4 months/16 weeks: Baby Avocado

Wow! Week 16! My how time flies! I am a bit baffled by this weeks baby size since last weeks report said he/she was the size of a large apple... this week Baby Cathey is supposed to be the size of an avocado! Maybe we should call him/her Baby Guacamole. Yum-o!

Baby is now about 4.5 inches long from crown to rump and weighs between 2.75-3.5 oz! Baby is becoming more and more cuddly as the fine lanugo hair covers his/her body. The pattern on Baby's scalp is forming although hair is not yet recognizable. His/her heart is pumping about 25 quarts of blood per day now! Baby and placenta are about the same size at this point. Our baby will begin fat development this week. Baby Cathey is growing rapidly and from this point on I may feel him/her move! I haven't that I know of yet but I have also had some stomach 'issues' that may have masked any 'quickening' or fluttering at this point. Apparently I have a very emotional stomach, my stomach always reflects my anxiety or stress! Glad this week is over!

Meanwhile back at the uterus.......the placenta and uterus are growing. My abdomen is also growing and I've discovered a catch 22....if I wear 1 of the 2 pairs of maternity pants I own, I have to in turn wear a longer or maternity shirt because the oh-so-attractive belly band tends to show! I am still wearing my scrubs but have given up most of my work polos (dreaded required attire for our entire rehab dept) for longer shirts. If it's possible, I think I am getting even more well endowed; this week I have notice a return of breast tenderness and some of my readings indicate this is caused by developing milk producing glands. Moo!

Happy 4th of July to all! We are leaving soon for Memphis this morning. I am going to have a bowl of cereal and go wake the beast! Hope everyone has a safe weekend! :)

Life is always a rich and steady time when
you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch.
-- E.B. White, Charlotte's Web