The Gift of Life

How your baby’s growing:
Your baby is no longer an embryo! Though she’s barely the size of a kumquat — just an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, she now has completed the most critical portion of her development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in her body rapidly grow and mature. Her vital organs — the liver, kidney, intestines, brain, and lungs — are now in place and starting to function (although they’ll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy). Her liver continues to make blood cells, and the yolk sac, which previously supplied these cells, is no longer needed and begins to disappear.

During the next three weeks, your baby’s length will more than double to nearly 3 inches. Her head is proportionately smaller now than it was a few weeks ago, but it’s still almost half the length of her entire body. Her forehead temporarily bulges with her developing brain and sits high on her head; it will later recede to give her a more human appearance. Each day, more minute details — including tiny fingernails, toenails, and peach-fuzz hair — start to appear on her body. Her fingers are now completely separated; her arms bend at the elbow and curve slightly; her hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over her heart; her legs are lengthening; and her feet may be long enough to meet in front of her body. She is busily swallowing amniotic fluid and kicking her legs.

If you could take a peek at your baby this week, you’d be able to clearly see the outline of her spine through her parchment-thin skin. Spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from her spinal cord.

How your life’s changing:
Your uterus has doubled in size by now. Before you got pregnant, it was the size of a small pear. By this week, it’s grown to the size of a grapefruit. At your next prenatal visit, you may be able to hear your baby’s rapid heartbeat with the help of a Doppler, a hand-held soundwave stethoscope that your practitioner will pass over your belly. Many women say that the beating of their baby’s tiny heart sounds like the thunder of galloping horses and hearing it for the first time is one of the greatest joys of the first trimester.

Source: BabyCenter

We went to see our GP yesterday for our second prenatal check-up. We were hoping to have Baby’s first ultrasound, but it turns out that the early pregnancy ultrasound is done at twelve weeks. This type (accompanied with a blood test), our GP said, is also a way to determine if my pregnancy is at low or high risk. Let’s pray that all results from the tests will be okay and normal. We have asked for the ultrasound to be scheduled on the 18th of September.

Other than that, our GP said that I was doing fine and all previous blood and urine test results showed that I was healthy. Nothing to worry about at the moment. She has also reassured J that my eating habits during the first trimester is normal for most pregnant women and that it will get better in time. Our GP also gave me my maternity record book, which I will always take with me whenever I have tests or check-ups done from now on.

Spring is just around the corner now and I can’t wait to get out of these bulky clothes. I still haven’t been able to shop for bigger garments and I am running out of clothes to wear! Baby is getting bigger by the week so there’s no more sense in denying it.

How your baby’s growing:
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — barely the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce, but he’s poised for rapid weight gain now that his basic physical structure is in place. He’s also starting to look more and more human. His embryonic “tail” is now completely gone and his body parts — including organs, muscles, and nerves — are kicking into gear.

His eyelids are fused shut and won’t open until 27 weeks. He has earlobes, and by week’s end, the inner workings of his ears will be complete. His upper lip is fully formed, too, and his mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The tips of his fingers are slightly enlarged where his touch pads are developing. All major joints — his shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles — are working, enabling your baby to move his limbs. As for his heart, it has divided into four chambers now, and the valves have started to develop. External sex organs are there, but won’t be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks.

How your life’s changing:
You still may not look pregnant (although your belly will probably pop earlier if you’ve been pregnant before), but emotionally you may feel like you’re on a roller coaster ride. Mood swings are common now; it’s perfectly normal to feel alternately elated and terrified about becoming a parent. This feeling can persist throughout your pregnancy and well after your baby’s born. Try to cut yourself some slack. Almost all expectant parents worry about how a new baby will change their lives, but the vast majority later say that becoming a parent was one of the best things they’ve ever done.

You may be feeling extra gassy or bloated now, too. That’s primarily because the major doses of progesterone your body produces early in pregnancy relax smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, and that includes your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation slows your digestive processes, which can cause more gas, bloating, burping, flatulence, and generally miserable sensations in your gut, especially after a big meal.

Source: BabyCenter

Gosh, has it already been a nine weeks? Time sure does fly. It was exactly a month ago when we first found out that we were expecting. Now, I’m into my third month already. Next week, I’m scheduled to have my first preggy ultrasound, which will be quite exciting as we will be seeing our angel for the very first time.

And yes, I have been quite emotional lately. Tears easily spring to my eyes these days and I feel just lucky to have J there to comfort and understand me even if my thoughts have been irrational.

The digestive symptoms are still there but I notice that I am able to take in more food now. I still have my aversion to cooked rice and everything that’s been sauteed. These smells still continue to turn my stomach upside down. Hence, I choose to delegate all cooking tasks to J and I have agreed to do the dishes in return.

I have not gone shopping yet, but our friends here have been passing on some maternity clothes and baby stuff to us now so that we don’t need to spend anymore on these items. After all, you only get to use them while you’re pregnant so might as well hand it down to the next preggy wife for good use.

How your baby’s growing:
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — barely the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce, but he’s poised for rapid weight gain now that his basic physical structure is in place. He’s also starting to look more and more human. His embryonic “tail” is now completely gone and his body parts — including organs, muscles, and nerves — are kicking into gear.

His eyelids are fused shut and won’t open until 27 weeks. He has earlobes, and by week’s end, the inner workings of his ears will be complete. His upper lip is fully formed, too, and his mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The tips of his fingers are slightly enlarged where his touch pads are developing. All major joints — his shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles — are working, enabling your baby to move his limbs. As for his heart, it has divided into four chambers now, and the valves have started to develop. External sex organs are there, but won’t be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks.

How your life’s changing:
You still may not look pregnant (although your belly will probably pop earlier if you’ve been pregnant before), but emotionally you may feel like you’re on a roller coaster ride. Mood swings are common now; it’s perfectly normal to feel alternately elated and terrified about becoming a parent. This feeling can persist throughout your pregnancy and well after your baby’s born. Try to cut yourself some slack. Almost all expectant parents worry about how a new baby will change their lives, but the vast majority later say that becoming a parent was one of the best things they’ve ever done.

You may be feeling extra gassy or bloated now, too. That’s primarily because the major doses of progesterone your body produces early in pregnancy relax smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, and that includes your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation slows your digestive processes, which can cause more gas, bloating, burping, flatulence, and generally miserable sensations in your gut, especially after a big meal.

Source: BabyCenter

Gosh, has it already been a nine weeks? Time sure does fly. It was exactly a month ago when we first found out that we were expecting. Now, I’m into my third month already. Next week, I’m scheduled to have my first preggy ultrasound, which will be quite exciting as we will be seeing our angel for the very first time.

And yes, I have been quite emotional lately. Tears easily spring to my eyes these days and I feel just lucky to have J there to comfort and understand me even if my thoughts have been irrational.

The digestive symptoms are still there but I notice that I am able to take in more food now. I still have my aversion to cooked rice and everything that’s been sauteed. These smells still continue to turn my stomach upside down. Hence, I choose to delegate all cooking tasks to J and I have agreed to do the dishes in return.

I have not gone shopping yet, but our friends here have been passing on some maternity clothes and baby stuff to us now so that we don’t need to spend anymore on these items. After all, you only get to use them while you’re pregnant so might as well hand it down to the next preggy wife for good use.

How your baby’s growing:
Your baby is now 5/8 of an inch long, about the size of a kidney bean. She’s constantly moving and shifting, although you won’t be able to feel these womb wiggles for several weeks yet. Her embryonic tail is disappearing, and her eyelids practically cover her eyes. Still slightly webbed, her fingers and toes are growing longer. Her arms have lengthened, too, and her hands are now flexed at the wrist and meet over her heart. Her knee joints have formed, and her feet may be long enough to meet in front of her body. With her trunk straightening out, her head is more erect. Breathing tubes extend from her throat to the branches of her developing lungs. The nerve cells in her brain are also branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. Though you may be daydreaming about your baby as one gender or another, the external genitals still haven’t developed enough to reveal whether you’re having a boy or a girl.

How your life’s changing:
You haven’t gained much weight yet, but parts of you are certainly growing — like your breasts. You’ll soon need bigger bras with better support than your old ones. You may notice your waistline expanding as well, forcing you to pack away your favorite jeans. Less obvious is the increase in your blood volume; by the end of your pregnancy, you’ll have 40 to 50 percent more blood running through your veins to meet the demands of your baby. Your need for iron increases with your blood volume.

Feeling tired? Hormonal changes, in particular, can cause you to feel sluggish. And it’s not uncommon to be having trouble getting a good night’s sleep at this point, especially if you’re uncomfortable at night or getting up to use the bathroom repeatedly. Frequent nausea and vomiting can certainly cost you energy, too.

Source: BabyCenter

Woohoo! I’ve already survived two thirds of my first trimester. In a few more weeks, I’ll be on my second phase of pregnancy and I’m hoping things will be easier for me.

I’ve changed my vitamins to one that’s really suited for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. I’m not sure if that is the reason why I’ve been feeling a bit better and have less worse attacks of nausea. This week though I have been feeling very lethargic, with me sleeping for 12 hours a day! This pregnancy really does suck all your energy!

And yes, there are major bodily changes now. Bigger breasts call for bigger bras and wider waists need bigger pants! Time for some retail therapy soon. I’m practically bursting at the seams! LOL!

How your baby’s growing:
Your baby is now 5/8 of an inch long, about the size of a kidney bean. She’s constantly moving and shifting, although you won’t be able to feel these womb wiggles for several weeks yet. Her embryonic tail is disappearing, and her eyelids practically cover her eyes. Still slightly webbed, her fingers and toes are growing longer. Her arms have lengthened, too, and her hands are now flexed at the wrist and meet over her heart. Her knee joints have formed, and her feet may be long enough to meet in front of her body. With her trunk straightening out, her head is more erect. Breathing tubes extend from her throat to the branches of her developing lungs. The nerve cells in her brain are also branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. Though you may be daydreaming about your baby as one gender or another, the external genitals still haven’t developed enough to reveal whether you’re having a boy or a girl.

How your life’s changing:
You haven’t gained much weight yet, but parts of you are certainly growing — like your breasts. You’ll soon need bigger bras with better support than your old ones. You may notice your waistline expanding as well, forcing you to pack away your favorite jeans. Less obvious is the increase in your blood volume; by the end of your pregnancy, you’ll have 40 to 50 percent more blood running through your veins to meet the demands of your baby. Your need for iron increases with your blood volume.

Feeling tired? Hormonal changes, in particular, can cause you to feel sluggish. And it’s not uncommon to be having trouble getting a good night’s sleep at this point, especially if you’re uncomfortable at night or getting up to use the bathroom repeatedly. Frequent nausea and vomiting can certainly cost you energy, too.

Source: BabyCenter

Woohoo! I’ve already survived two thirds of my first trimester. In a few more weeks, I’ll be on my second phase of pregnancy and I’m hoping things will be easier for me.

I’ve changed my vitamins to one that’s really suited for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. I’m not sure if that is the reason why I’ve been feeling a bit better and have less worse attacks of nausea. This week though I have been feeling very lethargic, with me sleeping for 12 hours a day! This pregnancy really does suck all your energy!

And yes, there are major bodily changes now. Bigger breasts call for bigger bras and wider waists need bigger pants! Time for some retail therapy soon. I’m practically bursting at the seams! LOL!