At this point in the pregnancy, Anna's crown-to-rump length is approximately 10.4 inches and her total length is around 16.7 inches. She weighs about 2.7 pounds and continues to grow every day.
Babies that are born prematurely can be very tiny. Even a baby that is only a few weeks early can be very small. Anna will grow rapidly from now until week 36, and then at a slower rate thereafter. Generally, boys weigh more than girls at birth. The average baby's birth weight at full term is 7 to 7.5 pounds.
Anna will continue to open and close her eyes in the womb and may be able to see silhouettes of objects or even people in the right amount of light. She should be moving many times throughout the day. Some of her movements are predictable and studies say that if you notice a decrease in fetal movements, you should lie down and do a fetal kick count. We should feel her move approximately ten times in an hour. And Laura said she feels her about 30-40 times in an hour so Miss Anna is doing just fine on the kick count. We tried out the “light test” mentioned above on Sunday night, by taking a light and putting it near Laura’s stomach about where Anna should be. We didn’t notice very much movement. But then I got down and started talking to her, and we could definitely notice movement. She was definitely punching, pushing, and kicking. I think she wanted daddy to leave her alone so she and mommy could rest.
One last thing, since there are only 11 weeks left until her arrival, I wanted to let everyone know that the baby blog will not end with Anna Marie Smith’s birth. The title of the blog will change from “Waiting on a Baby” to “Raising a Baby”. That way, everyone can keep up with Anna’s progress and I will defiantly post more pictures that I do now
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Week 28
As I let you all in on, we have a special guest blogger this week. I had my wife write a little note for the blog. But before I let you know what she has to say, let me tell you what is going on with Anna Marie this week. Anna’s brain continues to develop and is now forming the folds and grooves of a fully developed brain. The amount of tissues within the brain also continues to increase in large amounts. The hair that covers her scalp is also getting longer.
Now a little word from Mommy-to-be!!
Well I have to start by saying I super excited about meeting our little girl in less than 3 months...hopefully :) Every day I can see and feel her moving and growing inside of me, which is the most amazing feeling in the world! Anna has yet to show us her little face in the ultrasounds. The ultrasound tech said she must be shy, but we all know that’s probably not true since she has Derrick and I as parents! She is currently weighing in at 2 lbs and 5 oz. I have so many feelings everyday about being Anna’s mom… Am I going to know what to do when she cries at night, will I be able to handle going back to work after just 3 months, and just how much will our lives change forever??? It’s comforting to know that we will have the support of two awesome families during this time! I am overwhelmed with excitement and joy and cannot wait to see, kiss, hug, and hold our little girl! Everyday my love for her gets stronger and stronger… And for the record Anna has the best daddy ever! I am so proud of Derrick! He does such a good job of taking care of me every day. I can only imagine Derrick with our little girl in his arms!
--Laura
Now a little word from Mommy-to-be!!
Well I have to start by saying I super excited about meeting our little girl in less than 3 months...hopefully :) Every day I can see and feel her moving and growing inside of me, which is the most amazing feeling in the world! Anna has yet to show us her little face in the ultrasounds. The ultrasound tech said she must be shy, but we all know that’s probably not true since she has Derrick and I as parents! She is currently weighing in at 2 lbs and 5 oz. I have so many feelings everyday about being Anna’s mom… Am I going to know what to do when she cries at night, will I be able to handle going back to work after just 3 months, and just how much will our lives change forever??? It’s comforting to know that we will have the support of two awesome families during this time! I am overwhelmed with excitement and joy and cannot wait to see, kiss, hug, and hold our little girl! Everyday my love for her gets stronger and stronger… And for the record Anna has the best daddy ever! I am so proud of Derrick! He does such a good job of taking care of me every day. I can only imagine Derrick with our little girl in his arms!
--Laura
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Week 27 - The Third Trimester
Laura has now entered her third trimester, and last, of her pregnancy! Anna’s crown-to-rump length is about 9.6 inches and your baby's total length is approximately 15.3 inches! She now weighs about 2 pounds 3 ounces and is going to grow rapidly during this last trimester! Anna is now the size of a head of cauliflower
If Anna was born now, she would have an 85% chance of surviving. Even though she is still not fully developed, she would be well within the limits of premature viability. We still have approximately 13 weeks left of the pregnancy, and during this time Anna must continue to grow and develop. If she was born at this time, she would have several complications that would require special attention. Because babies do not have adequate amounts of fat at this time, she would have to be kept inside of an incubator for warmth. Because the air sacs in her lungs do not yet have surfactant, she would require an artificial respirator. Her brain, liver, and immune system still need to develop more also.
Over the last few weeks, we have felt Anna kick/punch/push on Laura. She is very active which I think is a good sign. On next week’s blog, I should have a better idea on her due date. They are doing another ultra sound to determine if they need to change the due date. Stay tuned!!!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Week 26
This week, Anna’s crown-to-rump length is approximately 9.2 inches. That is her length from the top of her head to her bottom and does not include her leg measurements! She weighs almost 2 pounds and is beginning to put on weight.
After a month of having her eyelids sealed shut, she begins to open her eyes again this week. Her eyes are almost completely developed. Anna’s eyes are blue in the womb and may change colors later in life. This is true for all races because the pupils do not have their final color until a few months after birth. However, some babies are born with darker or lighter shades of blue. She will continue to put on layers of fat until she is born. She is still lean at this point of the pregnancy though. By the time she is born, she will assume the typical newborn's plumpness. Her skin will still be wrinkled and red, but the fat continues to fill the skin out.
Finger and toe nails continue to grow.
Blood vessels start to develop in the lungs to prepare the baby for life in the outside world.
Anna’s blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture her.
Even though it is still way too soon for your baby to be born yet, the chance of survival without severe abnormalities is now 70% provided it is born in a hospital.
After a month of having her eyelids sealed shut, she begins to open her eyes again this week. Her eyes are almost completely developed. Anna’s eyes are blue in the womb and may change colors later in life. This is true for all races because the pupils do not have their final color until a few months after birth. However, some babies are born with darker or lighter shades of blue. She will continue to put on layers of fat until she is born. She is still lean at this point of the pregnancy though. By the time she is born, she will assume the typical newborn's plumpness. Her skin will still be wrinkled and red, but the fat continues to fill the skin out.
Finger and toe nails continue to grow.
Blood vessels start to develop in the lungs to prepare the baby for life in the outside world.
Anna’s blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture her.
Even though it is still way too soon for your baby to be born yet, the chance of survival without severe abnormalities is now 70% provided it is born in a hospital.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Week 25
Head to heels, Anna now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.
We are so excited for Anna to arrive and be here with us. Laura and I are very excited to be parents. We know we will learn as we go, but we both have great families to learn from and we both have great parents who were awesome role models!!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Week 24
Anna’s crown-to-rump length is around 8.4 inches and her weight is approximately 1.2 pounds. Although she weighs a little over a pound at this point, growing Anna is still tiny.
Anna's face is basically complete now. Her eyes are close together on the front of her face and they are still shut. Her ears have moved into their final position on the sides of her head. Where they are now is where they will be when she gets here in October Hair will continue to grow on her scalp and her eyelashes are well developed. Most of her features look the same as they will at birth. Because she is growing and is getting plumper, she no longer has room to do cartwheels and somersaults.
Anna is practicing breathing by inhaling (up to a liter/day) amniotic fluid into developing lungs.
Anna's face is basically complete now. Her eyes are close together on the front of her face and they are still shut. Her ears have moved into their final position on the sides of her head. Where they are now is where they will be when she gets here in October Hair will continue to grow on her scalp and her eyelashes are well developed. Most of her features look the same as they will at birth. Because she is growing and is getting plumper, she no longer has room to do cartwheels and somersaults.
Anna is practicing breathing by inhaling (up to a liter/day) amniotic fluid into developing lungs.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
23 weeks
We had an appointment with the doctor yesterday and we had what will probably be the final ultrasound. Anna Hope thought it would be fun to hide from mommy, daddy, and the doctor when they were trying to get a look at her face. She just put her arm up over her face and head. I can explain how happy/excited I am feeling right now. Only 17 weeks left until our little blessing gets here. Well, here's what all is going on this week.
-Derrick
Anna’s length, from crown-to-rump, is approximately 8 inches this week! She has finally reached one pound (The doctor told us yesterday she is right at 1 pound). She is about the size of a small baby doll and looks very human. Her face and body look similar to that of a newborn at this time.
Fat is still being deposited at a rapid rate, but Anna still looks red and wrinkled. Skin is being produced at a higher rate than the fat is, so the skin hangs loosely. She looks red because the skin is losing its transparency and pigment is beginning to form. They say that we should be feeling Anna move, kick, etc and trust me we have. She is not a big fan of her mother walking too much We have been talking to her. I tell her how happy and excited we are that she is going to be here in a few months and that we can not wait to be her parents. And that we love her very much!!
She now can suck her thumb for real, where she was just sticking it in her mouth. She will continue to swallow amniotic fluid and recycle it as urine. The liquids and sugars that the baby retracts from the fluid is a supplement to the nutrients that the placenta delivers. Laura may be able to feel small `jumps` inside of her when Anna gets the hiccups from swallowing fluid. The pancreas is developing and it will responsible for insulin production, to help break down sugars.
As she continues to grow, she has less space to move around in the uterus. Bones, muscles and organs are growing steadily.
-Derrick
Anna’s length, from crown-to-rump, is approximately 8 inches this week! She has finally reached one pound (The doctor told us yesterday she is right at 1 pound). She is about the size of a small baby doll and looks very human. Her face and body look similar to that of a newborn at this time.
Fat is still being deposited at a rapid rate, but Anna still looks red and wrinkled. Skin is being produced at a higher rate than the fat is, so the skin hangs loosely. She looks red because the skin is losing its transparency and pigment is beginning to form. They say that we should be feeling Anna move, kick, etc and trust me we have. She is not a big fan of her mother walking too much We have been talking to her. I tell her how happy and excited we are that she is going to be here in a few months and that we can not wait to be her parents. And that we love her very much!!
She now can suck her thumb for real, where she was just sticking it in her mouth. She will continue to swallow amniotic fluid and recycle it as urine. The liquids and sugars that the baby retracts from the fluid is a supplement to the nutrients that the placenta delivers. Laura may be able to feel small `jumps` inside of her when Anna gets the hiccups from swallowing fluid. The pancreas is developing and it will responsible for insulin production, to help break down sugars.
As she continues to grow, she has less space to move around in the uterus. Bones, muscles and organs are growing steadily.
Monday, June 7, 2010
22 Weeks
Anna’ crown-to-rump length is approximately 7.6 inches and she weighs about 12.25 ounces now! She is about the size of a spaghetti squash.
Her body continues to grow and develop every day. The organ systems in her body are becoming specialized for their particular functions. The fetal liver produces different enzymes than it will produce after delivery. The liver is responsible for breaking down billirubin, which is produced by the breaking down of blood cells. Because the life span of a fetal red blood cell is shorter than that of an adult, a fetus produces more billirubin than adults do. Billirubin passes from fetal blood to the placenta and then into your blood. Your liver helps get rid of fetal billirubin. A newborn baby that has high levels of billirubin may show signs of jaundice. Jaundiced babies have a yellowish tint to their eyes and skin and are often treated with phototherapy.
Anna’s senses are developing daily. She now has a full complement of neurons in the brain and is learning about her body and surroundings through touch. Touch is one of the first senses to mature and she may stroke her face or feel her arms and legs.
She now shows an extremely rapid brain growth (which lasts until five years after birth).
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Week 21
Anna’s blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture her.
She will be getting much larger during the second half of the pregnancy. Her crown-to-rump length at this time is 7.2 inches and she weighs approximately 10.5 ounces. She is about the size of a large carrot.
Her different organs and systems are maturing. The fetal digestive system is functioning in a simple way and she can swallow amniotic fluid. After Anna swallows the amniotic fluid, she is able to absorb water and sugars from the fluid and then the waste is passed as far as the large bowel. She swallows the amniotic fluid in order to prepare herself for life outside of the womb. Some babies consume as much as 17 ounces of amniotic fluid in a 24-hour period. She already has a high number of red blood cells and the white blood cells are beginning to be produced. Taste buds are being formed on her tongue this week also.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Week 20 - The Halfway Mark
Well, this week marks the half way point of Laura's pregnancy. Anna's crown-to-rump length is 5.6 to 6.4 inches and she weighs about 9 ounces.
Her skin is begining to thicken this week and will develop four layers. Her sebaceous glands secrete a waxy substance called vernix caseosa. She will be born with this wax and it will look like paste. The vernix caseosa is crucial because it protects her fragile skin from the continuous immersion in amniotic fluid. Lanugo hairs secure the vernix caseosa in place and it is thick around the eyebrows. Scalp hair and toenails are beginning to form at this point. Hair can also be seen on the upper lip and eyebrows.
I hope everyone is enjoying reading about Anna and Laura's progress. Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions. Only 20 weeks left:)
Her skin is begining to thicken this week and will develop four layers. Her sebaceous glands secrete a waxy substance called vernix caseosa. She will be born with this wax and it will look like paste. The vernix caseosa is crucial because it protects her fragile skin from the continuous immersion in amniotic fluid. Lanugo hairs secure the vernix caseosa in place and it is thick around the eyebrows. Scalp hair and toenails are beginning to form at this point. Hair can also be seen on the upper lip and eyebrows.
I hope everyone is enjoying reading about Anna and Laura's progress. Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions. Only 20 weeks left:)
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Week 19
Welcome to WEEK 19 in Anna’s progress. Yes, I said Anna! For those who have been hiding under a rock, Laura and I found out yesterday that we are having a baby girl, and her name will be Anna Hope Smith. We are completely excited about having a baby girl. I didn’t really have a preference as long as the baby is healthy. But since finding out that the baby is a she, an amazing thing has happened. Anna already has me wrapped around her little finger.
Well, here is some info about Anna this week. Her crown-to-rump length is about 5.2 to 6 inches this week. Her approximate weight is 7 ounces and her weight will increase more than 15 times between now and her birth.
One of the most amazing aspects of her growth and development is that of the fetal brain. Her brain was one of the first organs to appear. Her oversized head shows the brains importance in her development. Because the nerves that connect the muscles to the brain have grown into place, Anna’s movements are consciously directed. Her ears stand out from the side of the head and the buds for her permanent teeth appear. Her arms and legs have reached their relative proportions and her feet are approximately one inch long.
Well, here is some info about Anna this week. Her crown-to-rump length is about 5.2 to 6 inches this week. Her approximate weight is 7 ounces and her weight will increase more than 15 times between now and her birth.
One of the most amazing aspects of her growth and development is that of the fetal brain. Her brain was one of the first organs to appear. Her oversized head shows the brains importance in her development. Because the nerves that connect the muscles to the brain have grown into place, Anna’s movements are consciously directed. Her ears stand out from the side of the head and the buds for her permanent teeth appear. Her arms and legs have reached their relative proportions and her feet are approximately one inch long.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Week 18
Well, this is week 18 in Laura’s pregnancy and I am happy to welcome a guest blogger. Here it is:
Hello everyone, this is baby Smith and I am proud to be guest blogging on my daddy’s blog. Well, this is the 18th week of my existence and I am growing pretty good. I am about 5 ½ inches long. I am continuing to develop fat layers and I weigh about 5.25 ounces. I will continue to grow and develop but my rapid growth will slow down for a while. I have become more sensitive to the outside world and I may start showing my presence through kicks and prods. The bones through which sound is passed to my inner ear have hardened and the parts of the brain that receives and processes nerve signals from the ears are developing. This means I can now hear my mommy and daddy now. I have heard mommy and she likes to sing, I really enjoy listening to her. And daddy likes to tell a lot of jokes. And some of them are funny I am starting to get used to familiar sounds like my mommy’s heart beating and blood rushing through the umbilical cord. But be careful, I get startled if I hear loud sounds.
Well, that’s about it. I am really excited to meet everyone of you when I arrive into this world in October. I may be blogging again sometime before my arrival, but I will let daddy do it for a while.
Bye!!
Hello everyone, this is baby Smith and I am proud to be guest blogging on my daddy’s blog. Well, this is the 18th week of my existence and I am growing pretty good. I am about 5 ½ inches long. I am continuing to develop fat layers and I weigh about 5.25 ounces. I will continue to grow and develop but my rapid growth will slow down for a while. I have become more sensitive to the outside world and I may start showing my presence through kicks and prods. The bones through which sound is passed to my inner ear have hardened and the parts of the brain that receives and processes nerve signals from the ears are developing. This means I can now hear my mommy and daddy now. I have heard mommy and she likes to sing, I really enjoy listening to her. And daddy likes to tell a lot of jokes. And some of them are funny I am starting to get used to familiar sounds like my mommy’s heart beating and blood rushing through the umbilical cord. But be careful, I get startled if I hear loud sounds.
Well, that’s about it. I am really excited to meet everyone of you when I arrive into this world in October. I may be blogging again sometime before my arrival, but I will let daddy do it for a while.
Bye!!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Week 17
Welcome to Week 17 in the Baby Smith pregnancy blog. Laura is feeling much better now that she is into her 2nd trimester. The morning sickness has gone away, with the occasional sickness here and there. We think we might have felt the baby kick over the weekend but we are not sure. From a soon-to-be father's point of view, this is such an amazing time! I've had cousins and friends who have been pregnant, but it makes it more real when it is my child. Seeing Laura progressing each week, knowing that our child is growing inside of her is amazing!!!
Our baby's weight has doubled in two weeks and now weighs about 3.5 ounces! The crown-to-rump length of our growing baby is 4.4 to 4.8 inches. If you spread your hand out opened wide, you can see about how big our baby is right now.
Huge changes continue to take place within our developing baby. This week fat begins to form and will continue to do so until he/she is born. Fat is important to the body's heat production and metabolism. Right now, at 17 weeks, water makes up about 3 ounces and fat 0.018 ounces of the baby's body. In a baby at term, fat makes up about 5.25 pounds of the total average weight of 7.7 pounds. The placenta is continuing to grow at an amazing rate. The placenta will continue to develop in tandem with the fetus and it will weigh more than a pound at birth! By this week, the placenta is large and well established with a network of blood vessels that exchange nutrients and waste.
The eyes are facing more forward. The ears are now close to their final position.
Our baby is more flexible with ability to move head, mouth, lips, arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet, and toes. Fingerprints are also forming now.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Week 16
At this point of the pregnancy, our baby is approximately 4.3 to 4.6 inches long and weighs 2.8 ounces. Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight, the child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.
At this time, our baby is holding their head erect. Because their muscles are developing, they can make some faces now. Our baby is able to squint, frown and open its mouth. There is enough calcium in the bones that they will show up on an x-ray. Our baby's fingernails are well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because our baby is moving well now, we may begin to feel their movements!
At this time, our baby is holding their head erect. Because their muscles are developing, they can make some faces now. Our baby is able to squint, frown and open its mouth. There is enough calcium in the bones that they will show up on an x-ray. Our baby's fingernails are well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because our baby is moving well now, we may begin to feel their movements!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Week 15 / Video
Welcome to Week 15!! I was able to find a really awesome video link of 3D animations of the growth and progress of our baby. You can click on the different time frames to get a visual. It is really cool!!! I'll put the link at the bottom of this weeks blog.
This week, our baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 4 inches and he or she now weighs approximately 1.75 ounces. Our baby is close to the size of a softball.
Our baby is growing at an amazing rate and looking more like a human every day. Because our baby's skin is so thin, you are able to see blood vessels through the skin. Lanugo hair covers the baby's body, but it will be gone when our baby is born. The hair on the eyebrows and head continues to grow. Some babies are born with little or no hair and others have a head full of hair! Even though the eyes continue to move to the front of the face, they are still widely separated. Our baby's ears look like normal ears and continue to develop externally. The bones that have already formed continue to get harder and retain calcium. The baby is very mobile and flexible at this point. They can bend her arms at the elbows and wrists and can also make a fist with their hands.
Here is the link to the video site. Remember, we are on week 15.
http://www.babycenter.com/2_inside-pregnancy-weeks-1-to-9_10302602.bc?scid=dadspreg_20100420:3&pe=2UxlNdj
This week, our baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 4 inches and he or she now weighs approximately 1.75 ounces. Our baby is close to the size of a softball.
Our baby is growing at an amazing rate and looking more like a human every day. Because our baby's skin is so thin, you are able to see blood vessels through the skin. Lanugo hair covers the baby's body, but it will be gone when our baby is born. The hair on the eyebrows and head continues to grow. Some babies are born with little or no hair and others have a head full of hair! Even though the eyes continue to move to the front of the face, they are still widely separated. Our baby's ears look like normal ears and continue to develop externally. The bones that have already formed continue to get harder and retain calcium. The baby is very mobile and flexible at this point. They can bend her arms at the elbows and wrists and can also make a fist with their hands.
Here is the link to the video site. Remember, we are on week 15.
http://www.babycenter.com/2_inside-pregnancy-weeks-1-to-9_10302602.bc?scid=dadspreg_20100420:3&pe=2UxlNdj
Monday, April 12, 2010
Week 14
Laura is now in her second trimester! Our baby's crown to rump length is about 3.2 to 4.5 inches long and he or she weighs approximately 1 ounce now. Our baby is about the size of the average fist.
At this time, our baby's face is becoming more developed. The cheeks and bridge of his nose appear and the ears move from the sides of the neck to much higher on the head. The eyes continue to come closer together. A big development from this week onward is the development of lanugo. Lanugo is the fine hair that grows over almost our entire baby. The hairs grow in whirled patterns that follow the grain of his or her skin. These patterns later give way to our baby's fingerprints. The lanugo will be shed before birth and replaced by thicker, coarser hairs. Our baby's thyroid gland has matured and starts to produce hormones. If our baby is a boy, the prostate will appear. And the ovaries descend from the abdomen into the pelvis in baby girls.
The embryo`s soft cartilage is now being replaced with ` real` chalk bones. Our baby has eyebrows, but no eyelashes. Fine, light hair also begins to grow.
At this time, our baby's face is becoming more developed. The cheeks and bridge of his nose appear and the ears move from the sides of the neck to much higher on the head. The eyes continue to come closer together. A big development from this week onward is the development of lanugo. Lanugo is the fine hair that grows over almost our entire baby. The hairs grow in whirled patterns that follow the grain of his or her skin. These patterns later give way to our baby's fingerprints. The lanugo will be shed before birth and replaced by thicker, coarser hairs. Our baby's thyroid gland has matured and starts to produce hormones. If our baby is a boy, the prostate will appear. And the ovaries descend from the abdomen into the pelvis in baby girls.
The embryo`s soft cartilage is now being replaced with ` real` chalk bones. Our baby has eyebrows, but no eyelashes. Fine, light hair also begins to grow.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Week 13
Well, this is a milestone week for Laura and the baby. This is the final week of the first tri-mester. With the first tri-mester being about rapid development, the second tri-mester is about growth. In this tri-mester, our baby will quadruple in size. What's going on in week 13? Well, the fingerprints have formed on our baby's tiny fingertips, their veins and organs are clearly visible through their still-thin skin, and their body is starting to catch up with their head — which makes up just a third of their body size now. Our baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.
Some other things that are taking place in Week 13:
**Bone is beginning to replace cartilage and the ribs are appearing.
**The nose and chin are well defined.
**Movements can be measured.
**The child will begin to learn to suck its thumb.
**The child can open and close its mouth.
**The external genitalia are well defined making it is possible to determine the
baby's gender.
Some other things that are taking place in Week 13:
**Bone is beginning to replace cartilage and the ribs are appearing.
**The nose and chin are well defined.
**Movements can be measured.
**The child will begin to learn to suck its thumb.
**The child can open and close its mouth.
**The external genitalia are well defined making it is possible to determine the
baby's gender.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Week 12
Well, this is the begining of week 12 of the pregnacy. Laura and "baby Smith" are both doing good. Laura is still getting some sickness but it seems to be getting somewhat
Our baby's crown-to-rump length is almost 2.5 inches and they now weighs between 8 and 14 grams! In just three weeks, our baby's size has more than doubled and begins to look a lot more human. Even though Laura won't be able to feel our baby moving at this time, he will squint, open his mouth and move his fingers or toes.
Because most of the structures are already formed at this point, few will be formed after this time. The structures will continue to grow and develop throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. Our baby's skeletal system now has centers if bone formation in most of the bones. The digestive system is capable of making contractions that push food through the bowels and it is also able to absorb sugar. The pituitary gland beginning to make hormones.
Our baby develops reflexes and the skin is very sensitive. The brain is fully formed, and the child can feel pain. the baby may even suck his thumb. The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the seventh month to protect the delicate optical nerve fibers.
We only have 28 weeks until our beautiful bundle of joy arrives into this world!! :)
Our baby's crown-to-rump length is almost 2.5 inches and they now weighs between 8 and 14 grams! In just three weeks, our baby's size has more than doubled and begins to look a lot more human. Even though Laura won't be able to feel our baby moving at this time, he will squint, open his mouth and move his fingers or toes.
Because most of the structures are already formed at this point, few will be formed after this time. The structures will continue to grow and develop throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. Our baby's skeletal system now has centers if bone formation in most of the bones. The digestive system is capable of making contractions that push food through the bowels and it is also able to absorb sugar. The pituitary gland beginning to make hormones.
Our baby develops reflexes and the skin is very sensitive. The brain is fully formed, and the child can feel pain. the baby may even suck his thumb. The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the seventh month to protect the delicate optical nerve fibers.
We only have 28 weeks until our beautiful bundle of joy arrives into this world!! :)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Ultrasound Picture
Well, I was so glad that today finally came. We had our first ultrasound of our baby. I was feeling a little nervous leading up to it just because I wanted to make sure that everything was going okay so far, baby healthy, Laura healthy, etc. The doctor said the baby's heartbeat was 162 beats per minute, and it is a little over an inch long. The official due date is now October 12th. I knew that we were going to be parents before today, but seeing the little person in Laura's belly moving during the ultrasound, seeing the heartbeat made it oh so real. It's so amazing that God allows us to be part of the process of bringing new life into this world. My life has changed so much in past two years. I met and married my best friend. She is so amazing, wonderful, caring, loving, beautiful. Everything I could ever have dreamed of in a woman. And I know she will be a great mother. I am now part of two great families. And now, I am going to be a dad and help raise a child. I am feeling so many feelings right now...excitement, happiness, nervous, anxious to meet our little bundle of joy. Until next time...
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Week 10
Although it's barely the size of a kumquat -- a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom -- and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, our baby now has completed the most critical portion of its development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature. If we could take a peek inside the womb, we'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
We have our first ultrasound on Monday March 22nd at 1:30 in the afternoon. I am so excited to get the first glimpse of our beautiful baby...well, we won't find out for a while if its a boy or girl, but either way, it is going to be a bundle of joy that will change my life completely!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
First Doctors Visit
Today we had our first doctors visit. It felt good to finally get that ball rolling, even though they didn't really do much today. Just paperwork type stuff and some blood work on Laura. They are going to do an ultrasound on our next visit, March 22nd. They didn't really tell us anything new today. They said she is about 9 weeks along and the projected due date is October 12th. They will know more next time. Well, until next time...
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Baby @ week 9
Our new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. It's starting to look more and more human. Their essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Our baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do their tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Their organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Their eyes are fully formed, but their eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. They have tiny earlobes, and their mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, it's poised for rapid weight gain.
Laura @ Week 9
I can't believe its been about a week since I last posted. Trust me we are both still very excited. Laura's not as exhausted as she had been, but she is still feeling it. She went shopping for maternity clothes this past weekend. And she looks cute(see the picture above). We know we have alot of changes in our future, but we are trusting God to take care of everything and lead us in the right direction. I love my wife so much. She is going to be a great mother.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Picture of baby @ 8 weeks
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from our baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs.In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Baby - Week 8
This is week number 8 and this week our baby is the size raspberry (picture to be posted later). Laura is feeling okay, but still somewhat exhausted and nauseous. She is still at Parkside, but hopefully we will have her out of there soon. It is not a safe place for her and the baby to be everyday. So keep her in your prayers as she searches for another job. Not much more new news other than that. I'll keep ya posted!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)