16 weeks

So I'm 16 weeks today (wow!).  We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and it was a quick one.  They drew some blood, listened to the baby's heartbeat real quick and asked me if I had any questions.  The only one I had was if I would be ok to travel to Michigan at about 28 weeks for my family baby shower.  He told me that he would not give me his blessing because if something were to happen along the way or up there, the baby may be able to live but would be stuck in a NICU 1200 miles from home for months.  He said that there is a great chance that nothing could happen, but he would prefer me not to travel at all.  Since it took us almost 2 years to get pregnant he doesn't want to see anything go wrong.  He said that it was ultimately my decision, but if my first priority is this baby and the pregnancy then we won't go.  I was frusterated a bit but how can I be mad at someone that is just looking out for the baby's well being and my own?  So I guess we'll have to figure out another way to have a family shower, maybe a virtual one.

On the bright side, we scheduled the appointment to find out if we're having a boy or a girl!  It's set for April 26th at 1pm.  We are very excited!  We also finished up our registries at Target and Babies R Us.

Here is what is happening with baby and me this week:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.


The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being.


Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently.