14 Weeks

I’m not sure I’m going to be doing an update like this every week, but I do think I’ll probably want to be able to look back and see how my pregnancy progressed.  So skip this post if you’re just not interested.  I’ll go ahead and wish you a TGIF!

So here’s what’s going on during Week 14:

How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

How mom is changing:

The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Your uterus is now the size of a grapefruit.

_____________________________________________________

How I’m feeling: Honestly, if it weren’t for the pictures of the baby in my belly, I wouldn’t even know I was pregnant. I’m sure that makes some women mad, but apparently I’m just not very affected by all the crazy changes taking place within.

Workouts: My stamina during workouts varies from one day to the next or one class to the next, but I am still exercising 5 to 6 times a week. Last week during my boot camp, I felt very energetic and worked out as though there were nothing different. This week, I had to back off a little because I just didn’t have as much energy for that level of intensity. But that’s to be expected and I will just take each day and class one at a time and modify as needed.

Food cravings/aversions: I’m going to say no for the most part. However, I feel like I’ve had a hard time keeping my hand out of the chips at home and the candy bin at the office, which Dr. Google said could be a result of just needing to eat more in general, but I have added the recommended 300 calories to my daily intake, and I assure you that I’m not reaching for the Riesens out of hunger. They just taste so darn good!

Sleep: Pretty good for the most part. I’m very tired come bedtime and have been falling asleep much better than I used to. I typically get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night most nights, which is annoying, but at least I fall right back to sleep.

Movement: I’m sure the McBaby is doing somersaults in there, but I can’t feel them yet.

Belly button in or out: In, and let’s hope it stays there.

Rings on or off: On and in no danger of not fitting so far.

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I’m looking forward to those stretchy waistbands and I have a feeling they aren’t far off.

Recent fun or interesting things: I finally told my office the big news. Apparently they hadn’t noticed a couple pairs of pants fitting funny because everyone was totally surprised. Also, I think I had my first major episode of Baby Brain: I got gas the other night and went to quite the effort to get the passenger side of my car against the pump.

My gas tank is on the driver’s side.

New baby items: Nothing bought, but we did bring back a Jeep-load of baby stuff that Bri purged from her house. Lucky us!

Miss anything?: I’m not gonna lie, I really miss my wine spritzers and my good buddy The Captain. I also miss wearing some of my dresses and skirts, and it’s tough to not always be one of the hardest workers during a few of my classes at the Y, especially because I haven’t told them there yet so they probably just think I’m a slacker who’s growing a gut.

Hope you all have a great weekend!