{Half Baked}

(image found searching "20 week fetus" on bing.com)

Today MJ is "half baked", as in we have hit the midway point and only 20 more weeks to go!! My uterus is right in the middle of my belly button and I can see that things are rounding out and so can William. MJ is moving around alot more but not so hard as to feel it on the outside yet, but when we had the gender ultrasound the tech said that it may take a bit longer to feel her on the outside because the placenta was in front of her (I think meaning she was hiding towards the back instead of up front).

Below is an excerpt from baby center:

"Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals. 


Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery)."


Of course you know we had our anatomy ultrasound and we know MJ is a girl and that she is right on schedule and growing beautifully! I can't believe we are at the halfway point already but so happy we are. Only 20 more weeks to go (or less if she's anything like her sister or it could be longer if she's like her oldest brother or she could come right on time like her second big brother, who knows what will happen this time around).


I haven't gained anything so far and actually because I have been doing light exercises and eating better I am actually down 15 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. Which is a good thing, because with ALL my other pregnancies that went to full term, I gained 30 lbs and if I do this go around at least I will have lost 15 lbs before so maybe I won't gain as much, (fingers crossed that I just break even).


I have been craving sweets lately, but have been trying not to indulge in those cravings. If I have one that is super strong I will give in but most of the time fresh fruit or even frozen will help curb the cravings. Although the other night I was craving chili fries with nacho sauce and was glad we didn't have the stuff to make it because I know that wouldn't have been a good choice.


I have been keeping my glucose levels under control and have really been watching what I eat but I do splurge every now and then but just in moderation - which I have found is the key to keeping my glucose levels in check. I do not want to go on insulin during this pregnancy if I do end up not passing my glucose test in the upcoming weeks. If I keep 'em in check now then it will be not a worry to keep them in check if I do end up with gestational diabetes.


Anywho, all is going well and I am feeling much better although I am getting tired earlier and earlier during the day, but that is all part of the joy of having a bun in the oven.