Week 18

Baby's Development: This week the baby is about 5 to 5 1/2 in. in length and weighs a little over 5 oz. Inside the baby's lungs, tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to develop. The unique swirls and whorls of the baby's fingerprints also begin to appear. Meconium, which forms the baby's first bowel movement is accumulating, which it might pass shortly before birth!

This week was one of the first weeks that I really began to feel "pregnant." I can tell my body is changing quickly but I feel great. Any fatigue that I had in the first trimester is gone and my appetite is back. The only problem is that my stomach feels like it's been pushed up near my lungs, so I feel very full after eating only a littel. But, it feels great to crave food again, especially vegetables and meat! Meanwhile, I can feel my stomach muscles literally un-connecting. I'm having major problems with my core and find it hard to do things which involve using my stomach muscles.

Today at the doctor's office I got to hear the baby's heartbeat. There is nothing more comforting to hear that sound. My uterus also "tilted" forward, which made hearing the heartbeat easier. The doctor also taught me how to feel my uterus by pressing on my belly. I guess I had been feeling it for quite some time now, but I just didn't know what I was feeling.

One major drawback so far about developing a baby bump is that I find riding my bike extremely uncomfortable. I have to lean pretty forward on my mountain bike and every time I pedal, I feel like my bladder is pressed up hard again my uterus. I tried riding Sue's bike this morning (which is more upright), but quickly realized that the brakes were not attached. I almost fell into an ice patch trying to slow myself down! Biking in Colorado during the winter can be a little hazardous.

One piece of good news is that I have finally told everyone I work with that I am pregnant. Everyone has been great about it. I also found out that I can take up to 11 weeks of paid maternity leave and they will freeze my post doc appointment during this leave. This makes me feel so much better about taking time off! I love working for a government agency!

I think my belly looks big this week. I hope you all think so too!