Week 6
Belly is 32.5"
This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.
Week 7
Belly is 32.5"
Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.
At a length of about half an inch right now, your baby is raspberry-sized. Growth occurs at about the rate of one millimeter each day, but that growth isn't necessarily just in height. Spurts can occur in the arms, legs, back, and other parts of your baby's body. A close-up view of your little embryo would reveal a more baby-like appearance. You'd see an upper lip forming, the protruding tip of that cute button nose, and tiny (and very thin) eyelids. And check out those hands and feet! Your baby's webbed fingers and toes are differentiating now.
Week 8
Belly is 32.5"
Pregnancy fatigue is extremely common, especially in the first trimester. And for good reason. Making a baby is hard work — make that very hard work. Consider this: During these first weeks and months of pregnancy, your body is manufacturing the placenta — your baby's life-support system. What's more, your body's metabolism and hormone levels have increased significantly while your blood sugar and blood pressure tend to be lower. Add it all up, and it's no wonder you feel as if you're competing in a triathlon each day.
The good news: You'll recover a lot of the get up and go that has gotten up and left once your body has adjusted to being pregnant and your baby's placenta is finished developing — somewhere around month four. Fatigue is likely to reappear during the last trimester as the demands of toting around a larger fetus increase.
Week Five | Week Six | Week Seven | Week Eight
February 25, 2008
We told the parents and close family about the news on Saturday which was so much fun. Mom said she had wondered (not sure why?)...Bob wanted Karen to ask us if we had ‘put the goalie’ back because apparently it was taking too long (?)...Dad said he felt like dancing...It was really fun.
I have been tired "making our baby" as I told Andrew...but other than that, I still wouldn’t know anything was different. But it’s really fun to have that little phrase to tell myself every so often, “I’m pregnant!” I can’t wait to start showing, but that time will come soon enough.
Andrew has been great. I really see him making an effort to be more patient with me. He carries things for me and listens to me when I tell him pregnancy related things. I think he’s excited and enjoying this time as well, having this secret but being able to share good news with those close.
February 28, 2008
I made my appointment for the first doctors visit today. It will be in three weeks. I am guessing I will be about just starting the eigth week by then...it’s so hard to tell because the pregnancy is measured differently in different places. So I believe I am finishing my fifth week and tomorrow will be the start of the sixth.
The nursery has been painted in the house. I really like it and can imagine a little baby in there with a crib and all that. I have put some items that I have accumulated through the years, including some of my old toys, in there, too. It's odd to see them in that context.
Week Six (top)
March 1, 2008
That tidal wave of ecstasy hasn’t hit me yet, and in a way, I know that when it does I will be washed away forever, just madly in love. But for now, I think the feeling I have is that it is sobering. My perspective is changing. I have a greater respect for parents, and Moms, my mom in particular. It’s sobering to know that you will be responsible for this little person forever, and that everything you do will directly impact someone else’s life.
At times I am super excited but mostly I am quietly expectant.
Andrew has been wonderful. Most moms I have talked to mention how the men forget that you are even pregnant. Andrew hasn’t let a day go by without asking me how I am, or making sure he carries the heavy bag, or even offering to take the middle seat on the airplane. I’m not even half way into the sixth week! He’s a great husband.
Week Seven (top)
March 12, 2008
Feeling pretty tired lately, but that's the worst of it. I do have some food aversions - nothing sounds yummy, but it's not that bad.
We drove to MO on Saturday and have been living in our new home since then. This neighborhood is chock full of kids, which is perfect for our life now. It will be an adjustment, though, having come from the city. But I hope our neighbors are real friendly and look forward to making some new friends.
We were talking about Halloween here in the neighborhood, how much of a madhouse it must be because there are so many kids. Then it dawned on us that our baby will be arriving around then. It's so strange to think that way.
Put on a pair of pants that has always been baggy on me and they fit tightly. Am I just getting fat? Or is my 'orange-sized' uterus starting to bulge a bit? It's odd seeing my body change slightly. I've always worked pretty hard to keep in shape and fit. I really have to do some "letting go"!
March 16, 2008
Another week goes by and we're at 8 weeks. We've got an unofficial 7 months to go. Unofficial until our doctor appointment next week (which was postponed from this week).
Occasionally we talk about what will be happening in October or so, and realize there will be three of us present for whatever that is!
We had brunch downtown on Sunday in a cool part of KC and made another realization that we really won't be able to 'explore' as we are used to for who knows how long. We would usually find places to try new food and wine, new bars and local music - but I think that's mostly out - for me anyway.
March 18, 2008
Totally and completely emotional after watching some waterbirth videos online (they are graphic, be warned). One video of the baby afterward shows her quietly looking at the mom for a while, so sweetly. I am excited about seeing our little one for the first time...but the waterbirth looks like an interesting option. It seems to ease the pain, make it a little more comfortable and be a little easier on the baby too.
I think my emotions are running away from me, but it was very amazing to watch. Amazing and I'll admit - scary. But I will have good people around me and women do this all the time. So can I!
I was also looking at maternity clothing online a little today. It seems forever until I will need anything like the stretch wasted pants, etc. But time doesn't seem to want to slow down these days.
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