36 WEEKS DOWN, 4 TO GO!!!

36 weeks and 1 day along! I'm I can't believe I'm this far along! That's just 3 weeks and 6 days left to go! It's crazy that I'm a month away from meeting my son! :-) What's also exciting is that Ben will be full-term in just 6 short days! :-D

According to www.babycenter.com:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying he'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.


(photo courtesy of www.babycenter.com)

31 WEEKS DOWN, 9 TO GO!

I'm 31 weeks pregnant today! Only 63 more days until my due date! And baby Ben will be full term in 42 days. :-)

According to www.babycenter.com:
"This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy."

According to my iPregnancy iPhone app:
"Your baby boy continues to gain weight as increasing amounts of fat are deposited in the skin. This will cause his skin to become increasingly opaque in color. The hair on his head is more prominent, and the eyebrows and eyelashes have fully developed. Lanugo continues its slow disappearance. The survival rate for babies born at 31 weeks is about 96%; of surviving infants, the rate of serious medical complications is about 20%. Remember that survival and complications rates are highly dependent on the baby's sex and race as well as the quality of the NICU. The baby's eyesight is improving, and the iris can dilate and constrict in response to light and dark; however, his vision remains far from 20/20. The iris is starting to become pigmented. Most light-skinned babies are born with blue eyes, whereas dark-skinned babies are usually born with brown eyes. The final eye color may take up to six months to be defined."


(photo courtesy of www.babycenter.com)

30 WEEKS DOWN, 10 TO GO!

I can't believe I'm finally in the 30s! :-) I'm 30 weeks 1 day pregnant today! Just 9 weeks 6 days (69 days) left to go! Baby Ben will be considered "full term" in just 48 days!

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)"

According to the iPregnancy iPhone app:
"Your baby boy is gaining weight steadily, and the head is proportional relative to the rest of the body. The bones are hardening as more and more calcium is being stored. In males, the testicles have usually descended from the upper abdomen through the groin and into the scrotum. In females, the clitoris is the most prominent landmark because the labia have not developed fully. The fine hair coating called lanugo starts to disappear between now and birth. The survival rate for babies born at 30 weeks is about 95%; of surviving infants, the rate of serious medical complications is about 25%. Remember that survival and complications rates are highly dependent on the baby's sex and race as well as the quality of the NICU. Your baby weight about 3 pounds now and is about 16 inches long!"



(photo courtesy of www.babycenter.com)

29 WEEKS DOWN, 11 TO GO!

I'm 29 weeks pregnant today! And I just have a short 11 weeks to go! Baby Ben will be full term in just 56 days! :-D It's all so exciting!

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day."

According to my iPregnancy iPhone app:
"Your baby boy has grown about another 1/4 pound in the last week. He begins a rapid growth phase and will begin to put on nearly 1/2 pound each week. In fact, he will likely triple his weight by your date. Your baby boy's organs all are fully formed and functioning well, although the lungs have not matured completely. Your baby boy's bone marrow has taken over production of the red blood cells from the liver. The survival rate for babies born at 29 week is about 90%; of surviving infants, the rate of serious medical complications is about 30%. Remember that survival rates and complications rates are highly dependent on the baby's sex and race as well as the quality of the NICU. The total amount of amniotic fluid is reaching a peak around now, much of this is due to the fact that the baby is urinating up to two cups of urine a day!"


(photo courtesy of www.babycenter.com)

28 WEEKS DOWN, 12 TO GO!

I'm 28 weeks pregnant today! Just 12 more to go! That's 196 days in, 84 days remaining! Baby Ben will be considered "full term" in 63 days.

According to www.babycenter.com:
"By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world."

According to the iPregnancy app:
"Your baby boy's movements are becoming strong and regular. The head position remains unstable, sometimes head down (vertex), sometimes not (breech or transverse). The lungs are becoming better developed, and he is capable of breathing, although the lungs still have to develop more before they are ready for birth. The survival rate for babies born at 28 weeks is about 85%; of surviving infants, the rate of serious medical complications is about 35%. Remember that survival and complications rates are highly dependent on the baby's sex and race as well as the quality of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). The brain is becoming increasingly developed and complex. The surface of the brain begins to show the twists and grooves seen in older children. It is thought that the new baby actually begins to dream at the beginning of the 3rd trimester. Brain scans have demonstrated REM sleep in babies."


(photo courtesy of www.babycenter.com)

27 WEEKS DOWN, 13 TO GO!

I've made it to the third trimester! :-) I only have 91 days remaining until my due date! That seems so insane to me! In a good way, of course. :-) I definitely am still feeling really great, but I can tell I'm on the downhill side of that "I feel awesome!" mountain. I'm starting to get tired more easily, my hips and ankles are feeling the extra weight, and this 100+ Texas heat definitely isn't helping! But, overall, I still feel pretty good, so I'm thankful for that.

Baby Ben has been moving a lot lately! His kicks are definitely getting stronger. Mark has finally been able to see my belly move when he kicks or swishes around in there. It's really cool to watch!

According to my iPregnancy iPhone app:
"Congratulations! You have made it to the 3rd trimester. Your baby boy's hearing is fully developed, and the nerves in his ears have completely formed. He is keenly aware of sound and sometimes moves to the rhythm of music. His heart rate will increase in response to sound. Movements in response to sounds such as loud noises are consistent. The brain stem, which controls involuntary activity such as breathing and body temperature, is becoming more refined. Your baby boy weighs about 2 pounds now. The survival rate for babies born at 27 weeks is about 85%; of surviving infants, the rate of serious medical complications is about 40%. Remember that survival and complications rates are highly dependent on the baby’s sex and race as well as the quality of the NICU. Your baby boy will practice breathing in and out and can even cry."

According to www.babycenter.com:
"This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle."


(photo courtesy of www.babycenter.com)

26 WEEKS DOWN, 14 TO GO!

I'm 26 weeks pregnant today! Hooray! That makes me 182 days in and 98 days left to go...I'm under 100 days left! :-) And I start my third trimester in just 7 short days from today.

According to my iPregnancy iPhone app:
"Your baby boy's senses are becoming increasingly keen. The eyes are completely formed and he is aware of light and darkness. He will turn his head or close his eyes in response to bright light, and his eyes will moves around in the sockets. Your baby boy has a more defined sleep and wake cycles. His brain waves are similar to a newborn's. The survival rate for babies born at 26 weeks is about 80%; of surviving infants, the rate of serious medical complications is about 45%. Remember that survival and complication rates are highly dependent on the baby's sex and race as well as the quality of the NICU. Do your insides feel like the ankle express? They might because your baby is going a lot of moving around during this time, helping his limbs develop."


According to www.babycenter.com:
"The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days."


(photo courtesy of www.babycenter.com)

25 WEEKS DOWN, 15 TO GO!

Today, I'm 25 weeks 1 day pregnant. :-) That's 176 days in and 104 days to go! My 3rd trimester starts in just 13 days!!! And I feel great! I think I'm on the downhill side of my energy mountain, but still...feeling pretty good! Baby Ben is kicking like crazy...all the time. Sometimes I wonder if the kid ever sleeps! It's so fun now because I can see my belly move when he kicks. Just a few days ago, I actually saw my belly roll...Ben must have been flipping over or something! I've been trying to get Mark to see it, but so far we haven't been able to time it right. Hopefully soon though!

I have many pregnancy iPhone apps. One of the ones I have is called iPregnancy. According to iPregnancy:
"The baby's arms and legs are growing this week, almost to their birth length. It should be no surprise, then, that your baby boy will begin reaching for his feet around this time. The circulatory system is undergoing tremendous development. Capillaries are developing on the skin, giving it a pinkish color. In addition, blood vessels are developing in the lunge, preparing the baby to be able to breathe in a few months. The survival rate for babies born at 25 weeks is about 70%; of surviving infants, the rate of serious medical complications is about 55%. Remember that survival and complication rates are highly dependent on the baby's sex and race as well as the quality of the NICU."

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture."


(photo courtesy of www.babycenter.com)

24 WEEKS DOWN, 16 WEEKS TO GO!

I am 24 weeks 2 days pregnant today! Another week down! I'm over 60% of the way there! Baby Ben's kicks are growing stronger with each week, and it's such a wonderful, reassuring feeling.

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

Here's an amazing photo of a 24 week fetus.

(photo courtesy of http://www.caringpregnancycenter.net/)

23 WEEKS DOWN, 17 TO GO!

I'm 23 weeks 2 days pregnant today. It's so crazy to think that I still have so much time left, but at the same time this pregnancy seems to have flown by!

Everything has been pretty smooth so far. I recently started getting nervous about the whole birthing process, but I'm trying my best not to freak myself out too much. Also, as dumb and shallow as it may seem, I'm getting a bit bummed out about how fat my arms and my face are getting. I know, I know. People can say whatever they want to me to try and make me feel better about it, but the truth is that it doesn't matter what people say. I hate that my face and arms are fat, and that's that. :-P Eeshk.

Baby Ben is kicking a lot these days. And just a couple of days ago, I felt the hardest kick so far. :-) It was really neat! Mark felt a good kick last night, as well.

I can't wait to meet the little guy!

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

22 WEEKS DOWN, 18 TO GO!

I'm 22 weeks pregnant today. That's 154 days, 55% of the way through. :-) So, that means I have 126 days left until my due date, and only 35 days left until my third trimester!

I've been feeling baby Benjamin move around a lot over the last couple of weeks, which is such a wonderful and reassuring feeling!

According to www.babycenter.com:
"At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

21 WEEKS DOWN, 19 TO GO!

I'm more than halfway there! Baby Ben has been moving around a lot lately, which is the most amazing and reassuring feeling. :-) I can't wait to meet the little guy!

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

20 WEEKS DOWN, 20 WEEKS TO GO!

I'm halfway through my pregnancy today! :-) 140 days down, 140 days to go! It's so exciting! And tomorrow is the BIG DAY! Hopefully, we'll find out that our baby is healthy and whether or not it's a boy or a girl. :-)

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery)."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

19 WEEKS DOWN, 21 TO GO!

I'm 19 weeks pregnant today! :-) I can't believe how fast this time is passing by! I have been able to feel the baby moving around for a little while now. I'm getting more and more confident of what I'm feeling, and that's good. I'm anxious for the day that Mark can feel the baby, too!

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Your baby's sensory development is exploding! His brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to him, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on his skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

18 WEEKS DOWN, 22 TO GO!

I'm 18 weeks pregnant! It's 4 1/2 months! :-) I can't believe I'm nearly halfway through my pregnancy! It seems to have gone by fast, which is weird because at the time, it seemed to go by REALLY SLOW. Funny how that works.

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

17 WEEKS DOWN, 23 TO GO!

I'm 17 weeks pregnant today. :-) Time to work on week 18! I'm 119 days through my pregnancy, 42.5% complete! I'm only 70 days away from my third trimester and 161 days away from my due date!

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — his lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. He can move his joints, and his sweat glands are starting to develop."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)


(photo courtesy of http://health.allrefer.com/)

16 WEEKS DOWN, 24 TO GO!

I can't believe I'm 4 months pregnant! That's 40% of my pregnancy complete! Today, it seems like the time passed by quickly.

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

15 WEEKS DOWN, 25 TO GO!

I'm 15 weeks into my pregnancy today. :-)

My bump is slowly growing, and so is my appetite! I'm trying to keep the food intake in check though. The last thing I want is to gain a bunch of extra weight that could possibly cause complications in my pregnancy, not to mention the extra weight I'll have to lose when the baby is born!

I don't really know if I've felt the baby move yet or not. It's so hard to tell! My doctor has told me that while most women feel the baby moving around 18-20 weeks, many women feel the movements as early on as 12 weeks. What I have been feeling can only be described as someone popping bubble gum under my skin. It's weird. I think I'm pretty confident that it's not gas, so that only leads me to believe that it's the baby! But, I'm not 100% for sure. It'll be exciting when I get to the point where I KNOW it's the baby that I'm feeling!!!

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). He's busy moving amniotic fluid through his nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in his lungs begin to develop. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all of his joints and limbs. Although his eyelids are still fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but he is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")"


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

14 WEEKS DOWN, 26 TO GO!

Today marks the completion of 14 weeks of pregnancy. Time to work on week 15! :-)

For the most part, I've gotten my energy back. I have little spells of fatigue throughout the day, but nothing major. My appetite has definitely come back...with a vengeance, if I might add. In the last week, the two food items that have been the most satisfying are meatball subs and a philly cheesesteak sandwich from Texadelphia. LOL. Lately, I've been craving some kettle cooked jalapeno flavored chips. Too bad none of this stuff is healthy! I figure that during my first trimester, all I ate was fruit, so this is kind of making up for that. Right? No? That's not how it works? Dang.

According to www.babycenter.com:
"This week's big developments: 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.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. 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."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

13 WEEKS DOWN, 27 TO GO!

I'm 13 weeks pregnant today! That's 91 days in. That's 32.5% of the way through my entire pregnancy. Only 189 days left until my due date. :-)

According to www.babycenter.com:
"Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, his veins and organs are clearly visible through his still-thin skin, and his body is starting to catch up with his head — which makes up just a third of his body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce."


(photo courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)