Tuesday, October 30, 2007

A funny Nik story...

So this morning before school Nik and I went to the dry cleaners to drop off my wedding dress and then went to the coffee shop next door for a hot chocolate. Nik had his and I had mine. He asked "Am I drinking hot chocolate?" and I said "Yes." He asked "Are you drinking hot chocolate?" and I said "Yes." He asked "Is the baby drinking hot chocolate?" and I said "Yes." And then he asked "Does he have a cup?" and I managed to not laugh too much and tell him no. :)

Thursday, October 25, 2007

19 weeks -- It's a Boy!!




We had our sonogram today. It is DEFINTELY a boy. He was very eager to show up what he had... But not at all eager to cooperate for the 3-D scan. The technician was really trying to get a picture of his head to show us his face but the baby kept putting his hand up in front of his face. He was very active. He was moving his legs and moving his arms. He crossed and un-crossed his legs. I guess he is enjoying all the room he has in there at the moment. It is weird to see him moving around on the screen and yet be unable to feel him moving around on the inside. It won't be long before that changes.

His head is 14 cm around. He weighs about 10 ounces. He is the length of a bottle of beer. Maybe a Coronita tho, since he is only 10 ounces. And you know how I love a tiny bottle of beer. Or maybe he is the size of a bottle of Ting. I look forward to returning to St Maarten just for the Ting. Oh yummy grapefruity goodness.

We got tons of pictures today so that was also pretty cool. :) If you want to see them all, just let me know...

Thursday, October 18, 2007

18 weeks = Can of Soup

Sorry for the late post. Between no work laptop and an afternoon of meetings on my telework day I didn't get a chance to do the update until now, after knitting class.

http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/pregnancy_week_18.htm
How Big is the Baby at 18 Weeks Pregnant?
By 18 weeks pregnant your baby is now anywhere from 5 to approximately 6 inches long at 18 weeks and weighs a little over 5 ounces! In case you are wondering that is about the size of a small can of soup!
Your Baby's Growth and Development
By pregnancy week 18 your baby's heart is developed enough to show some signs of defects. Ultrasound may be used to help detect any structural abnormalities that might exist. Most babies will be born without any congenital abnormalities. If an early ultrasound does detect something abnormal, you can plan ahead for any interventions or surgeries that may be necessary to support your newborn baby after birth.At pregnancy week 18 your baby is now starting to produce a protective covering along the nerves, called Myelin. This substance will be produced through the ninth month. By now your baby's genitals should be distinguishable, though you may not yet have the opportunity to view them at your health care practitioner's office.

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/18weeks/
Your baby is approximately 6 inches/ 14.2 centimetres long from crown to rump and she weighs about 7 ounces/ 190 grams. Her chest moves up and down to mimic breathing but she's not taking in air, only amniotic fluid.A mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan is often done sometime in the second trimester (usually between 18 and 22 weeks) to assess fetal growth and development, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord and determine whether the gestational age is accurate. During this scan, you might see your baby kick, flex, reach, roll, or even suck her thumb. Bring your partner along, and whether or not he's able to accompany you, make sure you ask for printouts of the baby in various poses.

http://www.babiesonline.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week18.asp
Your Baby:Your baby is growing rapidly. His bones are continuing to harden and the pads of his fingers and toes are formed. He even has his own set of fingerprints developing as well. Your baby is approximately 5.5 inches and weighs about 200 grams (7.5 ounces).Your baby can kick, swallow, and sleep. He also is developing his stomach, intestine and colon and the intestines collect meconium (the initial stool a baby will pass after birth). If the baby is a boy, the prostate will begin to develop this week as well. The skin is still a bit pink and transparent and his ears still stick out from his head. The four-chambered heart begins to build up muscle cells and is pumping between 25 and 30 quarts of blood per day.

http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/wkbywkguide/0,,c32s3v4x,00.html
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU You may be waiting anxiously for your baby's first movement, known as "quickening." You want to know that your baby, who's been quietly maneuvering around since seven weeks, is big enough and strong enough to send you a message. Many women find this barometer of their baby's well-being very reassuring. Typically, you will feel the first small rumblings of fetal movement between 18 and 22 weeks (or later, in some cases). If you have very strong abdominal muscles, you're very overweight or your fetus is "hiding," you may fall on the late end of the scale. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not feel fetal movement as early as you will in successive pregnancies. Most likely, though, junior will make his or her presence known within this next, exciting month. Early fetal movements may feel like soft tapping, or "butterflies," just above the pubic bone.
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY Your baby has grown to 14 centimeters crown to rump. Adding two ounces in just one week, your baby tips the scales at seven ounces. Baby's limbs are lengthening, and at last, body length is catching up to head size. Bones are still malleable but are beginning to ossify.

http://baby2see.com/development/week18.html
Week Eighteen: Baby begins to hearYou are 18 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 16 weeks)The fetus is now 6 inches long and weighs 7 ounces.The fetus measures about 15cm and weighs almost 200 grams.They can hear sounds and may be startled by loud noises.Recognizable active and rest periods.The skin is building a protective wax layer (vernix).Vernix (a white cheese like protective material) forms on baby's skin with the lanugo, a soft lightly pigmented hair covering the body and limbs, both help to protect your baby's skin during the months in water. Your baby may hear your heart beating, your stomach rumbling or blood moving through the umbilical cord. He or she may even be startled by loud noises.Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs and the vocal chords are formed. Baby goes through the motions of crying but without air doesn't make a sound; yet. Your baby may have the same awake and sleep patterns of a newborn. Baby will have a favorite position for sleep and recognizable active and rest periods.Your baby measures about 6 inches (15cm) crown to rump and weighs about 7 ounces (200gm).

Thursday, October 11, 2007

17 Weeks = Large Onion or Small Pomegranate

Baby's first trip to Vegas resulted in my first weight gain! I put on 2 pounds leaving me half a pound down from my pre-pregnancy weight. Making it all the more difficult to listen to my doctor calling me a fat cow...

I had another appointment with the OB. Unfortunately I had my first interaction with a doctor I did not like. Not only did she not talk to me about the baby's heartbeat (nice and strong to my ears) but her attitude was quite hostile. She also told me that I should gain no weight at all for the rest of my pregnancy which is at odds with what all of the other doctors have told me is acceptable. She suggested I follow the Atkins Diet and when I asked for more information on healthy eating without carbs she told me that if I didn't want to change my eating habits for the health of my baby she would help me deal with the health issues later. It was so bizarre to have a doctor with such a bad attitude after everyone else at this office has been so great. I plan to just avoid her in the future. The practice has a large number of doctors and it should be fairly easy to avoid this one doctor and her mean attitude. I plan to do some research on my own and talk to some of my diabetic friends for some diet tips. I do not have gestational diabetes but with my family history I am still at risk. So the idea is that if I start eating now as if I do have gestational diabetes I might be able to delay or stop the onset of gestational diabetes. It was so frustrating to ask the doctor for details on her suggested diet plan only to have her attack me for not being willing to make changes in my diet for the health of my baby. I eat almost nothing but carbs so this is going to be a pretty major change for me. Sigh.


http://www.maternityandbabyshoppingmart.com/pregnancy_week_17.html
By now your baby is quite mobile, and measures in at roughly 4.8 inches long and may be as much as 3.5 ounces! Most babies are roughly the size of your palm by about 17 weeks pregnant. Your baby is quite mobile by this point in time, happily swimming about your uterus. This will change in the upcoming weeks as your baby starts putting on pounds and the space inside your uterus becomes increasingly cluttered.
From roughly pregnancy week 17 on your baby starts hearing things in the outside world. You may notice as your pregnancy progresses your baby sometimes jumps at loud noises. This is a good time to consider playing some soothing music for your baby.
Keep in mind during this time in your pregnancy the power of touch if very strong. Your baby can feel your movements and your touch while in the uterus, so take some time each day to rub your belly and tell your baby just how much you love them. This helps comfort your baby and initiates the bonding process between you and baby.
You can also invite your partner to do the same. You'll find this is a wonderful and bonding experience for both of you, especially if your baby decides to start kicking your partner during touch sessions.

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-17-weeks_1106.bc
Your baby weighs about 5 ounces now, and he's around 5 inches long — about the size of a large onion. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/pregnancy_week_17.htm
Your baby is anywhere from 4.4 to 4.8 inches by pregnancy week 17 and weighs almost 3 ½ ounces! If you were to hold your baby at 17 weeks pregnant, she would fit snuggly in the palm of your hand. Your baby is about the size of a small pomegranate by pregnancy 17 weeks.

Your baby during week 17 is now very mobile, gleefully moving his joints here, there and everywhere and will continue to do so as you continue your pregnancy week by week. The cartilage making up the skeleton in your baby's body is starting to transform into bone. At pregnancy 17 weeks time your baby should be hearing things. Your baby will start putting on some layers of fat in the weeks to come, though at this point in time your baby is made up of primarily water.
You may be feeling your baby move intermittently after pregnancy week 17, though as your pregnancy progresses you will likely start feeling your baby move more and more.
There are many natural health practitioners that believe in the power of touch. Though your little one is still very small, your touch may do much to help him feel safe and warm inside the womb. If you haven't started already, you might consider rubbing your 'pooch' in calming circular motions. This will not only help comfort your little one, but will help initiate the bonding process with you and your newborn baby throughout your pregnancy and after.
Other women find comfort when playing music to their unborn children. There is evidence suggesting that your baby responds to music even while in the womb. Thus, there is no harm in playing some calm and engaging music to your baby even while they are in the womb.

And it looks like it is also handy that I start my new job next week:
It is important if you work in a stressful environment that you start taking measures to reduce your stress level. Stress can have a devastating impact on pregnancy and childbirth. There are actually some studies that suggest that stress can contribute to complications during pregnancy, including preterm labor. Some studies have also indicated that high levels of stress particularly between weeks 18 and 20 can result in higher levels of a hormone called corticotropin-releasing hormone, which has been linked to preterm labor. This hormone may promote your body to release prostaglandins, which may result in contractions. Thus it is critical you do everything possible to limit your stress whenever possible.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

16 Weeks = Avocado Baby

This morning I weighed myself and I'm still 2.5 pounds down from my pre-pregnancy weight. At my last check in I was the same weight and they were happy with it. So I'm going to assume it is fine until a doctor tells me to worry. I know the baby is taking whatever he needs to grow and be healthy. I'm struggling with some tiredness and I am assuming that is related to my inability to put on any weight. I have had a head cold for most of the week but I seem to be almost over that now. My morning sickness is reduced to puking a few mornings a week. The food aversions are mostly gone which is good news. My most frequent craving has been for shepherd's pie. I'm happy it is for something I actually like and know how to make!

And here's the 16 week update from the web:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-16-weeks_1105.bc
How your baby's growing:At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/calendar/week16
Over the past three weeks your astounding growing baby has managed to stretch yet another 2 full inches (totaling about 4.5 inches) and weighs around 3.5 ounces. Yessireee, that’s some pretty serious growth... and with it comes several physical developments! For starters, their head to body ratio is finally starting to even out a bit as the rest of the body is actually growing faster than the head at this point. Yes, your little light bulb is not so top-heavy. Their adorable little limbs have lengthened, almost reaching their normal proportions which they will have at birth. Their eyes are still closed but moving and if you had an ultrasound, which many doctors recommend you have at about this time, you may even see your little one sucking on a thumb, not to mention the necessary signifiers to let you know whether you’ve got a wee lad or lassie.

http://www.pregnancy-weekbyweek.com/pregnancy-week-16.htm
Your Baby
By pregnancy week 16 your baby is more than 4.5 inches long and may weigh almost 3 ounces.
Changes In Your Growing Baby
Your baby is planning on a huge growth spurt in the upcoming weeks. During pregnancy week 16 your baby has grown strong enough to hold his head straighter. Your baby's eyes and ears are moving into their final position and your baby is focusing much of her energy on her circulation system. By week 16 pregnancy your baby's heart is pumping roughly 25 quarts of blood each day!
During pregnancy at 16 weeks your baby starts growing fine hair on the tope of his head, though some babies will be born very bald despite their best efforts. The color of your baby's hair and even your baby's eyes may change shortly after birth. Many babies are born with blonde hair for example that falls out and turns brown a short time after birth. Still others are born with brown eyes that turn blue within a month or two after birth! Your baby will continue to amaze you in the weeks following pregnancy.