Week 12

I had an appointment with Dr. Placide this morning.  It was the first time I got to hear our baby's heartbeat.  What a great sound!  His/her heart rate was about 161 bpm.  My appointment was really quick.  Because I had no questions, after checking the heartbeat, I was pretty much done.  My next appointment won't be for six weeks now.

Although Dr. Placide doesn't think I could be feeling the baby yet, I'm wondering if maybe I have.  Last Sunday (11wk 2d), I definitely felt a flutter type feeling and then again two more times this week.  Maybe it's just my uterus expanding or moving.  We'll see if it starts happening more before I say for sure whether it's the baby or not.

My nausea has gotten better this week thankfully.  I've been feeling sick the last two days but I think I'm just getting a cold or something.  I'm still cold frequently and can be pretty moody.  But I'm also less tired than I was five weeks ago.  I think my chest is starting to get larger also.  It was actually hurting the other day.  I suppose it knows what to do to get ready to nurse again.

Our baby weighs between 1/3 and 1/2 ounces.  By now, nearly all of our baby's organs, structures and systems are fully formed. The heart has begun to pump several quarts of blood through his/her body every day. Our baby has also begun to develop nerves and a spinal cord, allowing him/her to feel some types of pain. While our baby's brain is not the same size it will be at birth, it does have the same structure. Fingers and toes have separated and hair and nails continue to grow. Also, the external genitals can now show definite signs of male and female gender. Before, where there was only reflex movement, our baby now moves spontaneously and at random, although his/her movements are still too slight to be felt.

NT Scan

We did the NT scan today.  Everything looked great.  The first thing I wanted to see was the heartbeat.  It's always nerve wracking going week to week between ultrasounds before I feel kicks.  It's nice having another ultrasound to see him/her moving around.  Our baby was calmer than Claire was during the NT scan.  But the technician was able to measure the fluid level behind the baby's neck which was well withing the normal range (it was below 3 at 1.5 mm).  Plus, the baby does have a nasal bridge bone.  Although I still need to get my blood work results back, so far both the fluid level and the bridge bone are all great signs for a low chance of Down Syndrome or Trisomy 13/18. 

His/her heartbeat was strong at 168 bpm.  The crown to rump length was 2.5 inches.  We could see his/her arms (both), legs (both), bladder and stomach.  All great development milestones for this stage.  Before the ultrasound, we met with a genetic counselor because I'm considered Advanced Material Age to discuss the potential geneic disorder concerns.  Thanksfully we don't have any high risk factors in our family so it was a pretty straightforward meeting.  It was a great appointment and wonderful seeing our third little one.

Week 11

My nausea has been better this week, especially the last few days.  Now it's mostly a feeling mostly in the morning before I have a snack but is mostly gone after.  Hopefully this is a sign that it will be ending soon.  But overall, I can't complain.  My morning sickness has been very mild compared to most women's experience. 

I have been more moody and actual depressed a few days this week.  I think that's more related to my job and probably just exaggerated by my hormones.  It also appears I might already be getting some small stretch marks on the top of my belly button.  I got stretch marks with Claire but they actually went away so I'm hoping if I get them again, the same will happen.  I also noticed my appetite isn't as strong has it was the first few weeks.  In addition, I tend to be cold most of the time. 

Our baby is about 0.3 ounces, around the size of a lime.  The crown-to-rump length is probably 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches.  Starting with this week, our baby is now called a fetus. The most critical part of our baby's development is over. This is a period of rapid growth, organ maturation and getting ready for delivery. The baby's head is about half its length. The eyelids will fuse shut, and the irises will begin to develop. Sometime during this week or the next week, blood will begin to circulate between the baby and uterus and the placenta starts to function.  Our baby's organ systems are now functioning and he or she has a skeleton and nerves.  His or her feet are fully formed and shaped, and could stand on an adult's fingernail.

Week 10

I'm pretty sure everyone can tell I'm pregnant now.  I think I look more 4.5 mo. pregnant than 2.5 mo. but I suppose that's to be expected with my third pregnancy.  I actually got my first comment by someone who didn't know I was pregnant - Ana, our housekeeper, immediately said something when I stood up from my desk to greet her.  Because my belly is filling out quickly, I've decided to pull out my maternity clothes.  Previously, I ended up stretching out my normal shirts because I didn't switch soon enough so I'd like to avoid that this time.

I've been extremely tired.  I'd love to take a nap all the time.  I get up three to five times a night to pee so I tend to wake up still pretty tired.  I still feel nauseous at least at some point each day but hopefully it will ease up a bit soon.

The crown to rump length of our baby is about 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 inches, and weighs close to 0.18 ounces.  He or she is about the size of a small plum.  Our baby has begun moving inside the womb although it's too small for mom to notice. Most of the joints are formed now - elbow, wrist, knee, shoulder, and ankle as well as the hands, fingers, feet and toes.

Week 9 (and 1 day)

I've decided to stop trying to suck in my belly and just go with it.  Let's face it, it's my third pregnancy so my ligaments aren't like they were 4 years ago.  I went to a work meeting yesterday in Asheville (why I wasn't able to get my photo up yetersday) and nobody seemed to notice so maybe it's not as obvious as it feels to me but I'm sure in the next few weeks it will be very apparent to strangers.  I'm already starting to feel like I need to wear looser pants, maybe not maternity clothes yet but I'm getting there.  I look forward to when I have a full on baby bump, and not just the bloated, loose ligament look.

My nausea was going strong for most days this week.  Yesterday and today it has been better.  Other than the nausea and the belly expanding, I haven't had any other major pregnancy "symptoms" arise.  My uterus is probably bigger than a grapefruit now.

Our baby's arm s and legs are longer.  Hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over the heart area.  They continue to extend in front of the body.  Fingers are longer, and the tips are slightly enlarged where touch pads are developing.  The feet are approaching the midline of the body and may be long enough to meet in front of the torso.  Our baby is about 1 to 1 1/4 inches.  This is close to the size of a medium green olive.

Our baby's head is more erect, and the neck is more developed.  The eyelids almost cover the eyes.  Up to this time, the eyes have been uncovered.  External ears are evident and well formed.  Your baby now moves its body and limbs. 

First Ultrasound

I had my first ultrasound today.  The wait these last few weeks was rough but it was worth it.  Everything looks good.  There is only one baby and his/her heart rate was strong at about 150 bpm.  Based on the old wives tale, that would indicate a girl but we'll see at the big ultrasound in about 10 weeks.  It was so wonderful seeing the heart beating.  And such a huge relief!  It all feels so much more really now (although my constant nausea was a good sign my pregnancy was going strong).

Here are the two views Dr. Gaines gave us from the ultrasound.  The first one shows the baby with his/her head on the left, bottom on the right.

This one also shows the head on the left, bottom on the right but it also shows the yolk sac all the way to the right (circular item). 

Dr. Gaines also drew figures of how our baby is facing in these ultrasounds.  I thought I'd share because I thought it was pretty funny that the doctor drew them.

Dr. Gaines said I'm pretty much measuring on track at about 8 weeks 3 days.  This would give me a EDD of March 17, 2012 (St. Patrick's Day), one day later than my EDD based on my LMP.  The one day difference won't matter in the long run.  Not only is it common for babies to not arrive on the actual EDD but I'll also be having a repeat c-section about one week before my due date. 

He also confirmed that my uterus is moving up faster than it did with my first pregnancy which explains why I feel I can't suck in my belly anymore and I already feel like I look 4 months pregnant. 

Week 8 - Month 2

I've been feeling nauseous again most days.  I was in California for work this week and tried to hide that I didn't feel all the best.  I think I succeeded but I think my belly is already starting to give me away.  I can't suck it in very well anymore and I feel like I look very bloated.  I know from my last pregnancy that you start showing earlier than the first but this feels very early to me.  I wonder if my uterus has already started moving up or if I'm just putting on weight!  Either way, I'm ready to be past this stage.

I have my first ultra sound on Tuesday.  I'm looking forward to it.  These next few days couldn't go any faster.

I've now completed my second month of pregnancy.  Our baby's elbows are beginning to form in the arms and fingers are starting to develop. The leg buds are beginning to show feet with tiny notches for the toes. His/her face continues to change as the ears, eyes and the tip of the nose appear. The intestines start to form in the umbilical cord. Teeth develop under the gums.  Our baby has a crown to rump length of about 1/2 to 3/4 inches, or about the size of a pinto bean.

My uterus is supposed to be the size of a orange now.