15 week 4 day appt was Monday!

I asked Jack to join me again for this last appointment on Monday...I knew we would be listening for the heartbeat, and I was feeling a little nervous. I have decided that this pregnancy will probably just be a little like that until I hold this Baby myself. I don't actively worry about it, but on appointment mornings the thoughts cross my mind still. With that said:

The visit went great! Dr. D'Ambrosia literally just put some gel on my low belly, set the doppler down in one spot and the resounding thud filled the room! She says a good range is 110-160 and Baby was beating 140. Jack was so surprised at the volume of the heartbeat that his mouth dropped open and his eyes popped. He said "Wow!" and I said "yes, that's what's going on in there!"

Next visit is 5/20. As we all know, we will be getting gender then. I asked Dr. D what else we will be looking for. She said we'll be looking at all the organs and everything in between for proper development and placement. She said the machine would be on Baby for a good half hour. I don't like this at all. I was tempted to ask Jack if we could skip it. I don't have a bad feeling about it, but I will be praying that God places His hand over Baby's ears to block any noise and that He protects from any negative effects or experience.

Oh, and I have maintained my weight since the last visit as well, and was only up a pound or two at that point. This is very surprising to me, as my bras are too tight and my jeans are uncomfortable in the belly. At this rate I could be in my jeans with a bella band for awhile longer but...we'll see what happens...

Apparently Baby is going to double in size in the next 3 weeks, so it is normal that I am having lots of pulling and twinges as my uterus stresses against my round ligaments. I have really been tuning in trying to see if I can feel Baby yet, but with all the twinges it is hard to tell. I am pretty sure I have not felt her/him yet.... My low back and sciatica have been really acting up the last week or so. I have been doing yoga, which sometimes seems to help and other times seems to make my abs sore. Kacey and I also walked 45 minutes yesterday, which was not as pleasant as usual, but if I tuck my butt in and keep my back from swaying out it feels better! I've been staying pretty well out of the office chair too, and that helps alot. Not complaining, just sharing symptoms. :)

I got an email from Mountain Midwifery yesterday confirming that my health insurance is accepted there! I will post more about that another day.

Is anyone even reading this? :)

Week 15: "Our little hairy baby"

Fetal development in pregnancy week 15: fetus in fourth month Your nearly four-inch long gymnast is happily mobile inside your womb and if you're really lucky, you’ll notice a point when your sneezing, coughing or laughing results in a little kick here or a poke there. Still, many women don't feel anything until the 17th week or later. Although the poking and kicking isn't very charming during sleeping hours, it’s a good sign as it means your baby is actually reacting to outside events. Yay! You’ve got yourself one active healthy baby! Their little elbows and knees are bending more freely this week and their little legs are finally growing longer than their arms and getting pumped up for prenatal Richard Simmons. Many of their major organ systems are increasing in capacity—particularly that amazing tiny heart and complex circulation system, which is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood per day, and will increase to a very impressive 200 quarts per day by the end of the pregnancy. As far as hair goes, we’ve got some new scalp patterns beginning to develop on the head, although actual head hair is not yet present.

And how's mom doing? Have your cheeks been rosier lately? (No, no, no-- we’re asking about your face.) Are you feeling especially radiant? This famed “glow” is brought to you courtesy of the pregnancy fairy who has waved her magical “rosy tinge wand” over you. Seriously though, your body is experiencing an increase in be aware that increased blood flow might cause your blood vessels to expand, resulting in a series of not-so-magical nosebleeds blood flow and you probably do have flushed skin and cheeks. Just be aware that increased blood flow might cause your blood vessels to expand, resulting in a series of not-so-magical nosebleeds for some women, which although perfectly normal, are a bit gory if you’ve got a day job. If you find the nosebleeds especially irritable, consider purchasing a humidifier to ward off future nose bleeds. Also, do your best to avoid irritants, such as aerosols, smoke, and dust.. Even though the placenta is regulating your babe’s hormones, you are still producing additional estrogen, which often causes swelling of the mucosa membranes, leaving you with a stuffy nose—potentially throughout the duration of the pregnancy. These are just a few of the charming physical experiences you can chalk up to the pregnancy fairy!

14 Week Baby "Bump"

Well, I received an email reminder today from What To Expect telling me that at 14 weeks it is time to record my first baby belly picture. I am not real excited about it, as I just feel blown out and pigged up at this point! ...So yikes...here it is...

Week 14...Shake it Baby!!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 14: fetus in fourth month Isn’t it glorious? You and your little buckaroo have roped your way right into trimester numero dos! Are you ready to rock!? Okay, okay… maybe just a little rolling and poking. Needless to say, your baby will definitely be making themselves known in the upcoming weeks. At about 3.5 inches long, their little body and limber limbs are coordinated enough for loads of complicated motions. In fact, their whole body is moving right now! You're not feeling it because their current size is still a bit too small to make an impact you'd recognize. Still, their movements are recognizable on an ultrasound. Speaking of which, you shoud be scheduling one with your health care provider! Week 16 is the classic date as you can usually determine whether your little one is going to pee standing up or sitting down. Your baby is also starting to develop the ability to move their eyes this week, although the eyelids still remain fused shut. What's more, they can make all sorts of fun facial expressions as they practice squinting, frowning, and grimacing. Cute development of the week: their little hands can grasp at things and they may already be sucking their thumb!

And how's mom doing? What’s in the forecast for your second trimester? We’ve got a heavy concentration of developing fetal movement, which will increase in magnitude in frequency through the duration of the second trimester before subsiding in the third trimester as womb-space becomes limited. If you think you’ve got the second trimester is typically experienced as the most exciting and enjoyable of the three— the morning sickness is gone, you definitely feel and look pregnant, but you’re not yet an overstuffed-lumbering-mammoth gas or some kind of odd bowel obstruction right now, it might actually just be your little one poking you hello! You’ll become more familiar with the sensation as the frequency and intensity increase (and you’ll never quite forget this special feeling!.

On to the less exciting news. In your second trimester, you will most likely experience some if not all of the following symptoms to varying degrees: dizziness, headache and back pain. Just like morning sickness during the first trimester, your chances of experiencing a given set of symptoms increases if you’ve already had them in a previous pregnancy. Unfortunately, if you’re starting to experience back pain, it will most likely increase as you gain more weight towards the end of the trimester. Although unavoidable during your waking hours, you don’t have to suffer so much during the night—there are some wonderful products out there such as the full body pregnancy pillow, which will help you make it through the night without too much undue suffering. Water retention is another fairly classic albeit annoying pregnancy symptom which typically leads to swollen fingers, toes, ankles and/or legs. These are all perfectly normal (and fairly bearable) symptoms that should not be a source of unnecessary stress. Despite these annoyances, the second trimester is typically experienced as the most exciting and enjoyable of the three— the morning sickness is gone, you definitely feel and look pregnant, but you’re not yet an overstuffed-lumbering-mammoth. Go team go!

Oops! I have one more week in the 1st!

I was thinking 3 x 12 weeks but that would make for a 36 week old baby! Oops! One more week to go in the 1st. I have not been nauseous consistently in a few weeks, and that has been great! I am also not getting as exhausted as early in the day. I am getting some things done around the house and working in the Baby's room. Jack is getting the paint for the dressers and will hopefully paint pretty soon, as I am anxious to have the room more set up. I got a pack of baby size hangers and am going to rehang some of those cutie outfits and sleepers my Mom has already delivered! We got the Queen bed out and the twin bed in, and there is so much more room in there now! (exciting)

Weather is getting beautiful. Time to fix the sprinklers at the little trees and start watering. Time to also continue getting ready for the June yard sale...need to get some more stuff outta here before we smother! I've been watching some of those specials on hoarders and it is hitting too close to home, me thinks! So far, the front dining room is partially filled, but there is alot to bring up from the basement, etc.

Here's the latest official Baby update:

Fetal development in pregnancy week 13: fetus in third month This is your final week in the first trimester and your little weed continues to grow and grow and grow. Of the three trimesters, this one has been the most important for your little one’s development. Assuming you’ve carefully adopted a healthy diet, continue to exercise and get ample rest, your little one is set up perfectly for even more growth and development in tri-two! Way to go! He or she now weighs about 2.5 ounces and is roughly 3.5 inches in length. Little hairs, known as lanugo, will start to cover their body this week, as their sense of taste and smell are further refined. Their cozy little amniotic sac is also increasing in size and mass as it continues to fill with more fluid.

And how's mom doing? Congratulations on a successful first trimester! A lot has happened (and there’s a lot more to come). You should be proud of your hard work and sacrifice. Giving up lattes, soda, and wine is not easy. Even if you snuck in a few of these goodies over the past 13 weeks, don’t dwell on it—there’s a lot The good news is some fashion designers are realizing that being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t look sharp, sexy, sporty, or whatever your particular style might be to look forward to! Besides, now is the perfect time to rededicate yourself if you have had a few lapses. Remember, every day and decision is an opportunity to improve your eating and exercise habits—your baby and your body will thank you in the long run.

If you’re the planning type, you can celebrate the beginning of your next trimester by purchasing some choice maternity clothing to fit your elegantly evolving new shape. The good news is some fashion designers are realizing that being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t look sharp, sexy, sporty, or whatever your particular style might be. Cruise the online stores for a preview of the range of fashion out there for pregnant women—even if the local shops are still stuck in the nineties, you can always hit up some chi-chi online store based out of NYC! If you’d rather wait a few more weeks (until you really start to show) before making any purchases, then get ready to dig out your sweat pants, over-sized t-shirts, and any other comfy loose fitting clothes you’ve got at your disposal. At the very least, just unbutton that top button on those pants that still “almost fit”. Come on, you’re pregnant! This is definitely not the time to suffer for fashion.