Week 20

From my Weekly Email:

Hi to all! I am sure many of you have not heard from me in quite a long time and may have had no idea that I was expecting...Well, I am expecting, in fact, I am half way through...due in July! I am writing today to ask for prayers. In June of last year, we lost our first son at this time in our pregnancy (20 weeks and 1 day) due to an incompetent cervix and preterm labor. This year has been one of very high highs and very low lows. Please pray for us as we are so torn over grieving the loss of Judah and the excitement of a new little boy (Elisha "Eli"). The doctor says everything looks good, but warns that that can change in an instant. Which I am well aware of as our last pregnancy seemed to be text book until the day before we lost our son. I will be going in for my biweekly ultrasound with the specialist tomorrow morning. I feel certain that everything is ok, but I can't help but remember how hard it was to have the carpet ripped out from under me. BUT..God is so faithful and has answered every prayer right on time. In fact, my cervix has actually lengthened, which is unheard of!! So, I know that something great is going to be! In any case, we are praying for a miracle. Please pray that my cervix will not give way until after week 37.

Week 20

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)

A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)

Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).