Week 17 ~ Feeling Baby Parts!

Baby's now the size of an onion!

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. His umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes now feature one-of-a-kind prints.

www.thebump.com

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.

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.
www.babycenter.com
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This week has been a busy one...again.  Sick kids...again.  Fever virus this time so it only lasted about 24 hours but my 2 little ones were pretty miserable.  Thankfully not everyone got it!

I am definitely feeling the baby move now.  The movements are not quick and noticeable this time but more of a subtle and gentle movement.  Maybe this will be the calm, gentle, and little baby I've hoped for???  I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Last night as i got in bed I noticed the baby was moving so i laid still to feel.  I also pressed on my belly and to my surprise, i felt baby parts!  I don't know why it was so exciting but it seems early to me to already feel baby parts.  Maybe its not?  The back was laying low and across the front of my belly and what felt like an arm down the side. 

This is also another thing i love most about being pregnant: figuring out body parts from the outside.  I love finding the head, arms, or legs and knowing how my baby is positioned in my womb.  Since I'm visual, this helps me imagine what my baby is doing inside.

I'm so thankful that years ago, my midwife took the time to feel and explain all of the things she felt at every appointment.  So over the years, I've become used to doing this myself and love when the baby gets big enough to feel him/her from the outside.

If you never done this, i encourage you to try it.  Ask your doctor/midwife to point things out.  Feel around your belly when you lay down.  Let your hubbie or other children have a go at it too.  It can be lots of fun guessing what the parts are and then later knowing how your baby is positioned, which becomes more important as you get closer to birth.

Looking forward to my next prenatal visit with my midwife this week.