Week 19

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.

Your baby's skin now has a protective coating, while you might be hoping for something to protect you from painful leg cramps. One minute you're lying peacefully in bed and the next your calf muscle feels like it's about to explode. Leg cramps during pregnancy are pretty common (though no one knows exactly what causes them) and tend to strike at night. You might also be wondering about tingling and numbness in your fingers and toes about now. It's a weird sensation but totally normal, probably a result of your body's swelling tissues pressing on nerves. And speaking of weird, have you ever seen a mango dipped in cheese?? Well, that's what your baby looks like this week due to a little growth spurt (she's about a half pound in weight and six inches long) and a substance called vernix caseosa. This greasy white stuff covers your baby's skin, protecting it from the surrounding amniotic fluid. (Without it, she'd look totally wrinkled as she entered the world.) The vernix sheds as delivery approaches, though some babies still sport a bit of the coating at birth.

Wow what a week! I feel HUGE...my belly is definitely out there now if it wasn't before! There's no hiding it. Even in flowy clothes you can still tell I'm pregnant. We had a pretty big milestone this week....I felt the baby move for the first time. It's weird. I can't always feel it...mostly I have to be sitting down perfectly still, and really concentrating...I know it's only going to get more frequent and easier as time moves on and baby gets bigger...but still...definitely exciting. I also read this week that the baby can now hear "outside" sounds. So sounds other than just my voice. Which I told to hubby...and he immediately yelled HELLO at my stomach. I was like awesome...and now our child will hear no one. LOL! The first movements happened on Sunday night...yes, that's right...during selection Sunday for the NCAA tournament. Apparently we have a little basketball fan in there. :) So exciting. I started thinking this week of all the things we have coming up, and I begin to feel overwhelmed....yet at the same time, I am so terribly excited I feel like I could cry at any given moment. Anxiously awaiting the 30th so we can see our little bundle of amazement...and know if we're to paint the room pink...or blue.....