AFP bloodwork

I had my AFP blood work yesterday. If I understand correctly, this test will be able to tell me the likelihood of the baby having a neural tube defect such as spina bifada, etc. I am hoping for the best! I've been taking my pre-natals every day, and I started them a few days before I got my positive pregnancy test. So, I have lots of folic acid in my system!

I will get the results at my OB appt. next Tuesday.

Can't believe that tomorrow I'm 16 weeks! How did I get this far along? :)

15w6d

15 weeks

I love week-change days! Yay!

Here's what's going on with the little chicken this week: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")



















Getting bigger!

Every single gender predictor test says it's a girl, and while I don't have any intuition really (I've had one girl dream and one boy dream so far) I'm still thinking it's probably a boy. It's just my gut reaction. I'll find out in less than 4 weeks! Argh, I can't believe it's so soon. I have follow-up bloodwork from the NT scan this week so hopefully all will go well with that.

No new symptoms, or cravings, or anything really. I still listen to the heartbeat regularly, and it's slowed down to about 157-163, which is normal for this point.

Here's my 15 week belly pic!




















15w

I made it through the day :)

Yesterday is over, and today is a much nicer day. Today is actually the 15th anniversary of my Bat Mitzvah (for non-Jews: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Mitzvah). My dad is here visiting, and we've spent some nice time together. We had a great dinner last night at a Korean BBQ restaurant. I am sure I ate tons of things I shouldn't have (cold kimchee/cabbage, salad-y type things) and then you cook your own meat over the grill. I made sure to cook everything for a while, but I wouldn't say it's the most sanitary way of dining ;) I've done this twice now since I've been pregnant, and I doubt it'll be the last! I am careful not to consume certain things - I've avoided tuna entirely, alcohol, raw fish... but everything else is pretty fair game. I'm just not one of those super-duper cautious people. I'm that way with my dogs too, and in 7.5 years, and 3.5 years respectively, I've *never* had to take them to the vet unless it was an annual appointment. I'm sure they do things they shouldn't, but all in moderation. I've also never had major problems in my own life. I've been to the ER only one time (for a minor allergic reaction) and only had surgery once (D&C) but otherwise, I'm a pretty healthy person. Sure, genetics probably plays a role, but I'd also like to attribute it to my lifestyle.

Oh well. I'm off to lick the floors now ;)

14w6d

A day I won't forget

Today is my first due date. I can't imagine being 9 months pregnant right now and possibly having had a baby or being very close to it. The time has flown by since August more or less. I imagine that I'll be sitting here in October wondering where the time went. I miss my first baby terribly - there's a part of me I'll never be able to get back. I love the baby in my belly, and I'm grateful that he/she is alive and well. I'm so sad that I had to go through such an awful experience to get to this point. I can't imagine having to go through multiple miscarriages. Only those who have been through one know how truly devastating and scary it can be.

My thoughts today are with all the women (and there are far too many) who have lost their babies.

14w5d

14 weeks :)

The time is starting to move a bit faster, I do declare :)

This is what is going on this week:

Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces.















Nothing exciting to report. My clothes are fitting more snug and I am pretty much wearing maternity clothes or the bella band full time. I just received a huge shipment from Motherhood Maternity, so that is a life saver.

I really haven't had much in the way of cravings lately, although I have been eating a lot of Starburts.

My friends are coming in to town from Philadelphia (the same 2 I spent the weekend with in Atlantic City when I first found out I was pregnant). I am so excited to see them!

Here's a belly pic from this week. I swear I look smaller than last week but I don't think that is possible.




















14w

1/3 completed!

I have completed 1/3 of the pregnancy (well, give or take, as the baby gets to decide ultimately when to make the big debut). I'm so excited - plus, I'm definitely into the 2nd trimester now, as some believe it begins when you've completed 1/3 of the pregnancy (which does indeed make sense). Either way, I hardly know I am pregnant, except for my tightly fitting clothes ;) I'm much less tired for the most part, I seem to be eating normally (except for the OVEReating I have been doing thanks to all the holidays that have passed recently).

A little over 5 weeks until we can name the baby (hopefully he/she will cooperate and show us the goods for the big ultrasound!).

13w3d

13 weeks

I'm so happy to be 13 weeks. I'd like to say that the time is flying by, but it really isn't. I think when we find out the sex, the time will start to pass quicker because we'll be consumed with shopping and nursery planning and all of that fun stuff :)

Today the baby is this size:











Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long.

I'm feeling pretty good for the most part. I am still very tired, and I have sciatic nerve pain, but it's nothing I can't handle :)

And, because I'm in a good mood, I actually took my first belly photo in 2 months! I actually look like I am pregnant now, which is cool. Although, I think to most of the world, I just look like I've put on a few lbs. in the midsection!




















and for comparison, 4 weeks:





















13w

Doctor's appointment today

Had my 12/13 week appointment today and it went really well. The doctor brought out her doppler (which looked a lot like mine!) and the baby's heartbeat was in the mid 160's. It's kind of neat that as the baby grows, his/her heart slows down a little bit. By delivery, it should be around 120/130.

I got my results from the NT scan and my chances of a baby with any kind of Trisomy (chromosomal disorder) went from about 1 in 750 (based on my age) to 1 in 10,000 so that was really good.

In big news, I scheduled the BIG ULTRASOUND for 6 weeks from tomorrow!! I can't believe it. I am so excited. May 20th is the big day!!

In not so exciting news, I have pregnancy induced sciatica. So, yeah, I'm an 87 year old pregnant woman. Did I mention how much it hurts?!?

12w4d

12 weeks

I am so grateful to have made it to this milestone :) Based on most doctors, I am in the 2nd tri! I'm feeling pretty good, the baby's heart is beating super strong, and I bought my first maternity clothes today. Oh, and I "came out" on Facebook. This is a big day :)

12w