Pregnancy Photos of Aaron & I

Every month I've been having Aaron take a photo of my growing belly. One of these times Aaron mentioned to me when he would be in the photo too. So I figure when I got pretty big, I set the timer and try to get some pretty nice photos without having to pay someone professionally to do it. I'm feeling pretty darn big now and I thought it would be nice for the holidays to take the photos now. Here's what we got!

30 Weeks Pregnant!

Fetal Development This Week


Fetal Brain Development

Your baby's height and weight haven't changed much in the past week, but the big news is your baby's brain gain. Until now, the surface of your baby's brain was smooth. Now, your fetus's brain is taking on those characteristic grooves and indentations. The reason for this change in appearance? Those wrinkles allow for an increased amount of brain tissue — a necessary change as your developing baby prepares for life outside your womb, and the street smarts he or she will need.

Another big change at 30 weeks pregnant: Your baby's bone marrow has taken over production of red blood cells (before, tissue groups and then the spleen took care of producing the blood cells). This is an important step for your baby, because it means he or she is better able to thrive on his or her own once born (with a little TLC from you, of course).

So it's in with the new (brain cells, red blood cells) and out with the old (lanugo). Much of the lanugo — the soft, downy hair covering your baby's body — is beginning to disappear now because both fat and the brain are regulating your baby's body temperature (so no need for that furry coat anymore). But you may see a few leftover strands of fur on your newborn's back and shoulders.



What is happenning now?

You are now 30 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 31.

Your baby has grown to be about 16.5 inches long from head to toe () and approximately 3lb 5oz in weight.

Your baby's brain is increasing in size and complexity and the pupils of their eyes can now respond to light, allowing your baby to focus more readily and see dim shapes. Your baby now has definite sleep and wake patterns, although they may sleep up to 95% of the time and have noticeable rapid eye movements (REM), which indicates they may be dreaming! Many women notice their baby tends to be more active when they are resting, perhaps because when you move your body naturally rocks your baby to sleep.

Did you know? Scientists have recorded the brain waves of unborn babies. At 7 weeks they are sporadic, but become noticeably more consistent by 10 weeks. Unborn babies have one continuous distinct brain wave pattern by 22 weeks and 2 distinct patterns (similar to adult brainwaves) by 30 weeks.



Pregnancy Tickers from WiddlyTinks.com

29 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal Development This Week

Baby Fat

At 29 weeks pregnant, your baby is almost 17 inches tall now (nearly as tall as he or she will be at birth), and close to three pounds (a weight that will likely more than double — and may even come close to tripling —  by delivery time). WOW!!!! His or her wrinkled skin is smoothing out as more fat is deposited under the skin surface. This fat, called white fat, is different from the earlier brown fat that your developing fetus accumulated. Brown fat is necessary for body temperature regulation while white fat (the fat you have, Mom) actually serves as an energy source.
 
Which explains why your energizer baby feels so…well…energized!  <-- Nathan has been very energized!! Space in your baby's living quarters is now at a premium, so you'll be feeling jabs and pokes from elbows and knees mostly. But those kicks will be more vigorous than before (and also less erratic) because your baby is stronger and excitedly responding to all sorts of stimuli — movement, sounds, light, and that candy bar you ate half an hour ago.
 
Luckily, your baby doesn't have teeth yet that would need a brushing after that sugary treat, but it won't be long before you'll need to buy that first baby toothbrush! You'll recall that your baby's baby-teeth buds formed weeks ago, but now the buds for permanent teeth are forming in his or her gums as well.
 
And back to those kicks, who's counting?  Actually, you should be.  Now's a good time to start doing a kick count twice a day to make sure baby's doing just fine (plus, it's a good excuse for a rest). Lie down (preferably after a snack) and keep track of your baby's movements. You're looking for at least ten movements in an hour's time (don't forget to count movements of any kind — kicks, flutters, swishes, rolls, and so on). <-- Luckily I'm always feeling him move, right now as a matter of fact, so no worries here! :)

28 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal Development This Week

Fetal Brain Activity

Are you dreaming about your baby? At 28 weeks pregnant, your baby may be dreaming about you, too. Brain wave activity measured in a developing fetus shows different sleep cycles, including the rapid eye movement phase, the stage when dreaming occurs.

By now, your baby, who weighs in at about two and a half pounds and stands — or rather lies — at almost 16 inches (measured head to toe) has added blinking to his or her growing bag of tricks. (Outside in the real world, blinking is necessary to help keep foreign objects out of the eyes.) Other impressive new talents being added to your baby's roster in the womb include coughing, more intense sucking, and, perhaps most important, better breathing.

The good news is that babies born this week, though premature, have an excellent prognosis because their lungs have reached the point (for the most part) of maturity  — so you too can breathe a little easier now. Of course, it's still best if a baby doesn't check out of that uterine hotel just yet — there's still a lot of growing and maturing to do over the next 12 weeks.

LOL, terrible but true!

What is happening now?

You are now 28 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 29.

Your baby's bones are now mature enough to start producing their own blood supply from their bone marrow, taking over this task from their liver and spleen. Their liver starts to store iron supplied from your body. This is Nature's way of meeting a newborns iron requirements for the first 6 months after birth, until they start eating solids.

This week marks the beginning of the 3rd trimester (the final 12 weeks of pregnancy). Your baby is regarded as being born on time if they arrive between 37 and 42 weeks - only about 5% of babies are born on their actual due date! During these final weeks your baby's main task is to mature their body systems, grow stronger and put on weight. Premature babies born at this stage of pregnancy have a good chance of survival. However, the closer they are born to 37 weeks, the more likely they will be well and healthy and not require advanced medical treatments.

Physical changes

During the last few months, many women start feeling heavy and tired, as their baby increasingly takes up more space in their belly. This contributes to many physical signs of late pregnancy, such as heartburn, varicose veins, fluid retention and backache. By the time your baby is due, you may be feeling fed up with being pregnant and just want your baby to arrive!

I'm definitely feeling a lot more heavy and tired, especially since it's now harder to get around!

Glucose Test Results

Last week I posted that I was having a screening for my glucose levels. I am very happy to report everything came back very good. All my levels were in normal range including my iron. My blood glucose was 114, which is great, over 140 is abnormal. Very relieved that I don't have to worry about having gestational diabetes! The rest of the appointment also went very good. The doctor measured my belly and said it was right on. Heard the heartbeat again, which sounded very strong. Everything is going great and I am so grateful!! =)


Pregnancy Tickers from WiddlyTinks.com

27 Weeks/6 Months Pregnant

Fetal Development This Week

Baby's Sense of Taste and Sound

Most babies this age, yours included, still like to snuggle in a slightly curled position inside the uterus (thus the term "fetal position"). Even so, beginning at this stage, your baby's length will be measured from top of head to toe — which makes your baby nearly a full 15 inches now. And at just over two pounds, he or she has doubled in weight from four weeks ago.
 
Your baby's auditory development (hearing) is progressing as the network of nerves to the ears matures. And even though the sounds your baby hears are muffled (thanks to the creamy coating of vernix covering those ears), he or she may recognize both yours and your partner's voices.  So this might be a good time to read and even sing to your baby (or rather, your belly) — and a good chance to start boning up on those nursery rhymes and lullabies you'll need to be repeating (and repeating) pretty soon. And while you're at it, here's another way to have some family fun at 27 weeks pregnant: If your partner presses his ear to your belly, he might be able to hear the baby's heartbeat.
 
Your baby's taste buds are very developed now too (with more taste buds than he or she will ever have outside the womb, actually). Need a taste test? If you eat some spicy food (you hot mama, you), your baby will be able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid (but keep in mind that you'll have different mealtimes, with your baby's coming about two hours after yours). Some babies will even respond to that spicy kick by hiccupping. And although hiccups (which feel like belly spasms to you) may seem like they're disturbing to your baby, he or she isn't stressed at all. It's just one more sensation that babies need to get used to. 



What is happenning now?

You are now 27 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 28.

Your baby is now developing their immune system with natural antibodies passing from your blood stream to them through the placenta. Your baby is now capable of coordinating a suck and swallow action, needed to drink milk after being born. However, this reflex does not fully mature until about 34 to 36 weeks. Your baby may look around and is capable of distinguishing light from dark and tracking movement.

Babies born at 28 weeks (or less) are regarded as extremely premature. However, only 9% of all premature babies are born this early. Babies born around 27 to 28 weeks gestation have about a 75 to 85% chance of survival, if they have access to specialised care and a fully equipped intensive care nursery.

Physical changes

Rib pain. Your uterus eventually starts encroaching on your ribcage, often causing pain and discomfort due to strain on the muscles between the ribs. Sitting more upright and giving your baby a gentle 'push down' with your hand may help take the pressure off.

Leg cramps. Nearly 50% of pregnant women experience leg cramps in their feet, calves or thighs, generally during the last few months of pregnancy. Leg cramps often occur at night, jolting you awake (and perhaps your startled partner), adding to insomnia and tiredness.



graphics for moms

6 MONTHS PREGNANT!!!

Wow, I am already entering into my third trimester -- boy has the time gone by pretty fast! Tomorrow I will officially be 6 months along. Everything has been going smoothly. Nathan is active as ever! And I now can see him moving around in my belly -- kicking, poking, tumbling- so amazing!!

On Tuesday is my Glucose Test, which determines if my blood glucose level is within healthy ranges; to screen for, diagnose, and monitor hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, diabetes, and pre-diabetes.  I have to admit, I'm a little nervous since I have such a big sweet tooth. Will post the results later this week!

Pregnancy Tickers from WiddlyTinks.com

26 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal Development This Week

Baby's Eyes Open

Look who's looking. Your baby's eyes — which have been closed for the past few months (so that the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop) — are beginning to open at 26 weeks pregnant. What this means is that your baby is able to see what's going on now (unfortunately the view in your uterus isn't all that exciting). But do try this at home for kicks (baby's that is): Shine a flashlight at your stomach. Your baby might kick in response (as in: "Get that light out of my eyes!").
 
The iris, the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have much pigmentation (that'll fill in over the next month or two), so it's too early to start guessing your baby's eye color. Even the color your baby will be born with might not be the permanent shade; so you may be kept guessing until your baby is close to six months old.

Look what else is going on this week: Your baby's brain-wave activity is kicking in at this stage in fetal development, which means your little one can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them. Not in so many words, of course, but with an increase in pulse rate or activity. And talking about activity, at your baby's current height and weight (about nine inches tall and two pounds), and at the rate he or she is growing, your baby will soon be feeling a little cramped in your uterus. Not to worry, there's still plenty of room for your baby to grow. It just means your gymnast will have less room for those somersaults, cartwheels, and other Olympic feats.


What is happenning now?

You are now 26 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 27.

Your baby now recognises your voice and may be calmed by the sound of it (observed by their heart rate slowing). They may also recognise your partner's voice and different types of music. When observing unborn babies with ultrasound they can respond to relaxing music by turning towards it, and curl up and away from very loud rock, rap and pop type music. Studies have also shown that newborns may be soothed by particular sounds after birth (as long as the baby is not hungry). One soothing sound is 'white noise', a mixture of low, middle and high tones from the full spectrum of the human ear. White noise can be created by the sound of a vacuum cleaner or the inside of a car travelling.

Your newborn baby may quieten when listening to songs played regularly to them during the last three months of pregnancy. One study showed how a group of babies were calmed when they heard the theme song of the TV soap show "Neighbours", presumably because their mother watched it daily during pregnancy! 

Physical changes

Backache and sciatica. Many women find their posture noticeably changes to compensate for their increasing belly size. This can affect your centre of gravity and balance as well as possibly leading to back pain. Around 50 to 75% of pregnant women complain of backache at some stage during their pregnancy, with 33% finding it a problem, inhibiting their lifestyle. Pain may be felt in the upper or lower back (or both) and is sometimes complicated by sciatica (a shooting nerve paindown the buttock and back of one leg).

Tiredness and insomnia. The later months of pregnancy can bring tiredness and insomnia, perhaps with difficulty getting to sleep or waking frequently because of pregnancy discomforts or needing to urinate. Lack of sleep can be quite distressing for some women, although it is generally Mother Nature's way of preparing you for caring for your new baby! You can read more about tiredness and insomnia and how to manage it here.



Romantic Snow Globes by WiddlyTinks.com

Time seems to be flying by!

Shockingly, time hasn't been dragging like I know it does for some. At least not at the moment, especially now that we're coming into the holiday season, the weeks have been going fast. Can't believe I'm already 25 weeks with only 15 weeks left! And also, my baby shower is already in less then two months. I'm so very excited to start getting the things I need for Nathan and work on the nursery... I've been dying to "nest"!!!

I'm happy to say my sister and mom have felt Nathan move, just little flutters to them, but still exciting!




I am also happy to report Nathan seems to be developing very well from what I can tell. He is always so active, which I love and it's so relieving. Anytime I feel him kick or move around, a big smile crosses my face :) I already love him so much and look forward to seeing him for the first, what I special moment that will be for Aaron and I.

25 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal Development This Week

Baby's Lung Development

At nine inches and more than a pound and a half in weight, your baby is taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other, and almost as heavy as four of those little boxes (an analogy you'll find particularly apropos in a few years, when those juice boxes start taking over your refrigerator, your pantry, your car.…).
 
Don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker. No, not because he or she's getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping your baby at an always comfortable temperature), but because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But at 25 weeks pregnant, those lungs are still very much works in progress. Though they are already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs expand after the baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he or she exhales.

The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths. (Of course since there's no air in there, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?)



Pregnancy Counter at WiddlyTinks.com
What is happening now?

You are now 25 weeks pregnant and at the beginning of week 26.

Your baby's eyelids are no longer fused, so they can now open their eyes and blink! It is also possible for your baby to respond to bright light (such as shining a torch through your belly). Newborns have vision that is perfectly focused from about 20 to 30 cm, usually as far away as the face of the person holding them.

Your baby's movements are generally more regular now and he or she may physically respond to you if you press on parts of their protruding feet, bottom or hands. Some parents play games with their unborn baby when they seem awake and alert! Your caregiver can now probably hear your baby's heartbeat with a Pinnard's stethoscope (rather than just an electronic Doppler) beating at around 110 to 170 beats per minute.

Babies born between 24 and 26 weeks are regarded as extremely preterm, but have a 50 to 70% chance of surviving if they have access to a fully equipped intensive care nursery. You can read more about premature babies here.

Physical Changes

Your growing baby is much larger and now big enough for your caregiver to feel where their head is situated. Your caregiver may even be able to guide your hands during a routine pregnancy visit so you can feel your own baby's head. Ask them to do this next time you see them. Your caregiver may also measure your belly's fundal height.

Babies change position frequently during this phase of pregnancy and are quite often in a breech position (bottom down) or lying across your belly in a transverse position. Your caregiver may start to write your baby's position on your pregnancy record card.

24 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal Development This Week

Your baby weighs more than a pound and a half right now and sports a crown-to-rump length of about eight and a half inches (standard letter size!).
 
Wondering what (and who) your baby will look like?  If you had a baby cam at 24 weeks pregnant, you'd almost be able to tell by now.  That beautiful face (though still tiny) is almost fully formed.  What's still missing from the picture is the fat that will be piled on under baby's skin.  Until those fat deposits are made, that very tender skin is still very transparent, which means a close look would let you see clear through to all the organs, bones, and blood vessels. Fortunately, that see-through look won't last much longer. Babies at this stage of fetal development are gaining about six ounces each week — with much of that gain coming from fat, in addition to growing organs, bones, and muscle.

What's been playing on your little rocker's stereo system these days?  All kinds of sounds can be heard by your baby in your womb: from air exhaling from your lungs (deep breath now), those gastric gurgles produced by your stomach and intestines, your voice and your partner's (which your baby will be able to recognize at birth), and even very loud sounds such as honking horns, barking dogs, or a wailing fire truck.



mommy graphics


What is happening now?

You are now 24 weeks pregnant and at the beginning of week 25.

Your baby has grown to be about 11.75 inches long from head to toe and approximately 1 lb 8 oz in weight.

Your baby may now be big enough for others to feel your belly and sense them kicking and stretching!

Babies at 24 weeks have been noted to increase their breathing patterns (by expanding their lungs with amniotic fluid), after their mothers eat, especially if the food contains sugar! Your baby's lungs now start to produce a substance called surfactant, which lines their lungs and assists them to breathe after birth.

Physical Changes

Breathlessness. Many women complain of feeling breathless during pregnancy. This is very normal and usually comes and goes. You can be short of breatheven while sitting and having a normal conversation. You don't have to exert yourself at all!

Palpitations. This is a feeling that your heart is 'racing' or beating strongly and rapidly in your chest. Palpitations are very common during pregnancy, due to the extra workload on the heart pumping up to 50% more blood volume around your body. Palpitations can be felt for no apparent reason, but may be associated with exercising, being stressed, feeling anxious or excited. They usually subside on their own after a few minutes or less. Palpitations may also be associated with feeling breathless.



Pregnancy Tickers from WiddlyTinks.com

Monthly OBGYN Appointment

Today I had my regular monthly appointment and everything seemed well. Blood pressure, heart rate and weight was all good. Heard the baby's heart rate, always my favorite part! :) Also, my doctor try to help me feel my uterus, which is now above my belly button. But I had a hard time telling, lol. She said next time she will be able to feel the baby's body parts - wow!

I also got the H1N1 vaccine. Something that Aaron and I had been struggling with whether it would be a good thing or bad thing to have. But after a lot of research, we decided it would be for the best. And now I am so much more relieved about not getting sick and risking my baby's health. Next appointment I will take the test for gestational diabetes, wish me luck!!!


mommy graphics
 

23 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal Development This Week

Fetal Weight Gain

At eight inches and slightly over a pound, your baby is the size and shape of a small doll when you are 23 weeks pregnant. (But then, you already knew that you were carrying a living doll, didn't you?) This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby's weight in the next four weeks alone should double (and you may feel as though yours is too).
 
You have probably heard your developing baby's heartbeat through a Doppler a number of times already (though you never get tired of hearing it), but by now you can also hear it through a standard stethoscope. What a heart throb! 
 
Your baby's skin is reddish in color now because of the developing blood vessels underneath (remember, the skin is very thin still). It also hangs loosely from his or her little body at this point. That's because the skin grows faster than the fat develops during fetal growth. But don't worry.  By the time your baby is born, he or she will be pleasantly plump and filled out — from chubby cheeks to chubby toes.



graphics for moms

What is happenning now?

You are now 23 weeks pregnant and at the beginning of week 24.

Your baby has grown to be about 11.2 inches long from head to toe and approximately 1 lb 5 oz in weight.

Your baby can now rotate their head and may experience hiccups, which are caused by the sudden, irregular contractions of your baby's immature diaphragm (the muscle that supports their lungs). While unborn babies may be capable of sporadic hiccups as early as 12 weeks gestation, they are generally stronger and more rhythmic by this stage of pregnancy. Some unborn babies hiccup quite frequently, others not much at all. Many newborn babies continue to hiccup after birth. You may sometimes sense regular 'jumps' in your belly every now and then for short periods of time, if your baby has hiccups. A very strange sensation!

Your baby is now covered with a thick layer of white vernix cream, which protects their skin in their watery environment and they now have sweat glands. A fine layer of fat is forming between their muscle tissues and skin, covering their blood vessels and making their complexion look less translucent.

Physical Changes

Restless legs. A few women experience restless legs during their pregnancy. This can include sensations that your legs have to move all the time, or that they feel jittery or like they have 'butterflies' in them. Some women's legs ache and feel like they have to be constantly walking. Restless legs can make it difficult to sit for long periods and can stop you from sleeping well at night.

Pregnancy Glitter Graphics

Aaron Felt Nathan Kick!

Friday night Aaron and I were having dinner sitting on the couch and Nathan starting kicking. So I felt my tummy to see if I could feel from the outside, which I could. So hoping he'd still kick in that same place I told Aaron he was kicking and to try and feel. He did and as soon as I felt Nathan kick again, Aaron said he felt it unless it was me, so I told him, no that was him! He said 'Hi buddy"and seemed pretty thrilled since he mention all night long that he felt Nathan kick :)

Love this classic photo

This is so accurate!





mommy graphics
 



 

22 Weeks Pregnant =)

Baby's Hair Growth

Guess what? At 22 weeks pregnant, your baby has finally broken the one-pound mark. How heavy is that? Hold a one-pound box of sugar in your hand the next time you're in the grocery story (and expect people to ask you why you're grinning from ear to ear). Is the box eight inches long? That's about the length your baby is too!  
 
This week, your sweetie is making more sense of the world as he or she develops the sense of touch. In fact, your little one's grip is quite developed by now — and since there's nothing else to grab in utero, he or she may sometimes hold on tight to that umbilical cord (don't worry — it's tough enough to handle it). The sense of sight is also getting more developed. Your fetus can now perceive light and dark much better than before (even with those fused eyelids). But remember — unless you're shining a flashlight over your belly (which you can do, by the way), it'll be mostly dark for your baby inside that cozy womb of yours.

Moving up from the eyes, the eyelashes and eyebrows are well formed now — and even more hair is sprouting atop that cute little head. You'd be quite surprised, though, if you could see your little one up close and in color. Hair at this stage of fetal development has no pigment, so it's bright white.

5 Months Pregnant!! (22 Weeks)

What is happenning now?

You are now 22 weeks pregnant and at the beginning of week 23.

The baby in that uterus measures about 7-1/2 inches (191 mm) in length and is about the size of a Barbie or Ken doll. In less than two weeks, the baby has gained more than 3 1/2 ounces (100 g).

Your baby's nervous system is now completely 'connected'. The vital link between their brain and spinal cord (the brain stem) has matured and many nerve cells make vigorous connections. Now your baby is capable of recognising warmth, light, sound and pain. While primitive brain waves have been detected in unborn babies as early as 7 weeks, it is not until 22 weeks that sustained patterns can be definitely recorded. Some women now notice that their baby jumps with a loud sound (if they can feel their baby move yet).

Unborn babies at this stage typically like to lie in a transverse position (or crossways inside your belly), with their feet and bottom on one side, and their head on the other side. Your baby's placenta is now processing about 50 pints every 24 hours and by 40 weeks this increases to about 600 pints in 24 hours.

graphics for moms

Vacation in Lake George

This past weekend (Oct. 23-26) Aaron and I took a much need vacation in Lake George. Now seemed like a good time to get away and relax at one of my favorite a family vacation spot. Even the pregnancy websites said that now was a great time for a vacation during this point in the pregnancy! The weather was nice (for the most part) and the Fall leaves were beautiful. We did lots od shopping in the village and at the outlets, played mini golf and saw a great comedy show. All in all, we had a great time =)

 

Pregnancy Glitter Graphics