24 weeks!!!!

Pregnancy Week 24

An X ray reveals a greatly strengthened skeletal system. The baby begins to move more and more.

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Your Baby

Your baby is about 12 inches long and weighs a little over a pound. She has developed the sweet face you'll soon see, with eyes and ears placed just where they should be. She's big enough that she can no longer do cartwheels and tumbles, but she's just as touchy-feely with her surroundings as she has been. She's also even more attuned into sounds outside the womb. If a loud noise disturbs her, she may be restless for hours.

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• When Baby Bears No Resemblance
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Your Body
Faint red marks may begin to stretch across your abdomen now that your uterus has risen to two inches above your belly button. They may also show up on your hips and breasts. While there's not much you can do to stop stretch marks from appearing, know that soon after delivery they'll likely fade to nearly invisible silvery or white streaks. And if they don't, consider them a loving reminder of your nine-month adventure.

Fetal development in pregnancy week 18:

fetus in fifth month We have two more ounces! Your "getting bigger-n-better by the minute baby" is already up to 7 ounces and 6 inches! This is a big week for their baby skin. There are now two distinct layers—the epidermis (or the surface skin) and dermis. Currently, their skin is covered with a greasy, waxy, cheese-like substance, known as vernix caseosa. Sure, it sounds pretty nasty, but this mixture of fatty secretions covering your little swimmer from head to toe is the best way to protect their oh-so-thin skin from bruising and abrasions as well as chapping caused by amniotic fluid exposure (and your little one is swimming in that stuff!). Still don’t like the fact your little darling is currently slathered in fatty cream like a greased pig? Well, you know the birthing process? Where you have to push something the size of a watermelon out a hole the size of a grape? That adorable little greased piglet would have a lot harder time getting through the birth canal without the vernix caseosa. Fun fact for momma’s with baby girls: it’s a uterus within a uterus! Your little girl will have developed a uterus and vagina canal by the end of this week.

Just to make Jenna Happy LOL

16 Weeks

At this point of your pregnancy, your baby is approximately 4.3 to 4.6 inches long and weighs 2.8 ounces. Not only is your baby growing, your uterus and placenta continue to grow to accommodate the growing baby inside of you! Just six weeks ago, your uterus weighed about 5 ounces. This week it now weighs 8.75 ounces! The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is increasing and there is about 7.5 ounces of fluid. You will easily be able to feel your uterus approximately three inches below your navel.

This is an important week for testing and you will most likely have an AFP test done. This is a harmless blood test that is done to detect abnormalities such as Down's syndrome or spina bifida. This is a non-invasive test and it carries no risk to your developing baby. Most doctors will offer the test, but in most cases it is completely optional.

Your milk glands start production at this time and this causes some tenderness and swelling in early pregnancy. Your veins will become more visible because there is an increased amount of blood flowing to the breasts.

Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

At this time, your baby is holding her head erect. Because her muscles are developing, she can make some faces now. Your baby is able to squint, frown and open its mouth. There is enough calcium in the bones that they will show up on an x-ray. Your baby's fingernails are well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because your baby is moving well now, you may begin to feel his movements! Some women say that the early movements feel like gas bubbles or a slight flutter. If you have not yet felt the baby move, don't worry. Fetal movements are usually felt between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy.

You may feel your heart beating 'louder'. This is because there is a lot more blood in your body than normal. (about 20-25% more)

Your pregnancy: 15 weeks

See the big picture

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. 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.")

Your pregnancy: 14 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

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. If this is not your first pregnancy you can more then likely feel his tiny punches and kicks, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Doc Appt 09/09/09

Well today we are 13 weeks along and the baby is doing great. At today's appt we talked about sugars, stress and my BP. Told Dr S that I would feel better once I had heard the heart beat, he said well if we do not hear it we will see it. He Tried with the doppler (Ya right for 2 sec and had a huge smile on his face) before he said "Oh well guess we will have to see the baby" LOL I love my Dr he is THE BESTEST!!! Heart rate was 171 (anyone who knows about heart rates can guess what range that is in gender wise but I am not sayin nuffin hehehehehe) Life is good baby is growing at 13 cm We have switched to every two weeks now, and Dr S said yes sooner or later I will be in there at least 2x a week LOL. Jen said she hates Dr's but she loves this one :) So I guess I will be back again at the beginning of week 14 Blessed Be everyone!

Update on me

Well we are ready to start the 2nd trimester which will make me feel a lot better. I am doing OK for the most part. I am having a lot of things I never had before with any of my other children. Morning sickness is the major killer. I have been so tired, I honestly think I have slept more then I have been awake the past two weeks. Had bon fires the last 2 nights and that has made me feel somewhat normal again. It is really good to see old friends feeling much better after the hard past few months. As for my health the BP is good, sugars are good and aside from looking like a blow fish I am good LOL. I know I have a long way to go, but I still can not believe I am already one third of the way thru this.
The Daddy man and I had a long conversation over the holiday about expectations, wants, and concerns and that went really well. We were on the same page to begin with but it is good to know that what we both want is the same. One of those once you hear it, then it is real kind of things. The donors wife has been amazingly supportive from everything I hear and I thank God she is such an amazing person, I know it can not be easy to be in her place and I love her dearly.
I have an OB appt on Wed again so I will see if I can get more pictures to post... one can only hope LOL. I want to get a doppler for home but so far it has not happened. We will see what time will bring to us.
OH I have the baby bed now which is cool, it was the one I wanted except for the mobile and we can always get that separate. No biggie. Life is good and Family is even better!

2nd Trimester here we come!!!!!

Your Pregnancy: Week 13




Welcome to the last week of your first trimester.
Your Baby
Your baby can make a fist and even suck his or her thumb this week—both skills that are über-cute during infancy ... and not so much at the age of 9. If you're really lucky, you might catch a glimpse of baby's thumb sucking on an ultrasound photo. That's a framer! Other exciting developments include:

Your baby's eyelids are fused shut to protect his eyes as they develop. His bones and skull are solidifying and soon itsy-bitsy ribs may appear. (Baby ribs! How cute is that?!) Baby's intestines are finally right where you want them—in his or her belly instead of poking out into the umbilical cord. Baby's tooth sockets are all loaded and ready to pop out baby teeth six or seven months after baby is born (causing baby a lot of pain and you a lot of lost sleep).

Who's that singing? Elton John? Could be your baby: His vocal cords and larynx are completed now.

Your baby-to-be now weighs about 20 grams and is nearly 3 inches long, or about the size of a Nutter Butter, covered in chocolate. OK, it doesn't have to be covered in chocolate, but isn't everything better that way?

Your pregnancy: 12 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

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.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Week 11

Fetal development in pregnancy week 11:
Maybe you’ve noticed… your baby is a super-duper grower! Your lil' fetus will be gaining a substantial amount of weight this week and has already achieved fruit-size-status comparable to a plum. What's more, your little scientist is already starting to explore their body, focusing most intently on touching their head, and especially their face and mouth. Their mouth in particular will provide them with hours of entertainment. This happens not only because your baby is gaining coordination, and is therefore able to move a hand on command, but also because their palms have gained sensation and can actually “feel” what it touches.They're also developing their swallow reflex this week. And lastly, your baby's smelling and other olfactory senses will begin developing this week, which when combined with the maturing taste buds, will provide your baby with their first experiences of taste and smell.

Doctor Appt 10 weeks

Everything is looking good! Going back in three weeks =]

Week 10 Here we come! Dr Appt Wed!

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

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.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Week 9 Info =]

Your pregnancy: 9 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

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.

Little Hi from Little I

Just thought I would check in and let everyone know that we are at a so far so good point. Nothing to report which is a good thing in this case. Jen got to talk to her Mom and brother last night and let them know what is going on and they are both uber excited. Everyone is hoping for a boy but me LOL. I don't really care all I care about is a healthy baby. I have never been so tired during a pregnancy before. I constantly feel beat. I try to not let it over take me and I try to keep up with the things that I need to get done because I feel worthless otherwise. I just sometimes wish I would be more like other women so I could not lose energy, not be on bed rest and live a 'normal' life while I am going through all of this. I know I am not worthless, I am caring for another life 24/7 but I feel like I can not properly care for the other lives that I am responsible for at the same time. It will all be worth it in the long run I know this, but there are just some times where it can all get me down and make me feel so beat.
Sorry for the ramblings I know it really does not have a lot to do with my medical condition, but I just needed to vent someplace.

Blessed Be
Lori

And so it begins...

July 17th I went to the ER. I had a UTI which I had already assumed. But then I found out that there was more to it then that. I was pregnant. How could that be? I had just had a miscarriage not more then three weeks ago. My HGC was a NEGATIVE number only 20 short days ago. Now I was in the seven thousands. They must be wrong. I am taken to Ultrasound. They are not wrong. The ultrasound screen that was once blank is not, even I can see that. What do I do now? Call the doctor in the morning and ask how to proceed.
I call the doctor and I am told that chances are that the tests were wrong and what ever was seen was not a viable fetus and that I was going to need a D&C. But let's do some blood work just to be safe. I go for the blood work and wait for the call. The nurse calls the next afternoon. We are not sure what is going on (ya that is what I want to hear right now) but your HGC has gone to forty-two thousand. You are pregnant. There is no doubt about it. You need to come in Thursday for another ultrasound. Now I am scared to death but I talk to the people that I need to talk to. How did this happen? I am so confused, yet I pray for everything to be OK. I want nothing more then for this to be OK.
Thursday morning comes. I have not slept all night and my tummy is in knots. Jen tells me no matter what everything will be OK. Somehow I KNOW in my heart she is right but that does not subside the fears. The wait in the office seems eternal. As I sit on the table and wait for the tech to come in I try not to think of all the possible outcomes. I focus on one. She comes in and starts the procedure. I have been here before. I am no stranger to the ultrasound screen. I know what to look for and I know what I see.
There it is. Blinking, softly but I have never seen anything as precious. The heart beat of the baby inside of me. She confirms what I have seen and Jen looks so shocked and yet so happy. Six weeks. She said as she measures the baby. Heart rate is good. Everything looks great! I can finally breathe again.
We go to the waiting room to see the Dr's assistant. As we sit we look at the picture over and over again. I can not get the smile off of my face. I wish everyone that is involved was here. I wish that I could share this with all of them, but at the same time I know the fears inside of them after the last month. I enjoy the time the best I can until I hear my name called.
My blood pressure is wonderful. but HOW am I pregnant. I would have had to have already been so when the last ultrasound was done. Someone must have missed it. It was hiding or to small to see. Do not worry because everything looks just as it should. You need to come back in a month. A MONTH? I have never been told to come back in a month. But everything is OK. Life is growing and flourishing. We do not know what to say other then congratulations and lets take this all one step at a time. You are pregnant and that is where we are. It is what it is.