20 Week Milestone!!!

 

Oh my gosh!!!  We're at the half way point.  So exciting!!

C & W's Baby in Week 20 of Pregnancy
Curious about whether that melon-sized belly contains a boy or a girl? Now's the chance to take a peek! The second trimester ultrasound, scheduled for anytime between 18 and 22 weeks, gives our practitioner a chance to see how things are going in there. And, wow, are they going! If baby is a girl, her uterus is now fully formed and her ovaries are holding about seven million primitive eggs. If baby is a boy, his testicles have begun their descent from the abdomen to their ultimate destination — the scrotum. And while the baby is definitely getting bigger (weighing in at about ten ounces and measuring six and a half inches), there's still plenty of growing room in there, which allows him to twist and turn (and allows me to feel his acrobatics and hopefully Mommy and Daddy too!).

Your Body in Week 20 of Pregnancy

Now that you’re at the midpoint of your pregnancy (20 weeks down, 20 more to go!), that little cantaloupe (aka baby) you have in your belly is becoming more of a reality as you feel his movements and draw smiles from passersby who see your baby bump. You might also be noticing that your nails are stronger (though they could also turn dry and brittle) and your hair (all over your body) is thicker and fuller than usual — all thanks to pregnancy hormones and increased circulation, which furnish extra nutrients to hair and nail cells. But while the hair on your head may be lovelier than ever, you might not be digging those sprouts on your chin. This situation is indeed temporary, but feel free to tweeze!

Week 20 Pregnancy Symptoms

Heartburn or indigestion: If you’re looking for a simple heartburn fix, try chewing a piece of sugarless gum after meals. The increased saliva it produces neutralizes gastric acids and helps force fluids back into the stomach.  I've had a couple of episodes of heartburn, but nothing horrible yet.  Hoping it stays that way.

Leg cramps: Experts aren’t clear on what causes leg cramps during pregnancy, but one theory is that they are caused by compressed blood vessels in the legs (a consequence of extra weight and swelling). Help the blood circulate throughout your body more easily — and minimize cramping — by putting your feet up when you can and drinking plenty of fluids. Oh my!  These were horrible on Thursday and Friday, with Thursday night being the worst.  I was up at least 3-4 times that night.  I'm going to have to make sure I drink plenty of water, especially when I'm going to be doing so much more activity.  I'm sure all the walking on Halloween and not a lot of extra water was part of the cause.  Saturday was much better.