Week 20

So this is it...we're half way there!!! Feeling like I may be at the peak of my pregnancy - feeling great with a lot of energy. So much energy that even Todd has told me to take a rest here and there!!!

I didn't mention last week how disappointed we were with the OB we met with after our sonogram. Not only did she rush us through the appointment, when I very gently brought up the fact that I could opt for a home birth, she just about wrote us off. Told us we should find a midwife and pick up our records - yikes!

Therefore, I contacted a doula that was recommended to me by two friends, Michelle P. and Michelle T. I spoke with Cindy tonight and she mentioned that United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia actually does water births with a midwife!! Wow...this could be just what we are looking for - a natural birth in a hospital - the best of both worlds. I also asked Cindy to recommend some OBs as we would like to look into changing to a doctor who is not so medically driven since I have been categorized as a low-risk pregnancy. We're excited to meet with Cindy in a few weeks to further explore our options. If Batavia wouldn't work out, I believe we'd still opt for a hospital birth but make sure that Cindy was at our side to be our patient advocate!

In the meantime, I have 'reserved' the substitute who will take my place when I leave school in April. She is a GREAT teacher and I will feel so relaxed leaving the kiddos and my classroom in her hands. I am now just waiting to finally tell my parents and students.

Oooo...a really cool thing happened to me last night!! As I was cleaning up from dinner I kept feeling something hitting my tummy. When I looked down I was actually able to see a small spot of my lower tummy pop out. I'm not sure, but it certainly looked and felt like the baby moving. When I showed Todd he got a little 'freaked' out - it definitely was weird to see something inside moving the outside.

Keep checking back!!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• You're half way there!
• The rapid growth stage is about over. While things have slowed down, this next stage is vital to survival.
• The baby's heart grows stronger. Find a quiet place, lay flat on your back. Locate your own heartbeat by finding your pulse. Next lay your hand on your belly. You may be able to distinguish the two heartbeats!
• His legs are reaching their relative size. With the increase muscle develop occurring as well, you will start feeling much more than tiny flutter kicks soon!
• Immunities are being transferred from you to your baby now. These immune cells will protect her from viruses you've already had for up to six months after birth!
• The nerve cells for taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch are now developing in specialized areas of the brain. Production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections.
• Your baby may startle in reaction to loud sounds. Amazingly, she can actually hear noises outside of the womb. Familiar voices, music, and sounds that baby becomes accustomed to during her development stages often are calming after birth.
• If your baby is a girl, her uterus is starting to develop. She has approximately six million eggs in her ovaries. About one million will remain at birth.
• Baby is about 6.46 inches (16.4cm) and weighs around 10.58 ounces (300g).
  
  
  (pictures from Pregnancy.org)