17 Weeks

Your baby weighs 5 ounces this week -- about as much as a turnip. (Length: 5 inches, head to bottom.)

17 Weeks- Development

Your Baby This Coming Week

Your baby weighs about 5.25 ounces (150g) and now measures 5 to 5.6 inches (12.5 to 14cm) from crown to rump. He is practicing breathing by gulping amniotic fluid into its lungs. This helps the lung's development so they will function at birth. Your baby may also be sucking his thumb.

Meconium is present in your baby's bowels. There is hair present on your baby's scalp and sweat glands are developing.

Your baby is becoming more sensitive to the outside world and is moving around, kicking and punching. As there is still plenty of space in your uterus, your baby can move around a lot, sitting cross-legged, reclining or even turning somersaults!

He can probably hear by now as the ossicles (the bones that pass sound to the inner ear) have hardened and the portion of the brain that receives signals from the brain is under development. Your baby is getting used to the sound of your heartbeat and blood passing through the umbilical cord, but may be startled by loud noises. Your baby is aware of some things in the outside world, including sounds and light. If you let the sun shine on your belly, your baby may be able to perceive a warm red glow.

Your Body This Coming Week

Your uterus is a little bigger than a cantaloupe. Average weight gain by this point is between 5 and 13 pounds (4.5-5.8kg) but your own experience may be different.

Vaginal secretions may increase.

You may begin to experience back pain if you haven't already as your center of gravity begins to shift. You may feel dizzy at times, especially if you get up very quickly.

Your increasing belly size and the pressure of your baby bearing down on your rectum may also cause hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids usually disappear after delivery, but you can ask your doctor or pharmacist for an ointment to bring you relief.

With increasing symptoms, your pregnancy probably has begun to feel very real. This can be a very exciting week, since you might be able to start feeling fetal movement at this time. It's not time to worry if you don't yet feel this though. You may not feel movement for another week or two or maybe more, especially if you are overweight. While some women feel movement by the 14th week, most first-time moms begin to feel movement between the 17th and 20th weeks. Early fetal movement feels more like fluttering than kicks, so you may not be able to identify them or distinguish them from other rumblings in your belly until about the 26th week.

17 Week Journal

How far along? 17 weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: I think this may have been my first week of no change. Which is odd, since I feel like I've gotten larger.
TP test: About 10 1/2 squares.
Maternity Clothes: Yup. I fit into fewer and fewer old clothes.
Food cravings/ aversions: Nothing special this week.
"Morning" Sickness: Nope.
Signs of Pregnancy: Um, the largeness of my belly.
Stretch Marks: Nope.
Sleep: Last night we went and ordered a new mattress and bedroom furniture. The furniture will take 2-5 weeks to get here, but the mattress is being delivered on Saturday. I can't wait!!! There were a couple of nights where I woke up in so much pain that I almost got up and went into our guest bedroom which has a more comfortable bed.
Big things this week: Last Thursday I had another doctor appointment. In and out really quickly, but we did get to hear the heart beat again.
Gender prediction: Does this even matter?
Movement: Not yet, but apparently I should be able to start feeling Baby any day now.
Labor Pains: Nope.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Weekly Wisdom: Hmmm... nothing all that exciting to impart this week.

16 Weeks

Your baby measures up to an avocado, now, and weighs 3 1/2 ounces. (Length: 4 1/2 inches, head to bottom.)

16 Weeks- Development

Your Baby This Coming Week

Your baby now weighs more than the surrounding placenta. She measures about 4.4 to 4.8 inches (about 11 to 12cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 3.5 ounces (100g). She is positioned halfway between your pubic bone and your navel.

Fat, which is important for your baby's metabolism and heat production is beginning to form around this time.

The placenta, which will weigh more than a pound at full term, is also developing rapidly. It is now a large and well-established network of blood vessels responsible for exchanging nutrients and waste to support your baby.

Your Body This Coming Week

Your pregnancy is showing more and your lower abdomen probably looks larger. Your uterus can now be felt between one and a half to two inches below your navel. You may also be gaining weight on other parts of your body, such as your thighs, hips and buttocks. It's normal to have gained between 5 and 10 pounds by now, but your own rate of weight gain may be different. Ask your doctor if you think you may be gaining too little or too much weight.

Your body's increased blood supply may give you nosebleeds or may just make your nose feel congested. It can also cause bleeding gums.

You may be sweating more than usual because of your increased metabolic rate. You may experience round ligament pain because your growing uterus stretches and pulls these ligaments. It can be uncomfortable but is not normally a cause for concern.

You may feel the baby moving this early.

16 Weeks Journal

How far along? 16 weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: I was kind of nervous about how much weight I would gain this week since I was away for work and constantly eating. Imagine my surprise when I stepped on the scale and had only gained a pound, bringing my total to 10 pounds so far. I have another appointment this afternoon, so we'll have to see what their scale says.
TP test: Just over 10 squares.
Maternity Clothes: Yup. I still fit into some of my old things, but not a lot.
Food cravings/ aversions: Nothing special this week.
"Morning" Sickness: The smell of the bathroom at the airport made me vomit last night, but not sure if that was pregnancy related or not.
Signs of Pregnancy: Growing tummy. :)
Stretch Marks: Nope, but towards the end of the day my belly has felt rather tight.
Sleep: Blissful for 4 nights this past week when I was at the hotel. Super comfy bed and I slept in a cocoon of down pillows (5 of them) and a down blanket. And then I came home to my normal bed. Blech. Eagerly awaiting our tax refund so that we can go out and buy a new bed and mattress.
Big things this week: I survived working crazy long hours and only overslept once. :) I think it will take a few days for my body to get back into a normal sleep pattern.
Gender prediction: The Chinese gender prediction test I took a few months ago said boy, but a co-worker found one which said girl. Hmm....
Movement: No. Eagerly awaiting feeling those first flurries.
Labor Pains: Nope.
Belly Button in or out? In. I think it may be getting a little shallower, but maybe that's just my imagination. Definitely feeling stretched out.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Random story from the past week: There was a group of us from work all on the same plane last night so we were at the airport together looking for a bite to eat. Everything was pretty crowded, so we're standing around waiting for a table. The bar we were at was pretty informal, when you saw a table get cleared you went over and took it. And many people were eating with strangers just so that they could get a place to sit. I think we were all wishing I was showing a bit more so that I could have played the pregnancy card to get us a place to sit.
And a quote of the week, when we were discussing "adult" topics... [Put] earmuffs on the baby.
Weekly Wisdom: Although this past week I frequently was reminding people that "I'm not an invalid", sometimes it's nice to be able to use it to get out of things or be able to eat ice cream at 10:30am because "baby wants it". :)

15 Weeks

Your baby has grown to the size of an apple and weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. (Length: 4 inches, head to bottom.)

15 Weeks- Development

Your Baby This Coming Week

Fine hair called lanugo covers your baby, who now measures about 4.3 to 4.6 inches (10.8 to 11.6cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 2.8 ounces (80g).

Fingernails are well formed and the arms and legs may be seen moving on an ultrasound. Your baby already has his own unique fingerprint pattern!

Your baby can hold his head erect and he can also make faces with his slightly developed facial muscles. Your baby may practice squinting, frowning and opening and closing his mouth.

Your baby's bones have enough calcium deposits to show on an X-ray. If your baby is female, her ovaries will be in place in her pelvis and more than five million ova (some of which may be fertilized to become your own grandchildren in another generation!) have formed.

Your Body This Coming Week

Your uterus is increasing in size and so is the amount of amniotic fluid it contains- about seven and a half ounces right now. You should be able to feel your uterus in the lower part of your abdomen.

A small portion of pregnant women are able to feel the baby move this early. When your baby moves, you may feel it like a slight fluttering in your stomach. Don't worry though if you haven't felt this yet as it is still very early.

Your breasts are changing. The milk glands in your breasts may start production, which can cause swelling or tenderness in early pregnancy. The blood flow to your breasts also increases, making the veins more visible and the Montgomery's tubercles more pronounced. Montgomery tubercles are the tiny oil producing glands which appear as bumps scattered around the areolae. They are said to both lubricate the breast to keep the skin healthy and elastic and to prevent the growth of bacteria. They will remain enlarged throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.

15 Weeks

How far along? 15 weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: up another pound
TP test: Just shy of 10 squares
Maternity Clothes: Tuesday I ran out and bought 3 pairs of maternity pants. Plus I have the few things I ordered last week. I hope I really like them because I imagine I'll be very tired of them in November. Some of the new clothes are still a little loose, but I doubt that will last for very long.
Food cravings/ aversions: People keep asking about this, but I don't think there has really been anything major.
"Morning" Sickness: So for reasons I can't explain I did experience a couple bouts of sickness over the weekend. Felt fine one minute and not the next. Hopefully it won't last.
Signs of Pregnancy: Now starting to wear maternity clothes. And it's official- my belly is now bigger than my boobs.
Stretch Marks: Nope.
Sleep: Eh. On the radio station I listen to, one of the DJ's wife is expecting a baby and people were calling in with advice. Many people said make sure you have a new mattress. How true! I can't wait until we get our tax return and we can go shopping for a new bed.
Big things this week: Shopping! This week has been full of getting some things for the baby. Our church had a rummage sale and we got a ton of stuff. We actually went back on 3 different days. And stopped at another church's yard sale as well. We spent $79 and got a bassinet, pack & play, exersaucer, doorway jumping thing, another sit-in activity thing, a couple of activity mats, a bag of clothes, a boppy, wooden puzzles, toys, toys, toys, at least a bag and a half of books, plus misc gift items for other people (brewing stuff for Uncle Andrew, vintage Fisher Price Little People for a friend who collects them, dress up clothes for a friend's child, books for kids we know, etc.) And we actually paid $15 more than they wanted us to because I felt they were under charging us.
Gender prediction: Not really thinking about it because I know it doesn't matter.
Movement: Nothing yet. Looking forward to feeling something.
Labor Pains: Nothing yet.
Belly Button in or out? In. Getting stretched a bit though. After 12 years I took out my belly button ring. Since I don't like needles I hadn't watched when he put it in. As a result, I wasn't exactly sure how it was held secure. I thought I was going to have to use two pairs of pliers to pry it apart. I've kind of been dreading having to deal with it. Turns out the ball on the ring popped off really easily. Wow, wish I had known how easy it was a few years ago!
Wedding rings on or off? On. And a little loose.
Weekly Wisdom: Don't put off getting those maternity clothes. It's not worth it to deal with pants that are uncomfortable.

14 Weeks

Your baby, now as long as a lemon, weighs about 1 1/2 ounces. (Length: 3 1/2 inches, head to bottom.)

14 Weeks- Development

Your Baby This Coming Week

Your baby measures about 3.7 to 4.1 inches (about 9.3 to 10.3cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 1.75 ounces (50g).

Your baby's bones still consist of soft cartilage but they are now beginning to harden and the development of the bones and the marrow continues. Her ears are developing into a more recognizable shape and any hair already on the head and brows will become thicker.

Your baby may already be sucking her thumb.

Her skin is thin and translucent and all her blood vessels can be seen through it.

Her hair continues to grow on her head and her eyebrows. If her hair will be dark, the follicles will start to generate pigment to color her hair.

Your baby is moving more now and is becoming increasingly flexible. She can bend her arms at the elbows and wrists and she can make tiny fists with her hands.

Your Body This Coming Week
Most of the discomforts of early pregnancy, such as nausea and fatigue are behind you for now and you are probably feeling better. The pregnancy is probably feeling like a reality. Any dark pigment on your skin (such as moles and freckles) may become even darker, and you might develop a facial pigmentation known as chloasma which will fade after the birth.

Week 14 Journal

How far along? 14 weeks. (And a happy birthday to Jen Whitson.)
Total weight gain/loss: Up another 2, so I think that's 8 lbs overall?
TP test: Just about 10 squares.
Maternity Clothes: I broke down and ordered a couple of pairs of pants, a skirt, and a bathing suit. My current clothes are getting tight and I have an upcoming work trip to Florida.
Food cravings/ aversions: Still haven't actually tried the chocolate/strawberry milk combo, but a friend said her kids drink it all the time and like it.
"Morning" Sickness: I think it's pretty much gone.
Signs of Pregnancy: Running out of pants that fit. And starting to show a bit at work, depending on what I wear. I had a clingier shirt on earlier this week and it was particularly noticeable.
Stretch Marks: Nope.
Sleep: Slightly better than last week, but certainly not great.
Big things this week: I don't think there's been anything that momentous.
Gender prediction: Who knows. I think I'm trying to avoid predicting one way or the other because I don't want to be wrong.
Movement: Probably not for another month or so. Kind of freaked Chris out a bit though. I had moved my legs into a position which caused a bit of round ligament pain. Moved them back. Then a bit later forgot about it and tried moving my legs again. Another stab of pain, and I commented that the baby didn't like that. I think he thought I meant that I was being kicked. Nope, not yet.
Labor Pains: Nothing yet.
Belly Button in or out? Definitely in. Still wondering when I should take out my belly ring.
Wedding rings on or off? On. And a little loose.
Weekly Wisdom: Just take it one day at a time. It all goes by so quickly.