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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!