Week 17 - 4 months!

With Darling Child #2:


With Natalie:
Not much has been going on this week for me as far as the pregnancy goes. I've had a few aches and pains there and there; some stretching but nothing that is uncomfortable yet. I'm still not sure I'm feeling the baby yet. With Natalie, I felt her for sure at 17w5d -- that's coming up quickly here. As with Natalie, I find the first part of the second trimester to be stressful -- I don't have the abdominal achiness I had in the first trimester to remind me I'm pregnant but yet I can't yet feel the baby kick. I'm looking forward to our big ultrasound (anatomy scan) to confirm that everything is fine (and hopefully to find out what we're having!). I'm definitely not complaining -- it's nice not having difficult pregnancies. I hope it continues this way.

Our baby is now roughly the size of my hand outstretched. He or she has a much more normal "human" appearance now. Our baby is now able to hold his/her head more erect and his/her body and limbs are longer in proportion to his/her head. Pads are forming on the tiny fingertips and toes. Soon those individual swirls and whorls will be apparent. Our baby's eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed. Our baby's skeleton is transforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier.

I decided today to buy a maternity swimsuit -- wow, they really don't make those to be flattering! The top looks cute over my belly but those shorts just don't help the look of the thighs!! But I want to start taking Natalie to the pool and lake so I'll suck it up. I was actually contemplating just wearing my halter-top bikini. I don't have stretch marks from Natalie so I don't mind others seeing my belly but I was more worried that others around me might be uncomfortable seeing a pregnant belly (although they shouldn't be).