Hooray! You're almost half way through your pregnancy. Enormous
changes have occurred both in your own body and your developing
baby in the 16 weeks since you first conceived. Though for some
women it is still not obvious to anyone other than themselves that
they are pregnant. Tight abdominal muscles can hide an enlarging
uterus or alternately, if a woman carries extra weight around her
middle, this may camouflage her pregnancy. If you are keen to keep
the news of your pregnancy private, with careful dressing it may
still be possible to cover up your tummy, especially in the cooler
months.
It is human nature to compare ourselves with others,
particularly when it comes to pregnant women and comparisons with
tummy size. Try not to feel despondent if you still only have a
little "pod" which may only be obvious to you. Every woman will
carry her pregnancy differently. It is not possible to assess the
size, the well-being or even the sex of a baby simply by looking at
how a pregnant mother's tummy appears. This is despite what your
neighbour or your mother-in-law says.
where's my purse?
It's time to start thinking about the baby's nursery. It's not
too early to start planning for this and the practicalities of how
to accommodate another little person into your household. The
safest place for babies to sleep is in their own cots, beside their
parent's bed for the first 12 months. You may like to start buying
baby clothes and nursery furniture at this stage as well, when your
energy levels have picked up and there's still lots of time to
invest into doing some careful research. Consider buying second
hand, lay-buying, borrowing or making do if money is a problem. You
may have friends who are happy to lend you their baby equipment if
you don't want to buy everything brand new. However, if you are
planning to have a few children, it may pay to invest in what you
want initially and then enjoy using it for all of your
children.
your physical changes this week
- You could find yourself getting breathless and not having as
much stamina as you usually do. Your circulatory system is working
very hard to pump blood efficiently around your body and through
the umbilical cord to your baby. Make sure you have a diet high in
iron and plenty of Vitamin C. This means red meat, green leafy
vegetables, good quality cereals and fresh fruit.
- You could be perspiring more easily as a result of your inner
temperature being a little higher. Shower as frequently as you feel
you need to. Avoid wearing synthetic fibres next to your skin and
don't get overheated. You could find you need to sleep with a fan
or air-conditioning on.
- Watch out for urinary tract infections. The female urethra is
relatively short and it is easy for bacteria to find their way up
into the bladder. Remember to wipe from front to back after you've
been to the toilet and empty your bladder both before and after
having sex. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid delaying going to the
toilet when you have the urge. Make sure you completely empty your
bladder when you do go and try not to rush, it's not worth it.
- Your uterus is almost at the level of your navel, so say
goodbye to your waistline. Don't be too heartbroken because it will
come back.
- Heartburn may be your new companion this week. The smooth
muscle fibres in the stomach and gut are being affected by your
pregnancy hormones. This means that the acidic stomach contents
which should be staying well down in your stomach, can easily
regurgitate up your oesophagus (food pipe). You could feel a
burning sensation after eating, especially spicy foods and curries.
Some mothers get relief by eating bland meals and avoiding foods
which are too rich and hard to digest. Try sleeping on a couple of
pillows and check with your doctor or pharmacist if it's safe for
you to take some antacids. Rediscover the soothing benefits of
drinking a glass of cold milk, it can do wonders.
your emotional changes this week
- You could be very preoccupied waiting for your baby to move.
It's likely you've already felt some "quickening" and been excited
by this. You'll find yourself with your hand on your tummy waiting
for those little flickers to remind you that all is well. Just
don't expect your partner to be able to feel them when you ask him
to, babies have a way of not cooperating when it suits us.
- You could be very focused on the baby around this time and not
too interested in other people. This is nature's way of helping
mothers prioritise what needs to be done and to ignore what isn't
as important. Avoid feeling as if you'll never be able to think
anything but baby again, most things have a way of working
themselves out.
- If you are prone to depression or have a history of mental
health disorders, this may be a stressful time for you. It is
important that you have a health professional who is available to
support you. Speak up if you are not feeling well and ask for
help.
your baby's changes this week
- Your baby is just over 14 centimetres long, with skin so
translucent that their veins are clearly visible. It is still too
early for fat to be laid down, though this week a very special type
of substance known as brown fat starts being produced. This is
unique to babies and helps to keep their vital organs protected
from temperature extremes in the newborn period.
- Vernix caseosa, that white greasy substance is covering most of
your baby's skin this week. If your baby is born early it will
still have traces of vernix over it but closer to term and over,
vernix starts to deplete.
- Your baby's kidneys are working well this week. They are
producing urine which forms a fair percentage of the amniotic
fluid. If you have an ultrasound performed this week it will be
possible to see your baby's kidneys.
- Your baby is developing more hair on its little head as well as
on their body. Babies who are born premature can be covered in fine
hair, especially on their backs and upper arms. Some babies are
born bald and stay that way for months and others, have a mop of
thick hair. It really is highly individual and different for every
baby.
- Your baby spends a lot of its time sleeping. This is when it is
growing and conserving valuable energy so it can develop to
maturity. But, you'll become aware of times when it is more active
and has cycles of moving around and even kicking. This is commonly
when a mother is trying to sleep or has just gone to bed.
hints for the week
- Don't forget your ultrasound booking this week or next.
Pregnancy ultrasounds in the second trimester are commonly done
between weeks 18-20. They specifically look at various aspects of
the baby's development including their spine, brain, heart, kidneys
and other vital organs. If you want to know the sex of your baby,
this is an ideal time to find out. If you don't, just make sure you
tell the sonographer well beforehand that you'd prefer to keep it a
surprise.
- Talk to your baby if you haven't already started. At 19 weeks
your baby can hear you and your voice and this is the time to start
chatting to him or her. Get your partner in on the act if you can
and feel for your baby's responses.
- Think about doing some resistance exercises with weights. This
will help maintain your weight and reduce the likelihood of
developing gestational diabetes. Some pregnant women get together
in a group with a personal trainer and enjoy the companionship and
shared interests.
Week 20 is next.