Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.
You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.
Many women report that their dream life shifts into high gear during pregnancy. Interestingly, during the second and third trimesters, you spend less sleep time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the cycle in which most dreams occur. Why, then, all those frequent and vivid dream memories? It's probably at least in part because you may be interrupting a dream-filled cycle when you wake up to pee, cope with heartburn, leg cramps, restless legs, or a backache, or to shift to a more comfortable position. Waking up during REM sleep makes you more likely to remember your dreams.
As for me, I'm doing well. The nausea is almost completely gone now. My belly is continuing to grow. This week a stranger asked me if I knew what I was having. I was so shocked, because I still don't think I look pregnant (just bloated), so I think that was a risky assumption and question on her part. I was so caught off guard it took me a minute to process before I could answer her. I guess I'm looking more pregnant than I think.
I'm eating pretty much anything I want these days, with no real cravings, although sushi and sausage always sound great to me. I'm still lifting weights, walking several miles most days, and jogging 1-2 miles 2 days a week. I am determined to keep my strength and endurance up better than I did last pregnancy, and not gain as much weight either... so far so good!
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