Week 20: Cantaloupe (halfway there!!!)

Hi all ... Below info from www.babycenter.com ...

How your baby's growing:Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He'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 or the size of a cantaloupe. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

How your life's changing:Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so 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 to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you're a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.

Surprising Facts: Getting a good night's rest
It may become more difficult to sleep through the night as your pregnancy progresses, thanks to some obvious and not-so-obvious changes taking place in your body. You may be surprised to find that:
• You start snoring for the first time in your life, thanks in part to more estrogen, which contributes to swelling of the mucous membranes that line the nose and may even cause you to make more mucus. What to do: Sleep on your side and elevate your head slightly.
• Heartburn and indigestion can make it extra uncomfortable to lie down in bed. What to do: Avoid foods that trigger your heartburn, give yourself two to three hours to digest a meal before going to bed, and try sleeping semi-upright in a comfy recliner or propped up with extra pillows under your upper body.
• Leg cramps jar you out of a deep sleep. What to do: Ease the cramp by straightening your leg, heel first and gently flexing your toes back toward your shins, or walk around for a few minutes.
• You toss and turn all night trying to find a comfortable sleeping position. What to do: Lie on your side with your knees bent and a pillow between your legs. For extra comfort and support, arrange other pillows under your belly and behind your back. Or try using a contoured maternity body pillow.
• You become hot and sweaty in the middle of the night. It's common for pregnant women to feel a little warmer than usual thanks to shifts in your metabolism, hormones, and weight. What to do: Keep your bedroom cool and strip down to the bare essentials. Keep slippers and a snuggly bathrobe handy for those nighttime trips to the bathroom.
• Getting out of bed is harder than ever! What to do: Roll over onto your side so you're facing the edge of the bed. Dangle your legs over the side and use your arms to push yourself into a sitting position. Plant your feet squarely on the floor and then stand up.
Wear sleepwear made of a natural, breathable fiber like cotton. Avoid synthetics, which trap moisture next to your skin and can leave you damp and chilled.

This Week's Activity:
Treat yourself to something nice. You've made it to the halfway mark in your pregnancy, so celebrate with a little indulgence. Need some ideas?• For your comfort, try scented candles, a new nightgown or pajamas, or a prenatal massage.• For a keepsake, splurge on professional pictures of your pregnant self, or a beautiful frame for your baby's first picture after birth. (In the meantime, you can use an ultrasound picture!)• To feel like a hot momma, buy yourself a piece of clothing that makes you feel really sexy or get a free makeover at a department store.
I wanted to get my update out before a busy week back to work begins and takes over. The doctor appointsments went really well. Baby boy is progressing well and developing right on schedule. I measured only 1 day ahead at my appointment. We'll be scheduling all sorts of classes soon for later in the pregnancy. Guess you gotta schedule early. Things like a breastfeeding class, early child care, CPR, etc. And we can schedule a hospital tour any time moving forward. We also received the L&D phone numbers since I'm halfway there. Still not feeling fetal movement or that which I can tell is the baby for sure. There are glimmers in certain postions I'm sitting or laying in that I feel a flutter or poke. Doctor said it could be another 2-4 weeks before I feel him. I always thought my body was hypersensitive ... guess it just can't decipher it yet. Which of course is a small blessing I realize. This means that he can't wake me up in the middle of the night right now or make me irk during the day. :)

Round ligament pain is back ... almost any time I cough or sneeze it pangs. It's annoying and can take you out of commission for a moment but I know what it is so it helps relax me. Sleeping in general has been an issue this past week. Mostly because of my foot. But also because I can't lay on my back without feeling nauseous and my hips sticking.

Foot is getting there. Still hobbling. Still no way I'm driving. Fortunately I don't have a game until Saturday. So it's just in the office with my foot up and an ice pack. The swelling over my tattoo still is pretty big. It never goes down and hurts to the touch. My toes are going through funky bruising stages but are looking better. The scratch is healing and it's looking better and better each day now. Hopefully I'll be getting around even better within the next week. It sure is putting a cramp in my style. :) I can barely wear shoes on my right foot

Mike just finished painting the nursery. Right now we're starting with the base blue (Behr - Blue Feather). We'll take a look when it dries to see if we need to do a second coat. Then we'll add some clouds and one big stork and a few little ones. Mike promised one grey cloud for me. Mom ... you'll remember ... I'm always the little girl that LOVED Grumpy Bear because I wanted to make him happy. Same thing ... I wanted one not so dark grey cloud in the corner to remember that things are happier. :) Hope everyone has a great week ... happy mom and dad will be here even for only a short time.