Size matters

According to the "Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth" by Kaz Cooke, Toblet is now 20cm (at 23 weeks today) and around 0.5kg (2lb).

Am I obsessing about this? There is very little else in the books (of which we have even more now) about the baby. It seems that the exciting bit as the baby forms is pretty much over, and now it is simply a race to be big enough and fat enough to survive birth.

Kaz, I guess, was chosen as author because an Emma, Karen or Gillian just wouldn't be right for a Rough Guide.

Kaz.

Yeah.

Linea Nigra

Yes, it's here! The Linea Nigra has arrived, showing as a gentle darkening above and below her belly-button.

Press here to open.

Anomaly Scan

We're due for the 20-week half-time scan tomorrow. Will we get orange slices and a rub-down from the physio?

It's called the Anomaly Scan, which, in summary, is a physical once-over. The site http://www.babycentre.co.uk/ has a clear explanation of all this at http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/scans/secondtrimesterscans/#16:

"If a problem is found or suspected, you will be told at the time of the scan and an appointment to have another scan with a Fetal Medicine Specialist should be made within 72 hours. Approximately 15 per cent of scans will need to be repeated for one reason or another; most problems that need repeat scanning are not serious. If the problem does turn out to be serious, you will be given the opportunity to discuss all your options, which may include termination of the pregnancy, surgery or treatment after birth, or even surgery in the womb. You will be supported by the team, which may include midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians, physiotherapists and the hospital chaplain. "

The least amazing picture

Take a look (and laugh) at the pictures on this site: http://menshealth.about.com/library/blfetus_photo5.htm and http://menshealth.about.com/library/blfetus.htm

On being the right size

Depending on which book you read and how many weeks they count, Toblet is around 320g, covered in brown greasy goo to stop it shrinking in the wash, and growing fast.

I peeked ahead in one of the books. In ten weeks from now, 30 weeks, the baby will be more than three times heavier at over 1kg.

Unbelievable.

Try reading J B S Haldane, "On being the right size," found at http://irl.cs.ucla.edu/papers/right-size.html