16 Week Belly Bump

I'm finally getting those looks that ask "is she pregnant or has she been eating too many ho-hos?"

16w 3d - Midwife Appointment Yesterday

We had a great appointment yesterday! Met a second midwife, Barbara, who was also great. Baby's heartbeat was 145 bpm. Heard that glorious sound again via the doppler machine. I read that it's possible to hear it through a stethescope at 20 weeks. I can't wait to try! My weight gain is right on (about 5-6 lb) and my BP was 112/76. So far, so good!

Then came our questions. I'll try to recap briefly:

• The hospital we chose has a free, volunteer, on-call labor doula service. I'm a little wary just because their views could be swayed to "typical" hospital practices. But the extra free support would be hard to pass up. I think I'll sign up for that!
• According to Barbara, all the midwives are familiar with hypnobirthing. She noted in my chart that I plan to use it and will take Kate's class to learn the techniques. Barbara had 5 natural childbirths, so that helps too to know she knows the approach I'm coming from.
• A lactation consultant will stop by, and I shouldn't need to request to see her.
• Due to our conversation, I feel better about having the RhoGAM shot at 28 weeks (I'm O-, Jason is A+). I'm still undecided but fairly certain I will accept this in just 3 months!
• Her opinion is that a flu shot is safe and necessary. I'm still confused on the use of the thermisol in the vaccines, though, and it's potential side affects. Any advice here is welcome!
• I told her about my headaches. She said Advil is OK from weeks 13 to 28! I will try to use just 200 mg as a last resort only.
  

Our next back-to-back appointments are 8/24 for our 20-week ultrasound and a checkup/ultrasound review with another midwife.

Remembering The Angels

Today I remember a year ago when we lost our angel to a "missed abortion (miscarriage)" and my D&C surgery at RMH. In many ways I find it hard to believe it has already been a year. 365 days. A full 12 months. God is so good in healing and providing peace. I recognize how much I have to be thankful for. Of course, our current pregnancy and the life we pray to have the honor of bringing into the world in just a few months... But mainly today I think of the ever so kind nursing staff of RMH... The loved ones who sent a card or who approached me with a difficult conversation concerning our loss... And the friends and family with whom I will always share a bond of having lost a pre-term baby.

I also remember today all the sweet babies lost by miscarriage, still birth, and premature delivery. I imagine them all playing in Heaven together!

16w 1d - "Pason" This Week

Your baby now weighs more than the surrounding placenta. She measures about 4.4 to 4.8 inches (about 11 to 12cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 3.5 ounces (100g). She is positioned halfway between your pubic bone and your navel.

Fat, which is important for your baby's metabolism and heat production is beginning to form around this time.

The placenta, which will weigh more than a pound at full term, is also developing rapidly. It is now a large and well-established network of blood vessels responsible for exchanging nutrients and waste to support your baby.

Source: http://preg.fertilityfriend.com

16w 1d - Ups & Downs

Downs

• I've been a little more tired lately.
• Headaches have been a pain for me lately! Luckily I haven't had a very noticeable one for about a week.
• I started getting a cold last Thursday. I'm hoping I'll have it licked within a few days.
• I'm still not really showing.
• Jason wants to find out the gender at the 20-week ultrasound but I'm still trying to convince him that we should keep it a surprise.
• Today marks the anniversary of my D&C / missed abortion when we lost our first baby. I truly cannot believe it's been a year, and that our baby would be 5 months old already if it were born around the due date of 2/11/07!

Ups

• My hubby bought me a really cute shirt last night at Steve & Barry's. It's a size L for when I get LARGE! and it has a cartoon picture of a chick in a iron skillet. The words read "Hot Chick." Yeah! :)
• I'm still sleeping great--just not getting enough of it!
• We were away for the weekend at a lakehouse with 2 other couples who had small kids (5 and 24 months). It was fun watching them and imagining what life might be like for us next summer at the same location!
• My next regular checkup appointment is tomorrow. :)

15w 0d - "Pason" This Week

• Fine hair called lanugo covers your baby, who now measures about 4.3 to 4.6 inches (10.8 to 11.6cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 2.8 ounces (80g).
• Fingernails are well formed and the arms and legs may be seen moving on an ultrasound. Your baby already has his own unique fingerprint pattern!
• Your baby can hold his head erect and he can also make faces with his slightly developed facial muscles. Your baby may practice squinting, frowning and opening and closing his mouth.
• Your baby's bones have enough calcium deposits to show on an X-ray. If your baby is female, her ovaries will be in place in her pelvis and more than five million ova (some of which may be fertilized to become your own grandchildren in another generation!) have formed.

Source: http://preg.fertilityfriend.com

14w 0d - Ups & Downs

Downs

• I've had pretty bad headaches off and on for a few days now. I'll be asking my chiropractor next week about them to see if it's related to any changes in my back.
• I also had occassional, minor, sciatic pain in my right leg, so I figure things are already starting to shift around in preparation! I haven't noticed it in probably a week though.

Ups

• I'm "looking" more pregnant every day and I can't wait until my belly bump has really "popped" out.
• No headaches today so far! Other than those, I've felt great.

First Trimester Weight Gain

5 lb so far...

14w 0d - "Little K" This Week

• Your baby measures about 3.7 to 4.1 inches (about 9.3 to 10.3cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 1.75 ounces (50g).
• Your baby's bones still consist of soft cartilage but they are now beginning to harden and the development of the bones and the marrow continues. Her ears are developing into a more recognizable shape and any hair already on the head and brows will become thicker.
• Your baby may already be sucking her thumb.
  
• Her skin is thin and translucent and all her blood vessels can be seen through it.
• Her hair continues to grow on her head and her eyebrows. If her hair will be dark, the follicles will start to generate pigment to color her hair.
• Your baby is moving more now and is becoming increasingly flexible. She can bend her arms at the elbows and wrists and she can make tiny fists with her hands.

Source: http://preg.fertilityfriend.com

Upcoming Knee Surgery

Well, the good news is it's not for one of us (me or J). It's for our poor limping Razor. Turns out his hip displaysia isn't so bad... However his knee is remaning dislocated; hense all his limping. Dr. Bowman could not even put it back in place at his checkup. He is scheduled for surgery with Dr. Bowman on July 30th. He should need around 6-8 weeks of recovery, and another 4-5 months to relearn to walk, run, and trust his "new" knee. His ailment is pretty serious as he is very young (only about 15 months!), and if we let it go on, he won't be able to use that left hind leg at all. :(

We hope this helps you feel better, buddy!

13w 2d - Ups & Downs

Downs

• It is still strange for me to be 100% joyful and excited about this pregnancy. I believe that innocent joy of a new pregnancy is never regained after a loss or serious complication. Therefore, I am still not open about the pregnancy. I figure people will just hear "through the grapevine" or eventually see the growing belly!
• I tried ordering curtain valances for the little bedroom (even though it still feels too early) in hopes to match paint swatches with it. Home Depot has the Behr sale through this Saturday, and I'm afraid I'll miss the sale for this room.

Ups

• Jason's aunt has already offered to host a baby shower. How sweet!! I'd like to have a co-ed style shower, but I'm not sure how well that would go... Please let me know if you have suggestions on how best to make this work and how to attract the men!
• First trimester symptoms are pretty much gone. I suppose I can call myself now in the second trimester yippee! (Some sources say it's not until the end of 13 weeks. Oh well, I'm calling it!) I've been exercising regularly and I feel great. Headaches still crop up occassionally, but I'm still pregnant, so all is well!
• I loved the midwife I met at my first "real" appointment and can't wait for my next one to meet another midwife!

13w 0d - "Little K" This Week

• Your baby measures about 3.2 to 3.5 inches (7.6 to 8.9cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 0.9 ounces (25g). Your baby is now nourished by the placenta.
• His face is developing and his cheeks and the bridge of his nose are appearing. His ears are moving from the sides of his neck to higher on his head and his eyes are moving closer together. Your baby's external genitals are now distinct and may be recognized on an ultrasound. Your baby will move away from stimuli near your tummy, such as noise and light.
• Your baby's eyebrows have formed and a small amount of hair, called lanugo, has appeared all over his body. Lanugo, which will be shed before birth and replaced with the hairs with which your baby will be born, is thought to have a protective function.
• Insulin is present in your baby's pancreas. Some bones may be well outlined. Your baby's thyroid gland, already developed by this week, begins to make hormones.
• Baby boys begin to develop the prostate gland at this time and the ovaries of baby girls descend from the abdomen into the pelvis.

Source: http://preg.fertilityfriend.com

12 Week Belly Bump