Andrew took the first photo of my belly on the weekend. It’s a shame that we don’t have a really early photo so we can see the difference. I don’t particularly like having photos taken of me, and to bare my belly for photos is even worse. But I’m sure that one day I’ll appreciate that we have them. Andrew is under strict instructions not to let anyone else see them though!
I am still feeling well, this pregnancy thing is a bit of a breeze so far! I’m a little nervous about the appointment with the doctor next week though. I hate the thought that my blood pressure might still be high…I don’t want high blood pressure!! It also means they may not let me go to the Birth Centre, but I guess all I can do right now is wait and see.
Info from Birth.com.au:
You are now 15 weeks pregnant which is the beginning of week 16. Your baby has grown to around 15 cms in length from head to toe, or about 10cms from ‘crown to rump’. It probably weighs about 120 grams and are more in proportion physically, but it’s head still accounts for about 1/3 of their body.
When lying down, the top of your uterus (or fundus) can now be felt hearly half way between your pubic bone and belly button. Women who have had a baby before may start to feel small sensations of their baby’s movements this week, but this is more common between 18 and 22 weeks.
A few women start producing colostrum from their breasts after 16 weeks to 20 weeks of pregnancy (although this does not happen for every pregnant woman and is not a reflection of your ability to breastfeed your baby). Colostrum is the first fluid a woman’s breasts produce. It is a clear or creamy-yellow substance that is syrupy in consistency. It may be possible for you to hand express drops of colostrum from your nipples during pregnancy. Or you may notice colostrum leaking.
Your baby’s vocal chords are now formed and they now make different facial expressions. They can grasp with their hands and suck their thumb and may explore the inside of your uterus with their hands. If your uterus is pressed from the outside, this may produce a small startle response in your baby. One of the many normal newborn reflexes present after birth.
The amniotic fluid increases around your baby, so they move freely, floating like an astronaut in space and their umbilical cord is now completely mature. The cord contains two arteries and one vein, enclosed and protected by a thick gristle-like substance called ‘Wharton’s Jelly’. This makes the cord slippery and allows it to move freely around your baby and avoid compression.
