Baby Jensen | Week 17-20

10/7/2014
WEEK 17

Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of a turnip [5 inches, 5 oz.]. Developing some body fat, making the veins that have been showing through the skin less obvious. Even though baby has had taste buds for quite some time, it is only now that it can make out differences in flavor. Heart is now regulated to brain to beat 140 to 150 times per minute and pumping approximately 25 quarts of blood a day. Baby is practicing swallowing and sucking.
Movement: Flutters. They don't seem to be getting much stronger, but definitely more frequent.
Symptoms: Heartburn, sensitive breasts, mild cramping off and on, and frequent trips to the bathroom. Not only are my trips to the bathroom frequent, but they are often URGENT. Before pregnancy it seemed like it was easier to hold it in, but its amazing how one minute I'll be fine and then the next minute I'm racing to the bathroom. There have been two occasions where Jay and I walked Kella to the park and halfway through our walk [even though I went to the bathroom before we left] I felt a very urgent need to go, so much that I sprinted back home. Once I was crazy close to goin in the bushes. 
Cravings: I haven't had any specific cravings for the majority of the pregnancy. Sometimes there are certain foods that will sound incredibly amazing but it's not like I gotta have it or I'm gonna die. And it's nothing consistent. I'm so grateful nausea hasn't made any sort of comeback. It's made eating easy and enjoyable.
Sleep: Good and bad off and on. I'm physically tired but my mind takes longer to wind down. I did have yet another dream where there this little one was a girl. I was holding her, smooching her to death, and telling her how much I loved her. 
Exercise: Walking/jogging. I'm thankful to Kella for keeping me active.
Stretch Marks: None. Belly is starting to itch now and then. For now I'm just making sure to keep it lathered with lotion.
Total Weight Gain: 6 pounds 
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: Nope. I fashioned myself a belly band. We'll see how long it lasts, but for now I think it will give me at least another month in all of my pants.
Belly Button: In.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Gender reveal! Three weeks!
Best Moment of the Week: Feeling flutters. It really is the best thing ever. Getting excited for when they're stronger.
Worst Moment of the Week: None.
Other: Now that the word is out, I'm constantly getting comments about my pregnancy from church members and neighbors. They're all good for the most part. But there are a couple that get my blood simmering a little [hormones maybe?]. Currently the most popular comment: "How far along are you?" 17 weeks. "Well you don't even look pregnant!" I realize their only intentions are to compliment me, but after hearing it I can't help but feel the need to defend myself by responding with: Well I AM pregnant! I wish people would simply just say something like: "Oh, well you look great!" 
Another comment: "When do you find out the gender?" In about three weeks. "How exciting! Are you hoping for a girl or a boy?" First of all, even if I did have a preference it wouldn't make a difference. And secondly, when you think about it, what an awful thing to say! All I really desire is a healthy baby. But even if something goes wrong and this baby isn't in perfect health, this is my child and I'm just so unbelievably honored to be it's mother. What does gender have to do with any of that? Again, my feelings on these comments could all be hormone related. I'm sure in the past I've asked pregnant women if they had a gender preference, and made other comments that were probably taken offensively. But my perspective has changed greatly and I realize the importance of choosing my words carefully.

10/14/2014
WEEK 18

Trimester: Second.

Baby: Size of a sweet potato [5.5 inches, 5 oz.]. Developing yawning and hiccuping skills. Practicing breathing with amniotic fluid and chest is moving in rhythm as if breathing air. Hearing is now developed so that it can hear the sounds coming from outside the womb much clearer. Baby's immune system is preparing for life outside the womb- Myelin, a protective coating of the nerves is now being produced.

Movement: Lots of little flutters, particularly at night time.

Symptoms: Heartburn, frequent trips to the bathroom, moodiness, and exhaustion.

Cravings: I haven't had any specific cravings for the majority of the pregnancy. Sometimes there are certain foods that will sound incredibly amazing but it's not like I gotta have it or I'm gonna die. And it's nothing consistent. I'm so grateful nausea hasn't made any sort of comeback. It's made eating easy and enjoyable.

Sleep: Good and bad off and on. I'm physically tired but my mind takes longer to wind down.

Exercise: Walking/jogging.

Stretch Marks: None.

Total Weight Gain: 6 pounds. 

Swelling: None.

Maternity Clothes: Nope. Using a rubber band to hold my pants together.

Belly Button: In.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Gender reveal! Two weeks!
Best Moment of the Week: Just so grateful every day for this growing little one.
Worst Moment of the Week: None.

10/21/2014
WEEK 19

Trimester: Second.
Baby: Size of a grapefruit [6 inches, .5 lbs.]. Baby is now covered with vernix [a white protective coating that protects the skin from damage in the womb]. Looking more like a baby now with proportionate arms and legs, presence of fat layers under the skin, and clearly defined facial features. Baby is awake for only about six hours a day.
Movement: Yes! And it's not just flutters anymore, but taps and solid kicks!
Symptoms: Heartburn, frequent trips to the bathroom, moodiness, mild cramping off and on, and exhaustion from the lack of sleep during the night.
Cravings: I haven't had any specific cravings for the majority of the pregnancy. Sometimes there are certain foods that will sound incredibly amazing but it's not like I gotta have it or I'm gonna die. And it's nothing consistent. I'm so grateful nausea hasn't made any sort of comeback. It's made eating easy and enjoyable.
Sleep: Awful. It takes forever to fall asleep and then I'm getting about at least once [sometimes twice] to use the restroom, then it takes forever to fall back asleep. However, night time is baby's most active time, so at least while I'm awake I can enjoy feeling the little one kick inside me.
Exercise: Walking/jogging.
Stretch Marks: None.
Total Weight Gain: 6 pounds.
Swelling: None.
Maternity Clothes: Nope. Using a rubber band to hold my pants together.
Belly Button: In.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Gender reveal! One week!!
Best Moment of the Week: Throughout the week movement was becoming more frequent and slowly getting stronger. I told Jay and his words were, "So jealous of you right now. I want to feel our baby kick. No fair!" I didn't think the movement was strong enough yet, but told him I would let him know the next time I felt it. That night we had just finished eating some homemade chocolate chip cookies and were watching TV on the couch. I started feeling those little taps and told Jay to put his hand on my lower tummy. The second he did so, the little one immediately kicked! And then following that one big kick there were multiple little kicks. KICKS! Not taps or flutters or butterflies, but kicks! It was for sure the most I had ever felt our little one move. And Jay got to feel it with me! It was a priceless moment.
Worst Moment of the Week: None. 

I received this text from Jay the morning after he felt his first kick.

10/28/2014
WEEK 20 | HALFWAY

Trimester: Second.

Baby: Size of a mango, [6.5 inches, 10 oz.] about the length of a banana. [Sometimes I don't really get these fruit comparisons]. Gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid each day. Baby's ovaries are holding about 7 million primitive eggs. Most of her energy is utilized in gaining weight. The placenta has reached it's maximum thickness and is busy supplying her with all the nutrients and oxygen and disposing of the wastes.

Movement: So much. It used to be just at night time, but now I can feel her throughout the day. However, baby is definitely still more active during the night. Those kicks never get old. My heart races every time I feel them, then when it's over I'm eagerly awaiting another round of kicks.

Symptoms: Frequent trips to the bathroom, mild cramping off and on, crazy exhaustion and lack of motivation to get anything done [very similar to the exhaustion I felt during the first trimester- baby must be doing lots of growin'].

Cravings: After Jay and I finished our shopping at Sam's club I saw a picture of a hot dog in their food court and was immediately salivating over it. So gross, I don't do hot dogs. I didn't give in to this craving. Other than that, nothing specific. I'm hungry for just about anything and everything all the time.

Sleep: Better than last week. Thank goodness. Although, falling asleep took awhile because I was so dang excited about our 20-week anatomy scan/gender reveal appointment. Jay and I are about 30 minutes away from the doctor's office and due to some bad weather, we have been 15 minutes late to our last two appointments. The other night I had a dream that we were so late to our 20-week appointment that they weren't able to do an ultrasound and we had to wait another month to find out the gender! I had another dream that this little one was a girl, then a few nights later had a dream it was a boy. He was so tiny and precious all curled up sleeping on my chest.

Exercise: Walking/jogging.

Stretch Marks: None.

Total Weight Gain: 9 pounds. 

Swelling: None.

Maternity Clothes: Nope. Using a rubber band to hold my pants together.

Belly Button: In. 
Doctor's Visit: We found out we are having a GIRL! we got to hear her strong heart beat, see her move during the ultrasound, and learned that she is healthy and growing strong.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Registering for baby shower! Now that we know the gender I'm even more stoked to start purchasing things for this little lady.

Best Moment of the Week: Doctor's visit and gender reveal!

Worst Moment of the Week: None.