From head to bottom, your baby is about six and one half inches long, and weighs over ten ounces. Starting next week, the baby’s length will be measured from head to heel, since the legs have finally stretched out enough to be measured accurately. This period of rapid growth is almost done. In the developing brain, specialized areas are forming for each of the senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching). The nerve cells in the brain are also growing larger and making more neural connections. The legs are reaching their relative size, and the baby’s muscles are getting stronger. If you have only felt small flutters from your baby so far, you will start feeling powerful kicks soon.
This week marks the midpoint in your pregnancy—you’ve made it halfway! You may be able to feel how close the top of your uterus is to your belly button. During your appointments, your healthcare practitioner may feel your abdomen to find the position of the baby. The height of your uterus may also be measured, which is an indicator of the growth of the baby. This can vary from person to person, so don’t worry if your measurements are slightly higher or lower than the average. (If you are still hunting for the perfect maternity fashions, read: “Mamacita: Wearing Maternity with Style.”)
Hot Topic: Dizziness
Feeling slightly light-headed or dizzy, especially when rising from lying down or sitting, can be totally normal at this stage in pregnancy. Usually you’ll notice these symptoms when you change posture, and this condition is called postural hypotension. This is lowered blood pressure that results from a rapid change in position, such as going suddenly from sitting to standing. Your cardiovascular system does not react as quickly as it did before you were pregnant. Other causes of dizziness or light-headedness may include too low or too high blood sugar. Use the following precautions:
- Move slowly when rising from a reclining position or when standing up
- Make sure to steady yourself
- Eat several small meals per day and do not skip meals
