My Pregnancy Journey: Week 20

Today, November 15, 2011, I’m 21 weeks pregnant!! Week 20 was a big week for us: we found out baby Heddleston is a BOY! and we received approval for our townhouse in Maryland! Here are more details from the week!

How Big Is Baby: According to BabyCenter, baby is 10.5 ounces in weight, measures 6.5 inches from crown to rump and 10 inches from head to heel — the size of a banana! Our anatomy scan revealed that our baby boy was actually weighing 11 ounces and from here on out BabyCenter will be using head to heel measurements for length. Baby is becoming bigger!

How I’m Feeling: Well this past week started out wonderful with our anatomy scan and finding out that critter is boy, however, I was plagued with headaches the rest of the week. I seriously had probably 4 headaches that lasted for hours on end — one lasted a good 15 hours — that was fun.

I do have a history of migraines, however, I haven’t experienced a migraine in about four years when I went off birth control. I guess since the increase in hormones during pregnancy are similar (if not a lot more) to the increase in hormones you receive from birth control, that is makes sense that these headaches might make a comeback. It’s definitely annoying though — especially since Tylenol basically does diddly for them.

How I’m Changing: I look pregnant now!! This is so exciting to me. In week 19, baby was starting to make his appearance, but now I might even look pregnant to a stranger! (Okay, maybe not, but can you appease me?)

Number of Workouts: Umm, zero. Because of the headaches I cried a lot and slept a lot. Workouts were not even on my mind.

Weight I’ve Gained: This week I gained 0.4 pounds. This means I’m only 1.1 pounds away from regaining those 9 pounds I initially lost during the first trimester. It’s interesting to look at my pregnant body at this weight and my former non-pregnant body at this weight — definitely different, but I love both versions!

Buying for Baby: This past weekend I bought some clothes for our baby boy at a Big Red Wagon sale. Basically, it’s a big consignment sale. They’re called different things in different states, but I guess this is what Ohio calls them! John’s coworker has been to them and invited me along to see what they were all about. We went on the second day when a lot of the items are reduced — which is super cool. Below you can see all the cute little outfits I got! This loot only cost $16! And what you can’t really tell is that under the red onesie are 4 more onesies (5 pack for $2 — deal!)

Buying for Mommy: This week also marked buying my first maternity-specific clothing. I bought a pair of black lounge pants and jeans from Target. I had tried to go maternity pants shopping earlier in the week at a specific maternity clothing only store, however, none of the sales ladies said hello to me and I left the store when my hormones got the best of me (yes, that means I left crying). I was so excited walking into that store and was so bummed that no one even made an effort to talk to me. I’m not sure if it’s because I didn’t look pregnant or what, but regardless, that shouldn’t matter. I could have been buying a gift for someone for all they knew. A sale is a sale and learning the ropes with maternity clothing is tricky! At Target I took all smaller sizes and was so confused. I was very surprised and it definitely makes me nervous to order anything online. Is this usual?

John’s Thoughts: This past week held a lot of anticipation and excitement. Of course, I’m talking about our anatomy scan for the baby. Regardless of the sex, I am so thankful that our little critter measured almost exactly to the day of where he is supposed to be. He had a functioning stomach, bladder, kidneys, heart, and brain. We didn’t see any sign of cleft palette or other developmental disorders. Right now the baby is on track to be perfectly healthy! That is the most important thing. Additionally, I am excited that we know the sex. I am happy that it’s a boy, but just knowing the sex makes the whole pregnancy feel more “real.” Simply referring to baby by personal pronouns and a name changes the whole dynamic. He’s no longer an “it” but our little baby boy!

Things We Are Looking Forward To:

• Seeing our townhouse for the first time before moving into it.
• Running baby’s first race at my hometown Turkey Trot.
• Feeling baby move!! Come on little boy, kick that placenta so hard that I can feel you too!