Baby Size and Development: Week 8

Today is week 8.

Our baby is about the size of a raspberry.

Our baby is growing like mad, putting on about a millimeter every day and continuing to straighten out in the trunk. Though I can't feel it yet, our baby is moving those little arms, legs and (now only slightly) webbed fingers and toes like crazy.

8 week belly pic

So I took this today. Going to call this 8 weeks, since I'll be 8 weeks tomorrow. I can't believe how much my belly has grown in just this short time!

Ultrasound!

Everything went WONDERFUL!!

The baby is doing great! It is measuring 7 weeks 1 day, instead of the 7 weeks 3 days based on my LMP.

We heard the heartbeat too!!! It is a STRONG 150 bpm. That was the most wonderful sound I have heard in a VERY, VERY long time!

Now I can relax and enjoy this pregnancy!

Here are the first pics of the baby!!

Nerves, Nerves, Nerves

In about 3.5 hours, we will be getting our second ultrasound and hoping to see a heartbeat this time! I'm so damn nervous about this, it is not even funny.

I did not sleep well last night and when I did sleep I had horrible nightmares about the ultrasound results (and one weird dream where I cussed out the nurses and called them all morons and walked out of the office).

I know that my nervousness and worry is probably going to be for nothing, but after losing a baby a few months ago, I can't help but worry.

This baby is something we've wanted and gone through so much to have and I just don't want anything to go wrong! I want to meet this baby face-to-face in October!

I'll update when I get a chance to later tonight. Right after the ultrasound I have to go to class, so I won't be home until later tonight!

Baby Size and Development: Week 7

Today is week 7.

Our baby is about the size of a blueberry this week.

Baby's brain--both hemispheres--is growing fast, generating about 100 new cells every minute. Arms and legs are emerging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third) is now in place.

BeBand is my new best friend!

I ordered the BeBand from Target last week and I finally got it today!!

My jeans have been a little tight for the past two weeks and I was tired of only having ONE pair that I could wear comfortably. As soon as I got it, I ran and put on my too-tight jeans and slipped the BeBand over to cover the fact that they were unbuttoned AND unzipped.

So far, it is working GREAT!! I've had it on for over 2 hours and my pants are still being held up and you can't tell my pants are undone!

I have my pants back!!! YIPEE!!!

Baby is OK!

The baby is where it is supposed to be.

They saw a yolk sac on the ultrasound and the baby is measuring 5 weeks 4 days.

No heartbeat yet, but not too worried about that since that comes anywhere from 6-8 weeks!

My beta hCG numbers were over 22,000, which is SUPER good for 6 weeks along! I am supposed to go in on Monday for a follow up beta hCG test just as a precaution.

They told me to just take it easy and drink more fluids and hopefully the cramping will go away.

Going to ER later

My midwife's office called today about scheduling my ultrasound (I've been bugging them with messages the past TWO days). The earliest they can get me in is February 22nd. I went ahead and scheduled that, but am going to the ER tonight because I can't wait that long.

I've been having cramps on and off for the past week and they are starting to get me worried. I can't wait a week and a half to make sure everything is where it should be. So, we're not. As soon as B. gets off of work, we are going to have the kids go to my In-Law's house and we are headed to the ER for a baby check.

I know it's not the best thing to do, but I'm worried and cannot take another day of the cramps and worry. I need to know that our baby is nestled comfortably in my uterus. I need to know that the cramps are nothing to worry about.

I will update when we know anything.

Baby Size and Development: Week 6

Today, we are at week 6.

Our baby is about the size of a sweat Pea now.

Growing like crazy, our baby is starting to sprout eyes, ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. The little hands and feet--still wedded like paddles--might wiggle by the weeks end, the heart is beating (almost twice as fast as mine), and blood is circulate.

Baby Size and Development: Week 5

I'm hoping to make this a weekly thing.

This is how big our baby is at 5 weeks. He/she is about the size of an apple seed. (I'll have the 6 week one up in a few days)

This week in baby development:

The embryo is starting to form major organs (heart, kidney, liver, stomach) and systems (nervous, circulatory, digestive). Baby's presence in the uterus triggers production of hCG, which triggers production of other hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which trigger all the wonderful symptoms I've been having (which I'm LOVING, by the way, they reassure me that everything is going good).

A Little Update

I went to see my midwife on Monday and confirmed that we are indeed PREGNANT!!

I had a long talk with my midwife and we talked about whether or not to do beta blood tests. We decided to not add to the stress I'm already feeling and forego the blood tests. Like my midwife said, even if the numbers aren't rising like they should, what can we do but wait it out. Nothing can really be done.

I should be getting my first ultrasound in a little over a week now. We are having to wait on some paperwork with my insurance before we do it. My midwife did say, though, that if it took too long on the paperwork, that she would sneak me in for the ultrasound and not charge for it. She said it would be no big deal since we just need to do a quick peek to make sure the baby is in my uterus and not in a tube. That right there makes me SO glad I chose my midwife for my pregnancy care!

I'm feeling decent. Having a few symptoms of pregnancy, but none have been too bad yet. These are the symptoms I'm having so far:

--swollen, tender breasts

--queasiness from the time I get up until I go to bed

--a full feeling in my lower abdomen

--thirsty ALL.THE.TIME

--peeing more than normal

This is not really a symptom, but my dog has also been acting really strange towards me lately and just strange in general. He likes to follow me now, and before he would just basically sleep all the time and ignore me. He wants attention from me a LOT now. He has been peeing in the house too. He hasn't done this much before. Usually only happens when we are gone for long periods of time. The other day, he stood in front of me while I was on the couch doing homework and just peed in the floor. And now, if we do not put the trash up in the laundry room while we are gone, he gets in the trash and tears through it and makes a HUGE mess. I sure hope he gets out of this soon. It's getting OLD!

The baby is 5 weeks today and I'm stoked about that! We have made it past the 4 week 6 day mark that we made it to in the last pregnancy!

Well, that's all I have for now!!