Baby Business: 24 Weeks

This is a big week for us! This week is viability, this means that if my baby girl was to be born this week she would have a very good chance living on her own. We of course would prefer her to wait a few month months to join us here!

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

How far along: 24 weeks
Maternity clothes: Oh for sure, there is no doubt that I am hugely pregnant.
Stretch marks?: they will come no doubt they will come.
Sleep: is not any better then last week.
Best moment this week: ordering more baby clothes!
Movement: she likes to move in the mornings thats for sure. 
Food cravings: peanut butter toast!
Gender: girl
What I miss: sleep!
Milestones: VIABILITY!!!

Baby Business: 23 Weeks

THIS WEEK:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.


How far along: 23 weeks
Maternity clothes: MAINLY yes but I still wear some of my pregnancy longer shirts!
Stretch marks?: my belly itches thats for sure.
Sleep: terrible right now, I toss and turn all stinking night.
Best moment this week: finding out the blood clot did shrink finally!!!
Movement: she moves mostly mid day and at night
Food cravings: double stuffed oreos, not good eh?
Gender: girl
What I miss: the ability to bend over without a grunt!
Milestones: another week down!

Baby Business: 22 Weeks

This Week:

Baby's now the size of a papaya and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn! Baby's settling into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her eyes have formed, but her irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which she'll sport until she adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside her belly, her pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

How far along: 22 weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: I'll know more on Wednesday.
Maternity clothes: besides my comfy sweats... yup!

Stretch marks?: thank god for tummy butter

Sleep: I slept through the night 3 times this week.

Best moment this week: buying new maternity clothes (exciting stuff)
Movement: yup, but still not really steady.

Food cravings: does decafe fraps from starbucks count?
Gender: GIRL

What I miss: the gym
Milestones: only 2 more weeks until viability!

Baby Business: 21 Weeks

 

This week:

Baby's now the size of a banana! Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion, and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, if baby is a girl, her womb is now stocked up with her lifetime supply of six million eggs (the number will drop to around one million by birth). Now thats something daddy is not to happy knowing.

How far along: 21 weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: I feel like I gained more weight! Now this part isn't fun

Maternity clothes: always, this belly won't fit in anything else!

Stretch marks?: I have two but my tummy butter is fading them. How? I have no idea.

Sleep: Is getting better!

Best moment this week: Getting Engaged!!!!! 

Movement: Yup, but I wish it was more frequent.

Food cravings: my moms homemade spaghetti sauce!
Gender: GIRL

What I miss: I would have liked a glass of wine on Valentines day.
Milestones: I have offically completed more of my pregnancy then I have left!

Baby Business: 20 weeks

Baby's now the size of a cantaloupe! Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 7 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel. Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

How far along: 20 weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: I gained 3 pounds!!!!!!

Maternity clothes: mostly

Stretch marks?: tummy butter to the rescue!

Sleep: I can't complain... 

Best moment this week: Feeling a real kick! Not just movement!

Movement: ^ YES!

Food cravings: Cheese and Crackers please.
Gender: GIRL

What I miss: not worrying about how much Im up and moving around
Milestones: Half way point!

Baby Business: 19 Weeks

Better late then never huh? Ill be reaching half way tomorrow (look forward to that post)

This week:

Baby's now the size of a mango! Due to a little growth spurt (she's about a half pound in weight and six to eight inches long) and a substance called vernix caseosa. This greasy white stuff covers your baby's skin, protecting it from the surrounding amniotic fluid. (Without it, she'd look totally wrinkled as she entered the world.) The vernix sheds as delivery approaches, though some babies still sport a bit of the coating at birth.


How far along: 19 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: -36 (still as far as I know, Ill have some updates next week)

Maternity clothes: this belly won't fit into regular pants.

Stretch marks?: nope

Sleep: I slept through the night for the first time in MONTHS on Saturday, oh was it wonderful!

Best moment this week: see next question!

Movement: YUP, finally. Okay really its still kind of early but I've been kicked or punched or something fun.

Food cravings: nothing good to report sadly.

Gender: SHE'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!

What I miss: the ability to shop (thank you bedrest)

Milestones: feeling her move!

Baby Business: 18 Weeks

I wish bedrest was that fun. Nope instead I have been absolutely bored out of my mind, oh yea and craving french fries which I am not allowed to drive to McDonalds to get.

This week

Baby weighs almost 7 ounces. Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel movements. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

How far along: 18 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: -36 yup three more pounds down, frustrating I know.

Maternity clothes: yes, but with bedrest I like to stay in my pajamas.

Stretch marks?: nope

Sleep: my arms and hands keeping falling asleep and that wakes me up.

Best moment this week: see our baby being healthy and moving around.

Movement: flutters thats all I've got so far.

Food cravings: french fries and OOO chocolate milk sounds good too.

Gender:

What I miss: outside my apartment.

Milestones: 18 weeks!

Unexpected Doctor Visit

Monday night I was having a really rough time sleeping mainly when I was laying on my left side and the cramping got worse throughout the night and into the morning. When it was finally time to go to work I got up and headed out but noticed the cramping was more often, and that it was partnered with some spotting. I called my doctor and she wanted me to come in for an ultrasound. The ultrasound took about 45 minutes then the tech left the room to write up her report and page the doctor (which was request by my OB) when she finally came back into the room she had Dr. Berryman on the phone for me. I am now on bedrest and have strict orders to do nothing but eat calories and stay hydrated until at least Monday when I have my follow up in her office. There is a blot clot on Baby W's placenta, at this point its way to early for them to take action and if it ruptured the result is preterm birth and its way to early to even consider that. It should just resolve itsself but sometimes it takes weeks sometime days so now we are in a waiting game.Ill welcome all of your thoughts and prayers with open arms.

Baby Business: 17 Weeks

On Friday we had our 16 week appointment, it was overall very uneventful. I lost another 7 pounds which brings my total up to (or well down to) -33 pounds in the last 17 weeks. However if you look at my belly you will think otherwise. The doctor did tell me I need to eat more and she wants me to take a protein shake everyday for extra nutrients (slim fast flavored breakfast here I come). The heart beat was still holding strong at 158 and Baby W was sitting right underneath my belly button. We did set a date for our gender scan (and I can hardly contain my excitement) for Feb 7th. We will be sharing the news with our families shortly after.

This week baby is the size of an onion s/he is measuring 5.1 inches and weighing around 5.9 ounces. The baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

How far along: 17 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: -33 pounds

Maternity clothes: yes and I got new jeans this weekend!

Stretch marks?: nope

Sleep: often interrupted but pee breaks

Best moment this week: setting out gender scan appointment!

Movement: not yet :(

Food cravings:tomatoes and let me tell you its hard to get in Nebraska in winter!

Gender: the doctor was surprised I had no idea either way!

What I miss: having a desire to eat!

Milestones: nothing new

Baby Business: 16 Weeks

This week:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, Baby W will double his/her weight and add inches to his/her length. Right now, s/he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His/her legs are much more developed, his/her head is more erect than it has been, and his/her eyes have moved closer to the front of his/her head. His/her ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his/her scalp has begun, though his/her locks aren't recognizable yet. S/he's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his/her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as Baby W continues to develop.

How far along: 16 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I'll see the doctor Friday :) (just hoping I haven't lost anymore)
Maternity clothes: I have one style shirt in; blue, pink, green, gray, and white.

Stretch marks?: None that are new
Sleep: has much improved from the past few weeks.
Best moment this week: accepting a really great new job!
Movement: I may have felt flutters but nothing is confirmed
Food cravings: pineapple and pickles please.
Gender: maybe I am leaning more towards boy this week.
What I miss: a good glass of wine :o)
Milestones: sixteen week appointment this Friday!

Baby Business: 15 Weeks

This week:

Baby W now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). S/he's busy moving amniotic fluid through her/his nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her/his legs are growing longer than her/her arms now, and s/he can move all of her/his joints and limbs. Although her/his eyelids are still fused shut, s/he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, s/he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for Baby W to taste at this point, but s/he is forming taste buds.

 How far along: 15 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: -26ish lbs
Maternity clothes: Yup. My pre-pregnancy pants I could still wear but they are just VERY uncomfortable.
Stretch marks?: None that are new
Sleep: I wish I could sleep through the night.
Best moment this week: starting 2011!
Movement: I wish
Food cravings: popcorn
Gender: boy? or girl? I have no clue.
What I miss: sleeping on my stomach
Milestones: