20 Weeks
From Baby Center:
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.)
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.
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.
If you haven’t already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you’re a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.
Note from Jen:
Well, I have made it half way through! I feel great this week and have been feeling the baby move every day since Valentine’s Day 🙂
Still haven’t gained the 10 pounds Baby Center says I should (I have gained maybe 2-5 pounds), but I am sure it will all come soon as the baby grows 🙂
A few weird things happened this week. On Friday I woke up with my right arm and hand numb. Once the numbness wore off, my hand hurt so bad for the rest of the day that I couldn’t even type! I read that carpel tunnel gets worse with pregnancy. I am going to ask the doctor about it tomorrow.
Other than that, my appetite is back to normal this week. Not super hungry like a few weeks ago. It is weird how it changes week by week.
My appointment from last Wednesday was moved to tomorrow. I should get to schedule my Big Ultrasound then.
So, Baby Center this week talked about birthing classes. Any recommendations? Did you even go to any?
6 Comments
David, Jamie and Jeffrey
The only classes we went to were the breastfeeding class and the class that taught you how to care for a baby. We found them really helpful and fun.
The Cutter Family
Jen, you look fabulous! You are a very cute mommy-to-be. I would absolutely recommend taking birthing classes of some kind. It helps to know what is happening and know how to handle it. We took Bradley method classes and they were very very helpful. Glad you are feeling well and enjoying the pregnancy!
Matt, Kelly, Eli, and Ethan
Hi Jen, We just did the hospital tour. The nurses pretty much walk you through every thing else. If I were to take a birthing class, I would probably do the Bradley method.
Anonymous
I want to see bare belly to get the whole effect!
~Rebecca
Anonymous
Here’s a birthing method for you. Do what the celebrities in Scientology do, The Silent Birth-no screaming allowed!
~Rebecca
Joy
Halfway – how awesome! We appreciated the birthing class. Nice to have a basic idea of what to expect from an “expert” as opposed to all the random tidbits everyone else likes to throw at you. Ever notice how we moms love to tell our birth stories? 🙂 The class we did was a military one – kind of Lamaze-ish. Never did any classes with the rest of the births though, just that first one. But we did do a hospital tour each time, since it was a different hospital each time!