20 Weeks

 

How far along: 20 weeks - EDD 09/10/15

 

How big is baby: The size of a banana - She has working taste buds now, and is gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid each day. At 20 weeks she is halfway done developing, and has another 20 weeks to go.

 

What are we having: A sweet baby girl

 

Symptoms this week: Hunger! I feel like a bottomless pit. I don't know if baby girl is having a growth spurt or what, but I feel like I'm eating non-stop.

 

Weight gain/loss: Up 2 lbs... I'm assuming it's thanks to my constant hunger. Haha. This puts me at a total gain of 5 lbs.

 

Food aversions/cravings: Everything. Just give me food.

 

The baby belly: I still feel like I'm getting a torpedo belly that just sticks out in front of me. I am ALL belly.

 

Movement: I am feeling her much more consistently now. Movement is more defined and it seems like she's on a schedule.

 

What is freaking me out: Our anatomy scan is next week, and I still live with the fear that she's going to turn out to be a boy! Not that there is anything wrong with having a boy, but I've grown to identify her as a baby girl.

 

What I'm totally loving: Being able to get things done. We've been working hard on organizing the house, throwing out clutter, and working on the nursery. I have to take my time with certain things, but I like feeling productive.

 

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing baby girl at our anatomy scan next week!

 

19 Weeks

 

How far along: 19 weeks - EDD 09/10/15

 

How big is baby: The size of a mango - Her vernix is starting to develop, which will help protect her skin. Nerve cells for her sense of taste, hearing, sight, and smell are developing in her brain.

 

What are we having: A sweet baby girl

 

Symptoms this week: For some reason I've been getting super tired in the evenings. On the weekend, I even napped in the late afternoon. I don't know if it's just the stormy weather making me tired, but I'm hoping it's not my fatigue coming back.

 

Weight gain/loss: Up another pound for a total gain of 3 lbs.

 

Food aversions/cravings: Really no change on this front. When I do eat I find that I can either get full quickly, or consume large quantities, with no rhyme or reason to which will occur.

 

The baby belly: Baby girl, you are growing in there! However, I feel like you're growing out and not up. For a while it seemed like my bump was getting higher, and higher, but now it's in the same spot, but working on outward growth.

 

Movement: I actually SAW a kick! I was laying in bed before getting ready for work and I finally felt what I knew were good strong kicks (as opposed to the fluttery, bubbling feelings). I put my hand on my belly and there was no denying what it was. When I moved my hand, she kept going and I could actually see her kicking. It was incredibly cool and weird at the same time.

 

What is freaking me out: Still worried that our anatomy scan will show that she's a boy. This is totally irrational since we had the DNA test performed, but I'm going to make them triple check just to be sure.

 

What I'm totally loving: Feeling more movement. It has picked up rapidly, and I've noticed certain patterns to when she moves more than others... Certain times of day, after I've eaten certain things, etc.. I've still only felt those strong kicks the one time, but I'm sure that will be picking up in the coming weeks.

 

What I'm looking forward to: Her dresser finally came back in stock! After ordering it, then having the order cancelled due to a stocking error, we finally got a firm order on it and it's being shipped from the warehouse as I type this. Once that's in her room and in place I can finally decide if I want to paint any accents on the walls, and I can really start decorating.

 

18 Weeks

 

How far along: 18 weeks - EDD 09/10/15

 

How big is baby: The size of a sweet potato - She is yawning, hiccuping, sucking and swallowing now. She is also working on her muscles by twisting, rolling, punching, and kicking.

 

What are we having: A sweet baby girl

 

Symptoms this week: Nothing to report. I've been sleeping better since I purchased a pregnancy pillow. It seemed to totally elimate the neck/headache issues I was waking up with frequently.

 

Weight gain/loss: Last week's pound that I thought was temporary wound up being a solid one pound gain last week. This week I'm up another pound on top of that, so we're up to two! My thyroid medication was lowered at my last appointment, so I'm sure that's playing a part. If my levels were keeping my metabolism up too much, it would explain the total inability to put on weight.

 

Food aversions/cravings: I'm still into salads and veggies! I've been trying to add plenty of protein and good fats into them when I have them, so I'm not just consuming empty calories. As ridiculous as it sounds, I've been trying to make sure I have a small dessert (usually ice cream) in the evenings after dinner, since I am concerned that I'm just not getting enough calories at this point.

 

The baby belly: I feel like the bump is remaining pretty static as compared to how quickly it grew in the beginning. I feel about the same size, and my pictures are all kind of looking the same to me at this point!

 

Movement: She is picking up the pace in there! I still haven't felt anything that I could say is a kick, but I know she's moving. It's just not strong, defined thumps at this point. I feel rolls/twists, and an almost bubbly feeling when she moves her arms or legs.

 

What is freaking me out: Our anatomy scan is scheduled for the last week in April and I keep [irrationally] worrying that we're going to find out that the DNA test was wrong and she's really a boy!

 

What I'm totally loving: The nursery! Our crib and glider came in, so I assembled them both this past weekend. They look great, and I can't wait for the dresser to come back in stock so we can have all of her furniture in there. Once everything is in, I can really start focusing on decorating.

 

What I'm looking forward to: Our anatomy scan! Now that the date is set, it's nice to be able to look forward to seeing our baby girl again... Especially because the next time we'll see her after that is when she's born!

 

17 Weeks

 

How far along: 17 weeks - EDD 09/10/15

 

How big is baby: The size of an onion - Her rubbery cartilage is turning into bone, and she's putting on some fat. Her umbilical cord is also growing thicker and stronger.

 

What are we having: A sweet baby girl

 

Symptoms this week: I'm a bit sniffly from allergies and getting some headaches still, but I'm pretty sure that they're sinus-related more than pregnancy.

 

Weight gain/loss: Still, somehow, at my starting weight. I thought I had gained a pound, but it was apparently temporary.

 

Food aversions/cravings: I'm a big fan of salads. If I had to pick one specific item as a "craving" lately, it would be salad. Of course, that also probably explains why I haven't been packing on the pregnancy weight!

 

The baby belly: It is totally undeniable at this point! Even in clothes that previously made the bump a bit questionable to strangers, it's now definitely obvious that I'm pregnant. The bump has started migrating higher as well. I'm starting to get some definition lower down by my hips, where it was all just kind of sticking out before.

 

Movement: I'm feeling a little more movement everyday. Lemonade or orange juice can usually coax some kicks out of her, but it's still not consistent. I still have to be sitting or laying down and paying attention to feel her, but she has caught me off guard with a big kick or a roll while I've been walking around.

 

What is freaking me out: I'm honestly more laid back then I ever imagined I would be. Not much is really freaking me out, and I'm totally okay with that!

 

What I'm totally loving: I love being pregnant. Sure, I know I have a long way to go, but I've honestly enjoyed my pregnancy so far. I feel like I look better than I ever did pre-pregancy, even with with belly! I also feel great, so that plays a big part. I have moments where it doesn't even seem like I'm pregnant, unless I look down and see the bump.

 

What I'm looking forward to: Getting the nursery furniture! I painted the nursery last weekend, and we ordered the crib and glider today. The dresser will be ordered as soon as it's back in stock. I can't wait to get everything into her room and set up. Then I can really focus on decorating and organizing.