19 Weeks

From Baby Center:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid. (I don't know why, but the idea of the baby pickling made me laugh. I know. Shame on me.)

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." That darkened line running down from your belly button is called the linea nigra, or "dark line." These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery.

Note from Jen:

I am feeling very, very tired this week, but I am guessing it has more to do with the 30+ hours it took to get home from China. I am hoping to get back to normal soon because jet lag along with being pregnant isn't so fun.

I was planning on asking my doctor about the sharp, stabbing pains I had been having in my lower left hand side of my abdomen, but as you just read, it sounds like I am right on track and just having round ligament pain. Figures. I have always had painful growing pains, now I just have them in my belly. I guess that means I am just making room for the baby and should be getting bigger soon.

No weird skin pigment changes or linea nigra. Whew! Although since getting pregnant I do have the skin of a 13 year old. Arg! No "pregnancy glow" for me :(

I have my next doctor's appointment tomorrow and we will probably get to schedule the next ultrasound then as well. Still waiting on Kenny to see if he wants to find out if we are having a boy or a girl. Of course I want to find out :)