Halfway Point! 20 Weeks!

Yep... you read that right! I guess you could say Baby J is "half baked"! I have said it before (and I am sure I will say it another million times) but time is flying by! Our little angel will be in our arms before we know it. WOW... do we have some work to do before she gets here! Nursury, floors, organizing, buying baby stuff, backyard upgrades, etc. We have our work cut out for us, that's for sure!

Your pregnancy: 20 weeks:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's She'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 her head to his her bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, she's measured from head to toe.)

SHe's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his her digestive system. SHe's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his her bowels, and you'll see it in his her 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.

See... the HALFWAY point! I am so excited!

I have already taken the liberty of siging Craig and I up for a childbirth ed class! We will be attending that class and probably a CPR class in August!

With the time flying by the way it is, I can't believe my baby shower is only 8 weeks away! Wow! I can't wait to see all of my friends and family and celebrate my daughters arrival. OMG it sounds so weird to say "my daughter". So many things to look forward to in the future!