For Fun... Play Our Baby Game

Guess what gender we're having and more! Check out this site to place your vote: http://expectnet.com/games/kitefamily

Please Play Our Baby Game

Guess what gender we're having and more! Check out this site to place your vote: http://expectnet.com/games/kitefamily

21w 0d - "Pason" This Week

• Your baby measures about 7.6 inches (19cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 12.25 ounces (350g).
• Eyebrows have developed.
• His digestive system now functions in a rudimentary manner. Undigested amniotic fluid passes into his bowel which he will eventually excrete after birth. Your baby can suck and swallow and may even suck his thumb.
• Your baby's senses are developing, especially his sense of touch. He can feel his face and stroke his arms and legs.

Source: http://preg.fertilityfriend.com

20 Week Belly Bump

20w 4d - Ultrasound Yesterday

We had our first ultrasound yesterday since our 6-week viability ultrasound! It was pretty amazing, but I have to admit I am still feeling a little detached. Perhaps I will be one of those moms who takes a few weeks post-birth to really bond with her baby. We shall see! I have been mostly pretty matter-of-fact about most of this experience. Jason & I are both getting more and more excited, though.

We invited both of our mothers to attend the ultrasound. They got so excited they could barely stand it! As you can see, at the end we got a 4D real-time view, and the grandma's were giggling about the baby waving at the grandmas! I hope there might be another opportunity for an ultrasound, as I know my dad was disappointed there wasn't room for him to watch. He is so cute about it all--being "macho," not wanting to appear excited but once in a while he'll reveal it!

We all arrived early, and we were called back early. The technician has 22 years experience and was very pleasant and informative with everything she saw. All looks great! She even pointed out "Pason's" bladder growing bigger throughout the half-hour session. "Pason" measures in the 80th percentile woah! Hopefully I will not have a huge baby! She said it didn't necessarily mean that I would deliver a large one! The estimated weight is 1 lb 0 oz, but we forgot to ask the length. My due date according to the ultrasound is 1/4/08 (ovulation due date is 1/8/08). Jason is adamantly against a Christmas or New Year's baby... But alas, all beyond my/our control!

Immediately following the ultrasound we met with a third midwife in the practice, Martie Jones, who reviewed the report and confirmed that all is well. She explained more about the midwifery approach to childbirth and re-confirmed for me that their typical attitude is that all is "normal" until proven otherwise, whereas physicians are more likely to assume something is wrong before allowing the process to progress naturally and as the mother wishes. Of course, there are exceptions! She explained I would be welcomed to move about as I wish during labor (walking, different positions, jacuzzi, etc), but that they will use the technology available to only occasionally monitor the baby as needed. Sounds reasonable to me! (Forgot to ask her if I am allowed to eat, though.) I am trying to keep an open mind to be at least somewhat mentally prepared for anything, though.

I asked her about the c-section rates. She didn't know exact numbers, but approximately 30% for the hospital where I plan to deliver (RMH), and 15% for the practice.

She also mentioned that I will receive the RhoGAM shot around 28 weeks (2 months away). I am still confused on the potential harms to the baby of it. But, given all of the medical based benefits, I am leaning toward accepting it at this point.

Next up is our hypnobirthing class, taught by Kate Anderson. I'm really excited and I'm sure it will get a dialog going between me and Jason about fears and concerns we might have about the day. I'm sure the class will be one more step to help us make this feel real. We're having a baby in 4 months!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I suppose you're wondering about the gender... I'll just say that one of us found out while we were there on a piece of paper and an extra picture, as we couldn't agree to find out or not find out... Is the suspense "killing" you yet...? :-)

20 Week Ultrasound Pictures 8/24/07

Lil' "Pason's" Feet (the tech drew a picture of their shape on the bottom of the printout for us)



















Body & Face - "Pason's" head is on the right. Rib lines are on the left. It's looking to its left at you.

















4D Face & Fist!

20w 0d - "Pason" This Week

• Your baby weighs about 10.5 ounces (300g) and measures about 7.2 inches (18cm) from crown to rump. He still moves about freely in amniotic fluid.
• Your baby may respond to external sounds, such as the music you are listening to or your voice.
• Your baby has developed some red blood cells already. The white blood cells that your baby needs to fight infections are being manufactured.
• He is developing taste buds on his tongue.
• His digestive system is sufficiently advanced to absorb water and sugar from the amniotic fluid that he swallows and pass it to his large bowel.
• Your baby has lanugo hair on his forehead and upper lip and his eyebrows are thickening.
• Vernix (the waxy substance that covers and protects your baby's skin) accumulates on your baby's eyebrows.
• Your baby's eyes are still sealed shut.
• Your baby continues to grow and develop and his kicking is getting stronger now.

Source: http://preg.fertilityfriend.com

Razor Update 2

Let's see, this month has been so busy! Last Friday (Aug. 10) Razor got his staples out, and his re-check with Dr. Bowman was this past Wednesday. Dr. Bowman has put him in his top 10% of patients with this type of surgery according to his recovery progress! Yay Razor! And now his physical therapy regimen:

Week 1 (8/15-8/21): 2 minutes off leash outside for elimination. 10-15 minute leash walk. No jumping on or off deck. (We need to try to make sure he goes slowly on leash up and down the deck stairs.)

Week 2 (8/22-8/28): 5 minutes off leash outside for elimination. 15-20 minute leash walk. No jumping on or off deck.

Week 3 (8/29-9/4): unlimited time off leash (with no other dogs). 30-minute leash walk. No jumping on or off deck.

9/5: Call Dr. Bowman to discuss progress!

19w 0d - Ups & Downs

Downs

• It is still a little tough to dress for work since I'm too frugal to go out and buy more pants!
• I still don't look "totally" pregnant yet. (I think I have some people guessing!)
• Headaches are still around about every week or so...
  

Ups

• I finally felt the baby moving--twice this past week!!
• We're expecting to begin our hypnobirthing classes on or around September 9. We'll have 5, 2.5-hour classes in Harrisonburg, probably with 1 other couple. I'm so excited!
  

19w 0d - "Pason" This Week

• Your baby weighs about 9 ounces (260g) and measures about 5.6 to 6.4 inches (14 to 16cm) from crown to rump.
• Her skin is thickening and developing multiple layers- the epidermis and the dermis, the deeper layer where it will form fat. Your baby is now also developing a waxy protective coating for her skin called vernix caseosa. The vernix protects your baby's skin which is continuously submersed in amniotic fluid. Vernix, which is particularly thick around the eyebrows is held in place by tiny downy hairs called lanugo.
• Your baby can now grip with her fists. Toenails and scalp hair are growing.
• At this point, it may be possible to determine the baby's sex by ultrasound, if the baby cooperates, but the ultrasound technician will rarely guarantee the sex based on the ultrasound results as mistakes are sometimes made at an early ultrasound.
• You can hear the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler ultrasound device or a stethoscope.

Source: http://preg.fertilityfriend.com

A Beautiful Tribute

This video is too touching for me not to share. You may want to grab a tissue.

18w 2d - First Feeling of Movement!

Exactly when we reached 18 weeks on Tuesday, I felt the first movement or "flutter!" It was so amazing. I was just leaning back in the chair to get my hair washed at my hair appointment! I later found out the girl who washes my hair is 9 weeks pregnant with twins! How ironic!?! Or some kind of God breeze. God is so good! It was just 1 little "tap" in the upper left of my uterus. My friend thinks 'Pason' will be one of those babies who likes to hang out up under my ribs and keep me really miserable. Teehee, we shall see!

18w 2d - "Pason" This Week

• Your baby measures about 5.2 to 6 inches (13-15cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 7 ounces (200g).
• The buds for the permanent teeth are forming behind those that have already developed for the first teeth.
• Your baby's nervous system and brain development continue at a spectacular pace. By this week, your baby's motor neurons, which connect muscle to the brain, have grown into place so that your baby can consciously direct her movements. Millions of neurons inside your baby's brain are growing and forming connections and the nerves in her body are being covered in a fatty substance called myelin.
• Your baby's ears are now placed on the sides of her head and her limbs are now in proportion. Your baby's tiny foot is just one inch long, but is in perfect proportion to the rest of her leg.
• Your baby can hear your voice and recognize it.

Source: http://preg.fertilityfriend.com

Razor Update

He got a new bandage Thursday and then another one again on Saturday (when the vet got to have a look at it also). Razor did start chewing it off Friday, so we had to buy him an e-collar. He can still reach it, but at least it's a deterrant. Tomorrow we can cut off his final bandage! He is scheduled to have his 20-some staples out on Thursday already.

17w 1d - "Pason" This Week

• Your baby weighs about 5.25 ounces (150g) and now measures 5 to 5.6 inches (12.5 to 14cm) from crown to rump. He is practicing breathing by gulping amniotic fluid into its lungs. This helps the lung's development so they will function at birth. Your baby may also be sucking his thumb.
• Meconium is present in your baby's bowels. There is hair present on your baby's scalp and sweat glands are developing.
• Your baby is becoming more sensitive to the outside world and is moving around, kicking and punching. As there is still plenty of space in your uterus, your baby can move around a lot, sitting cross-legged, reclining or even turning somersaults!
• He can probably hear by now as the ossicles (the bones that pass sound to the inner ear) have hardened and the portion of the brain that receives signals from the brain is under development. Your baby is getting used to the sound of your heartbeat and blood passing through the umbilical cord, but may be startled by loud noises. Your baby is aware of some things in the outside world, including sounds and light. If you let the sun shine on your belly, your baby may be able to perceive a warm red glow.

Source: http://preg.fertilityfriend.com

Surgery Successful

Razor's surgery was successful and went very well Monday! The doctor said had it gone on another 8 months or so, the knee most likely would have been non-repairable! The name of his condition was a luxating patella. See more info here.

We picked him up Tuesday evening, and he’ll get a new bandage Thursday or Friday if he is not bothering or chewing it. Then Saturday or Monday he can have it taken off. On the 15th Dr. Bowman will re-evaluate and give further instruction for his physical therapy. At this time, he is not to have any activity for 2 weeks except to rest in his crate, and to go potty. Poor Razor! But in about 6 months he should be much happier and able-bodied. (His limp had gotten very painful and pitiful looking.) We hope you feel better soon, buddy.

This is a picture from this morning. If you'd like to see more, check out our photo album.