20 Weeks!!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

How your life's changing:

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you're a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.


Woohoo! Halfway point! I'm really excited to be halfway there. And I'm even happier to be feeling the baby daily. That is just such a relief to feel him/her and know that he/she is doing ok in there. :)

So far I've gained 5 pounds. I was slightly overweight when I got pregnant (and I mean slightly! I worked my butt off (literally) at weight watchers and my BMI was only 1 point over the "normal" range) so 5 pounds is probably a good weight gain so far. I'm sure the majority of the weight gain will be coming soon.

We are not doing another childbirth class. I think we both remember enough from the last one and I know the nurses and staff at the hospital will help with anything else we need.

I get my diabetes results today...I'm a little nervous about that but no matter what, it will be ok. I know it will. And I went to two birthday parties this past weekend so I got my fill of cake and ice cream for awhile. I'll be fine.

Nick and I are about 90% sure of our girl name and about 75% sure of our boy name so that is progress for us! I guess we'll figure out how close we are to knowing our baby's name this Friday night when we learn if it's a baby boy or a baby girl! Unfortunately for you, blog world, I don't get on the computer at home, so you'll probably have to wait until Monday to learn the results, but I'll try to update it if I can. :)

That's it for this week I think! Happy halfway point baby! I can't wait to meet you!

Upcoming Appointments:
Wednesday, November 10 - Anatomy Ultrasound
Friday, November 12 - REVEAL Party
Tuesday, December 7 - 24 week Dr. Appointment