Goldfish...

This is what I have in my belly... it's quite odd.

I have heard that you feel "flutters" or "gas-like" feelings, but not painfull... I hear you can feel "tapps" or muscle twitches... I haven't felt anything like that.

I feel goldfish swimming.

20 weeks...

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

19 weeks...

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

18 weeks...

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

Worry...

WOW.... you just can't understand how much that you are going to worry through this TTC, pregnancy, birth, and motherhood process!!

It seriously starts the minute that second line pops up!

I got ANOTHER bad blood test on my 2nd trimester screening and have to go in for a level 2 u/s to check and make sure that the baby doesn't have a birth defect.BLEL!!

In addition to that a good friend of mine on the boards had an urgent OB appointment because they didn't like what they saw on the u/s (about 8 weeks) and are worried about the HB. I COULD REACH THROUGH THE COMPUTER AND SMACK THAT GUY!!!! From what I can tell he didn't put a positive spin on any of it, like; "We will take your blood, and make sure that everything is still going good, come in if you feel funny over the weekend, and we will see you next week!" : )

NOOOOOOOO!!!! It was all; "Your beta has to double by early next week and you may have a miscarriage over the weekend"~! YOU FUCKING ASSHAT!!!!

Don't you know that worrying a pregnant lady (and me too!!) isn't good?!?!?!

On a positive note~ Reasons that I feel that this little baby (and it's momma, will be just fine)

- Saw a HB (always a good sign)
- 8 weeks (nice milestone)
- My doctors (RE, OB, NP) didn't tell me my baby's HB till last week (16weeks)
- Many DRs like to be overly cautious and set you up for the WORST, so you will be ready and more importantly- not sue them!

So please send good thoughts!!

17 weeks...

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.