23 Weeks

No wonder I'm feeling sore, stretched and sensitive... bub is now 30cm long and weighs half a kilogram! Good to know he's growing in there but I'm already having nightmares about how uncomfortable the third trimester is going to be. 24/7 bed rest for me!

How far along: 23 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a papaya (30cm from head to toe)
Total weight gain/loss: Still down 2kg from my pre-pregnancy weight
Stretch marks: None (moisturizing my belly, hips and tatas every night before bed)
Maternity clothes:  Haven't needed them yet but not far off
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: 4-6 hours a night
Food cravings or aversions:  The usual... anything carb-loaded and sugar-laden
Gender: BOY!
Movement: Lots! Although I've noticed he sleeps when I shower and am baking
Belly button: Innie but slowly making its way to the surface
Exercise:  So, nice weather we're having.... :/
Diet: Eating more salads, fruit and vegetables
What I'm loving:  One of the few pregnant women who feel this way I'm sure, but I love it when people rub/talk to my bump
What I'm not loving: Back pain has been seriously bad this week
What I miss:  Having the energy to do, well, anything
Sickness and symptoms:  Bump is big and tight, and bub is sitting low so that makes for a bowling ball in the belly which is not all that comfortable to carry around
Notes: We just bought a rug for our little man's room and picked out the paint colours. Exciting!

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 23

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

Fetal size: 22cm (crown to rump)
                  30cm total length
Fetal weight: 500g
  
Your baby matures, and starts to get a bit plumper.


How does the embryo develop this week?

Your baby's body and face start to resemble the appearance of a newborn baby.

The pancreas develops further this week, enabling the production of insulin, which metabolises sugar.

22 Weeks

My bump has migrated north and filled out quite a bit since last week. Our little man is a keen kickboxer, constantly reassuring me that all is okay in the little home he's made in my belly.

How far along: 22 weeks
How big is baby: Size of an eggplant (28cm from head to toe)
Total weight gain/loss:  Still down 2kg from my pre-pregnancy weight
Stretch marks: None (moisturizing my belly, hips and tatas every night before bed)
Maternity clothes: None but I have a wardrobe full of them
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: 4-6 hours a night
Food cravings or aversions:  Enjoyed eating a Cadbury Easter bunny (or 2)
Gender: BOY!
Movement: Lots! I read he's awake for 6 hours a day but I swear it feels more like 16!
Belly button: Innie but slowly making its way to the surface
Exercise:  Yeah about that...  I know, I'm a slacker!
Diet: Eating more salads, fruit and vegetables
What I'm loving:  Feeling bub kick when he hears Pepper (our pug) bark. So funny!
What I'm not loving:  Back pain that extends down both legs
What I miss: Getting a decent night's sleep
Sickness and symptoms:  Round ligament stretching and tightening as bub grows
Notes: We finally picked a name!!! I'd love to share but if I told you, I'd have to kill you. James and I have told everyone everything up until now, so we just want to keep it to ourselves. It's our little secret until bub is born.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 22

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

Fetal size: 20cm (crown to rump)
28cm total length
Fetal weight: 450g (1 pound)

Your baby is getting bigger as each day passes. Eyelids and eyebrows and fingernails are developed. Organs are developing to perform their particular functions.

Your baby starts to build an immune system to act as a natural defence against infection. In addition, he/she will begin to produce and store fatty tissue to produce body heat and keep warm. This fatty layer (called brown fat) starts to build up on different parts of the body, and continues to do so until your baby is born. The skin is growing and is protected from the amniotic fluid by a waxy layer (called Vernix). Until your baby develops more fat under the skin, it will remain red and wrinkly. The body is still covered with a fine layer of hair. Baby teeth have been formed and are waiting in the gums. Your baby can now taste and can tell the difference between sweet and bitter.

Your baby starts to move more, becoming more coordinated as muscles develop and strength increases. He/she can now turn and stretch. These movements will build muscle, strengthen bones and improve motor skills, but they may also make your abdomen sore! Your baby will also respond to outside pressure on your abdomen and may move as a result of this. Your baby's heartbeat can be heard using a stethoscope.

21 Weeks

I can finally say I'm enjoying this pregnancy. I'm well into the second trimester and all of the nausea, frequent urination, sleepless nights and stressing... gone. I feel like I have a lot more energy and I'm in that happy medium where I'm big enough to look pregnant but small enough to not be restricted by it. Though the way time is flying, I'm sure that won't last long!

How far along: 21 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a cantaloupe (26.7cm from head to toe)
Total weight gain/loss: - 2kg
Stretch marks: None
Maternity clothes: None but I have a wardrobe full of them
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: Still getting around 6 hours a night
Food cravings or aversions:  Satay chicken wings
Gender: BOY!
Movement: Lots! Every hour on the hour for what feels like an hour lol
Belly button: Innie but slowly making its way to the surface
Exercise:  I promise I'll start next week ;)
Diet:  Eating more salads, fruit and vegetables
What I'm loving: Feeling bub moving around and watching James' reaction when he kicks
What I'm not loving:  We still haven't agreed on a name for our little man!
What I miss: Sleeping on my front/back
Sickness and symptoms:  Feeling good but still have the obvious and constant stretching in my uterus, which is only going to get worse as bub gets bigger
Notes: We got a great deal on some secondhand nursery furniture. Paid $300 for a cot, change table, innerspring mattress, padded changing mat and musical swing. Bargain!

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 21

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

Fetal size: 18cm (crown to rump)
26.7cm total length
Fetal weight: 360g (12.7 ounces) 

Your baby has been growing rapidly, but over the last week and during this week, growth slows down and your baby continues to develop and mature in other ways while continuing to gain weight. At 21 weeks, your baby can swallow amniotic fluid. Your baby absorbs the water from the fluid, while any other matter is pushed through to the bowel by the muscle movements of the small intestine. The first bowel movement your baby passes will contain the undigested matter from the swallowed amniotic fluid. This green-black or brown matter (called meconium) will be passed during, or soon after birth.

20 Week Morphology Scan

Today was the big daddy of pregnancy ultrasounds. The morphology scan, to check for any abnormalities with our baby boy's growth and development. Things like spina bifida, heart problems, Down syndrome, cleft lip, and genetic conditions. Thankfully our little man looked absolutely perfect. We couldn't be happier! During the one hour scan, he wiggled around, played with the umbilical cord, covered his ears with his tiny hands and kicked up a storm. The ultrasound tech had to give my tummy quite a few nudges to get bub to co-operate haha. It was so special seeing our son again and we were lucky enough to leave with no less than 78 images on disc to treasure and share with family and friends. Here are just a few of my favourites.

HALF WAY! 20 Week Update

So excited to have reached another big milestone. The half way mark! Only 20 weeks to go.

How far along: 20 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a mango (25cm from head to toe)
Total weight gain/loss: - 2.5kg
Stretch marks: None
Maternity clothes: None but I went shopping this week and have a wardrobe full of cute preggo jeans and tops
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: Thankfully getting around 6 hours every night 
Food cravings or aversions:  Weis mango icecream has been my weakness!
Gender: BOY!
Movement: Lots! Last night he thought it'd be fun to wake me at 2am and kick for an hour
Belly button: Innie
Exercise:  Starting gentle walking and pregnancy yoga this week
Diet:  Will make an effort to eat healthy foods and cut back on the sugar
What I'm loving: Feeling bub moving around and watching James' reaction when baby kicks
What I'm not loving:  How soft and squishy my body has become below my belly
What I miss: Having my eggs with runny yolks. I'd kill for an eggs benedict!
Sickness and symptoms:  Constant stretching as my uterus expands to make room for bub
Notes: We have our morphology (anomaly) scan tomorrow morning. It's the biggie! The tech will check every inch of our little man for any abnormalities. Anxious but excited to see him again!

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 20

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

Fetal size: 14-16cm (crown to rump)
                  25cm total length
Fetal weight: 315g (9 ounces).

You have now reached the half way mark in your pregnancy! Your baby's skin has now formed two layers - the epidermis (outer layers) and the dermis (deep skin tissue). From 20 weeks, your baby's skin starts to secrete vernix (a white pasty substance that protects your baby's skin from the amniotic fluid). The vernix will be present on your baby's skin at birth.