17 weeks, 1 day - The Eighteenth Week

My Symptoms
Not much new to report this week. I'm still undecided on the baby movement thing. I'm probably feeling something, but it's not that definate yet. I'm still on the early side of the "normal" window though, so I expect the next couple of weeks to become more obvious. Less than 3 weeks until my next ultrasound though!

The Baby
The crown-to-rump length of your growing baby is 5 to 5.6 inches by this week. Weight of the fetus is about 5.25 ounces. Your baby is continuing to grow and to develop, but now the rapid growth rate slows down a little.

Those bones are hardening, and the legs are growing longer. The ears are almost in position ("What big EARS you have, baby!" "The better to hear you with, my mother!")

Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

At 20.5 cms or 8.1 inches total length, your baby is growing rapidly. S/he weighs about 7 ounces (198 grams). The bones are continuing the ossification process. The pads of the fingers and toes are formed and the fingerprints are developing as well.

The Mom
You can feel your uterus just below your bellybutton. If you put your fingers sideways and measure, it is about two finger-widtsh (1 inch) below your bellybutton. Your uterus is the size of a canteloupe or a little larger. Your total weight gain to this point should be 10 to 13 pounds. However, this can vary widely.

If this is your first pregnancy, you may FINALLY be feeling movement! Your skin may be reflecting the pregnancy by darkening in spots. This "mask" of dark pigment around the eyes, nose, and cheeks is called the chloasma, and will slowly fade once you deliver.

Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline increase. Look for specially designed maternity clothes that can accommodate your expanding belly. You may have heard that it's best to lie on your left side during your last two trimesters. Here's why: When you lie on your back, your uterus can compress your pelvic veins — in particular, the inferior vena cava, the vein that returns blood from the lower half of your body back to your heart. Lying on your left side helps remove this pressure. Try placing a pillow behind you, or under your hip or leg for comfort. Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during your second trimester your blood pressure is probably lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy. If you haven't already, you'll probably have an ultrasound done sometime this trimester (usually between 16 and 20 weeks). This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking her thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

Sleeping may be increasingly difficult now, as your body grows. Try propping yourself with pillows to help you find a more comfortable sleeping position. You might also try doing pelvic tilts before bed, and always urinate before laying down.