Week 13 of Pregnancy (Second Trimester!)

Week 13 of Pregnancy: Fetal Growth Rates

Your fetus is about three inches long and the size of a peach at 13 weeks pregnant. But don't compare your fetus with the fetus next door. Starting about now, babies begin growing at different paces, some faster than others, some more slowly, though they all follow the same developmental path. Growing at a universally breakneck speed now is your baby's body as it tries to catch up to the head in terms of size. Though your baby's head is about half the size of its body now, by the time your baby is ready to make his or her entrance into the world, the head will be only one-fourth as large as the body.

Your baby's intestines are also in for some big changes right now. Up till this point, they've been growing in a cavity inside the umbilical cord; but now they're moving to their permanent (and more conveniently located) address, in your baby's abdomen. And to serve your growing baby's needs, the placenta is also growing. It weighs about an ounce now and will weigh one to two pounds at birth (something else you'll soon be able to blame your weight gain on!).

Also developing this week: your baby's vocal chords. Because sound can't travel through your uterus (your baby's current habitat), you won't be able to hear any sounds or cries just yet, but oh boy (or girl) — those vocal chords will get a good workout once that baby is born.

Well this has been one roller coaster of a day!

We went to get my ultrasound done at Silverton Hospital. They told me to drink 32 ounces of water beforehand so my bladder was full and IT WAS FULL. So full seriously it hurt to walk. I had to wait the long wait before getting in there. The desk person at the hospital told me that I was coming for labs and an ultrasound, which confused me...but whatev.

I got those weird hospital gowns on (they had me wear two so I didn't have to worry about tying it or having air fly up the front or back! I tried to lay down on the ultrasound bed and it hurt because of my full bladder. The tech was taking some pics of my pelvic area and commented on how VERY full my bladder was. Yes... I wasn't lying! She had me empty it and then took pics with the other device. (Next sentence might be TMI! skip to next paragraph if you wish) When I emptied my bladder I had some blood so that got me worried...but what could I do.

She took some internal pictures and we got to see the baby. The monitor was taken off the wall because they were repairing it so it was just the tech's monitor. When I looked at first I didn't see a heart beat and feared the worst. I decided not to look. While Eric was concentrating on the monitor I decided to concentrate on him. I saw a little smile on his face which made me wonder so I looked over and the tech had it concentrated on the heart area and there the heart was beating away! She turned on the sound and we heard it too. Yay!

She measured the baby and it grew! It is currently at 12 weeks and 5 days growth where as I am supposed to be at 12 weeks 2 days. So that's great! We could see it's little hands and feet. She didn't give us any photos, but that's okay.

We got a call from the doc not too long after and they said everything looks great. The baby looks great. They said the bleeding I had could be just some burst vessel because of the massive amounts of blood flowing down there for the baby. I go in for a visit next week and I am sure the doc will check on everything.

We are just Praising God the baby is okay! That's all we care about. I can deal with a little bodily fluids as long as my baby is okay! Let's keep praying for this little one!

Prayerful

I felt that I should blog about this, because it's quite an important issue. This morning I woke up and when I went to the bathroom I saw some things that were worrisome. I called the doc and she wanted me in for an ultrasound ASAP to check to see if the baby is okay. So I go in today at 3:30pm to Silverton Hospital to get the ultrasound. Eric is taking off from work and coming with me since he's a wonderful man.

We both really love this baby, no matter how long he/she is in the world. This is a little life God has entrusted to our care. We are hopeful and prayerful that everything will be okay. God can work miracles, I've seen it over and over again in my life. I've also seen God take tragedies and turn them into triumphs of the spirit. So all is not lost no matter what.

Love,

Kristine

Week 12 of Pregnancy!

This week marks a turning point for your baby. At 12 weeks pregnant, the herculean task of developing new bodily structures is nearing an end as most of your baby's systems are fully formed. Now comes the maintenance phase, during which your fetus' systems continue to mature for the next 28 weeks and the organs get to work.

Your little fetus weighs as much as half an ounce now, and the crown-to-rump length is about two and a half inches (the size of a large plum — busily working his or her way through the whole produce department). It's hard to believe (especially from the outside, since you're probably barely showing at this point), but your baby has more than doubled in size during the past three weeks. And that's just on the outside — there's plenty going on inside too. The fetal digestive system is beginning to flex its digestive muscle — literally — as it starts practicing contraction movements, a skill your baby will need after birth to push food through the digestive tract. The pituitary gland at the base of the brain has started producing hormones. And the bone marrow is making white blood cells, which will one day help your baby fight infection (including all those germs passed around the snot-nosed playgroup).

If you haven't already had the pleasure, it's likely that at this month's checkup you'll finally hear your baby's fetal heartbeat — a sound that will make your heart race with joy!

Cloth Diapers...opinions anyone?

So we know it's a few months away until our little one makes an appearance on the outside, but since I am a planner, I like to be as prepared as possible. Part of this prep is figuring out which cloth diapering system (s) to use for our baby. We definitely want to use them mixed with also using disposables depending on where we are at.

We are wondering...what diaper systems have you used? Do you have any strong opinions or suggestions. We are looking at G-diapers & Bum Genius, but are also interested in Thirsties, Happy Heiny's, FuzziBunz...etc. What are your opinions? What have you heard? :)

I figured if I can get this figured our early I can start buying some up when I see them on sale or craigslist or wherever so we have less to get come baby shower time. :)

Worry :)

I think as a parent, no matter how small your child is, you worry about their welfare. Sometimes it's hard for me to really believe that I am pregnant and that it's working out this time. The second part of that statement hits me extra hard. I just gotta keep trusting in God, doing what I can do to help this child continue to thrive and pray hard. :)

So I realized...

I realized that I am still figuring out this whole what week is what thing. I might have to do some rearranging of what is happening in what week. Technically I've passed week 11 and am in week 12 and will complete week 12 on Saturday. So if you've been reading this I might change up the weekly things! :) I am learning, all part of parenthood.

Good appointment!

I had my appointment today with my doctor. She had a high school student with her checking out what she does. They asked me before my appointment if I was okay with this, and after a little teeny hesitation, I said it was okay. I figure this gal wants to be in the medical field someday, it'd be okay. Who knows how God would use the appointment to make an impression on her life. :)

The doc said hi and told me that all the labs came back great! I am not a carrier of cystic fibrosis, I am immune to German Measles, I don't have that cat germ, and all my labs looked great. She said the ultrasound also looked wonderful. They said everything looked healthy down there and that there was no reason to think that the baby would have any issues! Praise God!

She checked for the heart beat and after moving the wand around a little we found it! I heard it for a few seconds and then the baby moved and we couldn't find it. BUT that's okay! I just wanted to hear it!

She did an internal exam and saw that I have some cells that are growing outside my uterus or cervix or something that normally grow inside. She said that shouldn't affect the pregnancy but might explain some of the bleeding. The bleeding also could have been from some vessel inside bursting or something. BUT all is well!

So I go back in two weeks (with Eric probably) to hear the heart beat. Then I'll have an appointment once a month.

But..my baby is alive! Praise God! Life is so precious and fragile as it is, I am so excited this little life in mine is growing. :)

Trusting in God

So yet again, God gives us little tests to trust Him in. On Sunday I noticed some stuff when I went to the bathroom that reminded me of my previous pregnancy/miscarriage. Understandably I wasn't expecting to see this at all because I thought things were going pretty well....well other than the fact that I continued to cough and cough and cough at night. Which could have caused that, I am not sure.

The next day (Monday) I saw some of the same thing. I called the doc and the nurse told me that I should rest the next couple of days before my appointment. No huge physical activity.

Thursday I should be able to get my answers on whether my baby is alive or not still. It's so hard not to go back and remember the previous pregnancy and to get scared, but I've also gotta stay as calm as possible to help the baby. Getting emotional right now would only hurt things.

So we are praying to hear a heart beat this Thursday! If we do and all looks well, we'll tell everyone this weekend and post all these posts!

Right now, we are trusting in God in the ever present unknown.

Week 11 of pregnancy

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Oh the sickness of the morning...

Wow...be careful what you wish for...you just might get it. This morning I was waiting a little to eat because I wasn't hungry yet, and by waiting a little I mean 30 minutes, and suddenly the urge to "hurl" came upon me. Luckily I was close enough to the kitchen sink. For those of you who haven't had morning sickness, it's not at all really like normal stomach bug stuff. Well not to be too TMI, but there's less to it normally and it's different. :)

I have had times in the past week or two that I've felt nauseas, like if I didn't eat something it would turn into this. Some of my pregnancy symptoms had went away so naturally I was worried about my little one because of what happened before. So I was hoping I'd get some sort of sign and well, um... guess I got it! So be careful what you wish for!

Week 10 of pregnancy

Your baby's growth is fast and furious when you are 10 weeks pregnant. He or she is nearly an inch and a half long and the size of a prune, but not nearly as shriveled (even with all the time it spends in water). In fact, your baby is really taking a human shape now. Bones and cartilage are forming, and small indentations on the legs are developing into knees and ankles. The arms (complete with elbows) can flex already, but don't run to the store for a baseball bat just yet. Though your baby's arms are taking shape and getting stronger, each one is only about the size of this number 1.

The tooth bud fairy is making her appearance this week, heralding the arrival of your baby's little choppers, which are forming under the gums. (Those pearly whites won't break through the gums until your baby is close to six months old). Other systems are go, too. Your baby's stomach is producing digestive juices, the kidneys are producing larger quantities of urine, and, if your baby's a boy, he's already producing testosterone (yikes!)

I have the best husband...

Eric's been SO sweet lately. Anything I've needed or wanted he's gotten, without question. It's really been amazing. Like tonight I only felt like eating the BK chicken sandwich and the food at home was making me feel sick, and he went out and got it for me. Later on tonight I felt like ice cream, but we didn't have ice cream. I was just mentioning how great ice cream would taste not thinking we'd get any tonight and what does he do, gets his shoes on and goes out to get some for me. Amazing.

Now, I don't just love him because he goes out and gets me stuff. He's a wonderful supportive husband who really tries his hardest in life and with me. He's patient, loving, kind and again...supportive. I thank God for him!

So tired....

I find myself more and more tired lately. I think my body is working overtime creating this little one. I've decided that I want to include what is happening to the baby in this blog as well so you can know what's going on inside! It's really amazing. Right now I am trying to get my doctor's appointment changed to an earlier week rather than week 12. Granted, week 12 is a pretty good week, but I'd like to hear about the bloodwork earlier. We'll see what happens!