20th Week

I'm a banana?!

I've been working on a "Birth Plan" this week. Apparently it's a good idea to outline your wishes to the hospital staff prior to labour/delivery.  I found a template that I used as a guide and ended up with a very detailed  plan.  It outlines everything from who I would like in the room, to post-care for baby. (And everything in between.) However having witnessed many births, I know that  the best laid plan may NOT be the one you get to follow.  Obviously I will need to be very flexible but "The Plan" gives me an illusion of having some semblance of control. (Type A personality!!)

I finally bought some Bella Bands since I'm too big for my britches.  For those of you who don't know what they are, they are basically stretchy bands of fabric that allow you to wear your pre-pregnancy pants/shorts/skirts unbuttoned and un-zippered without them falling down.  By using the Bella Band, I can get longer wear out of my now very tight clothes instead of spending a fortune on Maternity wear.  Unfortunately other parts of me have grown besides my waist and the Bella Band doesn't accommodate a bigger bum!

I've started to feel little kicks more often this week...some even on the outside.  It's kind of like when your leg muscle has a spasm and you can feel the little "twinges" or "pops" under the skin. It's such a strange sensation! It makes me laugh.  He's very active in the morning when I'm sitting at work, and then again at night time when I'm tucked into bed.  (Except when Daddy puts his hand on my belly...then Baby Bean plays shy!)

What's happening with Baby this week? "Twenty weeks is the halfway point to holding your baby in your arms. Your baby is now about 10 inches long from head to toe and weighs 10 ½ ounces, almost a pound! Over the next few weeks the baby will move so much that it may be hard to sleep.  This will continue until it gets very crowded for the baby. Baby's brain is developing very quickly.  Nerve cells that have already developed are making complex connections, and sensory perception development peaks this week. Little boy's testes will begin dropping from the pelvis into the scrotum. The skeleton is getting harder and the hands are getting stronger.  Babies will blink more now and the lunago (fine hair that covers the body) is very thick around the head, neck and face.  Hair on the scalp is growing as well.

Can't believe how fast the time is going by. Only 4.5 months to go!!