Week 13 - Beginning of 2nd Trimester

• Your baby is about the size of a peach and is growing rapidly. Crown to rump, your baby measures 2.6 to 3.1 inches (6.5 to 7.8cm) and weighs 0.5 to 0.7 ounces (14 to 20g).
• Your baby's legs are longer than her arms and her skin is red and transparent.
• Her eyelids are fused together and won't open for about four more months.
• Her arms are long enough to reach her mouth and she may begin to place her thumb in her mouth. Her sucking reflex, however, is not yet developed.
• The tissue that will become your baby's bones is being laid out, especially around her head and her arms and legs.
• Some ribs may be distinguished at this time.
• The nose and chin are more prominent now.
• Your baby will begin to practice breathing in the next few weeks as her chest rises and falls in mock breathing motions.
• She will swallow small amounts of amniotic fluid which will be passed as urine.
• Your placenta is providing all of your baby's needs for nutrition, oxygen and waste disposal, though the amniotic fluid will become more important later on.
• All major components of the body are formed and now must grow and mature.
• From now on, your baby's development will consist primarily of organ maturity and growth and body refinement.

Floating Fetus

I've added a new widget to the left. If you click on the numbers it will change the display to be one of four things: Days Left, Weeks & Days Left, Days Completed, Weeks & Days Completed.

Enjoy!

Week 12

• The end of this week of pregnancy marks the end of the first trimester.
• Your baby is now almost 2.5 inches long (6.1cm) when measured from crown to rump, and weighs between 0.3 and 0.5 ounces (9 to 13g).
• Your baby's fingers and toes have separated and are getting longer.
• Your baby can open and close its mouth and drinks amniotic fluid which it passes out as urine.
• Its head is becoming more rounded, though it is still large in proportion to its body.
• It has eyelids.
• You can now hear your baby's heartbeat with a Doppler Ultrasound device!
• Your baby continues to grow rapidly and has doubled in size in the last three weeks alone.
• The face is beginning to look more human, and all body structures are present with a few refinements still in progress.
• Fingernails and toenails begin to develop this week.
• Your baby's muscles are sufficiently developed to allow for involuntary movements at this time.
• The messages which control your baby's movements are sent from the spine, rather than the brain, which is not yet sufficiently developed.

Week 11

I know I'm behind in updating the blog... Hurricane Ike wasn't very nice and we've been a little busy.

Here's the weekly info:

• Your baby is growing incredibly rapidly right now. She is approximately 1.75 to 2.4 inches (4.4 to 6cm) when measured from crown to rump. She will double her length in the next three weeks.
• Your growing baby weighs about 0.3 ounces (8g).
• The neck is developing and the chin lifts up from the chest.
• Fingernails are present.
• While your baby's sex was already determined at the time of fertilization, male or female genitalia are now visible.
• Essential organs are formed and most have begun to function.
• The blood vessels in the placenta are increasing in number to meet your baby's increasing nutritional needs.
• Her ears are moving towards the sides of her head, away from the neck.
• Your baby's head is still not in proportion with her body. Your baby's head accounts for about half of her body length.

We had our first OB appointment on Tuesday, September 16th. We got two new pictures of Baby Carroll!

This picture is a side view with the head to the right. Dr. C said we're measuring right at 10 weeks and 4 days - right on track! (These pictures aren't as good as the ones at the RE's office.)

This pic is a front view with the head to the left. Baby Carroll was dancing around when this pic was taken. It seemed that the head was in a vise because everything but the head was moving!



Our next appointment is scheduled for October 16th. So, until then I get to take my vitamins, eat plenty, and not lift anything - per the family-enforced restrictions I've been put under. ;)

Week 10

• The crown-to-rump length of your baby is about 1.25 to 1.68 inches (between 3.1 and 4.2cm). He weighs about 0.18 ounces (5g).
• The placenta is now producing progesterone which helps to make nutrients for your developing baby.
• Your baby has passed the stage when he is most susceptible to damage. By the end of this week, the danger zone for congenital abnormalities has passed.
• The plan for your baby's body has been completely laid down by now. Further growth and cell division will build on this plan.
• Taste and tooth buds have appeared.
• Your baby has recently developed fingers and toes which are now well-formed.
• Ankles, wrists and the inner ear have formed.
• Your baby's nose is flat and his eyes are far apart.
• His eyes, ears, mouth and nose are all recognizable.
• The tail is disappearing.
• Your baby is moving around the amniotic sac, and moving his feet and ankles. You still will not be able to feel these movements but you may be able to see them on an ultrasound.
• Blood is circulating through the arteries and the vein of the umbilical cord.
• The brain of your baby is developing at a phenomenal rate. About one quarter of a million new neurons are produced every single minute at this stage in your pregnancy.
• If your baby is a boy, his testes, though they are not even clearly visible, are already producing testosterone.
• Your baby is no longer called an embryo, but rather a fetus.

Ultrasound With Heartbeat

We had our 2nd ultrasound today and got to hear and see the heartbeat! That was really neat!

Our little bean is measuring about 2cm and has a heartrate of 168 beats per minute.

The next appointment is scheduled for September 16th!