18 Weeks

I haven't taken the time to post weekly updates the past few weeks so here is how our baby is progressing:

Week 16:
Eye sight and eyelashes are developing. Tiny bones in your fetus's ears are in place this week, making it likely that the baby can hear your voice when you're speaking (or singing in the shower)at 16 weeks pregnant. In fact, studies have found that babies who are sung to while they're in the womb recognize the same tune when it's sung to them after they are born.

Week 17:
Your baby is practicing sucking and swallowing as she gets ready for the real thing: a breast or bottle! She's about the size of your palm, weighs about five ounces, and she's developing some body fat. Your baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises — the dog barking, the doorbell ringing — will actually startle your baby (and also get him or her used to such noises; for instance, fetuses who regularly hear a dog barking will become babies who sleep right through Fido's outbursts). Your baby's eyes (which have fortunately finished their migration to the front of his or her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed. And since practice makes perfect, your baby is sharpening his or her sucking and swallowing skills in preparation for that first (and second…and third) suckle at your breast or bottle. In fact, most of the survival reflexes that your baby will have at birth are being perfected in utero right now.

And here's some proof that your baby is truly one of a kind (as if you needed any!). Within the next week or so, the pads on your baby's fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints).


Week 18:
Your uterus, now about the size of a cantaloupe, is causing your body's center of gravity to shift, pulling the lower back forward and pushing the abdomen out. On top of all that, joint-loosening pregnancy hormones are wreaking havoc on your muscles and ligaments, adding up to one big ouch! At 18 weeks pregnant, your baby is hitting the height chart at five and a half inches long (remember, that's crown to rump) and weighs about five ounces (the weight of that boneless chicken breast you're making for dinner).

And now for the skill of the week (drum roll please…): The art of the yawn has been mastered by your baby (someone's sleepy!). In fact, you might catch a glimpse of that adorable yawn if you're getting an ultrasound this month. You'll also catch a glimpse of all the fetal movement your baby's doing — twists, rolls, kicks, and punches. And would you believe your baby is finally big enough for you to start feeling those movements now (or anytime in the next few weeks). So get ready!



In less than three weeks, we'll hopefully learn the gender of our little B-Mo. I'll post a new preggo picture soon. I'm at the stage where I'm just feeling fat. I'm feeling better now that I've got more maternity pants (thanks to my MIL). But I literally tried on like 20 dresses for the upcoming Costco Christmas party. Three were my own dresses that I couldn't quite fit into. Kinda depressing. I decided that I deserve to have my makeup done for the party next Saturday and my birthday the following Saturday. So while I may not feel like my body looks good in what I'm wearing, at least my face will feel pretty :).