still growing and my bladder is shrinking! Yikes! I wake up at least once every night having to pee! Geez! Well, we had our ultrasound today and I actually didn't do too bad on having to drink all of that water 1 hour before the appointment. The radiologist was really nice. After taking about 50 pictures before she gave us a "tour" of the baby, she let me empty out my bladder! Whoa! What a relief! During all the pictures Laura (the radiologist) said that our baby was a maniac cause he/she kept moving around a lot! Heehee!Here's our update this week!
Your pregnancy: 20 weeks
How your baby's growing:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)
A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)
Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).
How your life's changing:
You've made it to the halfway mark — Congratulations! The top of your uterus is at the level of your belly button now, and you've likely gained about 10 pounds. Expect to gain an average of about another pound each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron for your developing baby and the placenta, and to keep up with your expanding blood volume. Iron-rich foods include lean red meat, poultry, fish, lentils and other legumes, spinach, and iron-fortified cereals.
If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one. Whether you're a first-timer or a pro, you can benefit from a structured class that helps prepare you for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, all-day session. Ask your doctor or midwife for a recommendation. At 37 weeks, you'll be considered full-term, so plan to be done with classes by then.
How your baby's growing:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)
A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)
Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).
How your life's changing:
You've made it to the halfway mark — Congratulations! The top of your uterus is at the level of your belly button now, and you've likely gained about 10 pounds. Expect to gain an average of about another pound each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron for your developing baby and the placenta, and to keep up with your expanding blood volume. Iron-rich foods include lean red meat, poultry, fish, lentils and other legumes, spinach, and iron-fortified cereals.
If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one. Whether you're a first-timer or a pro, you can benefit from a structured class that helps prepare you for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, all-day session. Ask your doctor or midwife for a recommendation. At 37 weeks, you'll be considered full-term, so plan to be done with classes by then.
Well, here's this weeks picture of me & baby in the belly! Geez! How much we've grown in the last week! Here's a couple pictures from our ultrasound! Oh and to save the best part for last....
We're having a BOY!!!
Aaron and I are both very excited! More updates next week!
Here's baby BOY Contawe smiling at us!!
We're having a BOY!!!
Aaron and I are both very excited! More updates next week!
Here's baby BOY Contawe smiling at us!!
I can't wait to meet "JEDIDIAH". You are sticking with the"J's", right? We can call him "Jedi"! =)
ReplyDeleteHey Val(it's Amanda Eccles)
ReplyDeleteI am SO excited for you!!! You look adorable, & your tummy is growing! Good luck with everything, you guys are going to be awesome parents...you have had a ton of practice on Chris' kids!
Valley Bear...congrats again on your Baby Boy! I still can't believe you're gonna be a mommy! It feels like just yesterday we were gettin' hella bay with it! haha...well, miss you all and truly hope to see you very soon =)
ReplyDelete