Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.
Overheard "I get tired of everyone saying pregnant women are beautiful. I've never felt less attractive! I hear about women who love being pregnant, and I'm just puzzled by them." — Laura
The United States is the only industrialized nation that doesn't guarantee paid maternity leave. — The Project on Global Working Families
Feeling off balance, forgetfulness, and itchy skin
Itchy skin Your breasts and belly may feel especially itchy now as your skin stretches. You can take the edge off by: • Showering or bathing in warm — not hot — water. (Some women swear by the skin-softening properties of a warm oatmeal bath — available in most drugstores.) • Using a mild, moisturizing soap. • Slathering on the moisturizer while your skin's still damp after a bath or shower. • Wearing loose cotton clothing.
Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.
Why am I so forgetful?
There's no conclusive explanation for why many pregnant women say that their short-term memory isn't up to par during pregnancy, but this feeling can be the result of lack of sleep. "Pregnant women need extra sleep, but it's hard to get," says Margaret Pfeifer, an obstetrician with the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. As your body changes and becomes more uncomfortable, it can disrupt your sleep patterns. Other factors that may contribute to this foggy feeling include hormones, stress, and a preoccupation with all things baby.
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