24 weeks

This week your baby's crown-to-rump length is around 8.4 inches and your baby will weigh approximately 1.2 pounds. Although it weighs a little over a pound at this point, your growing baby is still tiny. Your uterus can easily be felt 1.5 to 2 inches above your bellybutton. The fetus does not appear to have much room in the uterus anymore, but as your pregnancy progresses, space gets much tighter!

Because your uterus is expanding and putting a great amount of pressure on your abdomen, you might get stretch marks. Your weight gain may also be taking a toll on your body at this point. Many pregnant women experience backaches, bladder problems, sore feet and fatigue that affect their daily routines. You might also have some nasal stuffiness or nosebleeds.

Your baby's face is basically complete now. The fetus's eyes are close together on the front of his face and they are still shut. Your baby's ears have moved into their final position on the sides of his head. Where they are now is where they will be when your baby is born! Hair will continue to grow on his scalp and his eyelashes are well developed. Most of your baby's features look the same as they will at birth. Because your growing baby is getting plumper, he no longer has room in your tummy to do cartwheels and somersaults.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

How far along? 24 weeks.

Due Date: August 13, 2010

Total weight gain/loss: -1, same as last week. My friend becca was over this week and mentioned that I'm looking thinner around my face and neck... I thought that was pretty awesome! My goal has been to finish this pregnancy healthier than I started! So far, so good!
Maternity clothes? Yes. :)
Sleep: Really not too bad. I just sleep on a pile of pillows when I feel like I must sleep on my back.

Best moment this week: Starting to set up the nursery!
Movement: I haven't started to write it down yet but she has some patterns now... about 1-2 hours after I eat I feel her move big... in between I feel some little movements. ANY time I talk? The moving stops. Maybe I'm already soothing to her?

Food cravings: Most recent: Taco Bell yesterday... didn't really hit the spot but dessert did! Uh-oh... sweets are tasty again!
Food aversions: Same as always... but at least now I can be in the same space as warm creamy things... just not too close and NOT eating it.
Gender: GIRL!! A healthy wiggly(!) girl
Labor Signs: I think maybe some Braxton-Hicks... but I'm not totally sure since I've never felt them before.
Belly Button in or out? In... but definitely less in.
What I miss: Subway!!!
What I am looking forward to: Decorating and organizing more. First shower isn't until 5/28 so I'm getting the house ready for everything that (I hope!) will be coming home.
Milestones: Finally being uncomfortable. Yea, I call it a milestone... it is a first for me to go a whole day uncomfortable... we'll see if it gets better or continues!

Other: I'm LOVING decorating the nursery! There will be pics when it is a little more decorated! :)