17 weeks :D

Ok so not alot to update on this week, we did finally get the fetal doppler in today, it works great! I was impressed, took me maybe 15 secs to find our little one's heartbeat. The doppler I bought was all of $30 including shipping from amazon.com, it's called Babysounds pocket fetal doppler. It also has a screen with heartbeat readout. Baby was sitting around 146-151bpm. I attached the video file, I really just wanted you to hear the sound of the heartbeat but I couldnt figure out how to do that so I used a free video editing program and added the sound that way. The "blips" in the heartbeat(except for the very last blip, which is me taking off the doppler) is the baby kicking, it's so cute. Really made my day, my daughter and father got to hear the heartbeat for the first time as well. Baby has been pretty active, not hard enough kicks for anyone on the outside to feel but I do feel lots of flutters. I'm pretty sure he is going to be a night baby since that is when he is most active. I go in for a regular OB appointment this Monday, just a check-up probably will measure my uterus and stuff. Still patiently waiting for May 3rd to come along that will be our gender confirmation and anatomy ultrasound. It's slowly creeping it's way here :)

So what is going on with baby this week (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. Gotta love my little turnip.

How far along: 17 weeks
Weight gain: 2 pounds
Stretch marks: No changes
Symptoms: I'm just achy from baby growing :)
Sleep: Some but not comfortable
Best Moment this Week: Getting my doppler!
Food Cravings: Nachos
Labor Signs: BH only
Belly Button in or out?: In
Wedding rings on or off?: On
Movement: Yup, only flutters but it's something
What I am looking forward to: Same as last week our 18 week ultrasound appointment, which is in 1 week.
Milestones: Sharing the sound of baby with family and friends :)

16 weeks :)

So it has been an interesting week. In my last update my OB had called and was worried about some blood work results she had recieved from my endo. The blood work showed I was becoming anemic and she wanted me to come in to see her in between our normal visits. So this past Thursday I went in and she didn't even remember why she had called and looked at the blood work and said "No, you aren't anemic I was just worried about your thyroid." *sigh* She must have just mispoke herself over the phone. So that's good..not anemic. I'm about 99% sure I have been feeling the little one move this past week, it started Wednesday afternoon when I was sitting at the computer. Felt just like little popcorn pops just below my belly button, distinctly different then gas. I mainly feel the movement later in the afternoons, almost the same time each afternoon. Made me very happy :) OH! and Nolan bought me a doppler for at home use. We get it sometime next week. Due to the horrible nightmares I have been having my OB recommended we pick up an inexpensive at home doppler so I can have peace of mind between appointments.(If the doppler we bought works being as cheap as it was)

Baby's growth this week(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.



How far along: 16 weeks and change (going by 10/3 edd)
Weight gain: 2 pounds
Stretch marks: No changes
Symptoms: Nose bleeds and headaches started this week and I'm just achy and tired. I'm sure it's the ligaments stretching as our little one grows and grows.
Sleep: Sleeping is non-existant, I toss and turn all night, I can't find a comfortable position. Consistantly up every few hours. I have been having horrible and I mean horrible nightmares. I wake up in tears and then can't go back to sleep. Sometimes I'm so hungry I have to get up and eat something. The only good thing about the lack of sleep is I will be ready for the midnight feedings once little one is born.
Best Moment this Week: Feeling the first "flutters"
Food Cravings: Peanut butter
Labor Signs: BH only
Belly Button in or out?: In
Wedding rings on or off?: On
Movement: Yup, only flutters but it's something
What I am looking forward to: Our 18 week ultrasound appointment, which is in 2 weeks.
Milestones: 4 months :)

To cloth or not to cloth....

We have been talking about possibly using cloth diapers with this little one. I had no idea the "pandora's box" I was opening when I said I would spend my Sunday afternoon doing some research on them. I thought I would just jump on the internet and search a few sites and it would be an easy decision, boy was I WRONG! It was quite clear right away that the cost of cloth diapering is considerably less expensive than disposables in the long run. This fact however, is probably the only clear thing I came out of this day with. I just was not prepared for what I was up against. From prefolds to fitted, contoured, AIO, AI2, soakers, covers, hemp, cotton, pocket diapers, and OS..AHHH my head is spinning. I have read FAQ's and how to do's and I'm still no where closer to understanding any of this than when I first started. The big question, and the answer I have yet to come across is..THE POOP?!? What do I do with the poop? Surely I can't just take off the diaper and throw it all in the wash poop and all, can I?

15 Weeks

Taking things one week at a time ;)

We had a busy week with doctors appointments. Good news is the hyperthyroid issue is not as big of an issue as we thought. It should be something that goes away once we deliver. However it looks as though I'm a little more anemic than my OB thought so she is bringing me in next Thursday to draw more blood. I should get the results from my 2nd trimester blood draw back soon and hope to hear more good news from that. I'm pretty confident about it. :)

This is an interesting part of the pregnancy, symptoms have started to go away. No real nausea anymore, boobs are tender but definately not as sore as before. I'm tired but I have energy to get alot of stuff done during the day now. I feel like I'm at this in between stage where you don't quite feel the baby moving yet and you don't have a whole lot of real symptoms. Guess why the books say this is the surreal part of the pregnancy. Unless I hear the HB or see him on the u/s it's hard to feel pregnant. I find myself laying on the floor or the bed just to rub my belly and hope to feel something definate.

Here is what babycenter.com says about growth this week:

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.")



How far along: 15 weeks (going by 10/3 edd)
Weight gain: 2 pounds, yup I went down
Stretch marks: No changes
Sleep: Still having a hard time getting comfortable at night
Best Moment this Week: A friend of my owns a upscale used baby store and I was able to pick up an awesome baby swing for $40.00. I don't think this has ever been used. Retails for $150. Great deal!
Movement: It's still really hard for me to tell, sometimes I feel something going on and I know it's not gas but can't tell if the movement is baby or not.
Food Cravings: Cheese
Labor Signs: BH only
Belly Button in or out?: In
Wedding rings on or off?: On
What I am looking forward to: My next u/s appointment and feeling that first definate kick, we will see our baby again and find out 100% if baby is a boy. May 3rd is our next u/s
Milestones: I got to hear baby's heartbeat on the doppler at my OB appointment, it's the 3rd time I've heard it but it's very comforting none the less.

OB appointment & First Belly picture :)

I was so excited today, at my last appointment we tried to hear the baby's heartbeat with the doppler but had no success. I was only 11wks but it was hard not to stress out about it. I felt better since the next week we had the NT u/s and were able to see baby moving all around. Today however we heard his little heartbeat on the doppler, took her only seconds to find it, and it was amazing. It sure made my day. The top of my uterus is a few cm's below my belly button right where it should be at this point. Just an overall relaxing appointment :) No weight gain since last appointment but my OB is not worried at this point. I asked her about my EDD and if it would be changing since LO has been measuring a week ahead at every u/s, she didnt want to change the date, so it looks like my EDD will be staying at 10/03/10.

14 Weeks & 2nd Trimester :D

From babycenter.com:
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.
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.

This past week I had my appointment with the endocrinologist, my levels were really only borderline hypertension and I had more blood drawn. The tech that drew my blood was horrible, it was the most painful blood draw I had. I guess this bloodwork will tell them if my thyroid is just from the pregnancy and will go away after the birth or if my pregnancy triggered an ongoing thyroid condition. Kinda cool that they can tell which it is from bloodwork. I have a follow-up appointment next week and they will check the bloodwork and perform a neck ultrasound to see the thyroid. I also got my results back from my NT bloodwork, it came back negative but they would like to see me back for a second blood draw the baby's NT measurement was on the high side of normal and they want to be sure it wasn't a false negative. I have my next OB appointment on Monday and I will talk to her and see if this second blood draw is really necessary. So my week is full of appointments :/


Update!!
I was so excited today, at my last appointment we tried to hear the baby's heartbeat with the doppler but had no success. I was only 11wks but it was hard not to stress out about it. I felt better since the next week we had the NT u/s and were able to see baby moving all around. Today however we heard his little heartbeat on the doppler, took her only seconds to find it, and it was amazing. It sure made my day. The top of my uterus is a few cm's below my belly button right where it should be at this point. Just an overall relaxing appointment :) No weight gain since last appointment but my OB is not worried at this point. I asked her about my EDD and if it would be changing since LO has been measuring a week ahead at every u/s, she didnt want to change the date, so it looks like my EDD will be staying at 10/03/10.


How far along: 14 weeks (going by 10/3 edd)
Weight gain: 3 pounds
Maternity clothes?: Nope, I think most of my maternity clothes are actually going to be a larger size of clothes I normally wear(like cute victoria secret tanks!!) I love their stuff. Maternity stuff is too old fashioned and unneccesarily expensive. Put "maternity" on clothes and charge 3 times the price, no thanks.
Stretch marks: No changes
Sleep: I toss and turn all night, again this may have to do with the hyperthyroid. I'm still peeing once or twice a night.
Best Moment this Week: I bought the fabric for the crib bedding set and finished the blanket already!!
Movement: I notice my uterus getting hard and some bubbly type feeling but can't discern if that is just gas at this time.
Food Cravings: This week it's been water, peanuts, and strawberries.
Labor Signs: I think the uterus hardening is considered braxton hicks contractions, no real contractions.
Belly Button in or out?: In
Wedding rings on or off?: On, I can still freely move them so my hands aren't swelling but my shoes have been killing my feet lately.
What I am looking forward to: Hmm, having my MIL visit and go shopping with me, it's rather boring shopping alone :/
Milestones: Getting to the 2nd trimester, it feels like time is dragging...even though every one around me says it's flying by.