Weeks Sixteen and Seventeen

I had my sixteen week appointment last Thursday.   It is the basic appointment, where they take your weight, blood pressure, measure where the uterus is and listen for the baby’s heartbeat.  From what we can tell, Cookie Dough is doing really well as there is a strong heart beat and I am measuring right on.  Also the doctor said the baby was moving around a lot, which is a good sign, but I have yet to feel anything.  Feeling the baby for the first time should happen at some point between 16 and 22 weeks and I am anxiously waiting for that first time. 

I have been feeling great these last two weeks and I have been able to work out every day on my lunch break – it is a very welcome break in the work day.  The downside is that I am having a little difficulty sleeping deeply and uninterrupted, plus my dreams have gone into some sort of overdrive.  In one dream I was dancing in a Justin Timberlake video at about 8 months pregnant…not something I think anyone would want to see!

Last weekend I was finally forced to admit that my regular clothes no longer fitted the way they should (my jeans were being held up by hair ties and Bella Bands) and I kitted myself out with a set of maternity wear.  Now I get to enjoy the comfort of maternity cloths and they are wonderful!

During week 16 the baby was about the size of an avocado and was 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters) head to rump and 3.5 ounces (99 grams).  A few major developments for the baby this week are:

•   The heart is now pumping about 25 quarts (23.6 litres) of blood each day
•   They can hear loud voices/noises
•   Their hair, eye lashes and eyebrows are growing
•   Their taste buds are forming

16 week photo

During week 17 the baby progressed to about the size of a large onion 5.1 inches long (12.95 centimeters) and weighs about 5.9 ounces (167 grams).  The weight gain from last week is considerable, largely due to the rubbery cartilage that is now turning in to bone, and the baby is starting to put some fat and muscle on those bones.

17 week photo

The next appointment is the 20 week appointment on 15^th of February.  At this appointment we get to have another ultrasound that, I think, is the last one till the baby is born.   We get to see the baby looking almost human and I will post the pictures of this for everyone to see.  It is also the time when you are able to find out the sex of the baby, but we are still holding strong and looking forward to the big surprise in July!