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Week Twenty
Published 06.03.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (12)
Your Baby:
- Is as big as (depending on which measurements from which pregnancy book you use and of course, Your Produce May Vary) a butternut squash, or as long as a banana, or possibly a carrot. I am getting the sense these comparisons are not really an exact science.
- Will be measured head-to-toe from this point on, instead of the head-to-rump measurements we've used so far. I remember choking on a bagel at 21 weeks last time because HOLY CRAP, MY CHILD JUST GREW FIVE INCHES IN A WEEK.
- Has a heartbeat that can be heard with just a regular old stethoscope now and not just the fancy doppler.
- Is swallowing and practicing other digestive skills, and can now produce meconium, which is essentially prenatal poop that sits in the bowels during pregnancy. You'll see this awesome goopy stuff in person during your baby's very first diaper change, or possibly even during labor like I did, as some babies like to take their first crap in the womb. Meconium in the fluid in considered a delivery complication, but it's very common and not terribly dangerous -- your doctor will just need to suction your baby's nose and mouth immediately after delivery to prevent any meconium going into your baby's lungs with their first breath.
You:
- Are HALFWAY THERE HALFWAY THERE HALFWAY THERE!
- Seriously. You are halfway through this pregnancy, which may bring to mind such deep thoughts like: "Yay!" or "Uh-oh" or "Whoa" or "Must. Organize. Kitchen. Cabinets."
Let's talk skin today. Oh, but your poor skin takes such a beating during pregnancy, from itching to rashes to stretch marks to breakouts to other just plain weird stuff.
First up, stretch marks. Don't kid yourself. There's nothing you can do to prevent stretch marks. You will either get stretch marks...or you won't, and no amount of cocoa butter is going to change that. According to Wikipedia, one lone study claimed that a daily application of one lone type of cream was "associated with fewer stretch marks during pregnancy." Fewer. Which is good, but again, there's no surefire method of absolute prevention. About 75 to 90% of women will get at least some marks during pregnancy, usually in the third trimester. I've heard that there seems to be some genetic connection, so if you're wondering if you'll be one of the lucky unmarked few, ask your mom if she got them. My mom had three mark-free pregnancies in her very early 20s and then got them when she was pregnant with me at 35. I figured I had a decent shot at avoiding them, but I broke out in the thin, white silvery kind all around my belly button right at 38 weeks. This time I don't seem to be getting too many new marks yet, but my existing ones are much darker and more prominent. Eh. I freaked OUT last time at the sight of them, but now I know they really do fade with time and are barely noticeable to anyone other than me. They're your battle scars, and you might as well get ready to wear them proudly.
Next up, the "mask of pregnancy" or chloasma, which usually crops up sometime during the second trimester. This involves brownish or yellowish patches of skin -- it can show up anywhere, but is most commonly noticed on the upper cheeks and t-zone. Pregnancy hormones, for whatever reason, can stimulate extra melanin production in your skin and create a not-super-great blotchy look to your face. (Oral contraceptives can cause the same thing, incidentally.) While a lot of people seem to assume blondes and lighter-complexioned women are more prone to chloasma, it's actually more common for brunettes and darker-skinned women. Like stretch marks, there's nothing you can do to 100% for-sure prevent it from happening, although limiting your exposure to UVA and UVB light and wearing a broad spectrum sunblock on your face can really help.
And then there's the linea nigra, that weird dark line that runs either up or down or right on through your belly button. Apparently we've all got that line already -- it's called the linea alba and is usually the color of your skin or even a little lighter. But since a LOT of skin-related stuff tends to get darker during pregnancy (like moles, freckles, areolas, genitals), this line appears more visible from about the second trimester on. And the darker your complexion, the darker the line. Usually. (Mine was barely noticeable last time and is completely invisible so far, but my fair-skinned sister had a pretty prominent one.) The line will eventually lighten a few months after you deliver, while other dark spots like moles and areolas and such, are probably going to be like that for good.
Zits! Pimples! Breakouts! Acne! Some women get them on their face, some on their body, others get bona-fide eruptions unlike anything you've seen this side of junior high. It's a downside of the "pregnancy glow," which is really just increased blood flow to your cheeks and extra secretions by your oil glands. Bleh! I know! Go with a very gentle face cleanser or oatmeal scrub and wash the afflicted areas at least twice a day. Make sure all your makeup is oil-free, but stay away from harsh astringents or cheap oil-fighting products. They'll just make your glands overcompensate and produce more oil. The good news is that this is NOT a sign that you'll be stuck in permanent pizza-face mode forever -- most pregnancy acne is just that, and your skin WILL return to normal soon after birth.
And let's not forget all the other weird, weird things that your skin might do during pregnancy. There's heat rash, chafing and all-over itching from where your skin stretches. There's plaques of pregnancy or PUPP, which is a raised and red pimply eruption of itchy skin on the abdomen or thighs or buttocks. It's alarming looking but harmless, and will go away after delivery. Keep it moisturized and apply an anti-itch cream if it drives you crazy. There's skin tags. Red palms. Tiny red raised freckles on your torso and extremities. Spider veins. Burst blood vessels on your face (and eyeballs!). And probably dozens of other strange lesions and bumps and marks that nobody ever talks about.
A visit to the dermatologist can really put your mind at ease if you notice anything really unusual -- while mole growth and new moles are very normal, pregnancy is NOT immunity against skin cancer, so don't hesitate to call and get checked out. Your doctor will probably shrug and tell you that
Oh Yeah, THIS: The STATE I manage to work myself into while trying to determine if I am, in fact, experiencing "decreased fetal movement" or if the kid is just taking a nap.
New This Time Around: While we're on the subject of skin changes, let me tell you about my backne. And chestne. Shoulderne. Neckne. Yuck yuck yuck. So far no brand of body wash or bar soap seems to have any effect on it.
Featured Weekly Pregnancy Video:Pregnancy Diet-- What dairy foods and how much should I consume when pregnant?
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About this column
Zero to Forty is a week-by-week guide to the miracle of pregnancy and all the various indignities that come with it. New installments will be published on Wednesdays, with other pregnancy-related content and ramblings to be published whenever the columnist can stay awake long enough to type themzzzzzz.
The column is well-researched but not written by a health care professional. Consider it your internet BFF pregnancy guide. See our legal disclaimer below.
About the author
Amy Corbett Storch, aka Amalah, is a freelance writer and professional blogger from Washington, DC. She is currently knocked up with her second child, due in October. Her first child is still currently wearing diapers. Amy is currently wondering what she has gotten herself into now.
Amy also writes Alpha Mom's Advice Smackdown.
About the illustrations
The Zero to Forty masthead and illustrations were created by the artist Brenda Ponnay aka Secret Agent Josephine. Brenda is very talented and these images are copyright-protected. You should hire her!
Disclaimer
This column is only for entertainment purposes and is not written by a health care professional. Any recommendations or information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for advice by a trained professional. For a full statement of our site policies, please click here.
Comments (12):
Amy also said:
Chloasma / melasma sucks! After three babies, my dermatologist tells me I may be prone to this forever. Always wear sunscreen!!!
Posted on June 4, 2008 11:48
Sarah said:
I've always struggled with bad acne, but man, did pregnancy ever set it off! It's somewhat reassuring that I'm not the only one dealing with it.
I'm enjoying this website tremendously - I'm a week behind your pregnancy, so it's fun to sneak a peek ahead at next week's fun!
Posted on June 4, 2008 12:49
eva said:
In the skin-related pregnancy-features category I also experienced:
1) a HUGE ingrown hair. Down there. I thought I was growing a big new disgusting warty thing and was ready to accuse my husband of infidelity, but the midwife assured me that these are common in pregnancy.
2) Big new moles and existing moles in NEW! Larger Sizes! Big enough that just last week (5.5 months post partum) I had to go into day surgery at the local hospital to get the OB-GYN to remove one. From - you guessed it - DOWN THERE.
Posted on June 4, 2008 15:01
Shaunna said:
Did I miss it? Or did the winner of the Ann Taylor Loft gift card go unannounced? Yes, I have everything crossed that can be crossed that it will be meeeeeee!!!!!
Posted on June 4, 2008 19:25
Aimee said:
Oh, so much to look forward to when (if) I get pregnant. Now, if I already have acne, backne, chestne, shoulderne, and neckne, then what happens when I do get pregnant? Acne on my legs, butt, belly? Leprosy-like spots over my entire body? Man oh man, what awesome things to look forward to...!
P.S. Yeah, what happened with the Ann Taylor gift card sweepstakes?
Posted on June 5, 2008 09:26
Keyruh said:
Wait...what is this bit about dark genitals?! I'm scared!
Posted on June 5, 2008 17:49
Amalah said:
We contacted our gift card winner and are waiting to hear back with address details and such -- entrants, check your spam folders! If we don't hear back from her, we'll be selecting someone else soon.
Posted on June 6, 2008 10:57
psumommy said:
Aimee- if it makes you feel better, *some* women have the best skin of their lives while pregnant. I did with my first 3, but this time around I'm getting the weirdest zits. Granted, I pretty much blame any new thing with my body on pregnancy. Even when I'm no longer pregnant. :)
Posted on June 6, 2008 21:25
Wallydraigle said:
Aimee--My skin, too got really bad during the first two/three months of pregnancy. The skin on my face has always been problematic, but this was just awful. Then one day I woke up, and it was beautiful. Better than it's been since 7th grade. So it's entirely possible that your skin could clear up, too.
My only problem now is that I'm getting weird zits on my back and shoulders (where I didn't get them before), and my skin is very scaly and itchy right around my mid-back. Like a freaking lizard. I'm wondering if it has something to do with wearing a bra. I know it's not lack of water, since I drink a ton every single day. And slathering myself in lotion (I use Cetaphil) doesn't help.
Posted on June 7, 2008 11:52
erin said:
Non-prego girl, don't panic. I freaked out the week BabyCenter.com told me I'd get the 'roids, and nothing ever happened, and my mom had even had them!
You can't predict what your body will do, so the best defense is a good offense...take GOOD vitamins from the start, exercise and stay in good shape and your body will hold up well.
Posted on June 10, 2008 17:56
Marijke said:
What a great blog! Wow, does it ever bring back memories. When it comes to skin though, I was one of the lucky ones - with all three.
I'm going to have to set aside some time to sit down and give the rest of your posts a good read.
Marijke
www.wombwithin.com
Posted on June 18, 2008 06:39
Jennie said:
Finally, a yucky symptom I DON'T have during pregnancy ... bad skin. I don't know why I've been spared, except that I've had every other bad thing in spades. I was too lazy to put on make-up today before work, and I glanced in the rearview mirror to check out my face and - holy of holies - it looked great! It looked like I was all fresh and had a bit of make-up on. Weird. Perhaps it is a tiny karmic payback for all those weeks of never-ending nausea ...
Posted on September 10, 2008 20:18