Weekly Update - 15 Weeks

from babycenter.com

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.")

How your life's changing: You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

How am I feeling: Well I can definitely agree with the stuffy nose thing. I had that with Belle too. This time however I'm sneezing more. I joke I'm allergic to this pregnancy. Other then that and the nighttime ickies still, I'm feeling fine. Anxious to get to our next appointment on the 21st so that we can find out what we are having. I dreamt last night we had our ultrasound and found out it was a girl. I remember being very surprised in my dream because I was thinking it was a boy. Anyway, we'll find out one way or another soon... only 26 more days... sigh

Weekly Update - 14 Weeks

from babycenter.com

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. 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.

How am I feeling? Much better. Still a little blah at night time and I still get tired easily but I am way better. I don't really think I'm showing but I feel bigger. The baby is pushing my fat up so my gut which was down low is now riding higher. :) All my pants are now to tight to be comfortable but maternity pants are still a bit loose. So its that awkward phase.

Doctor Appointment

We had a doctor appointment today. It was just a normal check up but we got to hear the heart beat for the first time which is always cool. Doctor said everything seems to be going great.

I have to go back for a quick blood draw next week to finish up the down syndrome test. And then I'll come back for my next appointment on August 21st. The awesome thing about this appointment... before it we'll get the ultrasound and possibly be able to find out if we are having a girl or a boy!! We'll be taking Belle to this appointment too. So I'm really looking forward to it.

Weekly Update - 13 Weeks

from babycenter.com

How your baby's growing: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, ( the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

This is the last week of your first trimester, and your risk of miscarriage is now much lower than earlier in pregnancy. Next week marks the beginning of your second trimester, a time of relative comfort for many women who see early pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue subside. More good news: Many couples also notice a distinct libido lift around this time. Birth is still months away, but your breasts may have already started making colostrum, the nutrient-rich fluid that feeds your baby for the first few days after birth, before your milk starts to flow.

How am I feeling?: I spent a lot of time this past week dealing with my headaches. I talked to the nurse at my OBGYN's office, a lady at a vitamin store, and my friend Tracey who talked with her Midwife on my behalf. Massive thanks to Tracey who I must say was the quickest to respond and had the most info of all the resources.

So what helped? Well for instant relief my doctor said I could take two extra strength Tylenol chased with some caffeine. This definitely kept me from wanting to kill myself after having a massive headache for two days. It didn't get rid of the headache altogether but it helped a ton. The only down side was it gave me a tiny case of the shakes since I don't normally drink caffeine.

But this isn't something I want to do, or can do, every day. So I am started taking some of the advice Tracey gave me. First thing was to up my water intake. I had been drinking 72 ounces a day, now I'm drinking 96. I also changed my diet. More protein, 100 grams a day, and no processed food. I'd already cut out most sugars so that was good. She also recommended acupuncture (as did my doctor). I've got a place to call but haven't yet.

I also added in some magnesium and vitamin d per the vitamin lady's recommendation (and my doctor's ok). I don't know if this will help or not but I'll try anything.

So my last headache was on Tuesday and so far I'm doing better now. In the afternoons I feel like I'm going to get a headache but so far it passes and I'm then okay.

Nausea and tiredness is also getting better. I still feel my worst at night and still tire easily. But I definitely see a big improvement.

I Felt It MOVE!

So last night Brad and I had just laid down in bed and were talking and I suddenly stopped mid sentence. I felt a couple consecutive little bubble type movements! It was definitely the baby! I smiled and told Brad.

I think I just got super lucky. I was laying flat and still and the baby did a big movement. It's too early for me to get to feel him/her more often but this was a first and was really cool! I can't wait to feel those bigger kicks, and for Brad and Belle to be able to feel it. I think Belle will get the biggest kick out of it.

Weekly Update - 12 Weeks

from babycenter.com

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 two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

How am I feeling? Well the nausea and tiredness is getting better. I still get it but it is becoming later in the day when it sets in now, rather then coming on in the middle of the afternoon. The only problem I am still having a lot of are the headaches. They are really driving me nuts. I also am starting to have to pee more and can feel the weight of my uterus pressing on the bladder sometimes.