Friday, October 30, 2009

Week 16

I felt the baby for the first time. Tom and I were talking, getting ready to go to bed and all of a sudden I felt butterflies. It lasted for about a minute and a half. I was surprised that it lasted so long. It was a fun experience that I can't wait to feel again (until the baby keeps me up all night kicking).

How your baby's growing:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Week 15

We had our monthly doctor appointment on Thursday and the doctor said that everything is great. I lost 6 lbs... what a great diet.
We also received the test results from the genetic consultation appointment and the results were great!!! I am not a carrier of the genetic markers so we do not need to test Tom and we do not need further testing on the baby unless we decide we want it. The baby's test results also came back and everything looks good. We will continue with ultrasound appointments to ensure that the baby remains healthy.

Here is how the baby is growing this week:
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Monday, October 19, 2009

Don't forget to vote

Don't forget to put in your vote as to whether you think the baby will be a boy or a girl. We really want to know everyone's thought. The voting poll is over to the right so click on your choice now.
Thanks!!!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Week 14

Finally we made it to the second trimester. I no longer have morning sickness, which is a GREAT thing but I don't have a big appetite yet. On average I eat one (1) big meal a day and one (1) small meal a day. I think my weight has finally leveled out (I am no longer losing weight). Next week we have our monthly doctor appointment with our regular doctor (OBGYN).

How our baby's growing this week:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Genetic Consultation Appointment (take 2)

We went back to our genetic consultation appointment for the ultrasound appointment as explained below. Although it took some time (and jabbing of my tummy and jumping up and down) the baby finally cooperated and we were able to take the measurement we needed. They then took more blood (why not, I have plenty, right???) which backs up the ultrasound test. I am really glad that we were able to get the test completed because it was the last day to perform the test.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Week 13

This is the last week of my first trimester. I have a small baby bump and my clothes are getting tight on me. I have been wearing a lot more of Tom's shirts.

Here is the baby's progress for this week.
Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Genetic Consultation Appointment

We had our first trimester Genetic consultation appointment. Just as we did, many of you may ask what is that? Simply put in the 1980's it was determined that anyone who has a baby at the age of 35 or older is at a greater risk of having that baby with health issues. They now provide screening to assist in determining some of the most common risks.
In the first trimester testing, for most of these tests it is a simple blood test from me to determine if I carry any of the genetic markers that cause the disorder (such as cystic fibrosis or spinal muscular atrophy). I had it the test drawn on 10/8/09 and I am now waiting for the result.

The testing for down Down syndrome is different in that first they perform an ultrasound to measure the back of the baby's neck. Unfortunately the baby did not cooperate and move into a position for us to get this measurement so we have another appointment next week to try again.

We did get more pictures of the baby. This time I included a little "map" for those that have trouble viewing an ultrasound.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Week 12

Sorry for the delay in this weeks post. It has been a rough two weeks. After finally getting over the morning sickness I ended up with the flu. As soon as I was starting to feel better I got an infection in my #2 tooth. I chose to have the tooth pulled, rather than another root canal on that tooth as it posed less risk to the baby. My mouth is healing nicely and I feel great again.

I love reading how the baby is growing. He or She is growing so fast. Here is the week 12 update.
The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.
Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.