20 weeks/5 months [praying for Judah]

 

Development Prayers:
Judah weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion.

I also read that this is a big time for his brain growth that will continue even after he is born--so continue to pray for his development.  It is also a time when his skin is forming and getting less transparent--pray that his skin develops without any problems and that he is getting the nutrients he needs.

Symptoms:

• I've gained about 10 pounds now--as much as that increasing number scares me, I know it is right on track with the amount that I should be gaining.  I read that after this point, I should gain about a pound a week from now on--yikes!
• I felt movement!  I've already blogged about this, so I won't spend too much time on it.  I will say that it's been cool to notice when Judah is up and about (in the mornings between 7 am-9 am, afternoons around 2-4 pm, and sometimes at night).  I haven't picked up too much of a pattern and I'm sure he is moving and I can't feel him sometimes since I'm only feeling very faint flutters (whoop just felt one!). It never gets old.
• I have so much energy!  More so in the kitchen--I am constantly looking up recipes now that I can make or surprise Joel with.  I'm making fudge tonight!
• I am becoming in desperate need of maternity clothes now.  I bought a couple pair of pants at 12 weeks because I got so swollen that I couldn't fit into my normal pants.  I figured I'd just buy those then since I'd be able to wear them once I actually had a belly--but now I find myself needing shirts.  Mine just keep getting shorter and shorter.