Thursday, November 18, 2010

Baby's the size of an eggplant! (weeks 25-28)

Time to get Joe to put an ear to my belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up my antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

Baby's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Baby's still the size of a papaya! (week 24)

Our baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts baby at just over a pound. Since baby's almost a foot long, baby cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but baby's body is filling out proportionally and baby will soon start to plump up. Baby's brain is also growing quickly now, and baby's taste buds are continuing to develop. Baby's lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help baby's air sacs inflate once baby hits the outside world. Baby's skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Baby's (apparently still) the size of a papaya! (week 23)

Time for me to turn on the radio and sway to the music. With baby's sense of movement well developed by now, our baby can feel me dance! And now that baby's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound, you may be able to see baby squirm underneath my clothes. Blood vessels in baby's lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that our baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing baby for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as loud music, voices and video games — probably won't faze baby when baby hears them outside the womb.

Taken from: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-23-weeks_1112.bc?scid=mbtw_preg23:939&pe=2Uz2vRM

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Baby is the size of a papaya! (weeks 22-24)

Time to watch what we say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and our own voices most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- I just have to pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.


Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Baby is the size of a banana!

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, time to think about what I want our future child to eat as I prepare my own lunch.



Made me think of one of my favorite songs:
2:30 is where it's at, but feel free to enjoy the whole song. =) xoxox

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Baby is the size of a cantaloupe!

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!





Made me think of:


"Oh you can't elope with a cantaloupe if you are a watermelon.

But if you are another 'loupe' that cantaloupe might just be willin'.

Oh you can't elope with a cantaloupe if a cantaloupe you're not.

No you can't elope with a cantaloupe if you are a coconut."


(Can't find this on the internet to give you a video of this amazing song from my childhood, but ask my Mother and I'm sure she'll sing it for you. ;) xoxox

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Baby's the size of a mango!

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) We might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.