The 24-hour Bug

Though Dan and I feel much better now, we had a rough couple of days with a "24-hour" bug. The good news is that it was like a thunderstorm (high intensity, short duration) and my symptoms didn't raise any red flags for the doctor. Those would include not being able to keep any fluids down for 48 or more hours and/or a prolonged spiked temperature. The worst of it was the added physical strain of vomiting (sorry, there's no sugar-coating that part) on my already stretched abdominal muscles. Like I said, I'm feeling much better now.

This all started around midnight on Monday (for Dan) and noon on Tuesday (for me). I was able to leave work before it hit me and even make a quick stop at the supermarket for some necessities (e.g. ginger ale, chicken noodle soup, disinfecting wipes). We're fortunate that it was staggered. By Wednesday we were both out of the "bug" stage and into recovery. Recovery can be defined as sleeping as much as possible throughout the day and night.

Through all this, the baby remained very active. The cute little movements are becoming more jab-like, but still not painful. More on that later...

Week 30

The little one is about three pounds and nearly 11 inches long (crown to rump; about 15.7 inches long overall). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds baby, but that volume will decrease as he/she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus.

Baby's face looks much like it will at birth, but still needs to fill out more to get the characteristic chubby infant cheeks. Baby can move their head, open their eyes, and make breathing movements through their open nostrils (although no air comes in).

Baby's eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he/she is born, he/she will keep their eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he/she does open them, he/she will respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he/she can only make out objects a few inches from his/her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Week 29

Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

Baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and the head is growing bigger to make room for the developing brain. To meet baby's increasing nutritional demands, Mom will need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because baby's 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.

Back to School

We are officially enrolled in all but the hypnobirthing classes at our local hospital (Cooley Dickinson Hospital, "Cooley Dick" for those who grew up in the area, which also happens to be where some really great people were born...Walter Mucha, Joshua Chu, me....).

We are looking forward to weekly sessions through the month of March. I wonder if there will be homework...

Week 28

Two trimesters down, one to go!

By this week, baby weighs around two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures roughly 14.8 inches from the top of their head to their heels (Melissa is measuring between 27 and 28 cm, right on track).Baby can blink their eyes, which now sport lashes. With their eyesight developing, they may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. They're also developing billions of neurons in their brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Visits to our doctor will now increase in frequency from once a month to every two weeks, with weekly visits during the final month.

Baby Mops

I'm not sure where one would even register for such a thing (or why...)...

http://www.apparelsearch.com/Unusual_Clothes/unusual_clothing_baby_mops.htm

Is this even legal in the States?

Belly II

You asked for it...


The latest and greatest of belly shots. Now can I go to bed?

Week 27

Welcome to the final week of the second trimester!

Baby's now the size of an eggplant. The average fetus measures between 13.6 and 14.8 inches in length and weighs in between 1.5 and 2.2 pounds (yikes!).

Baby's lungs are going through some major developments these days, which (combined with the opening of previously plugged nostrils) means that baby is now able to practice inhaling and exhaling. The lack of air in the womb means that every "breath" is filled with amniotic fluid, but hey...it's progress. Baby is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, as well as opening and closing their eyes and perhaps even sucking its fingers. Brain tissue also continues to develop, leading to a very active brain right now.

Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

I'm supposed to let Dan put an ear to my belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required)...we'll see how that goes! Also, any tiny rhythmic movements I may be feeling can be attributed to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Maybe that's what I'm feeling right now...

Baby likes travelin'

Thank goodness! All went well during our recent vacation to Belgium (Brussels, Antwerp) and the Netherlands (Hoogerheide, Amsterdam). Baby made its presence known via kicks and rolls throughout the trip, much to our amusement. Baby also got to sample some good food. Frites, chocolate croissants, cross race vendor bratwurst, frites, quiche, French onion soup, Belgian beef stew, roasted chicken...and did I mention frites?

No major upsets, though the mom-to-be managed to come down with a wicked cold. True to form, the dad-to-be was supportive and comforting (and not at all whiny).

This also marks what will likely be our last opportunity to truly pack lightly (one carry-on each) with the baby in tow...

Kickin' It - Part 2

The baby has been very active lately, especially if I'm sitting still for awhile (e.g. driving) or lying down in bed at night. We've progressed from me feeling it (internally) to Dan feeling it to me seeing it. The funny thing, if you can call it funny since it's not really in the ha-ha range, is that I would have expected some sort of discomfort with all the movement - especially some of the bigger motions. Not a bit of it. Maybe that comes later when there's less room?

Growing a person is hard work...

...and I've had a relatively easy time so far. No "morning" sickness, no funky out-of-control cravings, no sore back, no swelling...yet. I have noticed that my stomach muscles have lost their willingness to stretch vertically now that they're being forced in other directions. I can usually retrieve or return our salad bowls to the top of the cabinets, no problem. No problem until the other day, that is. It's now a task that has to wait for Dan, or I have to climb on the counter.

I'm also surprised at how quickly it became uncomfortable to bend at the waist, either to put on shoes and socks or to pick something up off the floor. I've got quite a collection of paperclips and binder clips on the floor of my office. Supply and demand. I've got plenty in a drawer that's easy to reach, so the demand to pick them up isn't very great. This approach was fine until I dropped the engineer's scale on the floor. My options were 1) to pick it up, 2) to ask a neighbor to help out or 3) to use a metric scale. Since I wasn't done working with the scale and the site plans were in English units, I had to choose option #1 since #2 was too embarrassing and I want to save it for later when I'm sure I'll really need it, and #3 would be a total pain. I survived, go figure.

Week 24

Baby is growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts baby at just over a pound. Since he/she is almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he/sh cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his/her body is filling out proportionally and he'll/she'll soon start to plump up. His/her brain is also growing quickly now, and taste buds are continuing to develop. Lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help the air sacs inflate once he/she hits the outside world. Skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Week 23

The average fetus measures between 10.5 and 11.8 inches (think of a papaya) by this time and weighs in between 12.7 and 20.8 ounces (ours was estimated at 14 ounces on 12/26...but we have no idea how the ultrasound tech arrived at that conclusion).

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With baby's sense of movement well developed by now, they can feel you dance. And now that baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see baby squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in baby's lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. Baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing them for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze them when they hear them outside the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing.

Baby's little face is fully formed, minus the baby fat. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby is starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Week 22

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Their lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and they're even developing tiny tooth buds beneath their gums. Their eyes have formed, but the irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers their body and the deep wrinkles on its skin, which they'll sport until they add a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside their belly, the pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Kickin' it

While resting comfortably at Maureen and Rafe's home in NJ the other night, baby was very active. These weren't the first movements Melissa could feel, but they were Dan's first (and second, and third...). A very exciting moment for both.

Week 21 (and 1 day) pics

We had a great time at the doctor's office this morning and got to see some live action shots of the baby.  All is well.  The brain, heart, kidneys and spine (those were the major callouts) are developing according to plan and the ultrasound tech estimated the baby's weight at around 14 ounces (which is the 49.3 percentile if that kind of thing is of interest or importance to you).  We also got some good views of hands, feet, arms and legs.  No guesstimates on the length.  The little one was somewhat active, so it was like watching a video of a very small alien.  Pics from today's appointment are provided below for your viewing pleasure.  Although we could have opted to learn the sex of the baby during today's visit, we had already decided not to (and didn't change our minds). 

Week 21

The average fetus is 10.5 inches long and 12.7 ounces.
Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch. You may soon feel like "she's" practicing martial arts as "her" initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to "her" activity as you get to know "her" better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

The Belly has landed! - Week 20

We think the picture says it all. Very exciting!

Week 20

Weighing in somewhere around 10.5 ounces, baby is about 6.5 inches now head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel. Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

Week 19

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Week 18

Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements.

Average fetus is 5 to 6 inches. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, although he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Gender

Sorry to disappoint, but any he/she references are pulled straight from the weekly baby website updates we receive. Though determining the sex of the baby might be possible at our next appointment (in about a month), we're not going to find out. We'll all just have to wait and see!

Week 17

This week your little one weighs in at around five ounces and stretches to just over five inches (crown to rump). Around this time your baby's ears pop from his head and Baby-to-be can now sense sounds. After all, he has plenty to listen to in utero! He's accustomed to the strong beating of your heart, blood rushing through your veins, and your stomach grumbling. He can also discern sounds outside the uterus, like your voice and music. Although, according to the Mayo Clinic, whether he can distinguish the sound of your voice versus other sounds is not yet clear.

Closet

The closet now has maternity clothing in it after a shopping trip Melissa and her mom went on Sunday!

The expanding belly

The belly exists. No pictures yet.

Week 16

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender (Melissa and Dan here - For the time being, we're not interested).

Week 15

Baby's now the size of a naval orange!
Continuing the march toward normal proportions, baby's legs now out-measure his arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably can't feel the movements just yet.

Week 14

Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

Week 13

Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords...savor this, their nonfunctional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with his head now only one third the size of his body. And intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy -- much more convenient.