May 5, 2010  •  In Baby, Personal, Pregnancy

18 Weeks

This week’s update is a few days late, but I’ve had good reason to postpone.

There isn’t anything new or exciting on the pregnancy front aside from my severe round ligament pain. I still feel some aching, but it seems like the pain is gradually getting better. Praise God! I’m happy that I can now move about, especially considering that we’re leaving for our babymoon in just two days (!!!) and we had purchased non-refundable tickets and hotel rooms in order to get the best possible rates.

I am however, feeling extra sluggish and Jabba-esque due to my being in bed for the past few days. I stepped on the scale this morning to find that I had gained two pounds from my last weekly weigh-in. But since I had lost some weight in the past few weeks, I am still a few pounds lighter than I was at my heaviest (at 13 weeks).

As you can see, there doesnt’ seem to much development in the belly department either.

On to the update!

Dear Baby,

Your father and I are still getting used to calling you and referring to you as “she” and “her” as opposed to “it.” We’re both overjoyed that you’re doing well in there, and we honestly can’t wait to meet you face-to-face.

Your father constantly sighs while looking at my belly. “I wish she were here already,” he would pout.

You are now the size of a sweet potato, or a large bell pepper. You are now about 6″ crown-to-rump and weigh 7 ounces. Looking at a ruler, it’s already hard to imagine that you’re already this big!

Your ears are now in their final positions (although they still stick out a bit), and a protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around your nerves, a process that will continue for a year after you’re born.

According to Baby Gaga, this week is an important one for your skin:

There are now two distinct layers—the epidermis (or the surface skin) and dermis. Currently, their skin is covered with a greasy, waxy, cheese-like substance, known as vernix caseosa. Sure, it sounds pretty nasty, but this mixture of fatty secretions covering your little swimmer from head to toe is the best way to protect their oh-so-thin skin from bruising and abrasions as well as chapping caused by amniotic fluid exposure (and your little one is swimming in that stuff!). Still don’t like the fact your little darling is currently slathered in fatty cream like a greased pig? Well, you know the birthing process? Where you have to push something the size of a watermelon out a hole the size of a grape? That adorable little greased piglet would have a lot harder time getting through the birth canal without the vernix caseosa.

I just imagined myself giving birth to a greased-up baby pig…thanks for the mental image, Baby Gaga!

In addition to your skin, your sexual organs are now formed and in pace. You will even have developed a vaginal canal by the end of the week!

I always said that it must be weird for mothers who are growing boys inside; after all, they are growing a tiny penis inside of them! But now that I know that I am growing a tiny uterus, fallopian tubes, and a vagina inside of me…well…

JUST DON’T LET ANY BOYS COME NEAR YOUR HOOHA, OKAY???

</end overly protective motherly rant>

Baby, the past few days have been especially tough on your mother. Please don’t give me any more trouble while we are on vacation. I promise I will get lots of sun and tons of relaxation on the beach which I know you’ll love!

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9 Responses to “18 Weeks”

  1. Charmi says:

    Have fun on the babymoon! You look great 🙂

  2. Mary says:

    Have fun on your babymoon! We’re leaving on Saturday for a full week in las vegas to relax before Baby Boy arrives in July.
    Can’t wait to eat, sleep, and relax. -Mary

  3. H. says:

    Hey Jenny, What’s up with all the obsessing about your future daughter’s sex life? I know you’re kinda joking, but still: you know you wouldn’t have those kind of thoughts about a son … are you guys serious "no sex before marriage" types? just curious!

  4. Geek in Heels says:

    @H — Ideally I would like my daughter to wait until marriage to have sex but I know that this is becoming more and more rare. I don’t know if you have any kids, but at this point I don’t want ANYONE touching my little girl. I’m sure I will become more lenient as the years go by, but I also know that I’m not the only mother who feels this way…it is our coping mechanism for the ever-occurring changes in our, and our children’s, lives and bodies.

  5. H. says:

    Sure, but there are so many important to teach a young person of any gender besides how or when it’s a good idea for them to explore their sexuality! (creativity, honesty, loyalty, passion, commitment) Young women are usually very active and enthusiastic in discovering sex, and teaching them that anyone trying to touch them is threatening might cause more problems than it solves… I guess just… why when you think baby girl would you jump right ahead to puberty and the dangers of sex? (Sorry, I really don’t want to come across as an anonymous sniper, I just followed you here from Weddingbee and love reading your blog – really appreciate your unique voice! and very excited for your baby 🙂

  6. Geek in Heels says:

    Of course I am fully aware of all those things. After all, I’m a woman myself. However, being a new parent, you can’t help but worry about all the things (little or big) that may happen to your children, and naturally sex has come up more than once. Just because I don’t write about every little thing — and if I did, it would be an entire tome — doesn’t mean that I don’t worry about other things. Or all the wonderful things I can, and would like to teach my child. I like to write without thinking when I blog, and that’s what I thought of at the moment when reading about my daughter’s developing sexual organs.

  7. 18 weeks already?! Holy moly! Go, baby girl, go!

  8. Jenny, you look GREAT!!! 🙂

  9. Felicity says:

    Have a wonderful trip!

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