22 Weeks! (Beginning my 6th Month)

Week 21 went by REALLY fast. It's bizarre that I'm already at week 22. That being said -- I have a feeling the next 4 months are going to go by REALLY quick. Weeks 22-26 are my 6th month of pregnancy. I can't believe I've come this far. I can't believe that I will be able to hold the evidence of my sexual activity in my arms in just a few months!!! Crazy! Mom was right again! Unprotected sex DOES in fact equal babies!

My comments today in burnt orange.

From http://www.babycenter.com/

How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash I really don't care for Spaghetti squash -- so this is a little disappointing -- but I'll get through it.) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn .....progress then?. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums...ah...bummer...I was hoping our baby would be toothless so I could avoid the whole teething phase. I was prepared to purchase my baby's teeth and install them when appropriate. My grandfather has removable teeth and they work fine. Plus, when they're not installed they make his lips look wrinkly and cute!. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas (Come on pancreas! Grow strong and infallible!) — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

How your life's changing:

At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. (Yes, and for the most part I don't mind. Especially now that it's hard and feels like a baby is growing in there. It does take a little getting used to -- especially when our male friends do it. At first it feels like they're caressing me -- but I wouldn't say it bothers me.) It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate. What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track (I'm a HUGE fan of giving people the finger - so I'm sure I can handle this).

You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby. (None yet. I'm reeeeeeeally hoping I don't get them!) At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There's no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching. (I do use Palmers Cocoa Butter for the pregnant belly - I don't know if it works but it's worth trying!)

Below are some more tidbits from babycenter that came in this weeks info guide. I thought I'd add them since they do apply to me.

Write it down

"I kept a journal for my son while I was pregnant, and I brought it to the hospital with me so I could write in it as soon as I was up to it. It really helped to share all the feelings I was having." — Anonymous I do this! My journal is called Butterflies & Hiccups by Laurie J. Wing. I love it!

This Week's Activity:

Check out your rings. It's common to have some swelling in your fingers as your pregnancy progresses. If your rings are feeling the least bit snug, do yourself a favor and take them off now before it's too late (or at least keep an eye on them). If you can't bear to be separated from your wedding band or another important ring when you can no longer sport it on your finger, loop it on a chain and wear it close to your heart. "(Sadly, I have come to the point of needing to take my ring off. It's still on -- because every time I go to take it off I get a knot in my throat. But it won't be long before I have to take it off. If you don't know -- my Mom never took her ring off and I was never going to take mine off. In fact, it's engraved on the inside to say, "May these words never be seen". I think I'm going to see if the engravers can add, "unless the person who this ring belongs to is pregnant or recovering from childbirth..." . Coming out of this pregnancy with a healthy baby and a healthy me is a priority. I'd really hate to lose my ring finger in the process!)