14w0d - Weekly update

(LEMON)

How Far Along: 14 weeks!!!!!

Size of baby:  From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

My baby this week (from babycenter.com): 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. Your baby's stretching out. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Maternity Clothes: Yes but I don't fill them out too well.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Still crazy dreams.  Like the other night I dreamt I had signed up for a boob job before I got pregnant and even though I was now pregnant they still forced me to have the boob job done.  I was awake during it - though they only operated on my right boob.  Afterwards, I looked in the mirror, and to my horror while holding the nipple of my boob on, underneath, sticking out all over, I saw they packed my boob with not the typical implant, but with cooked beef, chicken, peppers and cheese.  It was horrifying and I'm still scared from having that dream to this day.

Best Moment of the Week: Finishing this week since it was hell at work.

Movement: I swear I feel flutters every once in a while.

Food cravings: Same as it's always been: salty junk food.  Namely, French Onion Dip and Pretzels!

Gender: Not sure yet.  I still think it's a boy!

What I Miss: Nothing this week.  Just so thankful I'm pregnant!

What I'm Looking Forward To:  The anatomy scan sometime late April or early May.  Soooooooo far away!

Milestones: I'm officially Developmentally AND Gestationally out of my first trimester so I'm officially all around in my second trimester!

Emotions: Same.  Just easily agitated.

Symptoms:  Nothing really.  An occasional headache here and there.

13w0d - Weekly update

(shrimp - weirdest comparison ever)

(peach)

How Far Along: 13 weeks!!!!!

Size of baby:  Our baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

My baby this week (from babycenter.com): 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.

Maternity Clothes: Yes!  But they seem to be getting looser now that I'm not doing the progesterone injections anymore I am no where near as bloated.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: So so.  Still not great and have super strange dreams all the time.

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing our baby on Tuesday (12w3d) and seeing that he/she was healthy and had a nose and a small nuchal fold.

Movement: I swear I feel flutters every once in a while.

Food cravings: No cravings really but the breadth of food that appeals to me is shrinking day by day.  Soon, nothing will sound good.

Gender: Not sure yet.

What I Miss: Nothing this week.  Just so thankful I'm pregnant!

What I'm Looking Forward To:  The anatomy scan sometime late April or early May.  Soooooooo far away!

Milestones: Developmentally out of the first trimester (at 12w0d).  Only 3 days to go to be gestationally out of the first trimester (at 13w3d)!

Emotions: After a long day at work I'm super agitated.  To the point where I can even stand anything touching me.  I even took my earrings and necklace off cause they were bothering me and made Mike carry them in his hand while he drove home.

Symptoms:  Nothing really.  Occasional AM slight nausea but it's so faint it's hardly noticeable.

12w4d - Pregnancy announcement

We finally made our pregnancy announcement yesterday on Facebook.  It was really well received.  :)  Here is the photo we made the announcement with:

12w3d - NT Scan ultrasound

My u/s was bumpy but it went terrifically. The tech had the hardest time getting the nuchal fold on the screen. I had to turn on my right side, then my left, the my back, then my left, over and over. She finally left the room and came back 10 minutes later. Still couldnt get it. I emptied my bladder and she got is right away. The nuchal fold was 1.6mm (under 2mm is good). We could also see the nasal bone (which is photo 4 below). We are measuring 5 days ahead at 13w1d (I'm only 12w3d today).

12w0d - Weekly update

(length of lime)

How Far Along: 12 weeks!!!!!!!!!!

Size of baby:  From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

My baby this week (from babycenter.com): The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be.

Maternity Clothes: Yes!  I bought a ton last weekend.  I guess being short my belly pops sooner.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Not so great.  Its mostly one bad dream after another.

Best Moment of the Week: Listening to my baby's heartbeat every morning and every night with my doppler!  It's the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.

Movement: I thought I felt flutters but I read it's too soon.

Food cravings: The usual.  Generally craving bad food.  French fries.  Pizza.  Etc.

Gender: Not sure yet.

What I Miss: Not really a "what I miss" this week, but I just can't wait to have an obvious pregnant belly.  Right now I am just in the in between stage where I'm sure most people just think I'm fat.  lol

What I'm Looking Forward To:  The 12w3d ultrasound (this Tuesday!) so I can see my baby again!!!

Milestones: I am in my second trimester Developmentally!  Gestationally will be at 13.3 weeks.

Emotions: I snap a lot more now.  Poor Mike.

Symptoms:  Nauseous in the car in the mornings.  Not major and barely noticeable.  Sore boobs seem to be coming back in the evenings too.

11w4d - When does the 2nd tri start?

I am so confused.  So many different sites say so many different things about the baby and about my pregnancy.  For instance,  thebump.com says my baby is the size of a lime this week whereas babycenter.com says my baby is the size of lime NEXT week.  Some say my baby was now a fetus as of last week, some say this week, and some even say next week.   My biggest question is, when am I in my second trimester?

I know there are two main ways of calculating this.  By Development and by Gestation.   I tend to lean towards development more.  Not just because it says I'm in my second trimester sooner, but because it makes more sense.

Trimesters by Development
Refers to the 40-week pregnancy period, divided into three major development milestones. The first trimester is approx 12 weeks encompassing embryo and major structural development. The second is the fetal growth stage. The third starts at approximately 26 weeks when the fetus has matured to a level where viability outside the womb is possible.

Trimesters by Gestation
Often used by doctors, refers to the entire 40-week pregnancy period, including 2 weeks of preconception measured from the beginning of the last menstrual period. The 40-week period is divided into three equal stages.

So as you can see, trimesters by development is more logical.  It's broken down into actual phases not just the whole pregnancy divided equally into 3 parts with no regard to actual developmental stages.

That that being said.  According to http://www.ivf.ca/fet5dayduedate.php (and entering January 12) I am in my second trimester starting today based on developmental stages!   Although other websites that have similar calculators (and also show Development and Gestation dates) say I am officially in my second trimester as of Saturday.  Which would make more sense since I'll be 12w0d on Saturday!

http://www.ivf.ca/fet5dayduedate.php (and entering January 12)

http://www.baby2see.com/trimester_calculator.html (and entering December 24 for LMP)

11w2d - First OB appointment with the doctor

The OB appointment went well.  They had me pee in a cup.  Then the weighed me and got my blood pressure.  I won't even divulge how much weight I've put on since the embryo transfer in January.  I shouldn't be surprised though.  I mean, I did stop running cold turkey and as soon as I was pregnant I was hungry all the time.  So the combination of not running and eat everything in site really took it's toll.  Hopefully I won't continue to gain weight at that speed or they'll be rolling me into labor and delivery in September.

Meeting with Dr. Weibel went well too.  We chatted and he reassured me that going off progesterone wasn't going to harm my baby.  Then he did a fetal doppler scan.  He started scanning all over my belly and I could tell he wasn't in the right place (as I just had done one to myself only an hour before).  He started getting further and further off track.  I was just about to say something when he moved the wand and found it.  He said our baby sounded terrific, cleaned off my belly, wished us luck, and sent us on our way.

That was easy!  :)

11w1d - Heart rate

Just as it should, our baby's heart rate is starting to slow down.  It peaked in the last two weeks around 180ish bpm (beats per minute).  It's about 170 bpm today (using the fetal doppler to measure).  Sometime around 15 weeks our baby's heart rate will reach around 150 bpm and then plateau.

Here is a diagram of female and male heart rates recorded throughout women's pregnancies:

11w0d - Weekly update

(fig)

How Far Along: 11 weeks

Size of baby:  Just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig.

My baby this week (from babycenter.com): Your baby 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.

Maternity Clothes: I'm actually going in an hour to buy my first stuff!

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Terrible.  Out of the last three nights of sleep I slept terribly 2 out of the 3.  I  wake up every hour or two and am wide awake and generally have a sense of uneasiness.  I wake up from vivid dreams (mostly nightmares) all the time.

Best Moment of the Week: Getting the fetal doppler on Monday and listening to my baby's heartbeat everyday (sometimes twice a day)!

Movement: I thought I felt flutters but I read it's too soon.

Food cravings: The usual.  Generally craving bad food.  French fries.  Pizza.  Etc.

Gender: Not sure yet.

What I Miss: A good nights sleep!

What I'm Looking Forward To:  The 12w3d ultrasound so I can see my baby again!!!

Milestones: Almost done with the first trimester!

Emotions: I get pretty cranky now at night when I get tired.

Symptoms:  Last few mornings I've actually been SLIGHTLY nauseous.  Nothing major though.

10w6d - Rubber band trick

So, today was jeans day at work, as is every Friday.   I actually had to do the "rubber band trick" to make my jeans work.  It has been pretty comfy but I just can't wait to buy maternity pants tomorrow!!!!

(not actually me, but pretty similar to what I have going on)

Oh!  Last progesterone shot is tonight too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Symptoms:  None

10w5d - Bye bye pants

So, I desperately need new pants!  Even all of my fat pants are now too small and I have to unbutton them when I sit at my desk at work.  Maternity clothes, here I come!


Symptoms:  A little crampy at night, insomnia at night, little nausea in the morning, kinda woozy around 10 am, tired after lunch.

10w4d - Weaning off hormones

I've been weaning myself off of the progesterone.  I was supposed to stop cold turkey on 10w0d but I didn't feel comfortable with that.   So 10w1d and 2d I did 3/4 of a dose.  10w3d and 4d will be 1/2 a dose.  And 10w5d and 6d will each be 1/4 a dose.  So my last shot is this Friday!  I am still a little panicky, as that's what I'm good at, but I have to trust in the Cleveland Clinic that they know what they're talking about.   I see my OB at 11w2d so I think I may ask him to check my progesterone while I'm there.

Same thing with my estradiol.  I was also supposed to stop that cold turkey on Saturday (10w0d) but I'm weaning off that too.  So 10w1d and 2d I took 2 pills (instead of 3).   10w3d, 4d, and 5d will be 1 pill.

I guess nothing really else is going on.  I have a sort throat but it seems to be going away (crossing fingers).   I probably won't keep doing daily updates unless I have something to write about.  No sense in making a post that just says: "Symptoms: none."

Can't believe it's only Wednesday.  Friday can't come soon enough!

10w3d - Doppler trouble

Had a fetal doppler mini panic attack.  I read that a full bladder makes for the best scanning but not for me!  I tried finding the heartbeat for like 15 minutes to no avail.  Of course panicking.  I ended up peeing and re-scanning and found it pretty quickly!   Guess everyone internal organ layout is slightly different so empty bladder works best for me!

10w2d - Baby's heart beat!

So our fetal doppler came in.  Sonotrax (Basic A model) was a success!  We found baby Schloss right away!!   About 180 beats per minute!

Symptoms:  tired after lunch (ate a humongous lunch so I'm not suprised).  Still not that many symptoms!

10w1d - Infertility Art

Some of the art I have made based on battling infertility.

Symptoms:  Thirsty, headache in the evening.

10w0d - Weekly update

(kumquat)

How Far Along: 10 weeks

Size of baby:  Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce

My baby this week (from babycenter.com): Your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature. He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.  If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.  In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Maternity Clothes: Definitely soon.  All of my "fat pants" are getting really tight!

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Still peeing around 1 am and 4 am like clockwork although last night I peed like 4 times.  Hopefully it's not the start of a new trend.

Best Moment of the Week: Making sure our baby was ok on Friday at 9w6d and seeing the heartbeat again.

Movement: Yes!  I can't feel it but my baby was squirming around up a storm during yesterdays sonogram!

Food cravings: Nothing really sounds good anymore other than food that's terrible for me: chips, fries, etc.  I suck it up though and try to eat healthy for my baby!

Gender: Still don' know yet.  Heartrate was 175 at 9w6d.  Though it will drop and plateau now.

What I Miss: My body.  lol.  I'm getting so fat!

What I'm Looking Forward To:  The doppler heart rate check at 11w3d and the 12w3d ultrasound so I can see my baby again!!!

Milestones: My baby is officially a fetus this week!  He graduated from embryo status.

Emotions: I have been super worried all week - especially when my symptoms disappeared.

Symptoms:  Nothing yet today.  I'll update this as they come like usual.

9w6d - God is GOOD - ultrasound

First of all, God is indeed amazing!!!   Here's the story....

I just had an ultrasound!   I woke up at 1:00 am this morning and couldn't sleep.  I kept feeling my boobs, which used to be sore and full, and they were now not sore and not full.  They felt exactly how they felt before I got pregnant.  Being upset I woke Mike up.  He comforted me (as usual since he's amazing) and told me it's OK.  I cried (thinking hopefully hormones were making me cry but I knew different.... I just didn't want to lose my baby!).   I ended up not falling back asleep until 4:00 am.  It was really really really rough.

I finally called my OB in the morning.  Ironically, the answering service was having problems and told me to call back later!  Figures.  I was in agony, why not wait a little longer?   Anyways, I called again a little while later and got a nurse.  I told her I was symptom free and that I was panicking.  She said she didn't know what to say. Just the thing I wanted to hear.  She put me on hold.  When she came back she told me that I had cramps.  I was confused at first.  She was like, "You have cramps.  That's what you have to say when  you come in."  (So insurance will pay for the sonogram.)   Thank you Bayside for letting me come in!

So Mike and I drove over to Bayside (just a few blocks from work).  We sat in the waiting room.  Praying.  Multiple times.   Then Erin, our favorite sonographer (yay!), came out and got us.   She took us into the room and had me climb up on the table, with my pants on!!  This was my first belly sonogram!  It was exciting.  She squirted on the gel and put the scanner on my lower belly.   As soon as she did I was looking at the screen.  I saw the little flicker before she said something.  I was overjoyed.  As soon as she pushed in further, there he (Mike and I think it's a boy) was!  Wiggling around and moving his arms and legs up and down saying "hi"!  It was the cutest thing I have ever seen in my entire life!!!!!   It was the first time I got really emotional seeing him. Up til now he was always stationary.  Seeing him move around was a whole 'nother story!    His heart rate was 175bpm.

(side view) 

(side view) 

(overhead view)

Symptoms:  Loss of boob fullness in the early morning hours (freaked me right out but everything is ok!), tired after lunch (yay!).

9w5d - Hope everything is OK

So I'm feeling down.  I have hardly any symptoms these days and I'm just getting fat.  Symptoms are supposed to peak at the end of the first trimester.  Mine are dwindling.  Sucks so bad.   I wish I knew my baby was ok.

Symptoms:  Nothing that comes and goes like it used to.  Granted I'm still veiny and all that but I want morning sickness or afternoon tiredness... or something!!!    Thirst after lunch.   Loss of boob fullness in the evening.