Monday, September 28, 2009

Week 11

What a week it has been. This last week has been a little tough in that I was sick for a few days and now suffer from a toothache that is preventing me from sleeping. I am thankful that it is Monday so that I can work with my doctor on possible remedies.

Here is how the baby is growing this week: Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Week 10

We are now in week 10. Here is what BabyCenter has to say on how the baby is growing this week:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

We are in week 9

We are half way through week 9. I was able to go for my first prenatal massage this week. Usually they do not accept someone in the first trimester but I had a note from my doctor that it was okay. They accepted me with some hesitation since I'm in my first trimester but I was happy about them okaying the massage as I really needed one. I had to change therapists as I had to use someone who specializes in prenatal. The massage was not as deep or thorough as I generally would get which leaves my back in some discomfort but I love being pregnant and therefore wouldn't change anything.

Here is the update from BabyCenter on how the baby is growing in week 9.
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

FYI - although "she" is poised for rapid weight gain her mother is not. I have lost a few pounds in the last few weeks but I will need to closely monitor my weight and make sure that I am gain the amount of weight that the doctor recommends. Although my weight loss is very slow (at times non existent) I want to keep the baby healthy and I would prefer not to have to work off any unnecessary weight gain.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Second doctor appointment

We are in week 8.

Yesterday we had our second doctor appointment/first Ultrasound appointment. This was exciting for us. We got to hear the heartbeat and see the baby (or blob or kidneybean). Here are the pictures that the doctor took.

According to babycenter is here is how our baby is growing this week:
Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

Next appointments:
We have a Genetics Consultation appointment on 10/8/09
Our next doctor's appointment is on 10/22/09

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Our first doctor appointment

Today we went to our first doctor appointment. Everything looks good. The estimated due date is April 16, 2010.

So far I have morning sickness (no pizza, chicken or anything greasy for me), mood swings and I am always tired but I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. I love being pregnant.