Oh Baby! On my 29th Week 💖

   Just turned 29 weeks today! Every day is another day closer to meeting my little girl. Time flies, almost there! 

   At this stage, my baby is so active. I've been feeling her every move from time to time. As soon I started talking or change position, lie in or get off my bed, I could feel her move right away. She's so playful! As her mom, I could say that she has a cheerful personality based on her movements inside my belly. 😊

   Feeling my baby kicking in my belly is just priceless! There is no better feeling than the movement of life inside of me. Thanks be to God for this wonderful moment! I feel so blessed and thankful.

   God willing, next week together with her big sister and big brother, we'll see her again during my third ultrasound. Can't wait! 😍

Almost there! 

 

Oh baby... 💖

I love you! 👩💖👶

 Let's take a peek on what's happening this week:

Inside the Womb at 29 Weeks

 Photo courtesy of Babycenter

Photo courtesy of The Bump

Photo courtesy of Parents

Photo courtesy of Your Baby Library

Child length: measures 15.2 inches (about the size of an butternut squash)

Child weight: 2.5 pounds

At this stage: At 29 weeks, your baby's muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain.

Around this time, the part of your baby's brain associated with intelligence and personality becomes far more complex. You can get to know your baby by paying attention to how she reacts to different foods, sounds, and lights.

Your baby's eyes are becoming more accustomed to their environment and although vision is still not perfect (well, there's not much to see in your uterus anyway!), the eyes are becoming much more aware of, and sensitive to, light. You'll probably notice big reactions to turning the lights on in a previously dark room.

This week, your baby-to-be's bones are hardening, and her muscles strengthening. This allows your baby's body to have a healthy structure and is also vital for protection against trips and falls (which there will be a lot of in the toddler years!). The vitamins needed for bone strengthening all come via the placenta.

In fact, you may have noticed from her kicks and jabs that she's growing stronger each week. Your baby is getting stronger by the minute. This week, her pushes, kicks, and rolls will likely occur more frequently and forcefully. So don't be surprised if you feel an extra-strong karate chop or two!

You’ll also notice lots of kicks inside your 29 weeks pregnant belly. That means all those kicks and jabs are getting stronger. You might even feel a subtle, repetitive twitch. That’s your week 29 fetus hiccuping. Cool!

You’re probably getting a preview of baby’s personality by feeling him or her move. By those playful kicks and jabs, you may realize you’ve got a gentle dancer… or an active ninja! Your baby's not just moving a lot, but also plumping up. Your baby's very active now.

Continue doing kick counts each day to make sure baby’s activity levels seem pretty consistent. Baby should move 10 times in two hours or less.

If you haven’t felt baby move in a little while and you’re starting to worry, drink some ice water, play some music, or lie down on your side for a nice massage (ask your partner!). One of those activities should wake baby up. Anytime you’re worried about fetal activity, call your doctor; she may want to have baby checked out.

If you feel around your 29-week pregnant belly with your hand, you’ll notice the top of your uterus is about 3.5 to 4 inches above your belly button.

In fact, over the next 11 weeks, she'll more than double or even come close to tripling her weight. As more fat is deposited under the skin surface, her wrinkled skin is smoothing out. This white fat, as it's called, is different from the earlier brown fat your developing fetus accumulated. Brown fat is necessary for body temperature regulation, while white fat (the same kind you have, Mom) actually serves as an energy source.

Baby is starting to feel a bit crowded, and thanks to surging energy levels, is pretty active. As she runs out of room, your baby may bow her head down toward her knees, curling as she did when she was very tiny.

Week 29 of pregnancy is a good time to start finalizing details, like stocking the nursery with baby care essentials and checking out a few potential day cares. You’ll also want to start packing a bag with the things you know you’ll want with you at the hospital for baby’s birth. Leave it by the door, so you can add items you think of along the way and so you can grab it at a moment’s notice.

Your Body

By week 29 of pregnancy, your tummy is probably large enough that you can't see your legs when you're standing anymore. 

At this stage, your baby continues to put pressure on your digestive system, you’re going to feel the effects: hemorrhoids, heartburn, pelvic pain, and frequent urination are all common at this stage in the game.

Pregnancy symptoms that you might experience during this stage:

Headaches and/or lightheadedness: You can get a headache or feel out of sorts if you’re sleep deprived. (We know it’s probably been tough to get a restful night of sleep!) But it could be from low blood sugar too, so make sure you're eating at regular intervals.

Itchy belly: Your skin is stretching thinner, making it more sensitive. Lotion up and drink lots of water! Let your doctor know about any intense itches or a rash.

Back, leg, or hip pain: Some soreness is totally par for the course. Your body’s carrying around extra weight all day at 29 weeks pregnant, and depending on baby’s position, he or she is putting pressure on anything and everything. (Even more so if you’re 29 weeks pregnant with twins!) Plus, your joints and ligaments are getting softer and more relaxed in preparation for delivery. All of that pressure can cause aches and pains all over.

Hemorrhoids: Baby's putting pressure on your digestive system too, and those pesky hormones may be relaxing your intestinal muscles, causing uncomfortable hemorrhoids. Combat them by eating plenty of fiber—think leafy veggies—and drinking lots of water.

Constipation: This isn't really helping the hemorrhoid situation, is it? The fiber and water will help here as well.

Trouble sleeping: Don’t overdo it with caffeine, drink lots of water, and get some light exercise. We’re big fans of prenatal yoga and brisk walks around the neighborhood (or the mall!).

Frequent urination: Gotta pee… again?! The more your uterus expands, the more you'll probably have to hit the restroom. This doesn’t mean cut down on drinking water. Proper hydration is important for easing many 29 weeks pregnancy symptoms; it’s also important for preventing preterm labor. (You’re at higher risk for preterm labor if you have a pregnancy complication or if you’re 29 weeks pregnant with twins.)

With the above pregnancy discomforts, mine were still lower back pains (left tailbone) which I'd been experiencing as early as my pregnancy started and the pain now goes around my right lower back at times. I have never been constipated during this pregnancy compared with my two previous ones. Overall, at this stage, still I'm feeling good and energetic. Thanks be to God!

Days left to birth: 77 days left (73% of your pregnancy is completed)

Due date: 23 November 2017

Data Sources: Babycenter, The Bump, What To Expect, Parents.com, Due Date Calculator (YourDueDate.com)

27 Weeks (End of Second Trimester)

Inside the Womb at 27 Weeks

Photo courtesy of Babycenter

Photo courtesy of The Bump

Photo courtesy of Parents

Photo courtesy of Your Baby Library

Child length: measures 14 1/2 inches (about the size of a lettuce)

Child weight: 2 pounds

At this stage: At 27 weeks, your baby is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers.

With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. From here on out, baby’s brain will keep getting more complex, turning that 27-week fetus into a real smarty pants.

While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning with a lot of medical help if she were to be born now.

Big news that by the end of the second trimester, her hearing is well-developed and she'll even respond in utero to sounds outside the womb. Your baby may recognize both your and your partner's voices by now. His auditory development is progressing as the network of nerves to the ears matures though the sounds he hears are muffled thanks to the creamy coating of vernix covering them. So this might be a good time to read and even sing to your baby (or rather, your tummy) and a good chance to start memorizing those nursery rhymes and lullabies you'll need to be repeating (and repeating) pretty soon. While you're at it, here's another way to have some family fun at 27 weeks pregnant: If your partner presses his ear to your stomach, he might be able to hear the baby's heartbeat. 

Your baby's taste buds are very developed now, too (with more than he will ever have outside the womb, actually). Need a taste test? If you eat some spicy food, your baby will be able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid (but keep in mind that you'll have different mealtimes, with his coming about two hours after yours). Some babies will even respond to that spicy kick by hiccupping. And although hiccups (which feel like belly spasms to you) may seem like they're disturbing him, he isn't stressed at all. It's just one more sensation babies need to get used to.

You’re probably feeling a ton of kicks inside that 27 weeks pregnant belly twice as many if you’re 27 weeks pregnant with twins. You may even feel tiny hiccups, which are like patterns of little twitches. For now, sit back and enjoy the kicks and jabs. Next week, you should start counting kicks to make sure baby seems consistently active from day to day.

Most babies this age, yours included, still like to snuggle in a slightly curled position inside the uterus (thus the term "fetal position").

Now that the baby-to-be is growing rapidly, it's harder to get a complete profile in the womb (she just doesn't fit in the picture anymore!). Even though she has more than tripled her weight since this trimester began, there's still plenty of growing left to do. This week marks the end of the 2nd trimester, just one more trimester to go. 

Your Body

The second trimester is drawing to a close, and as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs.

Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief.

Aside from leg cramps, here are some of the pregnancy symptoms that you will be experiencing this week:

Backaches: Gentle stretching can help your back, too. Consider sleeping with one of those huge body pillows, which can ease some of the pressure on your hips and help you get into a comfy position for your back.

Constipation: If you’re stopped up and you’ve done all the usual prevention—eaten lots of fibrous foods, drank lots of water, and taken plenty of walks—ask your doctor if a fiber supplement or stool softener is safe to take.

Hemorrhoids: Straining to go to the bathroom and all the pressure baby’s putting on your lower half can cause this not-so-pretty 27 weeks pregnancy symptom.

Skin, hair, and nail changes: Notch this one into the unpredictable pregnancy symptom category. Your skin, hair, and nails might be thicker or grow faster (yay!) but they might also be more brittle (boo).

Snissing: This is what we call peeing when you sneeze. Baby is putting a ton of pressure on your bladder and there’s not much you can do about it except take frequent pit stops to empty your bladder and maybe wear a pantiliner if you’re worried about an unexpected achoo.

With the above pregnancy discomforts, mine were left lower back pains which I'd been experiencing as early as my pregnancy started. Some Braxton Hicks here and there, feeling tightness on my belly at times.  I have never been constipated during this pregnancy compared with my two previous ones. Overall, I'm feeling good and energetic. Thanks be to God!

Days left to birth: 91 days left (68% of your pregnancy is completed)

Due date: 23 November 2017

Data Sources: Babycenter, The Bump, What To Expect, Parents.com, Due Date Calculator (YourDueDate.com)

26 Weeks Pregnant! 98 Days Left Until Due Date...

    Now on my 26th week... Thanks be to GOD for this day. Time flies with this third pregnancy because I am so busy taking care of my other two kids. The first time I was pregnant with my daughter, it seemed like an eternity. The thirty nine weeks I spent expecting my son flew and this time the first twenty six weeks have been so fast.

    Had my antenatal check up last Monday (13th of August), everything was normal. Heard my baby's heartbeat once again! :) It's just like my first time, the excitement is always there.

   Had added some extra weight in here, I now measure 64.3 kilograms. Yay, getting bigger just like my little one every day! 😊

💖  For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. 💖

~ 1 Samuel 1:27 

Getting bigger every day! 👩

Love my baby bump! 💖

I love you my Baby Arzi! 👶

Feeling great at 26 weeks :)

Time flies! 😊

   Let's take a peek on what's happening this week:

Inside the Womb at 26 Weeks

Photo courtesy of Babycenter

Photo courtesy of The Bump

Photo courtesy of The Parent

Photo courtesy of Your Baby Library

Child length: measures 14 inches (about the size of a scallion)

Child weight: 1.7 pounds

At this stage: At 26 weeks, your baby's taking breaths of amniotic fluid, not air. It’s good practice for those first moments after birth!

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other.

Baby's getting his or her immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies.  Baby's eyes open! Look who's looking! It's your baby! Her eyes which have been closed for the past few months (so that the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop) are beginning to open at 26 weeks pregnant. That means your baby is able to see what's going on now, though unfortunately the view in your uterus isn't all that exciting. And baby's eyes are forming, and his or her eyes will soon start to open. Can you believe your 26-week fetus has already grown eyelashes and eyebrows? Soon, he or she will start batting them. (Aw!) Plus, she has more hair on her head this week.

Meanwhile, your baby is continuing to put on baby fat. Although he's still wrinkly, your baby is now at 25 percent of his expected birth weight, and he's going to really pile on the ounces in the next couple of months. His spine is getting stronger, and if he were born now, he would have an 80 percent chance of survival.

Look what else is going on this week: Your baby's brain-wave activity is gearing up at this stage in fetal development, which means your little one can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them. Not in so many words, of course, but with an increase in pulse rate or movement.

Also your baby has settled into a distinct sleep-wake pattern. Feel like you're carrying the Karate Kid with all the kicking going on? Your baby is actually practicing all kinds of movements that will eventually be used in life on the outside, including pedaling against your belly, a sort of pre-walking skill. As your baby's nervous system becomes more developed, fetal movements will become much more coordinated. And as she gets bigger and stronger, those movements will become much more powerful and occasionally, even painful to you. If your baby lands a good one, that tiny left hook might hurt a lot. Another trick she may try stretching that leg out so far that the foot becomes lodged between your ribs (ouch). Next time you come under attack, try changing positions or doing some stretches of your own. You can also gently push your baby back with your hand when your knee-jerker jerks a little too hard. You just might be able to send your little slugger back into the corner of the ring!

Lastly, that lanugo hair that grew all over his body is rapidly disappearing, and it will probably be completely gone by the end of the 7th month except for some fuzz on his back and shoulders.

Your Body

By 26 weeks pregnant, you’ve probably gained about 16 to 22 pounds or about 27 to 42 pounds if you’re 26 weeks pregnant with twins. When you touch your 26 weeks pregnant belly, you’ll notice the top of your uterus is about 2.5 inches above your belly button. Your belly will keep growing about a half inch each week for the rest of your pregnancy.

Your 26 weeks pregnant symptoms are mostly discomforts and are steadily getting more uncomfortable as baby grows and your body begins to make changes to get ready for childbirth.

You might experience trouble in sleeping, yawn! Added, swelling and headaches. Also pregnancy brain which is getting tricky to remember stuff. You might also be experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions, notice your belly occasionally feeling really tight? That’s a contraction. Yep, already. (Braxton Hicks might be more noticeable for women who are 26 weeks pregnant with twins.) 

You might also have a higher blood pressure. A slight boost in blood pressure is normal at 26 weeks pregnant. If your doctor sees too high of a boost though, she might have you monitored more closely. That’s because hypertension, a systolic reading of more than 140 mm Hg or diastolic reading more than 90 mm Hg could be a sign of preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome. These potentially dangerous pregnancy complications would need to be treated right away.

Lastly, if your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve – as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day.

A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your belly.

Thanks be to God, with the above pregnancy discomforts, I am only experiencing the Braxton Hicks, in which I sometimes feel my belly getting tight. As well as just some minor discomforts on my left lower back just at the tailbone. Other than that, I'm feeling great at this stage. I'm so thankful!

Days left to birth: 98 days left (65% of your pregnancy is completed)

Due date: 23 November 2017

Data Sources: Babycenter, The Bump, What To Expect, Parents.com, Due Date Calculator (YourDueDate.com)

Watch Me Grow At 23 Weeks

    Last 26th of July, I reached my 23rd weeks! My little girl and I are both getting bigger every day. :) Lately, she's been so active inside my tummy. I always feel her move especially after I eat and when I lay down in bed. At times, she's having some hiccups, too! Really just one of those wonderful moments of being pregnant. It's always like the first time! I love the feeling, it's priceless! 💖

   Let's take a peek on what's happening this week:

Inside the Womb at 23 Weeks

Photo courtesy of Babycenter

Photo courtesy of The Bump

Photo courtesy of The Parent

Photo courtesy of Your Baby Library

Child length: approximately 11.4 inches (about the size of a grapefruit)

Child weight: 1.1 pounds

At this stage: 

At 23 weeks, premature babies have a chance to survive. Your baby is almost a foot long, and is finally able to be weighed in pounds! This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby should double his weight over the next four weeks alone (and you may feel as though you do, too). And baby's not just getting bigger, he or she's getting even cuter and starting to look more like a baby.

Your cute little 23-week fetus’s face is fully formed. His skin is a bit saggy since it grows a lot faster than fat, but soon he’ll start to fit his frame as fat deposits fill things out. By the time your baby is born, he will be pleasantly plump and filled out, from chubby cheeks to chubby toes. Your baby's lips are more distinct, and her eyes may flutter open occasionally, though she won't really open them fully until the 7th month. Also, baby's forming little nipples (yeah, really!) at this stage.

Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Her other organs are almost in full gear. Her pancreas can now produce insulin and makes more if she's exposed to high levels of blood sugar in your body. Her brain is still growing rapidly inside her skull, which has four plates that aren't completely closed to allow for that brain growth. Even after birth, these skull plates won't be completely joined, because the human brain triples in size during the first year of life.

Billions of brain cells will develop in your baby's brain over the next couple of weeks. These will control all of your baby's movements and sensory, and basic life functions like breathing. Also around this time, some major changes are happening with your baby's lungs. Surfactant is being produced, a substance that enables the air sacs to inflate and the lungs to fully expand. Right now he's still breathing amniotic fluid, but when he's born he'll be ready for air.

This week your baby is so busy that it feels like she's walking around in your belly. And guess what? That's exactly what she's doing, pushing her feet against the uterine wall in preparation for taking those first steps alone. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. You may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes.

At 23 weeks pregnant, baby movement probably feels pretty cool and it’s always a comfort knowing baby’s in there wiggling around. If you pay attention, you’ll get to know your 23-week fetus’s routine: baby’s less active when he or she is sleeping and a kung fu master when he or she’s awake. Some parents even swear their newborns kept similar routines after birth as they did in utero. So, if your kicker is keeping you up at night, consider this a warning!


Your Body

23 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

23 weeks pregnant is five months. Can you believe you and your 23-week baby are starting on month six?!

A typical 23 weeks pregnant belly measures about 21 to 25 centimeters from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. (That’s the fundal height.) At 23 weeks pregnant, you’ve probably gained about 12 to 15 pounds.

That baby of yours sure needs a lot of nutrients. As she uses more and more of the vitamins and minerals passing through your body, you might need an extra dose. That's why doctors sometimes prescribe iron supplements, in addition to your prenatal vitamin, during the second half of pregnancy. The extra boost may help reduce your risk of anemia, a condition in which your body doesn't get the 30 milligrams of iron it needs every day to produce enough red blood cells; this can trigger symptoms like serious fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

While you’ve kissed first trimester nausea and fatigue good-bye, you’re dealing with the discomfort that 23 weeks pregnant symptoms can bring. This can include:

1. Swollen ankles and feet
2. Braxton Hicks contractions
3. Backaches
4. Bleeding and/or swollen gums

Thanks be to God, so far at this point I am just experiencing the third one listed above. Ever since this pregnancy started, I have been experiencing lower back aches which is situated just at the lower left part of my tailbone. I feel it when I get out of bed. Overall, I'm feeling good at this stage! 😍

Days left to birth: 121 days left (57% of your pregnancy is completed)

Due date: 23 November 2017

Data Sources: Babycenter, The Bump, What To Expect, Parents.com, Due Date Calculator (YourDueDate.com)

Thankful For A Normal Anatomy Scan

   Today was a blessed rainy day! 😊 Together with my two kids, we went to the hospital for my scheduled anatomy scan. The two were so happy and excited while we were on the way knowing they will see their baby sister once again.

The Anatomy Scan

   Had my weight measured, blood pressure and urine test which were the usual routine for every antenatal visit. I now weigh 62.6 kilograms, wow! Last time I measured like around 59 kilograms only! 😊 That just simply mean that I am gaining more pounds in there, and that my baby is growing!

   

   My blood pressure was normal followed by a normal urine test, too. 

  The scan was performed by two doctors. I remember with my last pregnancy, had it performed by one doctor alone. For today, it was performed by the lady doctor first then followed by the male doctor who did the same monitoring and measuring of the baby. I think it is much better having it done by a team of two doctors so to give them a more accurate results on how the baby is developing in there, somewhat more reassurance, too, that everything is going exactly the way it should be.

   Thanks be to God, I'm so grateful to have been told everything was normal after the scan. It was the same male doctor who performed my previous ultrasound a month back. He told me once again that it's a baby girl, which was confirmed by the lady doctor afterwards.

   During the ultrasound, my two kids who were both seated beside me were happily giggling as the doctor points out at every baby part. When the doctor points to the head, they will say "there's the head!". :) Big brother Moses was paying close attention to every detail, when the doctor pointed at the baby's eyes, he was saying "I can't see it!". The Ultrasound room was filled with excitement, it was fun! 😊

Baby's loving big sister and brother! 👧💖👦

Happy big sister, while the sweet big brother is already in love with his baby sister... 😍

   Just to share, here is what anatomy scan is all about:

   These days, it's pretty much routine for women in their second trimester to be scheduled for a level 2 ultrasound, commonly called the 20-week anatomy scan or what they also call the anomaly or morphology scan.

WHO A LEVEL 2 ULTRASOUND IS FOR

Virtually all practitioners order an ultrasound anatomy scan for all their moms-to-be. Even if you had a first-trimester (level 1) sonogram to confirm or date your pregnancy, or as part of a first-trimester screening test, the more detailed level 2 sonogram is important because of all the additional valuable information it gives your practitioner about what's going on with your baby.

An Ultrasound Room

WHEN A LEVEL 2 ULTRASOUND IS DONE

Most anatomy scans are performed in the second trimester of pregnancy, typically at 20 weeks but they can be done anytime between 18 weeks and 22 weeks. If you have a condition that needs to be monitored (such as carrying multiples), you may have more than one detailed ultrasound.

HOW A LEVEL 2 ULTRASOUND IS DONE

To get the most comprehensive anatomy assessment, the sonographer will be aiming for many different views from lots of different angles. When the technician gets a clear shot, he or she will freeze-frame the picture (that's the actual sonogram) and then measure a specific part of the body. During the scan, you may be able to spot your baby's beating heart, the curve of the spine, and the face, arms and legs. You may even catch sight of your baby sucking a thumb.

You'll recline on an exam table with your tummy exposed, and a sonographer will apply gel and then move a wand (transducer) over your abdomen. As sound waves emitted from the transducer bounce off internal organs and fluids inside, a computer converts them into a 2-dimensional image (or cross-sectional view) of the fetus on a screen. Sometimes 3D or even 4D ultrasound technology is used instead of 2D.

Settle in to enjoy the show: The detailed level 2 scan can take 30 to 45 minutes (depending on how cooperative your little one wants to be).

WHAT A LEVEL 2 ULTRASOUND LOOKS AT

A level 2 ultrasound focuses closely on fetal anatomy to be sure everything is growing and developing as it should; images are much clearer and more detailed than the fuzzy ultrasound you got in your first trimester. Your baby will be measured from crown to rump, around the middle, and around the head, and his or her weight will be estimated. The four chambers of the heart will be looked at, as well as the kidneys, bladder, stomach, brain, spine and sex organs. The sonographer will also be looking at your amniotic fluid levels, the location of the placenta and fetal heart rate.

A level 2 scan also checks for hard and soft markers, characteristics that may indicate an increased risk of a chromosomal abnormality. Important to know before you head into your scan: Very few babies showing soft markers (choroid plexus cyst, echogenic foci or pyelectasia, to name an unpronounceable few) end up having an abnormality. In fact, these markers are spotted on as many as 11 to 17 percent of all healthy babies — good reason not to worry if one is spotted on your baby's scan. Your practitioner will let you know whether any follow-up testing is necessary (it often isn't).

Be aware that a level 2 ultrasound can also tell you the sex of your baby if you haven't already found out through noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) or a CVS, though with less than 100 percent reliability and depending on baby's cooperation. Remember: Be sure to tell your sonographer if you don't want to know!

RISKS

There are no significant risks associated with ultrasounds, though medical guidelines caution against unnecessary exposure to ultrasound — which is why your practitioner will schedule only a handful of them throughout your pregnancy. If you're concerned about the upcoming picture show (and what those grainy images reveal), talk to your practitioner about what he or she is looking for. Chances are you'll come away enlightened (and relieved).

Data Sources: What To Expect -> https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/prenatal-testing-level-two-ultrasound-anatomy-scan/

Photo courtesy of:

-> http://aboutspinabifida.blogspot.hk/2012/06/prenatal-testing-diagnosis.html

-> http://www.womensultrasound.com.au/detection-of-down-syndrome-with-ultrasound-at-12-weeks-of-pregnancy.html

-> http://theleakyboob.com/tag/ultrasound/

21 Weeks! A Handful Of Happiness, A Heartful Of Love 💖

    Just turned 21 weeks pregnant yesterday. I feel like days are going so fast especially at 2nd trimester. Have been feeling stronger baby movements here and there lately, too! Every time, I share this wonderful moment with my two kids and both are always happy and excited to feel their little baby sister. :)

   God willing this Tuesday, 18th of July, I will be having my structural scan. Together, we're all excited to see our precious cutie once again! 

   To share, this scan takes a closer look at the baby and the uterus (womb). The person carrying out the scan (sonographer) will check that the baby is developing normally, and will then look at where the placenta is lying in the uterus. This detailed ultrasound scan, sometimes called the mid-pregnancy or 20-weekscan, also known as "Morphology or Anatomy Ultrasound" is usually carried out when you are between 18 and 21 weeks pregnant.

My 21 weeks baby bump! 😍

 A bun in my oven :)

💖  With my little girl! A handful of happiness, a heartful of love💖

Hi there my baby! 💖

   Let's take a peek on what's happening this week:

Inside the Womb at 21 Weeks

Photo courtesy of Babycenter

Photo courtesy of The Bump

Baby on day 148 - Photo courtesy of Nurture App

Photo courtesy of The Parent

Photo courtesy of Pregnancy App

Photo courtesy of Your Baby Library

Child length: approximately 10.5 inches (about the size of a carrot)

Child weight: 12.7 oz

At this stage: Wondering what’s going on with your 21-week fetus? Your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, while hair on the scalp becomes more visible. This is perhaps the most wonderful milestone this week, as it makes your baby look even more real. 

Thinking if your baby can see by this point? The eyes are still closed this week, but they are rather sensitive to light, and may look away when you flash bright light in your abdomen.

In other developments, the fingernails now completely cover the tips of your baby's fingers, but they're still not long enough. Your baby's circulatory system is fully functional by now.

Your baby's taste buds develop. Speaking of carrots, if you eat one this week, there's a good chance your baby will taste it too. That's because when you're 21 weeks pregnant, your baby swallows a bit of amniotic fluid each day — not only for nutrition and hydration, but also to practice swallowing and digesting, skills he'll need as soon as he arrives in your arms. And keep this in mind: The taste of the amniotic fluid differs from day to day depending on what you've eaten (spicy enchilada one day, sweet banana the next).

If you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form. As baby's digestive system preps for the outside world, he or she's manufacturing meconium—the tarry black substance you'll find in the first dirty diaper.

Part of your baby's growth spurt at this point is likely because his stomach is now equipped to start absorbing energy-boosting nutrients from the amniotic fluid he's swallowing in there. Most of your baby's nourishment is still coming directly from the placenta, though.Baby's getting coordinated, your little action figure is able to choreograph Matrix-like moves at 21 weeks pregnant. Arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain and muscles and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone. All these upgrades combine to give your baby more control over limb movements, which explains all that kicking, stretching and bodysurfing (or rather bellysurfing) you may have started feeling.

You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. Sleeping patterns start to form at this week, too, as your child learns to sleep a whopping 20 hours a day!

Your Body

21 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

This week, you may look in the mirror and wonder, “Where did I go?!” By the time you reach 21 weeks pregnant, you may have gained around 13 to 14 pounds, and around 21 pounds if you’re 21 weeks pregnant with twins.

Your newfound curves might have you feeling super sexy and confident—after all, you’re the center of attention wherever you go! But the extra weight also might have you feeling… fat. (You’re not—you’re pregnant!) Remind yourself, you’re supposed to be gaining this weight! It’s good for you and for baby.

In fact, all the weight you gain during pregnancy isn’t just padding for baby—it all serves a really important purpose. Here’s a logical way to think of it: Of the approximately 30 pounds you’ll gain throughout your pregnancy, there’s a whole lot more than fat. Here’s what makes up that weight:

An average full-term baby = 7.5 pounds

Placenta = 1.5 pounds

Uterus = 2 pounds

Amniotic fluid = 2 pounds

Maternal stores of fat, protein, and other nutrients (needed for breastfeeding!) = 7 pounds

Breast tissue (also for BFing, of course) = 2 pounds

Increased fluid volume = 4 pounds

Increased blood volume = 4 pounds

See? All those pounds are doing a lot of good, keeping baby alive and healthy—and storing up good stuff to nourish him or her after birth.

Any time you’re feeling a little meh about your body, think of all the amazing things it’s doing! Now, at 21 weeks, fetal movement is noticeable—and baby has reflexes too! If you gently press your palm on your belly, you might feel a little push back. So cool!

Days left to birth: 133 days left (53% of your pregnancy is completed)

Due date: 23 November 2017

Data Sources: Babycenter, The Bump, What To Expect, Parents.com, Due Date Calculator (YourDueDate.com), What To Expect, Pregnancy App