Wednesday, February 27, 2008

10 Weeks

What is the baby doing.....

Though barely the size of a kumquat (see image to left for a reference) — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighing less than a quarter of an ounce, the baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

The baby is swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy. If you could take a peek inside,
you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin. In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. The hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over the heart, and the feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body.

From crown to rump, the baby is about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

How is the Mommy doing?

I am so relieved that my appointment on Wednesday went well and that the upper abdomen ultrasound didn't show anything out of the ordinary. Although it doesn't explain the pressure it is nice to know that there isn't anything really wrong. I have been pretty sick with flu symptoms this week and because of the baby's critical stage in development I can not take anything. Please pray over my health as I try to fight this off.

How is the Daddy doing?

John also came down with some flu symptoms but was able to go to the doctor and get medicine. He is feeling close to being better. He has also been amazing in taking care of me which is a blessing!


Friday, February 8, 2008

8 Weeks

What is the baby doing...

Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from the baby's hands and feet. The eyelids practically cover its eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. The baby is about the size of a kidney bean and is constantly moving and shifting.

How is the Mommy doing...

How am I feeling at eight weeks...pretty gross. I have given up on eating anything besides pretzels and water for breakfast and even that makes me feel sick to my stomach but I can keep it down. Then after I make it to work, I am normally able to eat some break and yogurt. Most other meals are fine but I need to make sure to snack every two hours or else I feel sick again. Now that I have the food thing figured out, I am just trying to rest and conserve energy as I am pretty tired every day and can barely make it through a simple day of work. It has been great that work is pretty slow which allows me to come home early and go to sleep earlier.

I have a two month doctor appointment on Friday, February 15 so please pray that the baby is fine and healthy and that my blood work from a couple of weeks ago came back normal. I also have a first trimester screening ultrasound scheduled for Monday, March 10. This is where they will do an ulatrsound to check the thickness of the baby's neck to monitor for Down Syndrome as well as do more blood work to monitor for any genetic disorders. So, please pray for a healthy baby and that everything is normal and that if it isn't normal that God prepares us for that news and the journey ahead.