17 Weeks

Forgive me for I am a bit behind on posting, but I officially started my 17th week of pregnancy this past Saturday, Fourth of July! It was a great day and we spent the afternoon at a party hosted by a friend of David's from high school days. We had a ton of fun catching up and I surprisingly lasted the entire afternoon and evening outside in the sweltering weather with very little problem. I figured that it would have been complete torture for this pregnant little mama, but nope, not really bad at all. I have been continuing my streak of feeling really good and actually got some extra sleep over the past 3 days. Good thing too because I was starting to slow down from the lack of sleep over the past couple of weeks. My belly has definitely popped in the past couple of weeks and just seems SO huge, but at least that's a good sign or I am hoping it is. Just one more week from today until my big appointment with the perinatologist and we will get the big u/s to hopefully determine / confirm the gender of our little Babykins! 

Here is what is going on with both me and baby this week according to BabyCenter.com.

How your life's changing:

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.

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.

How your baby's growing:

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.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.