20 weeks!

We celebrated our halfway point by attending a specialist at Carle in Champaign.  It was a big day; our AFP test came back with an increased risk for a child with Downs Syndrome and the appointment was for an ultrasound to indicate if the risk was a false positive or if there were markers indicating there could be something wrong with the baby.

The ultrasound was beautiful.  For 45-minutes, we got to see our little one move, bounce, and pose for the examiner.  And every measure was perfect - there was no indication we would need further testing or that the baby had any defects.  It was the most amazing experience to see the baby's heart working, blood flowing, limbs moving - all at only about 6 inches long.  Shonn and I were overwhelmed with thankfulness and a renewed sense of marvel at how miraculous life is.  I had such a perfect pregrnancy with Beckett that I think I took it for granted.  Not anymore!

The second huge piece of information we got at the appointment was that we are having a GIRL!  I could not have been more surprised!  Since we took that Intelligender at about 12 weeks, I have been sure we were having a boy!  We were both so excited!  Shonn has had a feeling all along I might be having a girl because I have had such a different pregnancy, but I really thought it was a boy.  I'm really thankful and feel incredibly blessed to have a healthy baby - the girl is icing on top!

Here is what Baby Center has to say about the 20th week:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He'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, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.