20 Weeks

Wow, a lot has happened since I last posted! We went on vacation to Cozumel, Mexico during my 18 and 19th week so I didn't really have time to create an 18 week post. During our vacation, I felt Baby A kicking! Before that I was only feeling flutters once in a while, especially when I sneezed or at night while laying in bed. It's the most amazing thing when your baby moves and you can feel it, it's almost like the baby is communicating with you. I'm actually feeling the baby kick as I type this! Jesse also got to feel the baby move while on vacation. I'm pretty sure the baby did a couple of rolls while Jesse's hands were on my stomach and he felt it! I'm so glad I finally got to share that with him and of course he was ecstatic!


On Wednesday, after our vacation, we had our anatomy scan and 20 week appointment. First was our ultrasound. We told the ultrasound tech that we didn't want her to tell us of show us the sex of the baby, but rather write it down and put it in a sealed envelope for us to take to a baker. The baker would then make a cake that  is dyed either pink or blue on the inside. This Sunday we are having our closest family and friends over to witness us cutting into the cake to reveal the sex of our baby. This ultrasound was one of the biggest things I was looking forward to during pregnancy, apart from feeling our little one kick. But, during the ultrasound the tech discovered some choroid plexus cysts within the baby's brain cavity. I immediately began to panic because the word "cysts" is really scary to a mother. We were informed that these normally go away on their own but that they can also mean brain abnormalities. Of course my pessimistic self thinks the worst and I can't help but worry for my baby. After some research of my own, I found that these kind of cysts are a marker for Edward Syndrome, something I have been tested for and came back with the lowest risk possible. I am hopeful but in the back of my mind, scared to death for our baby. Next week we will be going in for a level II ultrasound to further check these cysts to determine exactly was is going on. Prayers are definitely appreciated!! I will update this blog as soon as we hear how our results turn out on the ultrasound next week.


As for the usual:


How far along? 20 weeks

Weight Gain/Loss: According to my doctor, I no longer need to gain all of my weight back that I lost in the first trimester. I am at the exact same weight this morning, as I was the day I found out I was pregnant. My doctor is letting me count half of that as weight gain, so right now I'm at a 6 lb. weight gain. This is spot on with how far along I am, I should be gaining a lb a week in the second and third trimester. My belly is also measuring perfectly.

Maternity Clothes? I am officially in maternity pants and I'm not looking back! My regular jeans are just too tight on my tummy and make me feel so uncomfortable. As for maternity tops, I occasionally wear them but I'm also trying to wear my regular shirts because I know I will be wearing those maternity tops plenty in this second half of this pregnancy.

Symptoms: Back pain is still apparent at night and when I wake up. I'm also get out of breath a lot easier now. 

Best moment this week: Being able to see our baby waving at us and seeing it move while also feeling the movement.

Food Cravings? Mostly sweets or fresh foods like veggies and fruit. 

Gender? Tomorrow is our gender reveal party and everyone attending must wear either pink or blue, depending on what they think it is. I have officially decided to wear pink! Go Team Pink!!

Belly button in or out? Still an innie but it's slowly making it's way out. 

Stretch Marks? No, but my linea nigra is starting to show.

Movement? Full on kicks and either rolling or feeling the butt against my stomach. It's so amazing! 

What Im looking forward to: I'm dying to know what our baby is! We will find out in about 24 hours!!! Also, I am looking forward/partially dreading our level II ultrasound next week, just praying for a healthy baby.

Milestones: Our baby is now consuming the amniotic fluid for nutrients. It's skin is also covered in vernix caseosa to protect it.

Baby Size: Our baby is the size of a cantalope.


Here is one of the ultrasound pictures. I think it looks like the baby is cooing because it's mouth is open and the bottom lip is puckered out.

17 weeks, forgot to post at 16 weeks

I completely blanked on writing a post while I was 16 weeks. In my defense, Jesse and I were in Bemidji, visiting my little sister so I  didn't really have much time to sit down and post.


How far along? 17 weeks

Weight Gain/Loss: I've been able to gain back most of my lost weight so I'm only down 3 lbs now. 

Maternity Clothes? Still wearing my regular pants and shirts but maternity jeans are getting really comfy :)

Symptoms: Just a little bit of back pain at night and when I wake up. I'm trying to get better about sleeping on my side but I end up turning onto my back in my sleep. Also I am producing colostrum and it started coming out at 16 weeks.

Best moment this week: Just enjoying being pregnant with no morning sickness, food aversions, etc. It's so nice to spend quality time with Jesse before the baby comes and just enjoy each other.

Food Cravings? I have realized that I crave whatever I ate the day before. It's odd to me and also inconvenient when I ate out and didn't have left overs.

Gender? I really go back and forth on the gender but currently thinking it's a girl. A lot of my family is guessing it's a boy so we will see in a couple weeks what I have inside of me! 

Belly button in or out? Still in. It starts to hurt and stretch when I've eaten a lot.

Stretch Marks? No

Movement? Once in a while I feel a little flutter but it's always so faint and quick that if I'm not paying attention I miss it.  

What Im looking forward to: I can't wait to find out what we are having and feel the baby move more.

Milestones: Our baby is busy learning to suck and swallow as well as forming fingernails and toenails. The baby is growing hair on their head and face. 

Baby Size: Our baby is the size of an onion.

14 Weeks

We are finally in the second trimester! There are different sources that say different dates for when a pregnant woman is in her second trimester; either 12 weeks, 13 weeks 3 days, or 14 weeks. Well it's official to say that I'm in the second trimester since I surpassed all of those dates. I am absolutely loving second trimester. Last night I even stayed up until 11 pm! Before that I was going to bed at 7 or 8 pm and sleeping about 11-12 hours a night!

How far along? 14 weeks

Weight Gain/Loss: Now that I'm feeling better I have been able to gain some of the weight back. I am only down 9 lbs now. My doctor did inform me that I need to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, then gain 25-35 lbs. 

Maternity Clothes? The baby has moved up and out of the pelvic area so my bump is sticking out a lot more now. I'm still able to wear regular pants using the hair tie trick but maternity pants are also fitting me. 

Symptoms: No more morning sickness!! The only symptoms I have now are round ligament pain, which is mostly at night and feels like menstrual cramps, and sore breasts.

Best moment this week: Seeing my bump getting bigger! One night after work, I was taking my jacket off in front of Jesse and he saw my stomach and said "Whoa! Look at your stomach!" It was cute :)

Food Cravings? Bring on the cravings! I have been craving Dairy Queen's chicken tenders with honey mustard and diet pepsi. I was trying to go this whole pregnancy without caffeine but having a few here and there isn't going to hurt anything.

Gender? I'm so torn now between boy and girl that I really don't know! 

Belly button in or out? In but it doesn't feel as deep as it used to.

Stretch Marks? No

Movement? No, but by the next time I post, I might have felt the baby moving. 

What Im looking forward to: I'm looking forward to feeling the baby move. I feel like that is one of the biggest blessings us women get to have that our husbands and no one else will get to experience. I hope to never take it for granted. I am also looking forward to more time with Jess now that I can stay up later and I am feeling better. Our nightly routine used to be dinner and a movie but during my morning/night sickness period, the routine became Jesse trying to make me something I wouldn't gag on and me falling asleep on the couch within 5 minutes of us watching something together. I'm sure Jesse is looking forward to having his personal chef back :) 

Milestones: Our baby is busy making facial expressions, he/she can now squint, frown, smile, and grimace. Our baby is working on sucking its thumb and wiggling its toes.

Baby Size: Our baby is the size of a lemon.

NT Scan

We had our nuchal translucey scan and genetic screening done. Everything looked good on the scan and our results came back in the normal range. Before all the screening, they gave me the risks for our baby having a chromosonal abnormality just based off of my age. Those risks where as follows:

Down syndrome: 1/1040 chance

All chromosomal abnormalities (including downs): 1/500 chance

Our results came back with less risk that our baby would be born with those abnormalities:

Down syndrome: 1/2607 chance

Other trisomy syndromes: 1/10,000 chance

All in all, we are glad we did the NT scan because we got to see our healthy baby moving around, we saw the heart beat, and nothing appeared to be wrong. But at the same time, I was surprised that they weren't able to say "yes" or "no" to any issues. that is mostly my fault on not researching exactly what genetic testing entails. We definitely didn't regret doing it and we do have a better peace of mind that our baby is as healthy as can be.

Here are a few pictures of bug from the ultrasound. I was thrilled that they did a 3D picture!