Happy 17 weeks to Baby #2!
This week Baby Polkie's rubbery cartilage is turning to bone. He/she may be even putting some fat on those bones, and, growing a stronger, thicker umbilical cord.
Baby is now roughly 5-6 inches long head to bottom and weighs 5.9 ounces.
Even though we've been through this once it never ceases to amaze me how quickly they grow and change. I'm also happy to report that I have relatively no symptoms other than occasional fatigue and an increased appetite. I was having some sciatica (left lower back/hip aching) but as I continue to workout and stretch I don't have as many flare ups. I'm up 8 pounds overall and can still proudly fit into my regular jeans with just the button undone. While some days I feel like the only thing growing larger besides my chest and belly are my thighs, they really haven't gotten much bigger at all. Yay!
Doc moved my due date up to October 2nd so I can expect after my next appointment (May 20th) to schedule the anatomy ultrasound. Hopefully baby will cooperate and let us know if it's a little he or she, more importantly, that it's healthy.
I have to admit, we really haven't been searching for names, or buying baby stuff AT. ALL.
Guess since we have all the basics from before and I plan on breastfeeding again we're not jumping the gun. Although, as we approach the halfway point in a couple weeks and it's becoming more and more of a reality that this kid could be here in as little as 4-5 months we really should start soon.
In the meantime, here's some fun pregnancy facts you may or may not have known. Enjoy!
-Your heart grows
Progesterone softens the joints. Your ribs stretch out and, as your uterus grows, everything else in your body shifts about. Organs, such as the heart and live, enlarge too, due to their extra workload.
-Your bones soften
High levels of the hormones oestrogen and relaxin cause ligaments throughout your body to relax, including those in your back. The extra strain on the muscles and joints of the lower back area can cause back pain.
-Your womb holds a pint of water
At the start of pregnancy, your uterus is the size of a small pear. By the end of the nine months it's more like an over-sized watermelon, holding a baby and at least a pint of water, so it's not surprising you feel twinges as it grows, especially as it will be touching the bottom of your ribs. At 16-20 weeks you may feel slight pain caused by some ligaments beginning to stretch.
-You're more stretchy
To prepare your body for childbirth, the hormone, relaxin, reduces cartilage and ligament density, so you can stretch parts of your body a lot more than normal.
-You produce more blood
Your total volume of blood is 50% higher than usual and cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped out with each heartbeat) increases by 40%. You manufacture 20% extra red blood cells to carry more oxygen around your body. It's normal to feel out of breath at times in the later months. But breathlessness can be a sign of anemia so if you're concerned, ask your midwife to check your iron levels.
-Your baby gets food before you
It's important to eat healthily in pregnancy. The baby will take all the nutrients he needs, but this can leave you lacking, especially in iron. Your GP can provide iron tablets if you're anemic.
-You breathe deeper
As your uterus grows, the diaphragm is compressed, It seems difficult to breathe deeply, but you actually breathe more air.
-Your face darkens
The ‘mask of pregnancy' is caused by a change of pigment in your skin across your nose and cheeks in a butterfly shape. It only seems to affect some women, but no-one knows why.
-Your blood clots faster
Your blood clots more easily now, a protective mechanism so you don't bleed to death when the placenta is delivered. There's a concern that a clot in the calf may fragment, and cause clots elsewhere, particularly if you've had thrombosis or are overweight.
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