25 Weeks

The baby now weighs nearly 1.5 pounds/ 660 grams and is approximately 13.5 inches/ 35 centimeters long from crown to heel. He makes breathing movements but has no air in his lungs yet. At 26 weeks, fetal brain scans show response to touch. If you shine a light on your abdomen, your baby will turn his head, which according to researchers, means his optic nerve is working.

At every prenatal visit, your doctor will take your blood pressure and do tests on a sample of your urine. In this way, pregnancy-related conditions such as pre-eclampsia and diabetes can be detected and treated.

Your fingers, wrists and hands may be feeling achy and numb. The carpal tunnel in the wrist is swollen, as are many other tissues in your body. Nerves that run through the tunnel end up pinched, creating pressure that manifests itself as shooting or burning pain. Wearing a brace may help; so will taking vitamin B6. Talk to your doctor about other ways to cope. Find out about natural remedies for numb or achy fingers.

Source: http://www.babycenter.com.ph/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/25weeks/

The Kick

I've been feeling my baby's kick quite frequently already. Usually, I feel surprised of the sudden jerk in my belly but I'm now getting used to it. A few days ago when we were about to sleep, I placed my mobile phone on my tummy and played music as I normally do nowadays. Previously however, I played Harry Potter audio books, just that night I played a loud dance music.

My baby kicked really hard! I asked Karl to feel it and he really felt it already. He said maybe the baby was so surprised by the sudden surge of music that's why he jerked so hard. It was the first time he felt it and he said he couldn't explain the feeling. He was so amazed and so was I.

As I've read in several articles, the kicking will get more frequent by the day and that it usually shows that the baby is healthy. Mommy told me that for a couple more months, when he moves it will be quite painful already since he'll become bigger.

I'm 23 months now and nearing the date of my travel home and a few months away from my due. We are all so excited to meet him already!

23 Weeks

Your baby now weighs a little over one pound/ 500 grams and measures about 11.4 inches/ 29 centimeters from crown to heel. Her hearing is well established and she can make out a distorted version of your voice, the beating of your heart and your stomach rumblings. Loud noises often heard in utero, such as the barking of a dog next door or the roar of a vacuum cleaner, probably won't bother your child when she hears them outside the womb.

Some studies seem to indicate that the unborn prefer classical music.

In addition to advances in your baby's hearing, her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. She's swallowing but she normally won't pass her first stool (called meconium) until after birth.

If your baby were to be born now, she would have a small chance of survival (about 16 per cent) with the right care. Every day in the womb makes a difference at this stage. If she was born at 24 weeks her chance of survival would rise to 44 per cent.

As for you, you may feel clumsy now that your centre of gravity has shifted. Your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and your belly button, once an 'innie', may now stick out. Don't worry. It'll revert to its pre-baby state soon after you give birth.

The middle months are a good time to think about a holiday. Find out all you need to know from suntans to vaccinations in our travel section.

Source: http://www.babycenter.com.ph/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/23weeks/

It's a Boy!

I had my monthly checkup last night. And it was confirmed, a boy! Though I actually wanted a girl, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with the news that we already found out about the gender. No more guessings, no more fortune-tellings, it's confirmed, I'm having a baby boy.

It was a relief to hear assurances that the baby is very healthy and that there are no problems with my pregnancy. I hope everything goes well until the end. Another thing I have confirmed though, was my travel date. I have to fly earlier than I would want to, around the second week of April. Then I have to prepare everything ahead of time as I only have two more months to stay here.