22 weeks down, only 18 to go!

Week 22 means that I am now in my 6th month of pregnancy! And, yes, that means I have four more months to go. I am already showing quite a bit and wondering just how much bigger I will get! Eeeeeek!

In the meantime, baby is about the size of a papaya!


Some more things to keep in mind:

• Watch what you say -- Baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb! Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop! (Source: The Bump)


• She is becoming plumper as her fat is being laid down at a high rate, but her skin is still wrinkled and reddish. The wrinkled and loose appearance of her skin is due to the faster production of her skin than the fat that fills it out. The reddish appearance of her skin is due to the deposition of pigment as her skin loses its translucent appearance.


• Your baby can kick and punch vigorously by now, but she may also be gently feeling the umbilical cord and rubbing her hands and face against the inside membrane of the amniotic sac that holds her. (I feel her kicking!)


• She is still swallowing amniotic fluid, which provides an important nutritional supplement to the nutrition she gets via the placenta, and is passing some of it as urine. The swallowing of the amniotic fluid may cause your baby to get the hiccups and you may even be able to feel this as her body jumps inside yours. (Wow, that is so cool!)