Week 38: T-minus 14 days

My newsletter from Fit Pregnancy doesn't have a whole lot to say this week. It does tell me, "Your pregnancy is considered full-term now, and the lanugo -- the downy hair that covered your baby's body -- is starting to disappear."

It also tells me the average newborn has a length of 21 1/2 inches and weighs 7 1/2 pounds. The weight is consistent with what my doc estimates Baby will be. We haven't talked length, but I'm pretty sure he's about 4 feet tall based on how big I am and how he can put pressure on my bladder and kick me in the ribs at the same time.

I'm also supposed to be patient:

Don't be tempted to try to induce labor with herbs or castor oil. Herbal supplements are unregulated by the FDA and can contain highly variable concentrations and unlisted ingredients that may be dangerous.

Patience isn't exactly my strong suit, but I'm not going to risk my or my baby's health. Besides, with my due date looming, I'm trying to enjoy these last couple of weeks of baby-free life. Although, with that said, life hasn't truly been baby-free for about nine months. He's always on my mind.

Week 37: Let's get this show on the road

According to my Fit Pregnancy e-mail newsletter this week, Baby has probably hit the 6-pound mark by now. Being so big gives him less room to move around, they say, but it doesn't stop him from trying. Believe me.

Your baby is practicing her breathing, but she has increasingly less space to practice stretching and kicking.

Less space sure, but I think he's trying to create more with every little stretch and kick and grind of his tiny little heel.

As for what's happening to me, they say:

The hormone relaxin is causing all of the smooth muscle in your body to unclench. You'll feel like you have loose "rag-doll" joints. You're probably having Braxton-Hicks contractions, which you may or may not notice.

I really don't feel like my joints are loose, just achy. Sit too long and get sore. Stand too long and get sore. Lay down too long and get sore. I've noticed some pains that are probably Braxton-Hicks contractions but nothing that's been really bad. Baby's kicks are worse than any other pains at the moment.

The best part? "This week, you may expel the cervical mucus plug, aka 'bloody show,' at any time." Eww. Why does the miracle of birth have to be so gross?

Too bad that relaxin stuff doesn't work on the brain.

Week 35: Five

I can't believe I'm so close to having the little alien out here in the real world with me. We're pretty much set as far as having the necessary items to keep him safe, clothed and fed. But I'm still not sure I'm ready for this. The actual birthing process doesn't scare me nearly as much as all the what ifs yet to come.

• What if I can't deal with the crying?
• What if I can't breastfeed?
• What if he has colic?
• What if I drop him?
• What if he gets bullied in middle school?
• What if he's the bully?
• What if he gets some girl pregnant when he's 16?
• What if we can't afford college?

(Yes, I get a little ahead of myself sometimes.)

Regardless of all that, I have five (or fewer) weeks to figure out at least some of it. And my e-mail newsletter from Fit Pregnancy tells me:

At more than five pounds and between sixteen and twenty inches, your baby is becoming more ready for birth with every passing hour. She's the size of a small roasting chicken [again with the food comparisons]. Her nervous system and immune system are still maturing, and she's adding the fat that she'll need to regulate her body temperature. But, everything else, from her toenails to the hair on her head, is fully formed. If she were born now, she'd have more than a ninety-nine percent chance of surviving.

A 99 percent chance of surviving is pretty good. They obviously don't take into consideration the possibility of me dropping him.

As for myself, eight hours of sleep is a distant memory. If I'm not getting up every two hours to pee, I'm waking up to change positions because my hips are aching or my hands have fallen asleep or Baby is doing acrobatics. I am now convinced that lack of sleep now -- while seemingly unfair -- is preparing me for getting up every two hours to feed Baby once he's born.

At least then he won't be kicking me in the ribs or jumping on my bladder while I'm trying to get some sleep.

*Five - a cardinal number, four plus one; the number of weeks left in my pregnancy

Week 34: Brains*

My NST went well this morning. Baby's heart rate looked good, never dipping below 140 and rising when he would wiggle around. The only downside was the test only lasted about 20 minutes, and the chair was super comfy; I wouldn't have minded spending another hour or so there.

My e-mail newsletter from Fit Pregnancy this week tells me that Baby weighs five pounds or more and will continue to gain about two or more pounds in the next six weeks. It also tells me that Baby may be prepping for Harvard right now:

Now that your baby's brain has formed billions of neurons, it must accomplish the even more complex feat of hooking the neurons and synapses together. Your baby's brain is forming trillions of connections, making it possible for her to learn in the womb. All of this brain development may be the reason that your baby sleeps frequently at this stage. She may even be dreaming—her eyes dart around rapidly just as an adult's might in REM sleep.

(I may have read into that a little.)

They go on to tell me it's time to have our car seat purchased (oops!), diapers (not yet), some outfits (yep, thanks to Heather!) and a place for baby to sleep (yep, and more on that later).

With a shower coming soon, we will have lots more for Baby and I will feel closer to being ready. Although, I have to admit I do feel like it's a lot easier to care for Baby where he's living at the moment than it will be later. Still, I am looking forward to meeting him in person (just not for a few more weeks).

*Brain - the part of the central nervous system enclosed in the cranium of humans and other vertebrates, consisting of a soft, convoluted mass of gray and white matter and serving to control and coordinate the mental and physical actions; zombie food

Week 33: Obvious*

This week's e-mail newsletter from Fit Pregnancy states the obvious:

By now your sleep is likely compromised, big-time: You probably need to go to the bathroom several times a night and you're also having trouble sleeping because there isn't a comfortable position that works.

I like the "by now" part, as if I haven't had trouble sleeping for the past seven months. But maybe not everyone is like me. Maybe not every pregnant woman lays awake during the first trimester worrying about what could go wrong early on. And maybe not every pregnant woman lays awake during the second trimester worrying what could go wrong then. And maybe not every pregnant woman has trouble getting comfortable because all she wants to do is be able to sleep on her stomach again.

As for Baby, they tell me he's about 4 1/2 pounds (which is likely true, based on my last ultrasound) and about 11 1/2 inches long. But no more comparisons to food.

They also tell me he's moving into position to be born:

Your baby has probably moved to the head-down position and may descend into your pelvis at any time in the next six weeks and begin to press into your cervix. This position not only prepares her for birth but allows blood to flow to her developing brain.

Baby was head down when we saw him during our ultrasound, and according to our birth-class instructor, they usually stay in that position once they're there. However, I've had more than one person tell me that their baby flipped back to breech shortly before birth, so nothing's certain. Obviously.

*Obvious - easily seen, recognized, or understood

Week 32: Ossification*

I now officially have two months left in this pregnancy. And while, my email newsletter from Fit Pregnancy says it may be starting to lose some of its glow, I'm going to disagree. I'm pretty sure Baby is practicing his bicycle kicks and may even be throwing a party in there, I'm still enamored by the process. Sure I'm having trouble sleeping but no more than I've had for the past six months. (Plus, if I'm being completely honest, I'm not totally ready to be a mom with a real-live baby out here.)

After attending our childbirth class, we have a partially packed bag ready to go for labor. Even if I'm not completely ready, Baby is getting close.

Your baby weighs about 4 pounds and is about fifteen to seventeen inches tall. Photographs of babies in utero at this stage show their skin becoming less translucent and pinker, as layers of fat are deposited under the skin. Her skeleton is rapidly ossifying (turning from cartilage into solid bone), which means that kicks will become visible through your shirt as the trimester progresses.

I was going to post of video of my tummy while Baby kicks and squirms, but as I've mentioned before, he doesn't like to perform on demand and stayed perfectly still while the camera was on him.

 *ossification - the formation of or conversion into bone

By the way, I am going to try to participate in NaBloPoMo for March and the theme is "In a Word." Let's see how that goes, shall we.

Week 31: Two months to go, two months to grow

Just this morning it occurred to me that I have just over two months left before I get to meet Baby. Part of me can't believe it will be here so quickly. Another part of me -- the part that just keeps getting bigger and bigger -- can't believe it's going to be so long.

We saw the doctor this morning, and my weight is good, my growth is good, and Baby's heartbeat is strong. We will have another ultrasound in a week or two to check Baby's growth. Oh, and my glucose levels were very good so I don't have to worry about gestational diabetes. Whew!

When I got home from the doctor, my e-mail newsletter from Fit Pregnancy was sitting in my mailbox. It tells me:

Your baby weighs between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 pounds. She continues to gain weight at a faster pace than she lengthens, which will give her those cute chubby cheeks. She's about fourteen to sixteen inches tall, although individual growth rates vary. Your baby begins to run out of room as she puts on weight. You should feel about ten kicks an hour.

They go on to say that some care providers may suggest keeping a "kick chart" (mine hasn't) by writing down how many kicks you feel in an hour, so that you are aware if there's a decrease in activity. Baby is so active at certain parts of the day, I don't know if I could keep track of the number of kicks he gives me then. As I've mentioned before, he seems to quiet down when other people want to feel him kick.

I find myself thinking about this summer -- outings and trips to see family and such -- and it is so strange to me to imagine those things with Baby in tow. I know a baby changes your life and I'm ready (as ready as I'll ever be) for that but it still feels strange.

Week 30: OMG! Did I just type 30?

I had a dentist appointment this morning, and my wonderful hygienist was so thrilled to see my expanding waistline, we spent several minutes just chatting about the pregnancy. Last time I saw her I was technically pregnant but didn't know, and in those first few weeks, I did everything wrong. I had dental X-rays. I ate sushi. I drank beer. My doctor has assured me that Baby was merely going through cell division at that time and there was little chance of my hurting him way back then. And that huge lead apron must have done something to protect those little dividing cells, because here I am: 30 weeks pregnant.

Fit Pregnancy tells me at 30 weeks:

"Baby's length is about 16 inches—about as long as a laptop computer—and she measures almost 11 inches from crown to rump. She weighs approximately 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. From now until delivery, every baby will gain weight at a more individual rate. Your baby has doubled in height over the past six weeks, and from now until delivery, she'll gain only a few more inches in length."

Baby's brain continues to develop, and they tell me, his eyes are able to track light.

"Some researchers have theorized that exposing your belly to light may stimulate development. Try moving the beam of a flashlight slowly over your belly in a dim room, and see if she reacts."

If I try that, I will let you know the results. Baby is so active these days, I don't know if it would be a fair test, though.

They also say my belly is about the size of a watermelon (so now we're comparing me to food) but I'd say it's more like a basketball and reminds me of my medicine ball workouts from last summer.

One thing they don't tell me is how Baby seems to occupy all my waking thoughts. There are all so many things that have to center on Baby: doctor's appointments, eating habits, birth classes and other preparations. But even when I try to do things that don't center around Baby, he wiggles and brings my mind back to him. Did other moms experience this? Does it ever stop or is your child(ren) always on your mind, forever and ever?

Week 29: Eyelashes and dreams

This week's update from Fit Pregnancy assures me that my additional weight isn't just due to too many Super Bowl party snacks. "The volume of your uterus alone can be up to 1,000 times larger than it was before you got pregnant!" it says.

Still, if the little one inside my weighs about 2 1/2 pounds, as they say, I have added a lot of extra weight. I know how important it is, but it's still really uncomfortable.

They also tell me Baby's brain can detect rhythmic breathing and control body temperature, so he's less likely to need breathing assistance should he be born early. Also:

(He's) growing eyelashes, adding fat, and developing (his) brain. Because of brain wave activity, researchers have speculated that babies can even dream at this time!

As for my expanding body, they tell me it's not unusual to feel fatigue similar to what I felt in the first trimester. As tired as I continued to be throughout the second trimester, I have to admit I did feel better then. Naps are more frequent now, as are trips to the bathroom -- thanks to my uterus putting more pressure on my bladder.

My trip to the doctor this week included measurements -- I'm exactly where I should be! -- as well as my glucose tolerance test and a Rhogam shot. It was a long appointment because I had to sit for an hour after drinking the yummy glucose mixture, then return to the doctor's office for the shot after they drew blood. Thank goodness for my iPod and my digital copy of "Despicable Me." I can only take so much of "The View" after all.

Week 28: A bag of flour

With approximately three months left in my pregnancy, things are starting to get really real. I have started purchasing some items. The S.O. and I have created baby registries. My friends are starting to plan a shower. I've even started my hospital checklist. And we'll attend a birth class this month.

My e-mail newsletter from Fit Pregnancy this week tells me I may start to experience Braxton Hicks contractions around this time. For those of you who don't know (like me):

Braxton Hicks contractions  are "irregular, mild tightness or cramping, usually felt in the lower abdomen, lasts a few seconds and may increase during the night and while exercising. Unlike true labor contractions, Braxton Hicks do not progress in frequency."

The information about Baby is pretty interesting:

"Your baby has doubled her weight in the past month and is the size of a bag of flour. She now weighs almost 2 1/2 pounds. Her total length is nearly fifteen inches. Your baby's lungs are now capable of breathing air! This is big news. It means if the baby is born from now on, she'll be able to survive with less medical intervention. Your baby's main job right now is to put the finishing touches on major organ systems, such as her brain, lungs, and liver. As you can probably tell, she's also working on gaining layers of fat. Her body fat is about 2 to 3 percent. Your baby's eyes, which were covered by her eyelid folds at the sixth week of development, are capable of opening this week. Her sucking and swallowing skills are improving."

But the info on my changing body is a bit redundant now as I already see or am experiencing those things without being told. "You're getting larger, and as you get larger, you become more uncomfortable. Your legs may ache or cramp, it's hard to get a good sleeping position, and the baby is big enough to give you some sharp kicks to the ribs!"

Yep. You don't need to tell me I'm getting larger. I see it. Almost daily. Everything is more difficult now. I'm still working out, but at a much, much lower intensity. Just walking up and down the stairs has me out of breath, but I know how important exercise is, so I'm keeping at it. (In fact, I recently became a Certified Fitness Trainer! That should help motivate me to get back in shape after Baby is born.)

27 weeks: Pot roast baby

And we're back to food comparisons for my weekly update from Fit Pregnancy. They're also calling the baby "he" this week.

Your baby weighs about two pounds and is about 12 to 15 inches long, about the size of a small pot roast. If your baby were born now, he would have an excellent chance (85 percent) of surviving. He still isn't fully formed and would probably not be able to breath by himself. He would need to stay in an incubator to keep his body temperature regulated, and he would have a weak liver and immune system.

An 85 percent chance of survival is pretty good, but all the risks and complications involved with a premature baby, make me want to do all I can to carry as close to full term as possible.

With a 2-pound pot roast hitching a ride in my mid-section, I don't really need them telling me it's harder to bend over and tie my shoes. But I did find this tidbit interesting:

The volume of your amniotic fluid is reduced by about half. With less cushioning blocking the view, you'll be able to see bony knees and elbows poking out of your stomach when the baby kicks and turns. 

I have yet to see bony knees or elbows poking out, but baby is quite active. He stretches and kicks and moves around, either trying to make himself comfortable or to make Mama really uncomfortable. Earlier he was pushing quite hard against the outside, and when the S.O. pushed where I indicated, Baby kicked his hand away. I can't stop myself from imagining Baby thinking, Hey! Quit pushing on my butt. I just got comfortable.

As a side note, last night I dreamed about holding my baby and rubbing the bottoms of his little feet. It was a sweet dream and the first I've had of him being outside the womb.

Week 26: Milestones

I can't believe how time is flying by. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I was announcing my pregnancy. Now I've got just a little more than three months before I welcome my son into the world.

This week my newsletter from Fit Pregnancy tells me my little alien weighs about 1 1/2 pounds (about 1/4 pound more than last week) and "would be about a foot tall if (he) could stand." That seems huge! No wonder I feel like I'm starting to have my own gravitational pull.

This week marks a major milestone in Baby's hearing and sight, they tell me.

"Your baby's hearing system (cochlea and peripheral sensory end organs), which began fine development during week eighteen, is now completely formed, and over the next few weeks, she'll become increasingly sensitive to sound. In about a month, you'll feel her jump if she hears a sudden loud noise. Sound passes easily into your uterus, which helps her ears develop."

And his eyes are almost fully formed, they say, telling me that all babies have blue eyes in the womb, no matter what their genetic inheritance is. Apparently, baby's eyes don't get their final color until he's a few months old. However, according to my own baby book, at birth my eyes were "dark." And Mom told me my eyes were so dark, no one could tell what color they actually were. So, I'm either a freak of nature, or Fit Pregnancy isn't totally right.

As for my changing body, they're not telling me anything I haven't known for a while now, when they say, "Sleeping is definitely getting uncomfortable." They don't offer any advice on how to make it more comfortable. They just tell me:

"Try sleeping on your left side. Your baby has to battle with your backbone when you're lying on your back, and sleeping on your back will also position your uterus over a major artery, cutting off blood flow."

I've been doing that. Still doesn't make sleep comfortable. Lots of extra pillows helps -- helps me. The poor S.O. has very little room left for himself. Good thing he's a heavy sleeper.

Week 25: Entering the homestretch

I visited by doctor this morning, and everything with my pregnancy is right on track. I've gained a decent amount of weight, but not too much (despite the overload of cookies and junk during the holidays) and the growth of my belly is where it should be.

We listened to Baby's heart beat, and the doctor told the S.O. if he wants to feel Baby move around more he can push on my tummy to get him to push back. Baby is moving around a lot, just not when the S.O. tries to feel it. He'll be kicking up a storm in there, but as soon as I call the S.O. over to feel, everything goes quiet. It's kind of cute.

My e-mail newsletter from Fit Pregnancy is comparing my wee one to a bag of sugar (again?), also telling me that my baby "has a regular sleep schedule now and active and inactive periods. You may or may not be able to discern what those periods are."

I can tell you he moves around a lot right before I go to sleep and right when I get up in the morning. He seems to get really active if I'm hungry, as well. Imagine your stomach is growling and someone keeps kicking it. It's awesome.

Actually, it is pretty awesome to feel that movement and quite strange to know that in just a few short months my little alien is going to be a whole other person.

Fit Pregnancy goes on to say:

"While reaching the third trimester feels like great progress, with it comes a return to fatigue, dizziness, and constant trips to the bathroom."

A "return to" ... right. As if any of that ever went away.

My next doctor appointment will include my glucose screen,  and I'll receive a Rhogam shot because I have a negative blood type. That doctor appointment will also be my last four-week appointment. After that, I will go to every two weeks, and before you know it, I'll be writing about an actual baby boy kicking and crying and needing changed instead of the little alien kicking me to pieces from the inside.

Week 24: That's Bananas!

This week my unborn baby is about the size of a banana, so says my email newsletter from Fit Pregnancy. They also say, "It's time to schedule an appointment for your glucose screen, which checks for gestational diabetes; it is conducted between weeks 24 and 28."

I am not looking forward to the glucose screen because they accidentally ordered this test during my very first visit to my OB (at five and a half weeks). Those of you who've had this test know how pleasant tasting the goo they have you drink is. (Hint: It's not at all pleasant tasting.) Then you get to sit in the waiting room for an hour -- reading old magazines and/or watching "Regis and Kelly" -- to see how you react to the onslaught of sugar. I'm also a bit nervous because I have had a raging sweet tooth (especially over the holidays) and hope it hasn't caused major problems.

They tell me too that baby's skin is starting to become less translucent "as pigment is deposited, and it looks wrinkly because her body is making her skin more quickly than it makes the fat to pad underneath it. Your baby's unique hand- and footprints are forming." No getting away with burglary now, kiddo.

The bump is definitely sticking out there now, but I still think most people just think I'm getting chunky. So far, I've been pretty lucky to not experience some of the things that could be happening -- like heartburn, muscle aches, sore feet, and dizziness -- but I'm not so naive as to think I'm getting off scot-free. Besides, I've had my share of other stuff, like restless legs, achy ligaments and being bone tired.

I suppose I need to get used to feeling tired all the time. I don't expect that will change for a while.

Week 23: Sugar sugar

 How sweet. This week, Fit Pregnancy tells me my unborn baby can be compared to a bag of sugar.  

"Weighing in at a pound, and at eight inches long, your baby is starting to really look like a baby! You can compare her size to a box of sugar or a bag of coffee beans."

It also tells me:

"You'll notice now that what began as gentle wiggling will become poking and even sharp kicking."

That's for sure. Little Junior has been doing calisthenics lately, testing out his little arms and legs, and I'm pretty he's been doing somersaults or back flips, as well. He seems to really get active just as I'm trying to go to sleep. I have taken to telling him to just calm the heck down in there.

To be perfectly honest, it's sometimes a bit disconcerting to feel something moving around inside my belly. I can't help but have visions of John Hurt.

Week 22: Grapefruit

This week Fit Pregnancy is back to food comparisons, telling me my unborn is about the size of a small grapefruit.

They also keep saying "she." I understand this is better than saying "he or she" from an editorial point of view, but they use the feminine every week -- and not all of us are having girls.

With my mini-rant out of the way, I'll tell you Fit Pregnancy says:

"Her fingernails are almost fully grown, and her organ systems are becoming more functional and specialized. She has a distinct pair of lips, and her first canines and molars are developing below her gum line. She looks like a miniature newborn. Blood is traveling through the umbilical cord at four miles an hour, fueling her growth with oxygen and nutrients."

Which -- despite the feminine pronoun for my male unborn baby -- is pretty damn cool.

As for my changing body, they mostly tell me about yucky stuff (like yeast infections and anemia) and that "your uterus is certainly growing, but you can probably still bend over, sit, drive, and function fairly comfortably." Define "comfortably," Fit Pregnancy.

While the boy growing inside me is grapefruit size, I'm pretty sure I'm beginning to look a lot like I'm smuggling a watermelon under my shirt.

Week 21: Bear cubs!

My e-mail newsletter from Fit Pregnancy this week once again forgoes comparing my unborn child to food. This week, my little one is about the "length of a spoon" -- so not food, but a food utensil. It goes on to say the baby's current weight is about 10.5 ounces. "Ten and one-half ounces is also the size bear cubs are when they are born," it says.

Baby is about the length of a spoon and the weight of a newborn bear cub. And he's spending his time putting on weight by drinking amniotic fluid. His eyelids are developed, and even though his eyes are  still sealed, his eyes are active. That's pretty cool.

As for what it says about my changing body, I have to disagree:

Some women report feeling better and more energized at this stage of pregnancy than they have at any point in their life.

I feel pretty good -- much better than during the first trimester -- but not better than any point in my life.  With all that's happened this week, I am definitely feeling pretty good emotionally. And I'd say that's more important at the moment than how I feel physically.

Week 20: And no weird comparison

I'm not sure if I'm relieved or disappointed that Fit Pregnancy isn't comparing my unborn child to food this week. Instead, I'm told permanent teeth are starting to form behind baby teeth and Baby "seems able to differentiate between morning, afternoon and evening and starts to become more active at certain times than at others."

I haven't noticed Baby being more active at any certain time, but I will start paying more attention now.

As for my changing body, they don't tell me a whole lot.

Around now, you should feel a psychological boost: You've made it halfway already! It's a good time to find a childbirth class to educate you about labor and calm any anxieties. Plus, you'll meet other parents-to-be and possibly create friendships for both you and your child in the years to come. Your care provider will now monitor your growth by measuring the height of your uterus with fingers or a tape measure. Your uterus is now about in line with your belly button. From now on, the top of your uterus will grow toward your rib cage at a rate of one centimeter a week.

All I know is the belly is definitely protruding in a more pregnant-looking fashion and people who haven't been officially informed are starting to wonder. I had one woman say to me, "I don't want to be rude, but I want to ask ..." I just said, "Yes!" before she had to ask. She was actually very sweet about it, but I completely understand her reticence. Can you imagine asking someone that question if she's not?

A guy friend of mine made that mistake once. He was dressed as a clown at the time, so I wonder does that make it better or worse?

Week 19: More comparisons to food

I made it to 19 weeks, and Fit Pregnancy is now comparing the growing baby to an apple. Wait. Isn't a lobster tail bigger than an apple? Maybe it depends on the apple. More specifically, they tell me the baby is between 5 and 6 inches long and weighs about 7 ounces.

More importantly, they tell me:

Loud sounds as well as any feelings you may have of stress or alarm may be communicated to the baby. The baby responds to these stresses by becoming more active. Practicing yoga and meditation can be good for your sense of calm and balance.

I have been trying to do some yoga, but I've never gotten the hang of meditation. I think it defeats the purpose if you spend the whole time wondering if you're doing it right.

As for the statement, "You may be popping out all over, with bigger breasts and a bulge above your pelvis," that's been happening for a while now. Although lots of people keep telling me I don't look pregnant. Tell that to my pants that don't fit.

Week 18: Lobster baby and hoping for help

Apparently, I fell off the Fit Pregnancy newsletter mailing list, because they didn't send me my weekly update this past Tuesday. With Thanksgiving preparations -- and my baby brain -- it didn't occur to me until now that I haven't posted anything about Week 18. And it's almost over!

After a little searching, I found the information they normally send me. (Do they really need to frustrate the pregnant lady?)

So, this week Baby is about the size of "a lobster tail" (OK, what the hell is up with these comparisons, Fit Pregnancy?) and "may be able to detect a glow if you shine bright lights at your belly."

As for my changing body, they're spot on when they tell me, "You may have aches and pains in your legs, tailbone, and other muscles."

But my favorite part of the week 18 information is this bit:

Now is a good time to talk to your partner about how your house will be managed once the baby comes. For the first few weeks, until you establish a new routine with your new baby, you'll be too occupied to cook meals, take care of pets, open the mail, pick up the phone, or do anything but breastfeed, soothe the baby, and sleep. We hope your partner is up to the challenge. If not, prepare to move your mother or another relative in for a time. Also consider hiring a postpartum doula or baby nurse to help out.

They "hope your partner is up to the challenge." I think I need to do more than hope, especially considering my mother can't move in with us, and I can't think of any other relative who could. And we certainly don't have the luxury of hiring someone.

I actually feel pretty confident about the S.O.'s abilities to deal with a little one. He spent quite a bit of time entertaining our friend's almost-2-year-old son on Thanksgiving while she finished preparations and I put my feet up. It was really endearing to watch him play with the little boy.

At least I know he'll be helpful in a couple years.