18 weeks along and only 22 weeks left! Yikes. 22 weeks left? That doesn't seem very long anymore. We're almost half way there. At least with the 2nd Trimester, I am enjoying every second of being pregnant. I love having a noticeable baby bump, I love feeling Lil' Bit, I love thinking about our sweet baby and counting down the days until we meet him/her!
- Week 18
- Baby is the size of an : bell pepper (from crown to rump)
- Weight : 6.7 oz. / Length : 5.59 in.(from crown to rump)
- Baby is practicing breathing with amniotic fluid and Baby's chest is moving in a rhythm as if it is breathing air. Baby can hear more distinct sounds as hearing continually develops. Baby's immune system is preparing him/her for life outside the womb. Also, myelin, a protective layer covering Baby's nerves, has begun to form. Baby is also busy flexing his/her arms and legs!
Gender: We shall see!!! The countdown begins and the Gender Reveal invitations have been ordered! December 15th can't come soon enough!
Weight Gain: Not a clue. I think it's around 10 pounds. Although, after traveling to the south and having my Momma's Thanksgiving meal(s), it may be more.
How I Feel: I feel pretty darn good. This week has been crazy busy and hectic, so I've been pretty tired. Pregnancy wise, I feel great and am loving being pregnant!
- Stretch marks: None!
- Belly button: Ha! It's looking pretty flat. I think it's only a matter of days/weeks till it pops.
- Other: I definitely have felt like my tummy is just pushing out (growing).
Cravings: Chips and salsa is still at the top of the list. I also love anything with avocados on or in it!
Food Aversions:None. Even coffee (decaf) has been back in full swing for a few weeks now.
Movement: This week was a little different and I had a little "first pregnancy" scare. Normally, I feel Baby about every other day, but I especially feel Baby on the weekends on a regular basis. This has been happening since Week 14. This week and last weekend, I didn't feel Baby. At all. Here comes the worry. I went about 5-6 days without feel Baby. I knew we would be traveling and I got concerned. I called the doctor and they told me to come in so that we could check for Baby's heat beat. I went in Tuesday, and thankfully the nurse found Baby's heart beat after a minute (which felt like an hour to me). Baby had a strong heart beat and the nurse said I haven't been feeling baby due to a few reasons: 1) Baby could have moved, 2) the placenta is getting heavier and could be absorbing the movement (most likely), or 3) I just missed the movement. I am thankful that everything is ok, but for my peace of mind, I want to feel baby...regularly. I am also happy to report that Baby was kicking and punching for about an hour on Sunday while we were driving home! Thanks love.
Sleep: Sleep...I miss you. I haven't been sleeping the best at night and it is not helping my days. I think some of it was due to stress (traveling, work, class) and some of it was due to being uncomfortable. My baby bump is getting bigger and I always sleep on my side, but I have been trouble getting comfortable and sleeping the whole night. I recently put a pillow under my belly and that made all the difference!!
Best Moment This Week:
- At work on Monday, a mom from our neighborhood happened to be subbing. I hadn't seen her since this summer. She saw me and immediately said, "Oh my gosh, you're pregnant!!" *beam* Yep, I sure am and now my baby bump i sobvious!!
- My mom borrowed a home Doppler, so we got to hear Baby's heart beat every night!
Worst Moment This Week: Not feeling baby and starting to worry. Thankfully, that was all needless worry! Better to check, then worry myself to death though.
Looking Forward to: Our 20 week appointment!! and our Gender Reveal party.
What I Miss: My family and being near them. Being home for Thanksgiving just rubbed in how emotionally hard it is to be away from my family during our pregnancy. I'm so thankful that we got to see them!!
Pregnancy Thoughts this Week:
- I can't wait to find out if Baby is a boy or a girl! I want to announce initials and get started on the nursery!! I have a girl room and a boy room picked out - I can't wait!!
- I've tried really hard to include Brad in everything with the pregnancy and baby. I don't want him to feel "left out" or not a part of it. I check in with him regularly about how he's feeling about everything. One concern I have is that he'll feel like he's not a part of the pregnancy. So far, so good!
- I do have to say, my hubby is going to be such a good Daddy!! It warms my heart how often he rubs my belly, talks to the baby, gives the baby kisses, and tells me and Baby how much he loves us. He's going to be an amazing, loving Daddy! I can't wait till Baby is here and I get to watch him be a Daddy!
Exercise:Since we were traveling, I only got to go to the gym on Sunday and Tuesday (Monday I have class). The hubs and I both took the rest of the week off from the gym and let our bodies recoup and rest!
Inside Pregnancy ~ Week 18
