Journey Into Nothingness

Pictures!

2009-04-22T19:23:00.001-05:00

Little Miss and her best friend, Blankie

At the park

Easter 2009

Long Time, No Update

2009-04-22T19:16:00.003-05:00

Well.... life's been busy. Lillie is now 13 months old. She's turned out to be quite a peanut, she's still only 18lbs 9oz and 29.25". This has totally thrown my wardrobe stuffing into a tizzy. Everything is "wrong".

Lillie is quite the little person now, it's been great to see how she's blossomed into a person of her own. She's sweet and happy. She loves to wear dresses, sweaters and anything purple (guess how many purple sweaters have LOL). She loves her big brothers and sister. She's starting to run now, which has been quite amusing. She started walking about a week before her first birthday.

She has 6 teeth now.... I think. She might've sprouted more that I'm not aware of. And she is still nursing... yay me. We're (I'm) planning on 18 months, but we'll definitely reevaluate when the time comes.

In other news we bought a house... we close and move next week. It's very exciting, but I'm having a heck of a time getting this house ready to move out of. We've finally decided to hire someone to clean it.... it'll be $200 well spent.

5 Months

2008-08-28T12:47:00.001-05:00

Lillie is roughly 15lbs and 26 inches.

4 Months

2008-08-13T11:16:00.000-05:00

We Have A Roller!

2008-08-13T11:15:00.001-05:00

Lillie rolled from back to tummy for the first time last night. Yay!

4 Months

2008-07-22T12:02:00.001-05:00

Lillie was 13lbs 7oz and 25" at her appt on Friday. We are still EBF.

Quick Pic

2008-07-10T15:00:00.001-05:00

I took this about a month ago, but I love it.

3 Months

2008-06-19T12:43:00.000-05:00

At 3 months Lillie is 12lbs 7oz. She's cooing and talking up a storm.

2 Months

2008-05-12T15:34:00.001-05:00

Lillie is now 10lbs 13oz and 22.25". She's a super happy baby. And started sleeping 6-7hrs at night about a week ago.

1 Month

2008-04-26T14:47:00.003-05:00

Lillie was weighed on Thursday (4/24) and was 9lbs 10oz. Growing girl. She's still exclusively breastfed as well, yay me.

And a quick pic of her smile.

She's smiling at a chair.

4 Weeks

2008-04-14T20:46:00.001-05:00

As of last Thursday Lillie was 8lbs 9oz...we have another weight check next week. Here's a new pic from today.

2 Week Appt

2008-04-01T13:14:00.001-05:00

All is well. Lillie is now 7lbs 11oz and 20.5". She doesn't go back til 2 months.

2 Weeks

2008-03-31T21:22:00.004-05:00

Ok, so I'm 12hrs off, lol. Miss Lillie is 2 weeks old; my how time flies. She is the sweetest little thing. Sleeps all the time, even a 3 and 4hr stretch at night (*knock on wood*). She's eating well; bf'ing has been a bit rough but I'm working through it. As of Friday, 10 days old, she had surpassed her birth weight. Coming in at a hefty 7lbs 5.5oz, lol. For comparison, at discharge her weight was 6lbs 12oz, the next day she was 6lbs 14oz.

We'll get the official word tomorrow at her 2wk check-up. I'm really hoping that she's still doing well. I have this irrational fear that all of a sudden I'm not producing enough and she's not eating enough.

She's Here!

2008-03-22T11:26:00.006-05:00

Lillie Grace made her entrance at 8:04 am on 18 March 2008 via c-section. Everything went really well, her APGARs were 8/9. She was 7lbs 5oz and 19"; a bit smaller than we were anticipating but still a good size.

I came out with all my pieces. While terrifying, the c-section wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Probably because I was so scared that something would go wrong, and it went perfectly.

We got to the hospital at 6am. Checking in took 1/2 an hour so we didn't get back to the room til 6:30. I got changed and all of a sudden there were 5 nurses in there, 1 asking questions, another starting my IV. It was crazy. That first hour went by really fast. Pretty soon dh had to get changed, they had me drink some alkaseltzer and gave me some reglan. I walked back to the OR at 7:40. They sat me down on the operating table and put these weird metal step stool things under my feet. They started on my spinal; I guess my back is really bony so I had to bend over especially far. Took 5mins or so, once they had it in I started to go all warm and tingly right away. They had me lay down quickly. They put the arm things up and had me lay my arms on them and they put a warm blanket over them. Other people were down at my legs strapping them down and putting blankets on. By this time my lower was pretty well numb, but not up high enough so they put my head down a bit. Then someone else started washing my belly off; all I could feel was pressure. Then they put this clear sticky thing on my belly and started to drape me up. They brought dh in, by the time he sat down someone asked how I was doing and told me that they'd already made the incision; 8am. I felt some pulling and pressure; mainly just them pushing up into my ribs. And then I heard her cry; it was just amazing; 8:04. They held her up over the screen so I could see her and she dropped baby goop on my face. They took her into a little room off of the OR to weigh her and wrap her up.

While she was gone I asked if the placenta was coming out; the nurse said they were working on it. And it did come out, all in 1 piece. While feeling around in there the doctor found a septum; he said it's about 3cm long. So I have official confirmation of it, finally.

They brought her out for me to see, I got to touch her face. We all spent a few minutes together and then they took her to the nursery. I had dh stay with me for a bit because I was still scared something was going to go wrong. When they started closing me up he went to be with the baby.

They finished at 8:25. I was still numb but had started to get weirdly tingly. They pulled all the drapes down and brought a bed in. Since I was numb they moved me over; which was really freaky. Like being on a roller coaster but you have no control over most of your body.

Recovery went pretty well; I ended up staying a little over 48hrs.

39 weeks

2008-03-21T10:03:00.001-05:00

Quick belly shot before leaving for the hospital.

Tomorrow!

2008-03-17T09:59:00.000-05:00

My c-section is tomorrow at 8am CST. Wish us luck!

39 Weeks

2008-03-17T09:57:00.002-05:00

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

38 Weeks

2008-03-10T09:12:00.002-05:00

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

37 Weeks

2008-03-03T12:01:00.002-06:00

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

35w Appt, U/S and NST

2008-02-25T12:53:00.005-06:00

Busy day on Friday. My appt went well, I'm up to 30lbs overall, had the GBS swab done. Other than that nothing else since I was having a u/s right after. U/s went well, as well.

Baby is measuring a bit big, at 36w5d (as of Friday). Her estimated weight was 6lbs 6oz. Everything is looking good.

NST went mostly well, at the very end she had a huge decel, but they never called so I guess it was ok.

36 Weeks

2008-02-25T12:35:00.001-06:00

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

35 Weeks

2008-02-19T10:38:00.002-06:00

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

35 Weeks

2008-02-19T10:15:00.000-06:00

34w Appt

2008-02-15T14:59:00.002-06:00

Not a whole lot of news. I gained 5lbs *sigh*, my total is now 27lbs. BP was 118/something, a bit high for me. Baby's h/b was good, I'm measuring a bit small. Not really a big deal, usually it's fine. Of course I'm worried that *this* time something will be wrong. Either way I'm having another ultrasound, probably next week but they haven't called me yet. I'm also starting NSTs next week, and my regular appointments will now be weekly.

4 weeks 4 days until Birthday!

34 Weeks

2008-02-12T10:13:00.000-06:00

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

33 Weeks

2008-02-09T19:07:00.000-06:00

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

32 Week Belly Shot

2008-01-29T18:33:00.000-06:00

Haven't posted one in a while.

32 Weeks

2008-01-29T11:59:00.000-06:00

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Appointment Updates

2008-01-22T08:54:00.000-06:00

We've been busy, I haven't had a chance to update after my appts on Friday.

My appt went well, I'm up a total of 21lbs. BP is good, baby's heartbeat is good. It's all good. My c-section is scheduled for 18 March, less then 2 months to go!

My ultrasound went well too. Baby girl is measuring a bit big, she was at 30w6d at 30w3d. Not really a big deal, but my babies have always been on the small side. She's the first to ever measured ahead. Her estimated weight was 3lbs 9oz. The placenta is completely anterior, covering the entire front right wall. It's looking normal, not fool-proof but it is comforting. We're hoping that it will behave and come out nicely; if not I'll be having a hysterectomy.

And then I made a trip to L&D Saturday night/Monday morning. I felt her head really low, and it was freaking me out. The nurse said it was best if I went in. Long story short, I'm 1cm, 50% and baby was at -2. She's since moved up a bit, I can still feel her but she's another inch or so higher.

And here are a few pictures from Friday

31 Weeks

2008-01-22T08:51:00.000-06:00

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

30 Weeks

2008-01-15T09:41:00.000-06:00

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Appt Update

2008-01-08T10:17:00.000-06:00

I think it went well. Because of my history she has to talk to the other 2 doctors (it's a group of 3 high risk doctors) but she doesn't see why they'd say no to the c-section. I'm complicated, so they have to all be on the same page. If the placenta doesn't come away right away they'll take the uterus out, leaving my ovaries and cervix.

I can probably get the 17th, but I may have to have an amnio before, because it's earlier then 39 weeks (by 1 day, lol). I guess if not it'll be the 18th. Dh is going to bank blood for me, we have to start working on that at 30-32 weeks.

Otherwise an uneventful appt. I gained 5lbs *sigh* lol. Baby measured good, h/b was good. BP was good. I did the GTT, no idea when I'll get the results but I'm not worried about it (I've done 5 before and been fine, I guess this could always be *the one*).

One last thing, lol. I'll be starting NSTs sometime around 32 weeks and my next appt is in 2 weeks.

My next u/s is on 18 January.

29 Weeks

2008-01-08T09:48:00.000-06:00

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Baby Movement

2008-01-04T17:51:00.000-06:00

I took this last night, 28w2d.

Countdown To C-Section

2008-01-01T11:41:00.000-06:00

If I get my way baby girl will be born on 17 March; that's just under 11 weeks away.

Of course she could always decide to come earlier, which brings it to 10 weeks (and hopefully no earlier). Crazy stuff.

28 Weeks

2008-01-01T11:38:00.001-06:00

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Nursery

2007-12-29T18:42:00.000-06:00

I've never decorated a nursery before my baby was born before. I'm seriously working on this baby girl's. As of now I only have her bedding, but I'm working on everything else, lol.

I fell in love with the Mod Flutter theme when dd was small. I got really lucky and Amy Coe came out with something similar, but better, a few months ago.

So this is baby girl's bedding:

Since we can't paint after we move (unless we want to do a lot of unpainting when we leave) I'm going to leave the walls white. We should have 3 walls to decorate on. The wall with the crib should be the largest interior wall, I'm going to put dot stickers up. They look similar to this:

The wall with the windows will stay white but I'm going to add fancy curtains. They don't have any that match this so I'm just trying to find something to coordinates well. So far I've found this:

It's on ebay and it's a shower curtain. But it's the best I've found so far.

Her furniture will be cherry finish, as of now. I like this crib:

No word on when we'll get it. I'm still not sure on the rest, I haven't found anything that I really like. I plan on getting a small bookcase for storage as well.

27 Weeks

2007-12-25T09:59:00.000-06:00

This week your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to him, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking?

Vasectomy Update

2007-12-18T16:29:00.000-06:00

In case anyone was wondering. Dh had his repeat vasectomy on 4 October, and so far it seems to have been successful. Dh got tested a week or so ago and no spermies of any kind were found. He's supposed to get test again in 3 months.

After the first one he still had a ridiculous amount of swimmers 2 months after.

Poke!

2007-12-18T16:22:00.001-06:00

There's a tiny foot poking out of my belly. It's only about an inch long, can you imagine? Since baby girl is head down I feel the majority of her movements just above and to the right of my belly button.

I've also started feeling her whole body move; which is one of the strangest feelings. 2nd on the weird list is her little foot poking out; I'll try to get a bit of video of it, looks like there's a cute little alien in there. I can also feel her various body parts slide across my belly.

26 Weeks

2007-12-18T09:02:00.000-06:00

Your baby now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber), from head to heel. The nerve pathways in her ears are developing, which means her response to sounds is growing more consistent. Her lungs are developing now, too, as she continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid — good practice for when she's born and takes that first breath of air. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Appt Update

2007-12-15T12:33:00.000-06:00

I had my first appt with the perinatologists on Tuesday. It was pretty much the same as my other appts. My BP was 90/60. I'm up another 3lbs, making my grand total so far 10lbs. My belly measured right on and her heartbeat sounded good. A difference was, I asked if he could tell if she was head down; I've been feeling more movement up top rather than down low like I had been; and sure enough she's head down. He asked if I wanted to get the machine out, of course! LOL And so I got an uber quickie u/s, just barely saw the side of her head. He also doubled checked for me and she is definitely a girl. I got the glucola to drink before my next appt and they'll draw my blood at the office.

In other news I've pretty much decided to have a c-section. I think it's the best option, considering my history. I'm praying that if the placenta gets stuck again they'll be able to take it out right then and I won't have to deal with the waiting and all that.

Oh and I didn't post about my drama from last week. On Thursday (6 December) I lost a small piece of my mucous plug. Called into the nurse line and they had my go to L&D, where they told me that have no idea why it happened but that everything looked good. I was having any contractions and baby girl looked well. That Saturday (8 December) I started spotting. Wasn't a whole lot, but after the mucous plug incident and it being the first (and hopefully only) time I spotted in this pregnancy, it freaked me out. I didn't go to L&D; I stayed home with some cramping and back pain. By the morning it had all gone away. Now I'm left with an increased amount of Braxton-Hicks contractions, but everything seems ok.

25 Weeks

2007-12-11T09:45:00.000-06:00

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. His hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after he's born.

24 Weeks

2007-12-04T10:59:00.001-06:00

Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

23 Week Belly

2007-11-27T12:11:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I posted a belly shot, so here it is, lol.

23 Weeks

2007-11-27T11:38:00.000-06:00

Your baby now weighs a little over one pound/ 500 grams and measures about 11.4 inches/ 29 centimeters from crown to heel. Her hearing is well established and she can make out a distorted version of your voice, the beating of your heart and your stomach rumblings. Loud noises often heard in utero, such as the barking of a dog next door or the roar of a vacuum cleaner, probably won't bother your child when she hears them outside the womb.

Numerous studies seem to indicate that the unborn prefer classical music, especially Vivaldi. Play The Four Seasons for your child and pay attention to her movements. Does she quieten down during adagio sections and speed up for the allegro portions? You may have a budding conductor in your womb.

In addition to advances in your baby's hearing, her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. She's swallowing but she normally won't pass her first stool (called meconium) until after birth.

Photo info:
My last baby at 23 weeks, this baby's big brother. Isn't he cute? Baby girl probably looks very similar, as all my babies have been little clones of my dh.

Appointment Update

2007-11-24T19:20:00.000-06:00

I got busy, sorry, lol.

My appt went relatively well. I gained 7lbs between 18w and 22w; my grand total is 7lbs so far. BP was 120/68, a bit high for me. I was fighting with my shoes, lol. Baby is doing well. My belly measured right on. baby's heartbeat was 150bpm. The OB had to chase her a bit.

I've been transferred to the prinatologists full-time. Because of my history I need to have a surgeon on call all the time, so that no matter when I have the baby, someone will be able to do a hysterectomy should I need it. The people that deliver with the clinic are all family medicine people with no real surgical (c-section excluded) experience.

My first appt is 11 December, we'll see what they say. Apparently I was closer to a hysterectomy last time than I had thought.

Update

2007-11-21T08:32:00.001-06:00

Nothing is really going on, hence the lack of posts. I'm finally feeling the baby regularly, and form what I'm feeling, I'm pretty sure she's breech. My babies seem to stay that way for a while, my last didn't turn til around 30 weeks. So far I haven't had to go into L&D for contractions (I did with my last 2 at 22w and 24w). I'm hoping to avoid that this time. I have an appointment this afternoon and will update afterwards.

22 Weeks

2007-11-21T08:15:00.000-06:00

Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

Photo info:
A girl born after just under 22 weeks in the womb - among the shortest gestation periods known for a live birth. Doctors say she is the first baby known to have survived after a gestation of fewer than 23 weeks. But full-term births usually come after 37 to 40 weeks. Amillia was just 9 1/2 inches long and weighed less than 10 ounces when she was delivered by Caesarean section.

21 Weeks

2007-11-13T11:47:00.000-06:00

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.

20 Weeks

2007-11-06T10:57:00.001-06:00

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)

A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)

Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).

19 Weeks

2007-10-30T12:12:00.000-05:00

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.

The 'Big' Ultrasound

2007-10-29T18:51:00.000-05:00

I was so nervous about this one. That there would be something wrong with the baby or that the baby wouldn't cooperate. All is well on both fronts.

Baby is measuring right on with my O date, at 18w2d. Wight is approx 9oz. And baby is all girl! We are very excited, my oldest has been asking when baby sister is coming out. I had fun doing a bit of shopping today as well. Since we were 'done' twice we gave away and sold everything. I have a few pieces left from dd#1, but for the most part it's back to the beginning.

Baby is very stubborn, she kept giving the tech a hard time. And when it came time for the 3D pictures, she got worse. She had both of her hands in font of her face, as well as being folded in half so that her legs were in front of her face as well. She refused to move, at all. So the pictures I got are all crappy.

18 Weeks

2007-10-23T10:35:00.000-05:00

Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Headaches

2007-10-18T11:09:00.000-05:00

I've been getting headaches all week, they start around 10 and last all day. I don't know if it's hormones, I'm not drinking enough water, I need to eat or I need caffeine. I do know that they suck.

I never really had issues with them in my other pgs; I know I did one, but I can't remember which one it was. I *think* it was with dd, but I'm not totally sure.

17 Weeks

2007-10-16T11:25:00.000-05:00

Your baby during week 17 is now very mobile, gleefully moving his joints here, there and everywhere and will continue to do so as you continue your pregnancy week by week. The cartilage making up the skeleton in your baby's body is starting to transform into bone. At pregnancy 17 weeks time your baby should be hearing things. Your baby will start putting on some layers of fat in the weeks to come, though at this point in time your baby is made up of primarily water.

You may be feeling your baby move intermittently after pregnancy week 17, though as your pregnancy progresses you will likely start feeling your baby move more and more.

There are many natural health practitioners that believe in the power of touch. Though your little one is still very small, your touch may do much to help him feel safe and warm inside the womb. If you haven't started already, you might consider rubbing your 'pooch' in calming circular motions. This will not only help comfort your little one, but will help initiate the bonding process with you and your newborn baby throughout your pregnancy and after.

104 Days

2007-10-15T18:27:00.001-05:00

100 posts.

It's been roughly 104 days since baby bean was conceived and this is my 100th post.

Time flies.

16 Week Belly Shot

2007-10-15T12:11:00.000-05:00

Or should I say 17 weeks. Either way, here it is. There's definitely change now.

16-17 Weeks

Rambling

2007-10-15T11:18:00.000-05:00

This is going to get long; if anyone has any thoughts I'd like to 'hear' them.

So I have bled in every single pregnancy, except this one (so far). Even with my very first, albeit a one time small pinkish episode, it was still something. This time, nothing. It kinda freaks me out. Which, I know, is weird. I'm wondering if it means that the placenta is behaving this time. I've had 4 ultrasounds and they didn't look at the placenta in any of them. I am going nuts not knowing where it is. Where the placenta is will totally decide how the rest of this pregnancy will go.

With my last 2 it was in the upper right corner (called the fundus). Usually it's the very best place the placenta can be, it's the strongest part of the uterus. For me, it's bad. Really bad. I mean 'bleed out or hysterectomy' bad.

If it's lower down, or on the other side; anywhere but the upper right corner; I'll be good to go (I hope).

Maybe the no bleeding is a bad thing. The placenta is embedding itself early and it's going to grow through. I was told I might end up with a colostomy bag after I had my daughter, they thought the placenta had grown into my bowel. They were going to do exploratory surgery to see what was going on.

How am I supposed to not be freaked out? Especially when they won't tell me where the placenta is.

Please pray that the placenta is behaving itself in there, and that it is away from the 'bad spot'. I'm trying to be hopeful, but there is a very real chance that I will die. Placenta accreta has a 10% mortality rate, increta even more and percerta even more.

Placenta accreta is just about unheard of in the absence of placenta previa; lucky me.

We are hoping that *someone* has a plan, and hoping that the plan isn't for me to die. Hopefully our miracle baby won't be the end of me.

Saw The Baby Move

2007-10-14T09:24:00.000-05:00

So we saw the baby move last night. Pretty crazy. It's really slight but I taped it.

In the video, there's a steady jumping; that's my heartbeat. And then me breathing. If you watch where I poke, a bit after I poke it there's a tiny tiny little poke. It's on the right side, just at the top of my belly. And if anyone's wondering, my uterus is 1-1.5 finger widths below my belly button.

16 Weeks

2007-10-09T10:43:00.000-05:00

At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

15 Weeks

2007-10-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help develop the air sacs in his lungs. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but his taste buds are beginning to form. And if you have an ultrasound, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or girl! (Don't be disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down the sex depends somewhat on how clear the picture is and the position of your baby during the ultrasound; he may be curled or turned in such a way as to keep you in suspense.)

Dh Felt The Baby!

2007-09-30T13:08:00.000-05:00

We were watching a movie last night and dh had his hand on my belly. It kept feeling all tickly, I made sure dh wasn't moving his hand. It happen a few more times and I asked dh if he felt it and he said 'yeah, you've got gas', lol. I told him it was the baby. He felt bad that he called the baby gas, lol. Very cool.

So I was all sad that he felt it first, lol. I had my hand on my belly and low and behold I felt little ripplings.

I'm still amazed that something so tiny can make it's presence known already.

I can't wait til it's stronger.

Belly Comparison

2007-09-29T16:04:00.001-05:00

Here are my 14 week bellies from my last baby and this baby:

Last Baby

This Baby

Well I don't know lol, I guess I look bigger this time. Ok so it's the same down lower, but I'm bigger higher up this time.

14 Week Belly

2007-09-29T16:00:00.000-05:00

Well I think I shrunk again, lol.

14-15 Weeks

OB Appt

2007-09-27T14:47:00.000-05:00

Nothing much to report, lol. I've gained 2lbs since my last appt, but I was down 3lbs then, so I'm still down by 1lb. Heard baby's heartbeat. The poor resident couldn't find my uterus, it took the OB a minute to find as well. They said I have good abs, lol, which totally surprises me because my belly is so out of shape.

I won't be getting my next ultrasound til mid-November. I seriously think I may go a tiny bit crazy waiting; I want to know what this baby is so badly!

Oh and I'll be induced sometime around 39 weeks; they won't do it earlier though.

Next appt is 22 October; which I already rescheduled from 31 October, a week alter than it should have been.

And I felt an actual kick, baby is getting stronger every day. Hopefully soon I'll be feeling it from the outside.

14 Weeks

2007-09-25T09:15:00.001-05:00

Head to bottom, your baby's 3 1/2 inches long — about the length of a lemon — and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces. Her body's growing faster than her head, which now sits upon a more well-defined neck. By the end of this week, her arms will have lengthened and will be in proportion to the rest of her body. (Her legs still have some growing to do, though.) She's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair all over her body (called lanugo). Her liver starts secreting bile this week, a sign that it's already functioning properly, and her spleen starts contributing to the production of red blood cells. She's also producing and discharging urine into the amniotic fluid, a normal process that she'll keep up until birth. You still can't feel your baby's movements, but her hands and feet (which are now half an inch long) are more flexible and active. Thanks to brain impulses, her little facial muscles are getting a workout as she squints, frowns, and grimaces. She can grasp now, too, and she may be able to suck her thumb.

More Doppler Fun

2007-09-24T16:25:00.000-05:00

Just about every time I listen to the baby now I can hear it moving about. Of course once I started trying to tape it, it stopped, lol. I finally got it today tough.

You can hear it get closer (heartbeat getting louder) and then you can hear kicking (the weird sound other than the heart, lol).

Survey Says...

2007-09-21T15:09:00.001-05:00

Blood work came back good, as far as 'they' can tell Baby is healthy! It's not 100%, but it's 90% accurate for Downs and 98% for Trisomy 18/13; good enough for me.

13 Week Belly Shot

2007-09-21T14:20:00.000-05:00

I *finally* see some change. My uterus is almost 1/2 way to my belly button already.

13 Weeks

Waiting...

2007-09-20T15:58:00.001-05:00

No results today, and the clinic is closed for training.

My OB appt is next Thursday, wonder if I'll be able to con another quick ultrasound, lol. I doubt it.

Couple Of Videos

2007-09-19T14:07:00.001-05:00

1st video is the baby's heartbeat with the doppler, from 12w6d. It sounds a bit different than it did at 11 weeks.

The 2nd is the ultrasound from yesterday, 13 weeks

NT Scan

2007-09-18T18:03:00.001-05:00

Baby seems to be fine. The blood test will be back Thursday or Friday.

Baby's Profile

Baby's Hand and Back

13 Weeks

2007-09-18T17:51:00.000-05:00

Your belly may soon be big enough to announce to the world that you're expecting, but your baby is still tiny. In fact, he's only about 3 inches long crown to rump — roughly the size of a jumbo shrimp — and weighs just about an ounce. Despite the small proportions, there's a fully formed baby inside your womb now. Much more proportional than it was a few weeks ago, his head is now only about a third the size of his body. His tiny, unique fingerprints are already in place. His kidneys and urinary tract are functional, and he's starting to urinate out the amniotic fluid he's been swallowing. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed, and your odds of miscarriage will drop considerably.

Finding Out

2007-09-15T13:40:00.001-05:00

Before I got pregnant I didn't want to find out what the baby is; that totally flew out the window when I got that + test. I can't wait, and as crazy as it sounds, I'm hoping to find out on Tuesday. I found out at 13 weeks with my last baby, why not this one as well.

Granted we do think that this is a girl, and my last was a boy. Pretty easy to see, lol. And as always, I'll reserve final judgment until the 'big' ultrasound that I should have sometime in November.

I'm really thinking about not telling anyone though; not sure how long I'd be able to go without letting it slip, lol. Maybe I'll just wait until Christmas.

I'm starting to worry a bit about this ultrasound. I only set it up because I wanted to see the baby again, and now I'm worried that they're going to tell me something is wrong. It's always something.

12 Week Belly Shot

2007-09-12T13:42:00.001-05:00

I still don't really see a change. My uterus 'popped' though, the other night. I can definitely feel it now.

11-12 Weeks

12 Weeks

2007-09-11T10:40:00.001-05:00

Your baby's hit the 2-inch mark (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. Her face is beginning to look more human. Her eyes, which started out on the sides of her head, have moved closer together on her face, and her ears are near their final positions on the sides of her head. Your baby's intestines, which have grown so rapidly that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into her abdominal cavity about now. Her kidneys are secreting urine into her bladder. Her nerve cells have been multiplying rapidly, and synapses (neurological pathways in the brain) are forming. Your baby may have acquired more reflexes by now, including sucking, and she'll even squirm if you prod your abdomen, though you still won't be able to feel her movement for several weeks.

Heartbeat

2007-09-05T08:54:00.001-05:00

So dh taped the heartbeat last night. I can't believe how high up baby is, it was right next to my hip bone, just seem really high to me.

So here's the video, along with dh being his weird self.

Just a quick explanation, I was trying to count the beats (which is surprisingly difficult), dh being weird, and then our oldest was asking what we were doing at the end.

The heart rate is ~ 172bpm

11 week Belly Shot

2007-09-05T08:51:00.000-05:00

Still no change.

10-11 Weeks

Best Sound in The World

2007-09-04T13:52:00.000-05:00

Ok, one of the best.

I heard the baby's heartbeat today! I rented a doppler and it's really an awesome little invention.

It took me a few minutes to find it, mainly because I was looking too low. I finally found it 2-3" above my pubic bone.

I feel really good now, I know that baby is safe (so far).

I'm still counting down the days til my next ultrasound, 2 weeks. But really I'm hoping to find out the gender then, lol. I found out at 13 weeks with my last baby, so it's not totally impossible. Even if they say no, I'm going to try and weasel the appropriate pic out of them.

11 Weeks

2007-09-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

Your fig-sized baby is now fully formed — measuring 1 1/2 inches long and weighing in at a quarter of an ounce. His skin is still transparent, allowing many of his blood vessels to show through. Some of his bones are beginning to harden, and tiny toothbuds are starting to appear under his gums. His fingers and toes have separated, and he may soon be able to open and close his fists. He's already busy kicking and stretching, and his tiny movements are so fluid they look like water ballet. These movements will increase as his body grows and becomes more developed and functional. As his diaphragm develops, your tiny tenant may also start to get the hiccups. Because he's still so small, though, you won't feel any of his workouts or intrauterine gulps until sometime between weeks 16 and 20.

Big Changes

2007-09-01T19:33:00.000-05:00

The baby changes a ton in the first 8 weeks (10 weeks gestation).

Movement

2007-09-01T14:27:00.000-05:00

So I've felt the baby a few times. It's still so surreal, especially since baby is still ssoo tiny.

But, I felt A starting at 10 weeks, was feeling him from the outside at 16 weeks, so it makes sense that this one is a bit earlier.

And I've ordered a doppler. It should be here Tuesday, I hope I hear it!

One more thing, my pants have *finally* gotten tight. I can still wear them, but it's pretty uncomfortable. At my OB appt the lady said that my uterus is an inch or 2 above my pubic bone already. My extra padding must've been hiding it.

First Appointment

2007-08-30T10:57:00.000-05:00

It went well, with all of the usual poking and prodding. They don't use the doppler until 12 weeks here so I got another ultrasound. It's pretty amazing how much it changes in just 1 week.

I took a bit of bad video with my phone as well. If you look really closely you can see it's little arms and legs moving.

I'll be having the NT at 13 weeks and my next appointment is at 14 weeks.

10 Weeks

2007-08-28T08:12:00.000-05:00

Your baby is no longer an embryo! Though she's barely the size of a kumquat — just an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, she now has completed the most critical portion of her development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in her body rapidly grow and mature. Her vital organs — the liver, kidney, intestines, brain, and lungs — are now in place and starting to function (although they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy). Her liver continues to make blood cells, and the yolk sac, which previously supplied these cells, is no longer needed and begins to disappear.

During the next three weeks, your baby's length will more than double to nearly 3 inches. Her head is proportionately smaller now than it was a few weeks ago, but it's still almost half the length of her entire body. Her forehead temporarily bulges with her developing brain and sits high on her head; it will later recede to give her a more human appearance. Each day, more minute details — including tiny fingernails, toenails, and peach-fuzz hair — start to appear on her body. Her fingers are now completely separated; her arms bend at the elbow and curve slightly; her hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over her heart; her legs are lengthening; and her feet may be long enough to meet in front of her body. She is busily swallowing amniotic fluid and kicking her legs.

If you could take a peek at your baby this week, you'd be able to clearly see the outline of her spine through her parchment-thin skin. Spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from her spinal cord.

The baby changes a ton in this week (well 10 days, lol):

Days 51-53

Days 53-54

Days 54-56

Days 56-60

By the end it's looking like a baby.

9-10w Belly Shot

2007-08-27T11:14:00.000-05:00

9-10 Weeks

Exactly the same. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm ever going to show, lol.

Getting Aggravated

2007-08-25T20:46:00.000-05:00

We're planning on waiting until 15 weeks to tell the family, but I'm really wanting to do it now.

*sigh*

I hate getting antsy like this. Only 5 weeks left, lol.

9 Week Ultrasound

2007-08-23T16:12:00.000-05:00

Well everything is looking good. Baby measured 8w5d, which is spot on with my last ultrasound. Heart rate was 161bpm.

The doctor feels that I shouldn't have any problems. He also said that he'd never tell a woman not to have more children because of retained placentas and that it shouldn't be too bad. They'll be prepared in case anything does go wrong.

Here's the bean:

I Had A Quickie

2007-08-21T14:00:00.000-05:00

The worrying got the best of me and I went in for a quick ultrasound this afternoon.

I'm happy to report that the little one is still there, I saw it's heartbeat and a possible wiggle.

The OB was moving the thing around and he moved it when I think the baby wiggled, so it's only a possible wiggle.

It's amazing how much bigger it's gotten in 2 weeks.

I wish I had a picture, but I had to rush out and get ds#1 from school, so there wasn't time for anything but the quick peek.

Another thing that I saw was the actual chambers of it's heart, all teeny tiny. Even on the ultrasound the heart was smaller than a BB.

9 Weeks

2007-08-21T10:56:00.000-05:00

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — barely the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce, but he's poised for rapid weight gain now that his basic physical structure is in place. He's also starting to look more and more human. His embryonic "tail" is now completely gone and his body parts — including organs, muscles, and nerves — are kicking into gear.

His eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. He has earlobes, and by week's end, the inner workings of his ears will be complete. His upper lip is fully formed, too, and his mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The tips of his fingers are slightly enlarged where his touch pads are developing. All major joints — his shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles — are working, enabling your baby to move his limbs. As for his heart, it has divided into four chambers now, and the valves have started to develop. External sex organs are there, but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks.

Baby looks a bit like something between this:

And this:

Obviously the blurb about development is a bit off, the eyelids won't be half closed til next week or so. The tail is just about gone though, that's always nice.

8-9w Belly Shot

2007-08-19T10:36:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I look really pudgy, others I just have my normal, out of shape belly. Something is starting to feel different in my lower belly though.

8-9 Weeks

Counting Down The Days...

2007-08-16T19:46:00.000-05:00

My peri consult is next Thursday, I found out I'm also having an ultrasound. I'm so excited! Part of me wishes I didn't know though, it's making the wait even longer.

I'm so worried that something has happened to the baby. 8 weeks is 1 of the big points when things start to go wrong, I've had 2 big bleeds at 8 weeks in 2 different pregnancies; I lost 1 of them and the other was with my dd. After that it's 10 weeks, I have my OB appt then though, hopefully that'll help a bit.

I'm also going to try and order a doppler, we'll see how that goes though, lol. It is early, but I heard my last baby at 9w3d and this baby is in the same spot that he was so I've got a good chance of a repeat.

8 Weeks

2007-08-14T10:17:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, I never thought I'd make it. I feel better, but at the same time I don't. I am a freak.

So here's baby's update for the week:

Your baby is now 5/8 of an inch long, about the size of a kidney bean. She's constantly moving and shifting, although you won't be able to feel these womb wiggles for several weeks yet. Her embryonic tail is disappearing, and her eyelids practically cover her eyes. Still slightly webbed, her fingers and toes are growing longer. Her arms have lengthened, too, and her hands are now flexed at the wrist and meet over her heart. Her knee joints have formed, and her feet may be long enough to meet in front of her body. With her trunk straightening out, her head is more erect. Breathing tubes extend from her throat to the branches of her developing lungs. The nerve cells in her brain are also branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. Though you may be daydreaming about your baby as one gender or another, the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl.

And looks like something between this:

And this:

By the end of the week it should look something like this:

Changing My EDD, Again

2007-08-12T19:18:00.000-05:00

S0 I've decided to go with the EDD that my OB will be using, which is 25 March.

If, by chance, they do end up using the 29th (as per u/s) I'll go back to that.

So I'm going to stop with the developmental stuff, I'll do 1 weekly post, with pictures.

Just seems a bit easier.

Poor Babies

2007-08-12T18:24:00.001-05:00

So I was looking for pictures of embryos and I came across this site.

It's horrible. The info says that the babies were taken from the uterus and placed in a warm water solution and touched with a hair. I know it was for research and all that, but it's still incredibly sad. Oh it was done in the 1950's and 1964.

Here's the link if you want to check it out:

http://virtualhumanembryo.lsuhsc.edu/videos/Fetal_activity_index.html

The Widget

2007-08-12T15:33:00.000-05:00

The baby in the widget changed yesterday, it looks more mammalian now.

And in case anyone was wondering, the most babies you can get in the widget is 10. Has anyone ever actually had 10 babies at once? They're called Decaplets.

Yep, someone did:

http://www.incrediblebirths.com/decaplets.html

7w Belly Shot and Symptoms Update

2007-08-12T15:26:00.001-05:00

I think I shrunk a bit, lol.

7 weeks

As far as symptoms, my nausea seems to have lessened. I'm trying not to worry but it's so hard not to. I'm not as tired as I was either. I also have a cold, I was miserable yesterday with sinus pain, but I'm feeling better today.

Day 36~ 7w1d

2007-08-12T09:34:00.000-05:00

The cerebellum is beginning to develop. A primitive palate is forming on the roof of the baby's mouth. THe baby's hand plates will appear by today if they aren't already present. The elbow and wrist regions of the arm are becoming identifiable. The spleen is beginning to develop. The liver is now large enough to produce a bulge in the baby's abdomen.

Day 35~ 7w

2007-08-11T09:22:00.000-05:00

By now, the division between the cerebral hemispheres (2 halves of the baby's brain) is well marked. The upper and lower jaws are present. Mammary gland tissue is beginning to develop in both males and females. The baby weighs about .00004 ounce (.001g) (that's about as heavy as an eyelash from your lower lid).

By this time, your embryonic baby displays a whole-body reflex in response to touch.

Day 34~ 6w6d

2007-08-10T10:15:00.000-05:00

Because of the rapid brain growth that has been occurring, the baby's head is much larger than it's trunk. The nasal pits are easily seen. The baby's legs now resemble paddles.