How your baby's growing:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
See what your baby looks like this week.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
At your next prenatal visit, you may be able to hear your baby's rapid heartbeat with the help of a Doppler stethoscope, a handheld ultrasound device that your practitioner places on your belly. Many women say that the beating of their baby's tiny heart sounded like the thunder of galloping horses and hearing it for the first time was very moving.
Before you got pregnant, your uterus was the size of a small pear. By this week, it's as big as a grapefruit. You may or may not be ready for maternity wear now. Even if you're not there yet, your regular clothes are probably feeling uncomfortably tight and your blossoming breasts are straining the seams of your bra. The thickening in your midsection is most likely due to slight weight gain and bloating. If you're between regular and maternity clothes, pants and skirts with forgiving elastic waistbands (or low-rise waistlines that sit below your belly) will provide some much-needed comfort.
Depending on your level of fitness, you can most likely participate in a wide range of activities during pregnancy. Swimming and walking are excellent choices for the whole nine months. Exercise promotes muscle tone, strength, and endurance — three qualities that can help you carry the weight you gain during pregnancy, prepare you for the physical stress of labor, and make it easier to get back into shape after your baby is born. (Unfortunately, there's no evidence that regular exercise shortens labor.)
Dealing with evening sickness "My version of morning sickness developed every evening around dinnertime. I couldn't eat anything, but I was starving (and cranky) nonetheless. Things improved after I adjusted my schedule, eating my big meal in the morning and something light — usually crackers and cheese or cereal — for dinner." — Susan
Total weight gain: So far I've lost about 6lbs. since I found out I was pregnant.
Maternity clothes? Not yet, although I did get a new shirt with gathering over the tummy to hide the 'pooch' that isn't quite baby yet! I tried desperately to find pants but with no luck. I'm going to have to travel into the 'big city' and probably pay big bucks for them...but oh well...
Stretch marks? The two on my lower belly haven't grown any more, but the pre-existing ones on my hips have started to creep forward. Sigh...I've come to terms with the fact that this is natural and there's not much I can do about it. I did go out and get some cocoa butter and spent the big bucks on bio oil. I have no idea if they'll help, but they make me feel like I'm at least doing something about it...
Sleep: I can't get enough! On days that I venture out of the house, I usually have to take a nap...and then I'm still read for bed around 10!
Best moment this week: Actually feeling semi productive around the house. It's been hard to get much done between feeling sick, shaky and just exhausted. I'm hoping I'll start getting back to normal in the next couple of weeks!
Miss Anything? Meat...sort of?! Right now I could care less about it, but it sure would make meal prep so much easier for this carnivore! I'm also missing bleu cheese and gorgonzola cheese. Sigh...
Movement: None that I feel!
Food cravings: When I'm feeling decent I crave fresh foods. I've been loving salads and fresh fruit. Strawberries and clementines have been my go-to snacks throughout the day. I went to lunch with a friend last week at Ruby Tuesday and WOW...their salad bar and sweet peas were amazing!! If we had one in town, I would have a really hard time staying away! Thankfully we don't!
Anything making you queasy or sick: At this point it seems to be if I wait to long to eat. I feel ok at first (just hungry) but shortly after it turns into this terrible sick feeling until I eat. Meat is still out of the picture too. My vegetarian friends would be so happy!
Gender prediction: Still feel like it's a girl...but I'll be just as happy with a boy. If we get to the gender ultrasound and he says it's a boy...I'm going to laugh hysterically ..and then we're going to have to start thinking seriously about boy names!!!
Labor Signs: Nope
Symptoms: Extreme exhaustion rules at this point. Sore boobs (I'm just barely fitting into my largest bras now.) and lots of 'pulling'. Doc says he thinks it's round ligament pain. I've been having it almost right from the beginning.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!!
Yay!
ReplyDeleteThat round ligament pain hurts a lot, I that from the beginning and often for quite awhile it always worried me like how can it hurt this bad and everything still be ok but it was. :)
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