Saturday, March 6, 2010

6 Weeks

Your Baby This Coming Week

Your baby is 0.16 to 0.2 inches long (4-5mm) when measured from crown to rump. It is now identifiable as a human baby.

The limb buds are growing rapidly, developing into little fins with nodules at the ends which will eventually become fingers and toes. The arms have already differentiated into hand and shoulder segments.

The cerebral hemispheres of the brain are growing, and the eyes and nostrils are appearing. Your baby's heart bulges from its body and the heart chambers are divided and formed. Blood vessels now circulate blood throughout the whole body. The head looks large and is bent on the chest.

Your baby's face is forming, but its eyes are on the sides of its head and are still sealed. The discs that will become your baby's eyes will move over to the front of the face over the course of the next few months.

Bone cells are beginning to develop and the outline of the baby's nervous system is complete. The pigment in your baby's eyes can be seen under the skin overlaying them. By this point there is also a pancreas and an appendix. The tail is still visible, but it will soon fade. The umbilical cord is growing and the placenta is maturing as well.

Your Body This Coming Week

Your nipples may feel sensitive. Small nodules, called Montgomery's tubercles, may appear on the areolae.

Your blood pressure is lowered by pregnancy hormones, and as a result you may sometimes feel dizzy or faint when you stand for a long time.

Morning sickness may continue.

Cervical mucous coagulates to form a plug in your cervical canal to keep it closed and protected throughout your pregnancy. It will be expelled prior to giving birth.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Telling the family

Today we told our immediate families. We hadn't planned on telling them so soon. We had thought we would wait until Easter, another month away. But we're both so excited that we wanted to tell someone. So we called the parents and the siblings.

Everyone seemed excited- perhaps my family a little more so. But it was a weekend of good news for us Breechers. Andrew and Gentry got engaged yesterday and today they learned that I'm pregnant. Celebrations abound!

Five weeks

Your baby has grown to the size of a sesame seed, looking more like a tiny tadpole than a human.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Week 5

Your Baby This Coming Week
Your baby is now about the size of an apple seed. That's about 0.08 to 0.16 inches (2 to 4mm) from crown to rump. It has formed a distinct head with the first stages of eyes and ears. The spinal column and cord are formed. Buds that will grow limbs have also formed. The heart is starting to beat and at this stage its beating may even be detected by sensitive ultrasound equipment, though, it's still very early. The kidneys, liver and nerve cells have also begun to develop. Ten dental buds are growing in the jaws. Blood circulation has begun and primitive red blood cells circulate. The neural tube has closed over along your baby's spine. The optic vesicles, which resemble tiny discs of pigment set in cups along the sides of your baby's head will develop into your baby's eyes. A distinct tail is still present. The body is shaped like the letter "C".

Your Body This Coming Week
By now your pregnancy should have been confirmed. You may be experiencing morning sickness (not necessarily only in the morning). You will have begun to notice changes in your body: you may have gained a few pounds, or you may have even lost weight if you've been suffering from morning sickness. Your uterus is growing, although it is still smaller than a tennis ball and you do not "show". Your metabolism has likely increased to deal with the changes taking place in your body. Some women begin to suffer from heartburn and constipation. You may also be feeling tired and irritable sometimes due to the increase in levels of the hormone progesterone. (This is the same hormone that can make you feel irritable before you get your period).

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Four Weeks

Your baby -- now officially an embryo -- is about the size of a poppy seed.

Awwwww....

So after I got off the phone with the doctor's office I texted Chris.

Me: It's official
Him: I can't do cartwheels, or I would.
Me: Jeff (his boss) might look at you funny.
Him: Maybe. But it would be worth it.

Not sure why, but this makes me really happy. It's nice to see that he's this excited.

Week 4

So when a friend of mine was pregnant she kept a weekly journal on her blog with these stats. Thought I would give it a whirl.

How far along?
4 weeks, 5 days. Although I think this may change once I go and visit the doctor/nurse.
Total weight gain/loss: Hmmm.... it's been a while since I've been on a scale. I should probably do that tonight to get a "base line". Unfortunately there really isn't a convenient place in the new house to keep the scale. Or there is, but it's out of the way so to use it I need to pull it out from under some storage drawers, move the bathmat, and try to find the level spot of the floor.
TP test: I haven't done this one yet, but it's how many squares of toilet paper does it take to go around your belly. Often done as a guessing game at showers.
Maternity Clothes: Nope. Not yet.
"Morning" Sickness: Weird feeling in my stomach that started almost as soon as I took the first pregnancy test. At first I thought it was nerves/ butterflies, but it's now been there for 3 days. Not sure if it's psychosomatic or something else.
Signs of Pregnancy: Positive pregnancy tests!
Stretch Marks: Nope.
Sleep: Ok except for Monday night when I was so wound up from having just found out I was pregnant.
Best moment this week: There are a few...
Telling Chris. "Are you kidding me?!"
Seeing the positive line appear on the pregnancy test.
Calling my doctor to verify results of the blood test and being told that I was, in fact, pregnant.
Worst moment this week: Stomach pains.
Gender prediction: WAY too early to tell.
Movement: Nothing yet.
Labor Pains: Nothing yet.
Belly Button in or out? Definitely in.
Wedding rings on or off? On. And a little loose.
What I'm going to miss/What I can't wait for: Can't wait to start the doctor appointments. Makes it a bit more real. Also looking forward to shopping for the bambino.
I'm going to miss ice skating, but I think I can still do that for a couple more months. We'll see.
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy it.
Milestones/Fun Moments: Telling Chris
What we need to do: Everything! But at the same time, we don't need to be doing too much at this point.