Sunday, June 28, 2009

Week 17 and 18

On a happy note, I got our blood results back for the birth defects testing (triple scan) and everything is completely normal! On a not so happy note, I had an inner ear infection this week that was the worst thing imaginable. It was so bad that the room was spinning which made me throw up. It is much better now though! We got to have an amazing Father's Day weekend. Saturday, Rich and I went and picked out our oversized Victorian looking chair. It is an elegant chair, but it glides. It is the first thing that we have picked out for the nursery! We got it at a place in Franklin that will let you pick the fabric from hundreds of different choices. Then we went and got Rich some golf shirts, went to Blue Coast and Maggie Moos, then headed home. On Sunday, I surprised Rich with some new Nike shorts to work out in and a new playstation remote. We also went to church and went to my parent's house to swim and for dinner. Get ready for the best part of the day... Rich and Nana (my mom) got to feel the baby move on Father's Day! The baby always moves like crazy when I put my belly in the water, and they definitely felt some jabs. They say people can't feel the baby move until a few weeks from now, but this was actually at 18 and a half weeks. The baby is 10 days further than what we had originally thought. Anyways, enough of my ramblings. Here are the Baby updates for weeks 17 and 18.

Week 17 Updates:
How your baby's growing:Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.
Week 18 Updates:
How your baby's growing:Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A little movement (well, a lot)

I forgot to journal about the first time I felt our baby move. I had felt things that felt like a little movement for a few weeks, but the first time that I felt a FOR SURE movement from the baby was on Saturday, June 6th. I was at my parent's pool laying on the float with my mom when I felt it. I was laying on my back, and it felt like something was thumping the inside of my belly. It was one of the most amazing feelings that I have ever felt. I have been feeling the baby move more and more since then and from what I can tell the baby is REALLY active. It is simply the best feeling to know that something that is equally a part of my husband and I is kicking away inside of my belly. I am starting to love being pregnant! Hope everyone is having a great week!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Weeks 15 and 16

Week 15 Updates:

How your baby's growing: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.

Week 16 Updates:

I went to the doctor last Monday for our 16 week appointment. As soon as Dr. Wingo put the gel and Doppler on my belly I got to hear the heartbeat. Last time it took him a few minutes to find it, but this time I heard it right away. It was strong at 150. I also had my blood drawn for the Downs Syndrome, Trisomy syndromes, and all of the other major birth defects. I will get those results either tomorrow or Wednesday so please keep us in your prayers. Dr. Wingo did say that our baby is going to be a BIG baby. They measured the baby's legs at our last ultrasound, and he said that the baby would be really long and that there was no way that my frame would allow me to make it to 40 weeks with this big of a baby. Also, I put a few bump pictures up for your viewing pleasures...haha. I am absolutely starting to grow more and more every day. I truly LOVE showing though and having a baby bump. Enjoy!

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.

There is one big baby in here!!!