Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.
From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.
If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. 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 his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!
As for me, doing well. Still feeling good. Able to eat anything I want for the most part without feeling nauseous afterward. Exercising regularly (with slightly less strength/ intensity/ endurance than normal). I've only gained 5 pounds, but it feels like a lot more right now. Nothing really fits me well right now, my regular clothes are getting too tight, but my maternity clothes from last time are still a little too big and loose. I'm just in a weird in between stage.
This week was the first time I started feeling this baby move and confidently knowing it was the baby and not my tummy rumbling. Jeremy was even able to feel some flutters one evening after I ate a piece of cake and loaded our little one up on some sugar.
I think we have our boy and girl names picked out now, so now we just have to wait a week and a day until the appointment and we find out the gender.
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