Bumpdate: 20 Weeks

 

How I'm Feeling 

I feel like a normal person again!  A normal person with a large belly, that is. 

Weight Gain/Measurements

I've gained 9 lbs since the start of pregnancy, I'm glad to announce that I have hereby graduated from the stage where I simply looked like I was eating too many desserts.  Some people have actually started to notice that I am pregnant before I tell them, and no one is surprised when I tell them.  I'm also starting to notice the size of my belly.  I'm holding myself a bit differently, and I have to perform some daily tasks in a different way to avoid my belly. 

Sleep

I no longer want to sleep all day every day!  This is wonderful because I actually have energy to get things done again.  In my mind, this means that it is time to decorate the nursery.

Food Cravings

I thought this was the time when I was supposed to be craving crazy combinations like pickles and ice cream, but no such thing has happened.  I'm not going to lie; I'm a little disappointed.  I need hilarious stories to tell!

Other Symptoms

I hate to admit it, but I've started to get some mood swings from hormonal changes.  Minor things seem to bother me more.  I don't really notice their happening until Chris starts laughing at me, and then I realize I've been acting grumpy for the past 10 minutes because a towel got mixed in with the whites or I dropped a chip on the floor.

Best Moment of the Month

I have two best moments! I can't choose!

The first occurred during my 17th week of pregnancy when I felt the baby move.  At my 16 week appointment, my doctor asked me if I had felt movement yet, and I sadly replied that I didn't believe so.  A few days later I decided to lay down and concentrate to see if I noticed anything, and a minute later, there he was!  I can't describe how special it was to feel my baby.  This pregnancy feels much more real now that I can feel him.  He's really in there!  I'm also comforted by his movements because I know he must be doing well to be so active.  The next day, I had Chris put his hand on my belly while the baby was kicking, and he could feel it too!  Chris loved feeling our baby as well and has been trying to feel the baby every night since then.  I've noticed that he is particularly responsive to my sugar intake, loud noises, and slight pressure on my belly.

The second exciting event was the 4-D scan when I was 20 weeks pregnant.  During the 4-D scan, I got to see a three-dimensional image of my baby and listen to the heartbeat.  (I was surprised and somewhat dumbfounded to learn that the the "forth dimension" in the 4-D scan is sound.)  Before the 4-D scan, my last sonogram was when I was 7 weeks pregnant, and at that time the baby looked like a blinking peanut.  So, I was absolutely shocked when the image of my baby appeared on the 54" flat screen in front me in three dimensions.  He was not a peanut any more.  He had arms, legs, mouth, eyes, and nose.  Just look at the detail of those little facial features!

 

On top of that, it was no simple still image of my baby.  We watched as the baby yawned, rubbed it's eyes, kicked, and punched.  He was acting like he was a real newborn.  I can't describe how incredible it was to watch him.  If you are debating about getting a 4-D scan, I highly urge you to have it done.  You will be amazed.

Looking Forward To...

Chris and I are planning a "babymoon" next month to our hometown.  We couldn't be more excited to spend time with friends and family before the baby comes!