Updated Photos

Baby Boy Kicks!

I woke up yesterday morning with my hand resting lightly on my stomach, as usual.  What wasn't usual is the three solid bumps from our son - a tiny reminder that he's also waking up for the day!  Later in the morning my sister Debra also felt him squirming around, and then my son Jerry confirmed a 'weird wriggle' and my daughter-in-heart J-Lee also felt a little bump when she pressed on my tummy.

It's pretty amazing to feel these movements on the outside, and as early as the middle of the 20th week... that's kind of early, I thought?

We're officially done our 20th week and are on the back half of the pregnancy now.  Starting week 21 tomorrow.  Time is flying by.  Looking forward to David coming home on Thursday night - switched my doctor appointment around to Friday so he can be there with me, and our big 20 week ultrasound on the 21st (Monday).  Tons happening this week on the baby front.

Tried on my bathing suits last night in preparation for Mexico.  Ugh.  Well I look as good in them pregnant as I do otherwise - my big round tummy makes for a cute distraction from my fat thighs!  Yay!

19 weeks and counting!!!

So here's my first official belly shot.  It seems like I got 'thicker and thicker' for weeks, then suddenly just popped!

We are nearly at the halfway point now... it's pretty anti-climatic and exciting at the same time.  If the baby comes early at all then we are past the halfway mark.

Everything is going perfect.  There's no reason for any kind of concern.  Baby boy's heartbeat is loud and clear on the doppler and I am feeling pretty darn good for being 39 years old, working full time with a hubby away for the winter!

I've noticed a bit of discomfort and slight pain at night with my back and tummy muscles.  I think it's about time for some well placed pillows to take some of the pressure off the weight of the baby.  Not that the baby weighs much.  Just under a pound and about 9" long at this point.  But with the fluid, the stretching muscles and general displacement of my internal organs, I'm feeling it!

We are having a Son!!!

Yes... we found out on Monday that we are having a baby boy!!

We are thrilled!!!

Week Eighteen: Baby begins to hear
You 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).

January 19 Doctor Appointment

And it was boring.  Uh huh.  Nothing to note.  Found the heartbeat as soon as he put the doppler on my tummy.  Is it dorkish to feel a sense of pride that my baby was strong and healthy, showing off for the doctor?

Heart rate was 146.. I had guessed 145.  My doctor is amused at how much I know about my body and the pregnancy.  I told him I thought my uterus was bigger than it should be, when he checked he raised his eyebrows and agreed.. I'm measuring 20 weeks pregnant and am only 16 weeks.

He said either a twin was hiding in there, it was a big baby, or I just have a big uterus.  Next week David and I get the 3D ultrasound at 17 weeks and I'm really excited!

Anonymous Readers Comment Update

I had a couple of requests from friends who wanted to comment anonymously... but couldn't... just letting you know that it's possible now! :)  BIG HUGS!

Week 17 - What's Going On

Week Seventeen: Fat accumulates

You are 17 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 15 weeks) The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger. Fetus weight is just over 5 ounces (150g). Baby is about 5 inches (14cm) long crown to rump. and would be about 9 inches (23cm) head to toe, if it could stretch out. The retina has become sensitive to light. The first stools (meconium) are now beginning to accumulate. They recycle the amniotic fluid by swallowing up to a litre a day. Meconium (composed of products of cell loss, digestive secretion and swallowed amniotic fluid), is accumulating in the bowel. Fat stores begin to develop under your baby's skin this week. The fat will provide energy and help keep your baby warm after birth. Baby's eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed. The skeleton is tranforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier. You can feel your uterus just below your bellybutton. If you put your fingers sideways and measure, it is about two finger-widths (1 inch) below your bellybutton. Your uterus is the size of a cantaloupe. The crown to rump length of your growing baby is 5 to 5.6 inches (12.5 to 14cm) by this week. Weight of the fetus is about 5.25 ounces (150g).

Week 16 - Mom Update

Pregnancy is a lot of fun emotionally, but physically it's not very glamourous!  Besides the bloating that can literally add three inches to my waist (I measured!), and even make relaxing uncomfortable... I get bouts of heartburn that keep me up at night, swollen, stuffy sinuses and this morning I woke up with a beautiful, swollen 'blemish' over my left eyebrow.

And although my pants do NOT fit anymore, I don't have a pretty little bump, I am just 'thick' through the tummy!

Oh, and last but not least, every couple of weeks my uterus goes through a growth spurt which leaves me gasping in pain should I stand or turn quickly.  God help me if I sneeze without preparing myself.  I thought Mom was going to call 911 the other day - the pain was searing but faded quickly.

By late afternoon, baby begins to move more than usual and I always feel guilty that I'm sitting, squishing him for hour upon hour as I work away at my desk, my snug waistband digging into my tummy and putting more pressure on the baby than my clients put on me!  My tummy cramps a bit and my lower back begins to ache.  It's a great reminder to go home, stop working and take care of myself.

The heartbeat is extremely easy to find now, just a tiny bit below my belly button and heard within a few seconds of trying.  It's still fast, between 140 and 155 usually (that's healthy and normal!), and as I said before, you can tell when the baby moves because of a 'swoosh' and change in the heartbeat sound.

For all the physical challenges I really do love being pregnant. Yesterday a couple of people actually noticed the higher roundness of my tummy and commented that I was showing!  That was very cool.  And feeling the baby move is like this secret little reminder that s/he's there and happily growing.  The roundness of my stomach is foreign and makes me laugh when I see myself in the mirror.

Overall, the pregnancy is pretty boring and normal.  Something I would not change for the world.  It's all happening quickly and perfectly.  It's astounding to think that we will have a baby... our baby... that we've waited so long for.... in our lives.  Well, I suppose we *do* have a baby in our lives!

16 Weeks - What's Happening?

Week Sixteen: Facial expressions are possible

You are 16 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 14 weeks) The fetus measures nearly 5 inches (12cm) from head to buttocks. The fetus weighs about 3.5 ounces (100 grams). The fetus is covered with a protective soft down to regulate its temperature. Fat begins to form underneath skin. Baby hears external voices, sleeps and dreams. Your baby has learned to breathe. This is apparent from the regular movements of his chest, inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid. These actions help the lungs to develop and grow. More developed facial muscles may lead to various expressions, such as squinting and frowning. Your baby nows weighs more than their afterbirth. The baby can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault. You are showing more now and have an obvious swelling in your lower abdomen. The rest of your body is still changing. A total of 5 to 10 pound (2.25 to 4.5 kg) weight gain by this point in your pregnancy is normal. The crown to rump length of your baby is 4.4 to 4.8 inches (11 to 12 cm). Fetal weight has doubled in 2 weeks and is about 3.5 ounces (100g).

15 Weeks Doppler

Because I wanted to compare it to the first one! LOL

About halfway through, the swoosh sound goes away and the 'thud' of the heartbeat is more sharp.  Then, you can hear a little squelch when the baby moves, the heartbeat goes away, then it comes back again.  

Movement

I've been feeling the baby move daily now.  At first it was just once or twice a day, but now it's happening throughout the day, usually starting in the mid afternoon.  There are a few distinct kicks, faint but there, and a lot of what is referred to as 'quickening'.  Sort of a butterfly - like sensation.  It's very pleasant and exciting!  I like it best when it happens while I'm talking to someone... it's so secret.  There's this baby inside me squirming around and only I am aware of it.  

Tonight I listened to the heartbeat (as I do every night) and the baby kicked at the wand!  It gave a squelch and I felt the movement, then the heartbeat went away.... s/he moves around a lot so I have to follow with the doppler sometimes.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quickening

Week 15 - What's Going On

Week Fifteen: Bones and muscles grow

You are 15 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 13 weeks) Baby is now over 4 inches (10cm) long and weighs about 2.5 ounces (75 grams). He or she can move its arms and make a fist. Fingernails and toenails are present. Baby's skin is still very thin. Your baby's legs have grown longer than the arms and the body is now longer than the head. The bone and marrow that make up your baby's skeletal system are continuing to develop this week. The bones and muscles are continuing to grow. You may begin to feel some fluttering movements as baby kicks, twists and turns; but don't panic if you don't feel movement yet. Their ears are nearly in position, and the three tiny bones in his middle ear have begun to harden. By the end of the week, the roof of your baby's mouth will be completely formed. The fetus has an adult's taste buds and may be able to savor the mother's meals. The baby's thin skin is covered with ultra fine, downy hair that usually disappears before birth. The fetal crown to rump length by this week of pregnancy is 4 to 4.5 inches (100 to 115mm). The fetus weighs about 2.5 ounces (75g). It's close to the size of a softball.

14 Weeks - What's Going On

Week Fourteen: Hormones start up

You are 14 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 12 weeks) The fetus is 3 and half inches (9cm) long. Weight is about 1 and half ounces (45 grams). The eyes are slowly moving towards the centre of the face. The nose is more pronounced. The ears are fully developed. The cheekbones are visible. The first hair is appearing. The kidneys are producing urine. In girls, the ovaries are moving down towards the pelvis. In boys, the prostate gland is developing. For girls, the ovaries move into the pelvis. Your baby now is peeing into the amniotic fluid round itself as well as making breathing movements. With the effect of hormones, the boys now have a prostate gland. For girls, the ovaries move from the abdomen into the pelvis. During this week of pregnancy the head and eyebrow hair develops. Your child's bones are getting harder and stronger by the day. Your baby's skin is very transparent still. Lanugo (very fine hair) covers the baby's body and will continue to grow until 26 weeks gestational age - Generally this will be shed prior to birth. Its purpose is to help protect baby's skin while in all that water. As your baby grows, your uterus and placenta are also growing. Six weeks ago, your uterus weighed 5 ounces (140 g). Now, it weighs about 8.75 ounces (250g). The amount of amniotic fluid around the baby is also increasing. There is now about 7.5 ounces (250ml) of fluid. You can easily feel your uterus about 3 inches (7.6cm) below your bellybutton. Your baby is 3.42 inches (8.7cm) long and weighs about 1.52 ounces (43 grams)