18 Weeks... and We're Married!

Sorry this post is a little late. We've been pretty busy lately, getting married and spending the past week on our honeymoon. I was officially 18 weeks on Monday but this week's bump pic was taken a few days earlier at our Valentine's Day wedding. I love that our little one was a part of our special day and you can see my baby bump in many of our wedding photos. So cute!

We spent our honeymoon on a tropical island soaking up the sun and relaxing by the beach. It was heaven! On the last day, we went out sailing and snorkeling around the Great Barrier Reef; swimming alongside beautiful colourful fish and coral, and I even got to feed and pat an enormous Maori Wrasse named Priscilla who was bigger than me but such a sweetie. She let me swim alongside her for around 15 minutes. It was the highlight of our honeymoon and I'm so glad I got to experience it, as poor James was off scuba diving and sadly missed out.

James took this gorgeous shot of me and my baby bump as the sun was setting on Lovers Cove at Daydream Island. It's one of my favourite photos and I can't wait to show it to our little one.

How far along: 18 weeks
How big is baby: Size of a bell pepper (capsicum)
Total weight gain/loss: - 3kg
Stretch marks: None
Maternity clothes: None but I can't fit into my favourite jeans
Wedding rings on/off: On
Sleep: Still sleeping through the night but woken every morning by baby kicking, which I love!
Food cravings or aversions: Carbs, carbs, carbs! Pasta, potatoes, bread... I can't get enough.
Gender: We'll hopefully find out at our OB appointment on Monday.
Movement:  Lots! And I love it, especially as James gets to feel bub kicking too.
Belly button: Innie
Exercise:  Took time off during our honeymoon but will get back into walking on the treadmill and doing pregnancy yoga again this week
Diet:  What diet?! Lol
What I'm loving:  Feeling bub moving around and watching James' reaction when baby kicks
What I'm not loving:  The direction my hips are heading - east and west, yikes!
What I miss: Sleeping on my back
Sickness and symptoms:  Round ligament pain, as my uterus is now the size of a rockmelon!
Notes: We have an appointment with Dr Naguesh, our OB, on Monday and will have another ultrasound to check on my cervical length. Hopefully bub will show us the goods and a shopping spree for blue or pink will soon follow. Fingers crossed!

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 18

Your Baby

How big is my baby?

This week your baby measures approximately 12.5-14cm (5-5.6 inches) in length and weighs about 150 grams (5.25 ounces).

Your baby is looking more and more human as time goes by. Your baby can now make facial expressions, including frowning and squinting. Eyes are still closed, but are sensitive to bright light outside your abdomen. Eyelashes and eyebrows have started to grow.

Limbs become longer, start to gain proportion and begin to move as the connections between nerves and muscles are established. The nerves are now being coated in myelin (a fatty layer), enabling them to pass messages to and from the brain. Your baby's hands can now form fists and if they meet, will clasp together.

The lungs are developing, but until birth the placenta will provide your baby's oxygen.