Week 12: Guys, There's Really a Baby in There!

So here we are at week 12 y'all!

Sorry for not posting last week, but not a whole lotta new stuff was going down and I ran out of gifs to properly demonstrate my eternal struggle with nausea and my faithful relationship with dairy.  So let's talk week 12!  The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. The baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, toes will curl, eye muscles will clench, and the mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod my abdomen, the baby will squirm in response, although I won't be able to feel it (believe me, the ultrasound tech did it a lot). From crown to rump, the baby-to-be is just over two inches long (the size of a kiwi) and weighs half an ounce.

Today we went to have an early risk assessment test done.  It is a noninvasive test that combines blood work with an ultrasound of the baby to identify risk for specific chromosomal abnormalities, including Down Syndrome Trisomy-21 and Trisomy-18.  Another portion of the test (known as the nuchal translucency) can assist in identifying other significant fetal abnormalities, such as cardiac disorders. #googledit




We were able to see our baby!

On a big screen squirming, waving

and even giving the U-N-I-T-Y fist.

The baby looks good (all the limbs accounted for!), strong heartbeat (164) and both hemispheres of the brain even.  They were able to see a slight view of the nuchal translucency, but our little nugget wouldn't lay quite in the right position to get a clear picture  (thus the nurse pile driving my abdomen with the ultrasound wand) so they want to get a better pic, which means a return visit this Friday.  

Then we wait all the way until June 19th to find out the sex!

Checking your calendar for your next ultrasound

I opened some champagne for Meg and we celebrated our last Cinco de Mayo (Baby-o) sans-kiddo.

Pre-Pregnant Cinco de Mayos

Pregnant Cinco de Mayo

WE'RE HAVING A BABY Y'ALL!

Week 9: Abs of Strudel

Week 9 y'all!  Lil Bit is an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. His (or her) essential body parts are accounted for and the heart is dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form.  The baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there
but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. She (or he!) has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. Now that the baby's basic physiology is in place, it is poised for rapid weight gain.

As for me, my abdominal area feels like I just did an abs of steel workout (didn't do it) and, occasionally, like my inner female parts are being stretched like taffy.  This is extra great when I'm trying to sleep.  So adding the sleep deprivation to the daily sleepies I already had leaves me unable to form complete sentences.  Another thing about the abs:  A lot of women who are small in stature can see baby bumps progressing by this point.  Having the "equator" that I have makes the bump less obvious, but... this is what this blog is for right?  So here we go:

Nausea is still kickin' and food/smell aversions are much more prominent.  Why is it broccoli that smells like rotten garbage to me and cheese is still delicious?  Just cruel.  Don't worry- Meg is helping me "make good decisions" as far is food is concerned, but she also knows when to back the hell up and let me have a craving.

I've also become a little addicted to pregnancy apps.  I may have a couple that I check every day- they mostly give similar info, but some show you visuals aids and, let's face it, why read when someone can read to you?

Baby Bump: This one is good for weekly video updates and some educational videos.  It also has a thriving community so when you think something is a little too crazy to share with your partner you can post it there.

Pregnancy ++: This one is also great for info and daily updates.  You can also see week by week digital imaging of what the baby may look like.  It uses a graphic design version, a contributed 2d scan and a contributed 3d scan (which scares the crap out of me because it looks like a gecko).

My Baby Beat: This is a new one.  Using the mic of your iPhone you can perform a pseudo Doppler audio ultrasound.  Our Baby's Heartbeat At Week 9

We continue the wait until our next sonogram (May 5)- MARGARITAS FOR ALL (except me)... In the meantime...there's a mug of cookies and cream ice cream calling my name.

Week 8: Pregnancy Nausea, Give Me All the Carbs

Week 8 y'all!  The babe is just over 1/2 inch long, about the size of a kidney bean. New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from the hands and feet, eyelids practically cover the eyes, breathing tubes extend from the throat to the branches of the developing lungs, and the "tail" is gone. #science In the brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.  And the heart now has 2 chambers! #googledthis




I'm dealing with the nausea... and although I've been lucky enough that I'm not actually getting sick, it doesn't mean that I don't look like a "post-frat party freshman the morning after" every day.  So sorry in advance for that.  I just try to graze all day- mostly on carbs (thanks pregnancy).  I did a reading at a wedding this weekend and OF COURSE a wave of nausea hit me just as I was standing up in front of everyone.  Amidst a beautiful passage on love and devotion I was thinking "Would it be tacky to pop a Ritz"?

I'm also feeling exhausted, still, all the time.  Meg is super happy because I finally want to go to bed at 9pm, which is her preferred bedtime anyway! But I'm serious.  If I've just eaten, or it's 2pm (sorry job)...or 8pm... I'm gonna yawn all over you.  I may even "rest my eyes". #thanksforthatonegrandmamasselli  The interwebs say to not fight it, so please understand, at least for the first trimester, that I'm gonna party hard, but only like an 8 year old cause I'm gonna crash your party and not in the Lindsay Lohan way.

What I Feel Like Sitting On the Table In
The "Gown"

Yesterday I had my first appointment with my OB/GYN since being discharged from the reproductive clinic.  First of all, I have perfected standing in nothing but an ill-fitting tie-up gown  (I can NEVER remember whether the nurse told me to have the opening in the front or the back) and some footies.  There's really nothing quite like someone giving you a breast exam while they're asking about your regularity as you stare at the calendar images of kittens in a tiny hot air balloon.


After more blood work (how is it possible I have any blood left?) and some bathing suit area inspections I was told all is well.  I also received more paperwork than if we were signing a mortgage on a home and was informed about some future testing options that we can opt to have, or not have. We'll cover those another week.  Our next ultrasound is at the 12 week mark (which is where the miscarriage rate drops to 5%) where we should be able to hear the heartbeat. The ultrasound is scheduled, appropriately, on Cinco de Mayo. Party hard or go home, right?