19 Weeks

I'm actually closer to 20 weeks now.  I'm just late getting this posted.  I'd like to do weekly updates, but we'll see how that goes.  I'll try to get back on track with 21 next week.

19 Weeks.  Knox wanted in the action...

19 Weeks- "This week your baby is hitting the growth charts at 6 inches long and a full half pound in weight.  Your baby's about the size of a large mango.  A mango dipped in greasy cheese, actually.  Vernix caseosa- a greasy white protective substance now covers your baby's sensitive skin, protecting it from the surrounding amniotic fluid.  Without that protection your baby would look very wrinkled at birth.  The coating sheds as delivery approaches, but some babies born early are still covered with vernix at delivery."  What to Expect When You're Expecting

Cravings- None really

Movement- I am feeling the baby quite a bit, but notice it more at night.  With Phoebe I had an anterior placenta (it was in the front of my uterus creating a nice cushion between the baby and the outside of my belly) which meant it was much harder for me to feel the baby move.  I did not feel her AT ALL until I was 21 weeks.  And even then I really had to pay attention to movements- they were very subtle.  If I felt anything during the second trimester, it was on the sides of my belly never in the middle.  I think this was actually a blessing though towards the end of my pregnancy because I never felt hard kicks or was woken up by her. This time I am 90% sure I felt the baby move at 15 weeks, and 100% sure I felt it at 16 weeks. It has been fun to feel movement so early!  However, I might not like it so much in a few months... Chris still has not felt the baby move.

Pregnancy Symptoms- Nothing much.  I am a little bit more tired, but overall I have a good amount of energy.  I still run and/or go to the gym about three times/week, but my speed is definitely decreasing.  When my Nike+ tells me my average speed/mile it is getting more and more depressing each week.  

I have had quite a bit of round ligament pain this pregnancy, whereas I NEVER felt it the first time around.   (These are the ligaments that support your uterus and they are getting stretched as your uterus expands.)  Maybe the ligaments are looser this time and that is why they hurt more?  Whenever I sneeze I feel stabbing pain in my lower abdomen/groin area (round ligament pain).  If I feel the sneeze coming I can bend over and position myself in such a way as to decrease the discomfort, but if it is an unexpected sneeze- whoa mama, it hurts.

Itching!  I know this is really weird, but my legs and hips itch SO bad- like scratch your skin off bad.  I have no idea why.  I have tried various kinds of soaps and lotions to try to relieve it.  So far Tom's unscented soap seems to work best.  And then my eczema (which I didn't have with Phoebe.  Knox was the trigger for it) has gotten worse with pregnancy as well.

Sleep- For the first time since the beginning of my pregnancy I have slept through the night not one, but TWO nights this week!  It has been amazing.  And my body pillow is a must by this point in pregnancy.  Chris hate sharing the bed with it, but it is here to stay.

Sex- So I don't know if I mentioned this before, but this baby is going to be a surprise.  I have always kind of wanted a surprise baby.  But could not have done it with the first- too many other surprises going on the first time around.  Just so you know, it is REALLY fun in the delivery room when the sex is a surprise.  Chris, however, does not share in my excitement about having a surprise baby.  Sorry honey.  This pregnancy has been different than the first, but so far I think it is another girl.  Chris  chooses to withhold his opinion, but he really wants a boy.

Weight gain- 7 1/2 lbs

Randoms- Chasing Phoebe around I forget that I am pregnant most of the time (except when I sneeze).  Its kinda nice.