14 weeks/12 weeks fetal age

Last week I was in Nashville so I didn't get a chance to update for week 13 so here it goes...

Baby has fingerprints on its teeny fingertips and has paper thin skin. The organs and veins can all be seen through this thin, see-through skin. The body is becoming more in proportion as it catches up with the size of the head. Baby is around 3 inches in length and weighs nearly 1 oz!

Here's an artist's rendering of a 13 week fetus:

My first tummy shot (13 weeks 3 days), not a lot of contrast, but you can see it's getting there!

Today I am 14 weeks and baby has a lot of new tricks! Elle/Harvey can squint, grimace, frown, pee and even suck her/his thumb! The kidneys are producing urine which will continue to be excreted into the amniotic fluid until birth. My body eliminates all of the waste for baby at this point. The baby is stretching out to 3.5 inches and weighs in at about 1.5 ounces. The arms are nearing being in proportion with the body by the end of this week, and the neck is lengthening out as well. The downy hair called lanugo is starting to develop all over the body. Both the liver and the spleen are starting to function, making bile and helping in the production of red blood cells respectively. Baby is more active than ever now also, and I can't wait until I can start feeling the movements! It should be within the next couple of weeks!!!

I am still wearing my regular pants, although I will start switching to maternity pants soon I am sure. My pants still fit in the legs, and I'm pretty darn happy about that. Supposedly I've gained some weight, but I don't feel it or see it much. A little extra padding in around the waist I guess. Some days and some particular times during the day I really show, but other times not so much. After I eat I especially show! I feel good, I don't even feel pregnant. The only time I am reminded is when I go too long between eating, then I don't feel so well. I am also super thirsty still and I do tire a little easier than normal. I'm enjoying this transition time where I'm over the morning sickness and I'm not big or uncomfortable yet. But I do have to admit I look forward to the belly, I love it!

12 weeks/10 weeks fetal age

I just want to note that it's getting harder and harder to find good pictures to post. They are either ambiguously labeled or else I am coming up with really disturbing abortion pictures when I search for pictures of the fetus. So, I'll probably still post some pictures, but they'll be more varied- cool ultrasound pictures I find, illustrations or possibly actual pictures of a fetus at the correct age.

Anyway, let's get to it! The most dramatic development of the week is reflexes! If I poke my belly it will make the little one squirm (although I can't feel it yet!) Very soon baby will start making sucking motions and may even find their thumb very shortly. Currently the intestines are growing outside of the body because of their rapid growth rate, but they will now start to grow inside of the abdomen. The kidneys will even begin to exrete urine to the bladder. Baby is unmistakeable human now, with eyes and ears in the correct position. The length is about 2 inches this week-approximately the length of a lemon.

I'm feeling well these days, pretty "normal" for the most part. I have a pretty high level of energy, which is great because I am on my feet most of the day running back-and-forth and around Meijer. My weight is still on track, I'm still wearing my regular pants. However I have gotten out my old maternity clothes and will be starting to wear the pants soon. The problem is that when I do have to sit for a while it starts to get very uncomfortable as the pants cut into my waist. Anyway, so far so good! I had my intake appointment at the OB/GYNResidency Clinic at Spectrum Health Butterworth yesterday and my first appointment with the actual doctor will be next Tuesday (St. Patty's Day!) I'll let you know how it goes and hopefully will know when my next ultrasound will be. If it's scheduled at least a month from now we'll be able to find out if it's Baby Elle or Baby Harvey in there!

11 weeks LMP/9 weeks fetal age

Baby is about 1.5 inches long this week and is almost fully formed. The hands will soon be able to open and close into tiny fists and the tooth buds are even beginning to form beneath the gums. As some of the bones begin to harden, baby is busy kicking around and stretching and may even start having hiccups as the diaphragm is formed. (Aila had hiccups at least 5 times a day, it will be fun if Baby 2 does as well, it's so cool to feel!) Here's a picture to show just how much baby is beginning to look like a baby!



I am feeling pretty good in general these days. I still have my moments in the evening, but the sickness is really waning. Thank goodness, because as the sickness wanes my energy levels increase and I have sure needed the energy boost! Sometimes when I eat it really makes my belly stick out and I look pretty pregnant, but for the most part no one would be able to see any difference from the outside. I know how much my waist has changed though, my pants are definitely getting tighter. I'm really happy I haven't gained anywhere else though, I'm on a way better track this time around! I'm actually getting a little excited for the pregnant belly, I don't know why but I enjoy it (up until the end when the baby --Aila-- gains 3 pounds in a week and you suddenly feel like you're going to burst!)