This week's big developments: Peanut can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his/her thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, facial muscles are getting a workout as his/her tiny features form one expression after another. Peanuts kidneys are producing urine, which he or she releases into the amniotic fluid around him/her — a process peanut will keep up until birth. Peanut can grasp, too, and at our next ultrasound (2/26), we may even catch little peanut sucking his/her thumb.
In other news: Peanut is stretching out. From head to bottom, he/she measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and weighs 1 1/2 ounces. Peanut's body is growing faster than his/her head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his/her arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his/her body. (The little legs still have some lengthening to do.) Peanut's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his/her body. And our baby's liver is starting to make bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his/her spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though I can't feel any of the tiny punches and kicks yet, your little peanut's hands and feet (which now measure about a 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.
How my life is changing:
Finally in my second trimester! The top of my uterus is a bit above my pubic bone now, which may explain why my tummy is pushing out a tad more these days. Really need to start thinking about doing some maternity clothes shopping. Thanks to Kara and Mary for loaning me some of their clothes to get me by. I am starting to do some research on nurseries to figure out what we can do without going pink or blue. There seems to be a lot out there that could work for either a boy or a girl. Life is good and just 182 days to go!
2008-01-30
Our Peanut at Week 13
How our baby is growing:
Fingerprints have formed on peanut's tiny fingertips, his/her veins and organs are clearly visible through his/her still-thin skin, and his/her body is starting to catch up with his/her head — which makes up just a third of his/her body size now. If we were to have a girl, she would now have more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Sorry we still don't know what we are having and have decided not to find out. Everyone including us will have to stay in suspense until peanut decides to show us in person just what he or she is going to be. We do know that peanut is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce. Peanut is sure growing fast!
How my life is changing:
This is my last week of my first trimester, and risk of miscarriage is now much lower than earlier in my pregnancy. So a big sigh of relief and little whop, whop!! Next week marks the beginning of my second trimester, a time when most women are starting to see the end of morning sickness. I am still feeling great except I did experience a little morning sickness or something this past weekend when I had OJ on an empty stomach. The rest of the day I had a headache and felt fairly queasy, but I haven't had any more of that since. I've been fairly tired this week, but that may be just because American Idol is back on and I have something other than football to stay up for? I feel pretty good though for the most part, so no complaints here. My belly is getting a little bigger and I am starting to have to unbutton the top button of my jeans sometimes when I am sitting. I guess the next step will be the rubber band trick...not quite there yet, but I am sure it will come soon.
2008-01-20
Our Peanut at Week 12
How our baby is growing:
The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Our little peanut's fingers will soon begin to open and close, her or his toes will curl, eye muscles will clench, and its mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, I am told if I prod my abdomen, our baby will squirm in response, but I still can't feel it. Peanut's intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into her/ his abdominal cavity about now, and her/ his kidneys will begin excreting urine into her/ his bladder. Wow!
Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in our baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. Peanut's little face is forming: His/ Her eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his/ her ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, our baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.
How my life is changing:
My uterus has grown to the point where my doctor can now feel the top of it (the fundus) low in my abdomen, just above my pubic bone. I can definitely see a difference in how my clothes are fitting and I have for the first time in a long time a little belly. I am starting to look for maternity clothes or at least some of the new trendy baby doll tops to hide the start of my little bump. Lucky with all the low rise jeans my pants are all fitting just fine since they hit well below my tummy. The boobies are also starting to grow, which I am not too excited about as it may start affecting my morning jogs...I don't want to knock myself or anyone else out. So let's hope they don't get too big...although Jason may have different thoughts on that!
I am still not experiencing any morning sickness (knock on wood), but my taste buds are getting very fickle about what taste good and what doesn't. One moment something sounds great and after the first bite it just isn't working. Nothing too particular, but mostly foods with lots of spice or rich foods are not working. Desserts have also gone by the way side or anything super sweet. Funny how particular peanut is with what I eat, but I think he or she is taking more after me as vegetables and fruits are big hits. Sorry Dad, but at least Mom will have someone to share her broccoli with.
2008-01-20
Our Peanut at Week 11
How our baby is growing:
Our baby is just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, it is now almost fully formed. Its hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under its gums, and some of the bones are beginning to harden.
He's/ She's already busy kicking and stretching, and his/ her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as his/ her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. Although I won't be able to feel baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will I notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that his/ her diaphragm is forming.
How my life is changing:
Definitely have a little more energy this week, and I am not having as much heartburn as I start to realize what are better choices to eat to avoid this discomfort. I am having other bodily discomforts in the digestion area, but I won't go into this fun area. I've learned that all this is caused by hormonal changes, which can slow digestion and relaxing the valve between my stomach and esophagus. I just have to remember, all this discomfort is for a good cause.
