Happy viability week! Obviously we don’t anticipate baby coming any time soon but it’s at least a good milestone to know that she has made it this far. ❤️ I’ve been feeling great still. Large and in charge! She’s moving more and more and getting much stronger. So strong that now I can see her move from the outside. I got a couple cute videos too. She even woke me up in the middle of the night the other night from kicking me! This last pregnancy is just flying by at this point. She still seems to be head down and I know because I can definitely feel her in my vagina. 😆 She also likes to kick my bladder that’s always a surprise.

I’ve been trying harder at drinking more water. Some days are better then others but I have been doing it. I have added mint and lemon and even cucumbers and that helps me. I will say I’ve been having some crazy acid reflux. It feels terrible and weird. It’s like I’m going to throw up any second but nothing happens. So weird. Also I know I’m lucky I don’t experience this any other time. I know lots of people suffer with this all the time. So I’m really not complaining if this is as bad as things get for me. I know how lucky I am in pregnancy. I’m still eating my ice all the time also. I know I’m annoying to everyone around me and I feel bad about it but I can’t help it. 😆

We had a hard week this week with our dog needing emergency surgery because he ate a freaking sock! 😳 I was so mad at him but also felt bad because they had to cut his whole belly open. He looked so so sad for a couple days. Now he’s doing much better but he’s trying to be too active and he’s not supposed to be. Not easy to keep a puppy calm.

Let’s see what’s going on with baby Mac this week.

How’s Baby Mac?

By the end of this week, Baby Mac is probably about 12.5-13 inches long, the size of an eggplant, and weighs 1.5 lbs!

Baby Mac is starting to develop taste buds, which means that before too long, your little one will be able to taste some of the stronger flavors of the things you eat through the amniotic fluid they still swallow regularly. And according to a 2011 study, this could impact their food preferences later in life, so make sure to eat a range of nutritious, tasty, flavorful foods — it might mean you’ll have an easier time introducing your toddler to new dishes in just a few years.

Baby Mac’s lungs are developing significantly after all of the breathing they’ve been getting, and they’re now making cells that will produce surfactant, a material that will help them breathe and get the oxygen they need once they’re born. Surfactant is a liquid that helps keep the tiny air sacs in the lungs, the alveoli, from sticking together as a baby breathes.

Your growing baby has also gained about a quarter of a pound last week (110 g) in bones, muscle, and fat, so they’re finally beginning to really fill out. And even though Baby Mac’s eyebrows, lashes, and hair are coming in, they still lack pigment and appear white. Your little one’s skin is beginning to glow a bit pinker now, due to the appearance of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. And their ears and fingernails are also fully formed now.

What’s new with you?

Between the linea nigra, stretch marks, and an itchy belly, your skin might be driving you nuts this week. Topical creams meant for stretch marks or dry skin may help reduce the itchiness, check with your provider about the best and safest options for you. Using unscented, mild lotions and soaps can help too, as can avoiding baths and showers that are too hot, which can dry out your skin. Constipation or dry eyes may also prove to be issues for you right now. And sometime in the next couple of weeks, you’ll likely take a glucose challenge test (GCT) to screen for gestational diabetes.

Your ankles and fingers might be swollen as well, due in part to fluid retention, and the pressure of your growing uterus on your veins. For relief, try elevating your feet or icing the swollen areas to help alleviate some of the pain. Headaches and vision changes are also not uncommon at this time. Sometimes these symptoms — swelling, headaches, and vision changes — are not a problem, but they can also be signs of preeclampsia, which can be serious for both you and your baby. So if you experience any of these issues, be sure to tell your healthcare provider right away so they can determine if you’re dealing with normal symptoms or something more serious.