22 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

How your life's changing: You may start to notice stretch marks on your skin as your abdomen expands to accommodate your growing baby. Some pregnant women never get stretch marks, but at least half do. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color), and they become more apparent as pregnancy progresses. They can appear not only on your tummy, but also on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. Lotions won't prevent or eliminate them, but they help with any itching. Also, you may no longer be an "innie" — your navel is flat and may soon pop out. It will revert to its usual shape after birth.

Another interesting skin quirk you may notice during pregnancy is something called vascular spiders. These are little areas of raised, reddish skin, with tiny branches. Commonly found on the face, neck, upper chest, and arms, they're caused by the higher levels of estrogen in pregnancy, and they usually disappear after delivery.

How I'm doing: Merry Christmas! I'm doing well. We're currently in Redding for Christmas. So far we've just spent a couple days hanging out with family. It's nice to have some time off work to rest and relax. Nothing really new in baby news. The baby is still kicking away. Scott still hasn't been able to feel the baby kicking yet. We've decided to go with a green theme in the baby's area since we're not sure if it's a girl or a boy. Later on we can add in a few pink or blue items as the case may be.

21 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.

How your life's changing: You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual aches and pains associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. Relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester will bring some mild discomfort from carrying a baby who is nearly full-term.

That's not to say you don't have some minor glitches to deal with now. Increased oil production may have given you a mild case of acne, for example. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap and water twice a day, but don't take any oral acne medications — or even use any topical acne products — without checking with your practitioner first.

You're also prone to varicose veins now (especially if your mom has them). That's because pregnancy puts added pressure on the veins in your legs. (Your blood volume is increased and your uterus puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, the large vein that returns blood from the lower half of your body to your heart.) As if that's not enough, an increase in the hormone progesterone causes the walls of your blood vessels to relax, so as your baby and uterus grow, the veins can become more and more prominent. Varicose veins tend to worsen with each pregnancy, and while they're most likely to show up in your legs, they can also appear on your vulva.

If your legs ache, put maternity support hose on first thing in the morning. Increasing your circulation with a brisk walk each day can also help, as can elevating your legs and sleeping on your left side with your feet propped up with a pillow.

How I'm doing: Things seem to be going pretty good. I feel pretty normal. My belly seems like it's getting bigger and bigger every day. It's more difficult to get in and out of bed and to sit up because I can't really use my abs very much any more. I pretty much have to roll out of bed. I'm also using a small stool to get into bed since our bed is pretty high.

The baby is kicking up a storm. She seems to be most active in the late afternoon to early evening. I can especially feel her when I'm leaning forward and my waistband compresses my stomach a little. I don't think she likes that since it probably makes her space a little smaller.

We're starting to think of names. Since we're not sure it's a girl we're thinking up a girl's name and a boy's name so that's a bit more work. It's a big decision to make. We are still planning on waiting to tell the official name until the baby arrives since we want the option of changing our minds if we don't think the name fits.

Since we're over halfway there we're also planning on starting to rearrange and set up our room to accommodate the baby very soon. We think we'll order the crib I posted earlier by January since it takes 2-3 months to arrive and we don't want it to be late. I have a few other ideas to make the baby's part of the room a little special since we won't have a separate nursery. I'll post some pictures as we work on that.

Only one more week of work until we're off for the holidays. We can hardly wait. It's hard to concentrate at work when vacation is looming so closely.

It's a GIRL...Maybe!?!

As it turns out we have a stubborn baby. She was nice an cozy in her little corner and didn't want to move around to show us anything. We got a decent view but the doctor was only about 75% sure she was a girl. So now we have to wait. Perhaps until when she's born to know for sure. So we have to hold off on buying anything pink and frilly that can't be returned. Luckily we weren't really planning on going that route anyway.

The actual purpose of the scan was to make sure she's healthy and growing as she should. The good news is that she is. Everything looks perfect. Her spine look perfect. The doctor measured some of her bones and organs and everything looked good. Her stomach and bladder were nice and full so she's eating a lot. Her heart was pumping and the blood was flowing nicely through each ventricle. We could see all four chambers. Her brain is developing nicely. There's no excess fluid. The umbilical cord developed properly with two arteries and one vein. She weighs 12 oz now and her heart was beating at 159 bpm. And of course, she's beautiful.

For those of you who can't read ultrasounds well. Here's a few landmarks for you (click the picture and it will open bigger in a new window).

Halfway there - 20 weeks!

How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She'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, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)

A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)

Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).

How your life's changing: You've made it to the halfway mark — Congratulations! The top of your uterus is at the level of your belly button now, and you've likely gained about 10 pounds. Expect to gain an average of about another pound each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron for your developing baby and the placenta, and to keep up with your expanding blood volume. Iron-rich foods include lean red meat, poultry, fish, lentils and other legumes, spinach, and iron-fortified cereals.

If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one. Whether you're a first-timer or a pro, you can benefit from a structured class that helps prepare you for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, all-day session. Ask your doctor or midwife for a recommendation. At 37 weeks, you'll be considered full-term, so plan to be done with classes by then.

How I'm doing: Only two more days until the big appointment. We are very anxious to find out the sex of this little baby so we can stop referring to it as an "it". The baby moves around a lot. The movements are only strong enough so I can feel them when I'm still and not distracted by something else. Scott still hasn't been able to feel anything from the outside yet. It might be a couple more weeks. Sleeping is a little interesting already. I'm most comfortable sleeping on my side "bear hugging" a pillow. I think it provides some support for my belly.

We will be signing up for our birthing class shortly. Unless we decide something different based on our appointment on Tuesday with our midwife, we'll be signing up for a Bradley Method birth class at a place called Birth and Beyond in Santa Monica. Our 8-week class will be starting February 7th. This will put the ending date right around 37 weeks. It's pushing it a little bit but I'd rather have all the information fresh in my mind when I go into labor and we're pretty sure I won't go early.

It's Chanukah already. Tuesday night marked the start of the first night of Chanukah. It feels like it's barely fall but the holidays are already here. We are in San Diego this weekend celebrating Chanukah with Debi, Jim, Gary and Cat. We had a nice dinner, opened our gifts and played a couple of games of Scattergories. Other than that, it's just been a nice relaxing weekend. Only two more weeks of work until the long Christmas and New Year break which we're all really looking forward to. We'll be in Redding for about a week and then back to San Diego again to visit Bauby and Grandpa while they're in town from Chicago.

19 weeks - almost halfway

How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he 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. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.

How your life's changing: You're just a week shy of the halfway mark. You may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen (perhaps extending to your groin) or even an occasional quick, sharp, stabbing pain on one or both sides, especially when you change position or at the end of an active day. This is round ligament pain, and it's caused by the stretching of the muscles and ligaments that support your growing uterus. It's nothing to be alarmed about, but if the pain is persistent and continues even when you're resting, or is severe or accompanied by cramping, call your practitioner.

You may also have noticed some skin changes lately. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from increased estrogen. Patches of darkened skin are also common during pregnancy. When they show up around your upper lip, upper cheeks and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may see these splotches on your arms or other areas that have been exposed to the sun. Your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva may also darken during pregnancy. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line." All of this darkening is caused by a temporary increase in melanin, the substance that colors your hair, skin, and eyes. For most women, these darkened spots will fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

How I'm doing I'm doing fine. I'm feeling good. I went to my first prenatal yoga class yesterday at Santa Monica Yoga and I'm very sore today. I'm going to try and go twice a week as much as possible. Classes are on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. I think it will really help. Some positions felt really good already and my belly doesn't weigh that much yet.

Friday marks the halfway point. We are very much looking forward to that milestone. But what's even better is that in 1 short week we'll be going into get our 2nd ultrasound and we'll hopefully get to fine out the gender of this little guy. We are going to find out the gender of the baby, but we are going to keep the name a secret until we meet the baby and make sure it fits. We haven't picked a name yet but when we do we are going to keep it a surprise for the baby's birthday.

We have started to register. We started a registry at one of the two stores in LA that carry the crib we want to get. We're not buying any other baby furniture so we picked out a high quality crib that is made out of wood instead of particle board, isn't made in China, and is from a company that has a spotless safety record--all things that are very important to us. The company is called Munire and this crib is from their Urban line (we're getting pine colored, not white).

We created our first registry at USA Baby and it can be found here. We are very excited to find out the gender so we can register for more things and start buying! We've been holding out on buying pretty much anything until we know if the baby is a boy or a girl. The crib takes 8-10 weeks to arrive (and probably longer over the holidays) and other things are not always in stock in the stores so we won't be following typical Jewish tradition and waiting until the baby arrives to buy things.

18 weeks

How your baby's growing: Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

How your life's changing: Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline increase. Look for specially designed maternity clothes that can accommodate your expanding belly.

You may have heard that you should avoid lying on your back during your last two trimesters. Here's why: When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein (called the inferior vena cava) that returns blood from the lower half of your body back to your heart. Lying on your side (or even partially tilted to the side), particularly your left side, prevents this compression and improves your blood flow. Try placing a pillow behind you, or under your hip or leg for comfort.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during your second trimester your blood pressure is probably lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

If you haven't already, you'll probably have an ultrasound done sometime this trimester (usually between 16 and 20 weeks). This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking her thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

How I'm doing: Obviously, we've been really busy with not a lot of time to update here. The weekend before last we were up in Davis. We got to spend some time with my parents, Grant and Anna. We had a really good time. It was nice to spend some time in Davis where we really haven't been since we moved away over 4 years ago. It was good, of course, to spend time with my family. We went to a UC Davis football game at their new green stadium.



Surprisingly, they won the game too. So we had a good time.

Then it was a short week back at work and then off for Thanksgiving break. It won't come as a shock to those of you who know Scott well but he had to work Thanksgiving morning in the lab. Stem cells and hardcore scientists don't recognize Thanksgiving as a day off work. So we got a little bit of a later start than usual but luckily dinner reservation could be pushed back a little bit to accommodate our late arrival. We made in to Palm Springs to Harriet and Kay's for a nice dinner with the Pope's and smaller-than-usual group of family and friends. After dinner, football, and a game of poker we were on our way to San Diego. It was our first time in San Diego since the fires so things looked quite a bit different. We spent the rest of the long weekend in San Diego--Scott and Jim power washed the whole house, we did a little holiday shopping, and helped get a few things in order after the recent post-fire renovations.

The baby is doing well. It's been quite active--especially the past few days. I can definitely tell that its little bones are hardening since it's kicks are getting stronger. It's especially active around the end of my workday--when I'm getting tired, I'm sure that's a sign of things to come. So far Scott hasn't been able to feel anything from the outside. Hopefully that will happen soon. In the past two weeks someone outside of the people I specifically told asked me if I was pregnant. That was an exciting day. Two people in the same day actually. I'm starting to feel more pregnant since I can feel the baby move more frequently and stronger.

Only a little over 2 weeks until we find out if this baby is a boy or a girl!

17 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

How your life's changing: With more weight up high and out in front of your body, you may feel a bit off-balance as you walk around. Store away your high heels and wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble.You're likely to feel protective of your tummy, and that's good. Trauma to your abdomen could be harmful to your baby and dangerous to you, so be sure to buckle up when you're driving. Keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly and very snug across your hips for maximum protection.

How I'm doing: Since I'm behind, I'm just going to do a big update in week 18.

16 weeks

How your baby's growing: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

How your life's changing: Have people been telling you how wonderful you look? The "glow of pregnancy" is real, thanks to increased blood flow to the skin. You may be enjoying yourself more, too, now that your hormones have stabilized and nausea has eased up. You're also probably less anxious about something happening to your baby (the risk of miscarriage drops dramatically after the 14th week) which likely adds to your overall sense of well-being.

Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, most don't until about 18 weeks or more. If this is your first baby, don't be too anxious — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so. The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll start to feel unmistakably like kicks.

How I'm doing: Things are going very well today. We had another prenatal appointment this morning with a different midwife. We're slowing meeting all of the midwives in the group since whomever happens to be on call when I go into labor will deliver our baby. We got to hear the heart beating again. It's such a wonderful, reassuring sound. It's heart was beating at 153 bpm. This is much faster than our hearts beat. Prenatally babies hearts beat fast and they still beat faster than an adult's even after they are born. Some people think that a faster heart beat throughout pregnancy indicates the baby is a girl. Our baby's heart rate would fall into that "faster" range. We'll see if that holds true pretty soon.

Our next appointment is scheduled for December 11th. This is the BIG DAY. We'll finally find out if this baby is a boy or a girl. It seems like we've been waiting forever to find out.

We had another prenatal screening test done today. This is a blood test (my blood) that looks for chromosomal abnormalities (like Downs syndrome and others). Previously I was screened for other chromosomal abnormalities through a finger stick and measurements taken at my last ultrasound. Those results were completely normal showing that our baby had a 1 in 10,000 chance of developing one of the disorders (this is very low). The doctor that reviewed the ultrasound also said that he could see that the heart was appropriately developed, the limbs all looked normal and that the bladder was filling as it should be. So this baby is a rockstar so far.

In other big news in the Horrocks clan; we all recently found out that my sister, Melody is also pregnant. She's been married to Dusty a year and half longer than Scott and I have been married. She's less than a month behind me. So these cousins will probably be really close in age. It's too bad we live so far apart (Melody and Dusty live in Corvallis, Oregon which is not too far from Portland). She kept it a secret for a long time compared to us.

Tomorrow's my 27th birthday. So I'll be a fairly young mom. It was important to both Scott and I that we started a family while we were still pretty young.

This weekend we're driving up to Davis, CA to see my family and the UC Davis football probably lose to University of San Diego (not UC San Diego or San Diego State). We're looking forward to seeing my family for the first time since I've been pregnant and seeing the new UC Davis stadium.

15 weeks

How your baby's growing:

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). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she 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 your life's changing:

You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose. If you're having amniocentesis, it'll most likely happen between now and 18 weeks. This test can identify hundreds of genetic and chromosomal disorders. If you're getting very anxious while waiting for the results, it may help to know that most women who undergo amniocentesis get good news about their babies — bringing welcome relief from their worries. Don't be surprised if you and your partner are feeling a little

stressed out

these days. Many pregnant couples worry about their baby's health and how they'll handle the changes ahead. But with physical discomforts on the wane and energy on the rise, this is also a wonderful trimester for most women.

How I'm doing: I'm feeling great now. Back to my normal self. I still need to make sure I get enough sleep every night but I'm feeling well. I can feel my uterus stretching out now that the baby is growing at a much faster pace. It feels a lot like menstrual cramps. Occasionally I'll get a sharp pain. I think I'm also having braxton-hick contractions already (which is completely normal). The slight cramping will be worse than normal and my lower stomach will feel almost rock hard. This seems to usually happen after I've been walking around a lot or doing a lot.

I think I'm starting to feel the baby move now too. It's a new feeling so it's hard to know for sure; but I've been told if it's a feeling I've never felt before, it's probably the baby moving. Right now it feels kind of like a twitch or sometimes a slight shift of my stomach. It's a neat feeling, like the baby is saying hello, I can't wait until the feelings are more pronounced and Scott can feel them too.

I've only gained about 3 lbs so far. I should start gaining weight a lot faster now that I'm in the 2nd trimester and the baby is growing in size much faster. Our midwife said that I should gain between 25-35 lbs overall. I hope to keep that to the lower end of that but I'm not going to worry too much about it. For now I'm just trying to eat balanced meals and take my vitamins every day. Since my energy has returned, I've been trying to walk more and I hope to start a prenatal yoga class very soon and start swimming. Our next prenatal appointment is on November 13th.

14 weeks

How your baby's growing: Head to bottom, your baby's 3 1/2 inches long — about the length of a lemon — and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces. Her body's growing faster than her head, which now sits upon a more well-defined neck. By the end of this week, her arms will have lengthened and will be in proportion to the rest of her body. (Her legs still have some growing to do, though.) She's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair all over her body (called lanugo). Her liver starts secreting bile this week, a sign that it's already functioning properly, and her spleen starts contributing to the production of red blood cells. She's also producing and discharging urine into the amniotic fluid, a normal process that she'll keep up until birth. You still can't feel your baby's movements, but her hands and feet (which are now half an inch long) are more flexible and active. Thanks to brain impulses, her little facial muscles are getting a workout as she squints, frowns, and grimaces. She can grasp now, too, and she may be able to suck her thumb.

How your life's changing: As early discomforts (nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness) begin to fade, you may start to regain some energy and feel more comfortable with how your body's changing. (Although the top of your uterus is only a bit above your pubic bone, that growth may be enough to push your tummy out a bit.) Starting to show is an exciting pregnancy milestone and it will likely give you and your partner the visible evidence of a baby that you've been waiting for. Take some time to plan, daydream, and enjoy this amazing time. It's normal to worry a bit now and then, but you can also breathe a little sigh of relief knowing that with the start of this trimester your risk of miscarriage has dropped significantly. Now try to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby and having faith that you're well equipped for what's ahead.

How I'm doing: I'm doing well. It's a great relief to be in the 2nd trimester. My energy has returned now so it's not as hard to get things done. I thought I had made it through the woods but I didn't make it through pregnancy without vomiting. I think it may have just been something I ate and not morning sickness though since it was a solitary event. My body is much more aware of toxins while pregnant and I think it was clearing out something that could have been harmful. I think the baby bump is definitely visible in most of my clothes now. We've started picking out a few things for the baby now. It's a difficult task that requires a lot of research since, like all parents, we want our baby to be safe, secure and happy. We're lucky that we have a lot of stores to choose from in LA.

It was a scary week for the Popes. Thankfully after being evacuated all week their house is still standing. Many people on their street weren't as lucky. We're thankful that they're now back in their house safe and sound.

The baby bump at 14 weeks:

Fortunately, I don't always look like that, here's what it looked like at 5 weeks:

13 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your belly may soon be big enough to announce to the world that you're expecting, but your baby is still tiny. In fact, he's only about 3 inches long crown to rump — roughly the size of a jumbo shrimp — and weighs just about an ounce. Despite the small proportions, there's a fully formed baby inside your womb now. Much more proportional than it was a few weeks ago, his head is now only about a third the size of his body. His tiny, unique fingerprints are already in place. His kidneys and urinary tract are functional, and he's starting to urinate out the amniotic fluid he's been swallowing. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed, and your odds of miscarriage will drop considerably.

How your life's changing: Time to celebrate! This is the last week of your first trimester. Next week you'll be in your second trimester. That's great news for two reasons: One, your risk of miscarriage drops dramatically, and two, many women see early pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness, subside. (In some cases, though, heartburn replaces the nausea.) Birth is still months away, but your breasts may have already started making colostrum, the nutrient-rich fluid that feeds your baby for the first few days after birth, before your milk starts to flow.

How I'm doing: I'm doing great this week. I feel almost back to normal. I'm still tired in the mornings but for the most part I feel pretty good. I did get a flu shot this week (thimerisol and mercury-free) so my arm was sore for a couple of days. Seeing the baby earlier in the week was a great emotional boost and relief. One of my good friends, Rachel, who we visited in Madison this summer gave birth to a beautiful baby girl earlier in the week. It's a lot more exciting to be around and see babies now. This week we also got our own gardening space in our apartment complex. It's on the small side and we're not supposed to grow vegetables but we will be growing herbs and some flowers. Other than that, it's been a pretty normal and boring week.

Ultrasound #1

So today was a great day for us. It was our 2nd prenatal appointment and our first ultrasound. We met with our midwife, Polly, again first. This time she had a midwifery student with her learning the ropes who was very pregnant herself. We went over general issues and then they brought out the doppler. The doppler is basically a wand (like an ultrasound wand) connected to a speaker. They put some gel on my abdomen and then put the doppler wand on me and looked for the heartbeat. The student was having a little trouble finding it at first but Polly thought she could hear it in the background. At this point my uterus is just starting to peak over the top of my pubic bone so it's a little tricky finding the right spot. Polly took over and found it right away. It was nice and strong and just how it should be. The baby's heart was beating in the 150s per minute; which is right on target. Polly said baby's hearts beat about 120-160 bpm.

I got cleaned up and waited for my turn at the ultrasound. We didn't have to wait long which was nice. We moved into the ultrasound room and started working with an ultrasound tech. Again, more gel and the wand. We saw the baby right away. He was laying on his back on the back of my uterus (so we were both facing forward). He was sucking his thumb (as you can see in the pictures below, the fuzzy blob near his mouth is his hand). He was quite content laying there. The technician was pushing on my abdomen trying to get him to move for a while but he was a bit stubborn. Finally he started moving a little bit so she could take the measurement of the fluid in the back of his neck (the whole reason for the ultrasound). At that point he decided he wanted to move all over the place. We saw him arch his back up several times and stretch one leg up and the other straight down. Unfortunately I can't feel any of this yet but it was neat to watch him moving all around. For the last half of the ultrasound the tech had to chase him around he was moving so much.

At that point a doctor came in to take some more measurements. She double-checked that the technician got a good neck fluid measurement, took some more measurements of the baby from crown to rump, and took a measurement of the baby's nasal bone. If the baby doesn't have a nasal bone, or its very short, this often predicts downs syndrome. Thankfully our baby has a nice little nose just as it should be.

Based on the measurements of the baby taken from crown to rump, his estimated age is 12w6d. According to my midwife (based on my last menstrual period), he is 11w6d. According to MY estimate of his age, he's 12w5d. So it looks like the due date is somewhere between April 24-30th. Since the ultrasound was after my visit with the midwife she may decide to change my due date at the next visit.

You might be wondering why I think my due date is different from the prediction my midwife made. Due dates are calculated based on the first day of your last period assuming that you ovulate on the 14th day of your cycle. This is an average across all women. As the women out there know, we're not all average. In my case, my cycles are shorter (22-24 days) and I believe I ovulate on the 11th day of my cycle. How do I know that? Ovulation can be assumed fairly accurately by taking an oral temperature each morning at the same time when you wake up. Your temperature spikes on the day of ovulation. Other signs can also point even more accurately to the day of ovulation. Many women use this method (called the Fertility Awareness Method) to get pregnant or as a means of preventing pregnancy. This is different from the rhythm method.

Ok, now for the part you've all been waiting for...




Happy Birthday Grandma Sue!

12 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your baby's hit the 2-inch mark (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. Her face is beginning to look more human. Her eyes, which started out on the sides of her head, have moved closer together on her face, and her ears are near their final positions on the sides of her head. Your baby's intestines, which have grown so rapidly that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into her abdominal cavity about now. Her kidneys are secreting urine into her bladder. Her nerve cells have been multiplying rapidly, and synapses (neurological pathways in the brain) are forming. Your baby may have acquired more reflexes by now, including sucking, and she'll even squirm if you prod your abdomen, though you still won't be able to feel her movement for several weeks.

How your life's changing: Your uterus has grown to the point where your healthcare provider can now feel the top of it (the fundus) low in your abdomen, just above your pubic bone. Though you probably won't need maternity clothes for several more weeks yet, you've no doubt noticed that your waist is thickening and that you're more comfortable in looser, less restrictive clothing.

You may also start getting heartburn (also called acid indigestion), a burning sensation that often extends from the bottom of your breastbone to your lower throat. It's caused by both hormonal and physical changes in your body — and can take the pleasure out of eating a meal or sleeping. Eating small meals and avoiding foods that make the problem worse, such as fried, spicy, or fatty foods, can help.

How I'm doing: I finished taking my last dose of antibiotics this morning. I'm pretty much back to 100% now. I still have a little bit of congestion in the morning but nothing too terrible. I think any nausea I had is pretty much completely gone as well. Eating is much easier and I feel better in general. I'm glad it was fairly minor and didn't last long. My energy is slowly returning. I'm definitely still not myself. I don't have much trouble staying up at night but I do have trouble getting up in the morning. I could sleep much later. I got up relatively early this morning (8:30 AM) and only made it until noon before taking a nap.

I purchased a few more maternity items today. Most of my jeans are too tight. A few pairs can be buttoned but they are very uncomfortable after sitting for any length of time. I'm starting to move clothes out of my closet that aren't comfortable to wear any longer.

Tuesday is the big day. It's Grandma Sue's birthday and it's also the day of our first ultrasound. We're very excited to see this little baby and make sure it's doing OK in there. It will also be nice to have confirmation that there's only 1. We'll make sure to post pictures. According to all the books I have it should look like a cute baby in there at this point even though it's only a few inches long.

Less than two weeks until the end of the first trimester.

11 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your fig-sized baby is now fully formed — measuring 1 1/2 inches long and weighing in at a quarter of an ounce. His skin is still transparent, allowing many of his blood vessels to show through. Some of his bones are beginning to harden, and tiny toothbuds are starting to appear under his gums. His fingers and toes have separated, and he may soon be able to open and close his fists. He's already busy kicking and stretching, and his tiny movements are so fluid they look like water ballet. These movements will increase as his body grows and becomes more developed and functional. As his diaphragm develops, your tiny tenant may also start to get the hiccups. Because he's still so small, though, you won't feel any of his workouts or intrauterine gulps until sometime between weeks 16 and 20.

How your life's changing: At this point, you may be experiencing some strange symptoms, such as excessive saliva. Learn which of your symptoms are normal and which are a sign that something might be wrong. You're probably also wondering things like, Can I keep going to dance class? Could the air bags in my car hurt my baby? Which cold medications are safe to take now? Find out what's safe and what's not during pregnancy.

Don't worry if nausea has made it impossible for you to eat a wide variety of healthy foods or if you haven't put on much weight yet (most women gain between 2 and 5 pounds during the first trimester). Your appetite will likely return soon and you'll start to gain about a pound a week.

How I'm doing: I'm doing much better this week so far. I can feel my cold starting to go away. My headaches went away the day after I started the antibiotics; that was welcome relief. I'm still congested. I still have a cough sometimes. But those are getting better. For the most part I'm just tired and it's really hard to get out of bed in the morning. Probably because I can sleep now after going a few days without being able to get to sleep between coughing and blowing my nose. Last night I slept for 11 hours. I also finally felt well enough to clean the house up. It was getting pretty bad after a week of me just laying down every day when I got home from work and Scott being at work until 8 or so several times during the week and working full days on Saturday and Sunday. As far as the baby goes, I'm feeling pretty good. My stomach still gets uneasy every once in a while but it's getting better. My clothes are getting tighter. I don't think it will be long before I need to wear some maternity pants. Thankfully the 2 pairs I have are adjustable so I can actually adjust them small enough to fit me now and they'll grow with me. Our baby is officially a fetus now, it's no longer an embryo. Just another 2 short weeks and we'll be out of the first trimester, which is a major milestone. Another week and a half before we get to see the baby for our first prenatal screening. When we see the heartbeat we'll also be passing a hurdle towards insuring our baby will make it here healthy.

10 weeks

How your baby's growing: Though he'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, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his 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.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'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.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

How your life's changing: At your next prenatal visit, you may be able to hear your baby's rapid heartbeat with the help of a Doppler stethoscope, a handheld ultrasound device that your practitioner places on your belly. Many women say that the beating of their baby's tiny heart sounded like the thunder of galloping horses and hearing it for the first time was very moving.

Before you got pregnant, your uterus was the size of a small pear. By this week, it's as big as a grapefruit. Though you're probably not ready for maternity wear, you may find that your regular clothes are becoming uncomfortably tight and your blossoming breasts are straining the seams of your bra. The thickening in your midsection is most likely due to slight weight gain and bloating at this point. In these transitional weeks between regular and maternity clothes, pants and skirts with forgiving elastic waistbands (or low-rise waistlines that sit below your belly) will provide some much-needed comfort.

Depending on your level of fitness, you can most likely participate in a wide range of activities during pregnancy. Swimming and walking are excellent choices for the whole nine months. Exercise promotes muscle tone, strength, and endurance — three qualities that can help you carry the weight you gain during pregnancy, prepare you for the physical stress of labor, and make it easier to get back into shape after your baby is born. (Unfortunately, there's no evidence that regular exercise shortens labor.)

How I'm doing: Not that great unfortunately. The main reason my 10 week update is coming when week 10 is just about over is because I've been sick. I started feeling like I might be coming down with something last Thursday night and it proceeded to get worse all weekend. I guess there's a cold going around and my depressed immune system couldn't fight it off. My midwife gave me a list of some of the medications I'm allowed to take, I tried one and it didn't work at all so I gave up. I decided to stay home from work on Monday and get another day of recuperation in. I ended up not leaving the house at from when I got home from work on Friday until Monday evening--I really didn't feel up to anything. I thought pregnancy in general made me tired and not feel so great but now I know it can get much, much worse. I had been improving slightly. I went through less than a whole box of Kleenex in a day AND I wasn't coughing all day long.

Tuesday night the headaches set in. Not a low-grade pain but a searing stabbing pain. I've had migraines and this definitely wasn't a migraine. My forehead hurt, my eye sockets hurt and they hurt so badly at times it woke me up. I decided when I woke up I should go to the doctor. I read about sinus infections on WebMD and it sounded like something that should be looked at by a doctor. I called my regular primary care physician (who I knew would be easier to see since she saves day-of appointments). I went in and she agreed that I probably did have a sinus infection. She prescribed Amoxicillin (an antibiotic; sinus infections are bacterial infections whereas colds are viruses) and Nasonex (a nasal spray, you've probably seen the commercials). She also explained that the baby is basically acting like a parasite as far as my body is concerned. Which reminded me of this article from the satirical newspaper, The Onion. The baby is depressing my immune system which might be part of the reason I got sick (and why Scott seems to be resisting it so far).

As far as pregnancy is concerned, it's pretty much gone unnoticed except for the fact that I've been keenly aware of all the cold remedies in the world that I can't touch. That and my pants were tight this morning after spending the last 4 days in yoga pants and gym shorts.

First prenatal appointment

We had our first prenatal appointment this morning. We met with one of our midwives, Polli. Before getting pregnant and once we found out we were pregnant we did a lot of research on what we (but mostly I) wanted out of pregnancy and delivery. I read a lot of personal accounts but also research about the effectiveness of midwives vs. obstetricians. Basically, it comes down to the use of interventions during prenatal care and childbirth. Midwives have lower rates of all forms of interventions (cesarean sections, episiotomies, forceps deliveries, etc.). Here's an abstract from a randomized control trial in Canada where low-risk mothers were randomly assigned to be treated by a midwife or an OB/GYN or family doctor. A retrospective study in the US also shows that women under the care of a midwife receive fewer c/s. Women who see midwives are also more satisfied with the care the receive and with their delivery experience as shown in this article. Midwife-assisted births were also studied here in Southern CA with positive results in a longitudinal study of LA County and USC's midwifery program. Although, I've anecdotally heard that UCLA's midwives are much better than USC's. After taking all of this into account we decided a midwife was a better fit for us.

So we're using the UCLA midwife group. I think it's a bit unusual how it's set up but the midwife group sees patients as apart of a midwife-OB/GYN practice. There are 5 midwives and 5 OBs. I'll see all of the midwives over the course of my prenatal care and then whichever midwife is on call when I go into labor will deliver our baby. The midwife we met with today (Polli) told us that they all have different personalities but they really follow the midwifery vision which is that this is a partnership between us and the midwife and we make the decisions together. They are minimally invasive but use technology and interventions when necessary.

So here's the run-down of what happened at the visit:
-Filled out my medical history.
-Met with a nurse to get blood pressure taken, pee in a cup and given a pregnancy book and packet of information.
-Met with Polli for about 20 minutes to go over medical history, determine the due date, explain procedures & prenatal screening/testing and have our questions answered.
-Physical exam (breast exam, overall wellbeing, internal check & swab).
-TB test
-Blood work and another urine test.

Polli gave me a due date of 4/30. So I'm going to say my due date is between 4/25-4/30.

Prenatal testing

We are low-risk since we're both young and healthy and don't have any history of birth defects in our families. Polli recommended that we have two prenatal tests. We'll do an ultrasound at 12 weeks along with blood tests and then we'll do a 2nd ultrasound at 18-22 weeks with some more blood tests. She felt, and we agreed, that these are the only tests that are necessary for low-risk pregnancies. If any of the tests show potential problems then we'll move on to more invasive tests (amniocentesis) if necessary. I'll go back on Oct 16 for the ultrasound and my next visit. After that I'll be seen once a month until close to the end of pregnancy. Polli explained to us the fears some people have about ultrasounds and why this particular one is safer.

Other notables

I will give birth in UCLA Medical Center just like any other delivery with an OB/Gyn. UCLA was recently ranked the #3 hospital in the country by US News and World Report and the #1 hospital in the West. We're confident that we are getting the best care possible especially in the case of an emergency. Their c/s rate is 12%. 50% of their patients do not have epidurals. Intermittent fetal monitoring is ok and I don't have to have an IV so I will be able to move freely during labor. I'm free to eat and drink during labor. The baby will be given to me immediately after birth so it can have immediate skin-to-skin contact (this is probably the most important thing to me for our birth) and can nurse right away. The baby will only be taken away after it's done nursing. Babies room-in with moms, they don't even have a standard separate nursery for babies. I can have an early check-out if I want.

Recommendations
-Start taking an omega-3 supplement. An over-the-counter medication called "Expectalipil" was recommended which is derived from seaweed instead of fish.
-Exercise. Recommended walking, swimming and prenatal yoga.
-Weight gain should be between 25-35 lbs. She reminded me that the less I gain the less I'll have to lose later.
-Call right away with any bleeding, since my blood type is O- and Scott is A+ our baby could have a different Rh factor than I do. I'll need shots at a couple points during pregnancy/delivery but if there's any bleeding during the pregnancy I might need a mini-shot.

That's about it. We will return on October 16th (my mom's birthday) to see the baby for the first time and to meet with the midwife again.

9 weeks!

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. Find out how to get relief.

If you're over 35 or have a family history of a genetic illness, such as cystic fibrosis, you may want to consider genetic counseling or a prenatal test called chorionic villus sampling (CVS), which is given between ten and 12 weeks and screens for certain birth defects and abnormalities.

How I'm doing: I'm doing well. Most of the nausea is gone. I still struggle to eat some meals and some foods turn me off but the queasiness has mostly left. I do find it hard to cook meals since handling raw meat is still a little rough. It's getting better every day though. My biggest problem right now is staying awake. For the past week I've been sleeping 10 hours on average each night. Even with all that sleep I still feel tired all day. So if you see me yawning, you're not boring me, I could just really use a nap. Even simple daily activities like taking a shower tire me out. Most mornings I lay down for a few minutes after I get out of the shower to recuperate. It makes getting ready in the morning a slow process. So I take things slow. Thankfully a large part of my day is spent working at my computer and so far I haven't had problems falling asleep sitting up. I'm anxious to get out of the first trimester (3 more weeks to go) since my energy should return fairly soon after that.

My clothes are getting tighter and tighter as the days pass. I only have a few pairs of pants that I can't button anymore but more of my clothes are feeling uncomfortable. Debi and I went shopping for some maternity clothes last weekend and I picked up a few more pieces (Thanks Debi!). Including a couple of pairs of pants with adjustable waistbands that will work through the in-between stages. I also picked up a belly band so that I can wear my regular pants a while longer unbuttoned and no one will be the wiser (or they wouldn't have been until I mentioned it now). It's hard to say for sure, but I think I've only gained about 3-4 lbs so far. Nothing really noticeable. But my uterus has doubled in size and is now as big as a tennis ball. There's lots going on, no wonder I'm so tired.

My first prenatal appointment is Tuesday. I'm excited to meet our provider. Hopefully we'll get off to a great start with this little one. We're excited to get some advice and make sure everything is going well so far.

8 weeks

How your baby's growing: New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

How your life's changing: You may notice that your bra is getting more snug. Soon you'll likely need a larger size with better support. Rising levels of hormones cause breast growth and other tissue changes, all in preparation for lactation. Your breasts may continue to grow throughout pregnancy. Don't be surprised if you go up a cup size or two, especially if it's your first baby. Keep this in mind, and allow for room to grow when investing in a new bra.

Feeling fatigued? Hormonal changes — in particular, a dramatic rise in progesterone — may be contributing to your sluggishness. Nausea and vomiting can certainly cost you energy, too. And you may be having trouble getting a good night's sleep at this point, especially if you're uncomfortable or find you need to get up to pee.

How I'm doing: This week has been up and down. For most of the week I was feeling nauseated and extremely tired. I feel asleep on the couch before 9 PM one night and then slept for over 10 hours. I feel tired most days all day long. The past two days have been much better. My appetite has returned for most meals and the nausea has reduced significantly. I hope it stays away. Last night and today was the first time I've had a headache and really wanted to take Excedrin but couldn't (no aspirin during pregnancy). I took one Tylenol which sort of dulled the headache slightly but nothing works like Excedrin unfortunately. My mom sent me my first maternity clothing items. Thankfully I don't need them yet but it's probably not too far off. I've been anxious to go shopping but Scott has held me back since I don't need anything yet. There are a few items in my wardrobe that are nearing retirement. Nothing is too small yet, but waistbands that are snug are becoming more uncomfortable.

7 weeks

Since I'm running behind, here's what's happening now in week 7.

How your baby's growing: Your baby still appears to have a small tail (actually, it's an extension of his tailbone), which will disappear in the next few weeks. But that's the only thing getting smaller. Now almost half an inch long — roughly the size of a raspberry — he has elbow joints and distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. In his oversized head, both hemispheres of his brain are developing. His teeth and the inside of his mouth are forming, and his ears continue to develop. Eyelid folds partially cover his tiny peepers, which already have some color, and the tip of that nose you'll be tweaking someday is emerging. His skin is paper-thin and his veins are clearly visible.

Your little one also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. His liver is busy producing red blood cells, and a loop of your baby's growing intestines is bulging into his umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from his tiny body. You can't feel his gyrations yet, but your baby is like a little jumping bean, moving in fits and starts around his watery home.

How your life's changing: You're in the throes of the first trimester, when many women suffer from common pregnancy woes. Keeping food down may be next to impossible, thanks to morning (noon, and night) sickness, caused in part by the pregnancy hormones coursing through your body. Stash a box of crackers next to your bed, and eat a few to curb the nausea before getting up. (Not all pregnant women have morning sickness, so don't worry if you've been spared — you're one of the lucky few!) You may also need to use the bathroom a lot more often than usual — your blood volume increases dramatically when you get pregnant, which leads to a lot of extra fluid getting processed through your kidneys and ending up in your bladder. The nausea should fade as your pregnancy continues, though you may continue to make frequent trips to the bathroom.

If you haven't already, now's the time to choose an ob-gyn or midwife. Most practitioners won't want to see you right away unless you have a serious medical condition or you're having problems like vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, or severe nausea and vomiting. They'll probably schedule you to come in once you're between eight and 12 weeks pregnant. At your first visit, your doctor or midwife will go over your family health history, do some routine blood tests, and answer any questions you might have.

How I'm doing: Morning sickness continues. Sometimes it's in the morning, sometimes it's at night, sometimes it's off and on all day long. Mostly, it's no fun at all. I've also found it really hard to find something I feel like eating. I certainly never thought I'd have that problem. Even things I normally enjoy, like hamburgers, make my stomach churn. Even ice cream doesn't sound especially appealing.

I'm also feeling incredibly tired. My body is reminding me how much work it's doing. I could take a nap every day. I try to rest whenever possible.

6 weeks

How your baby's growing: The cells that will make up all of your baby's body parts and systems are dividing furiously as her body begins to take shape. Right now she's about the size of a small lentil bean (4 to 5 millimeters across). If you could see through your uterine wall, you'd find an overlarge head and dark spots where her eyes and nostrils are beginning to take shape. Shallow pits on the sides of her head mark her developing ears, and her arms and legs appear as protruding buds. Her hands and feet look like paddles, with thick webbing between the developing digits, but her fingers and toes will soon become more distinct. Below the opening that will later be your baby's mouth, there are small folds where her neck and lower jaw will eventually develop. (Inside, her tongue and vocal cords are just beginning to form.)

Your baby's heart (which is starting to divide into the right and left chambers) is beating about 100 to 130 beats per minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to circulate through her body. Her intestines are developing and tiny breathing passages are beginning to appear where her lungs will be. She's also starting to build muscle fibers and, halfway through this week, she'll likely start moving her tiny limbs. Unfortunately, you'll probably have to wait until you're several weeks into your second trimester before you get to enjoy feeling your baby's calisthenics.

How your life's changing: If you haven't already, you may soon find yourself riding pregnancy's emotional roller coaster, feeling moody one day and joyful the next. Disturbing as this may be — especially if you pride yourself on being in control — what you're going through is completely normal and will probably continue throughout your pregnancy. Up-and-down emotions are partly caused by fluctuating and (in many cases) very high levels of hormones. But hormones aside, your entire life is about to change — and who wouldn't feel emotional about that?

Spotting (finding spots of blood on your underpants or toilet tissue after urinating) or bleeding is common in early pregnancy, but sometimes it can be the first sign of miscarriage. If you have any spotting or bleeding, call your doctor or midwife right away so she can determine whether your spotting indicates a potential problem.


How I'm doing:I spent the entire 6th week in on vacation in Chicago and Madison, WI. It was a nice break from work but unfortunately morning sickness set in midway through the week and right on schedule. Queasiness was off and on the starting the 2nd half of the week. So far it's hard to pinpoint a rhyme or reason to it.

Our first prenatal appointment has been rescheduled to September 25th. We also have decided against getting an ultrasound at this appointment since it is unnecessary for low risk pregnancies (and not routinely performed by our provider) and might be associated with changes in brain development (male babies who received ultrasounds early in development are more likely to be left-handed).

We got a little practice while we were in Chicago with our new cousin Willow Rivka; only 6 weeks old.