Update on 24 Weeks

So...you may have noticed that there wasn't a Week 23 update...Last week was busy. We had a wedding to get ready for and attend; I had issues on and off all week with being nauseated, vomiting, and diarrhea; Roger had the first of four dentist appointments; I was fighting off a UTI...I just never got around to doing the update. I'm not going to either, no point since I'm 24 now.

I had an appointment with Dr.Stewart today, we got to see Kay. He says everything looks good: she's growing normally, weighs 1lb 10oz, heart rate at 144 and looks normal, very active, amniotic fluid looks great, umbilical cord looks good, her spine looks complete and connected, brain looks likes it's developing normally, she was head down today but that could change again, and she's moved up enough that she's finally a normal distance from my bladder. We also discovered a little pocket of blood. It explains why I haven't been seeing blood in the last month. His idea of what caused the bleeding was that I had a small separation or tear in the lower part of the placenta, the blood was basically leaking out of the placenta, out of the lining, and then out of me. Now, that has healed closed and the blood collected in the placenta. He said that it looks like it was old blood and that it should resolve. I am so surprised she stuck with me...that really could have been serious, and I could have lost her to that. She was really meant to be ours, and that makes her even more special.

I have a video of our entire session with him. It was about 20 minutes long, but we were able to cut it down to about 7. There isn't any sounds except the clicks and such and the heart rate. At about 5 1/2 minutes in or so is him starting off by drawing a line over my cervix, then circling the little blood collection and explaining it to us, so it pauses a lot and nothing much happens. She has her knees up to her chest with her feet crossed and her little fists up next to her ears through most of the video. Her face all smushed up between her fists.

I have two ultrasound pictures to show off this time (technically 4) and the ob report like last time. They aren't great, but the video makes up for it. I have an actual 4d video appointment in September, I'll be about 27 weeks almost 28 and will hopefully be able to see her little face that time.

This one is the heart rate and him outlining one skinny little leg and foot.
This one is labeled on one and the other is about the same just unlabeled.
OB Report.

Okay, now, on to the update:

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

Thebump.com: "Baby's skin is becoming more opaque as the fat starts to pack on. And, thanks to the formation of small capillaries, her newly thick skin is taking on a fresh pink glow."

Babiesonline.com: "Your baby is almost completely formed. He is now between 1.25 and 1.5 pounds and is about a foot long.
He will continue to gain weight in muscles, developing organs and the deposit of brown fat. The purpose of the brown fat is to retain body heat. Newborns are notoriously bad at regulating body temperature at first. This is particularly a problem for a baby born early. Changes are occurring in lung development so some babies are able to survive (with intensive care services) if born today. Surviving babies may have disabilities and require long-term intensive care. A good estimate is that a baby born now would usually stay in the NICU until their official due date."

Update on 22 Weeks

I'm going to whine a little first because I'm having a crappy few days.

Some crap that I don't much want to talk about, has left me feeling a bit down and confused...All I have to say is, some people just don't learn.

The persistent hot weather with no breaks or rain relief has left the air quality in Tulsa to the birds, and my asthma has made walking from the door to the car almost impossible. I started using my Advair inhaler again, because the birth defects in animals were cleft palate, bone issues and miscarriage, but I'm past all those stages, so I should be fine. I am praying that we will get some kind of rain or something to break up the 100+ temps (heat index anywhere from 105 to 115) for us.

There will not be any ultrasound photos to show off this time, their printer wasn't working.

I also broke their toilet, how wonderful is that? I sat to get my urine sample, and while screwing on the lid I heard a resonating CRRAAAACCCKKKK!!! The actual porcelain that held the toilet to the wall split in half. I've sat on that thing once a month, every 4 weeks, since March so why now? I didn't gain *that* much weight (only 5 pounds since the beginning of the pregnancy), geeze!

I was told that I have blood in my urine (better than the blood elsewhere!), so Dr.S thinks I have a urinary tract infection. I had noticed that I was having to pee alot, that I felt an almost painful pressure during and after I went, and what I thought was my hips were hurting, but I just chalked that up to baby, and didn't think anything of it. I can't really say much about the appointment...I was in and out in no time, no pics to look at, and just a glimpse enough to make sure her heart was beating (129 bpm) and she was moving. Her little hands were in fists, and up in front of her little face, but that's all we got to see. Oh, and she's still breech (feet down).

Then we went to Roger's dentist appointment afterwards...an hour or so later I find out he has 4 cavities, an abscess tooth that needs a root canal and a crown replacement, a deep cleaning because he has beginning stages of periodontal disease, and at least one other crown replacement....So, in the next 2 to 4 weeks or so, we're looking at minimum $400 going in his mouth on top of the $500 for the ER we already owe. I am glad we went though, because he didn't feel the abscess and that could have killed him, had it gone undiagnosed. That would be all I need, him to drop dead from sepsis and us have been completely unaware. Here's my soapbox: Get your teeth checked! I had to fight with him all the time, and we'd have some pretty nasty fights over him going to the dentist, and now look where we are. He is going to his free twice a year cleanings from now on, I don't care if I have to drag him in by his hair.

Now for the updates.

Babycenter.com: "At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily."

Babiesonline.com: "Your baby is getting bigger and continues to practice for life outside the uterus. This week your baby has fully developed eyelashes and eyebrows and the hair on your baby's head is continuing to grow as his brain begins a rapid growth process. The fetus has fully formed fingerprints and loud noise can wake up the baby. He may begin kicking and turning around, too. Your baby's heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope. His nose is taking on a more defined shape as cartilage (the soft bone) appears."

Thebump.com: "Real estate within your belly is getting tight, with growing baby leaving little room for your lungs to...well...breathe. Expect the huffing and puffing to start soon. There's not much room for your belly button, either -- it'll pop out any day now. Baby's settling into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop."

Update on 21 Weeks

I feel her kicking me quite frequently now, and it is still almost as amazing as feeling the very first kick. I can usually tell when she's awake and when she's sleeping, and what food she likes when I eat it (she'll be a chocolate lover, big surprise!). After having the fear that I wouldn't be able to feel her, I cherish every bump and nudge.

I don't think she likes my bladder being full. Dr. Stewart said she was only 5cm away from my bladder, so when it gets full, it probably impedes on her space. I have to get up more during the night now than I did in the first trimester, because as soon as she kicks my bladder I have to *go*.

I also think she recognizes her daddy's voice. She'll be kicking the crap out of me and Roger will rub on my tummy and talk to me, and she'll settle down and stop kicking. It's so cute. It'll be awesome when Roger can actually feel her moving.

I am pretty sure that Roger is getting more used to the idea of being a daddy. He rubs on my tummy while he's sleeping, and sometimes he talks to her. I didn't expect him to get that involved this soon, and it is so exciting. I can't wait to see him with his little girl.

I have had two dreams about her now. In one, I saw chubby little cheeks, Roger's hair and lips and my eyes and nose. In the second, I dreamt that she and I were napping in the recliner, and all I remember is black hair and chubby little cheeks. I can't wait to see if that's what she looks like.

I have an appointment with Dr.S on the 16th, so hopefully more pictures!

Babycenter.com: "Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well."

Babiesonline.com: "Your baby is still pretty active and continues to move all over in the amniotic fluid. However, towards the end of this trimester the baby will begin to settle, usually in a head down position. Your baby is beginning to show evidence of eyebrows and eyelashes and the hair on his scalp is much more visible. He wakes and sleeps in regular intervals, similar to what a newborn would do. This may be apparent to you by his movement patterns. He regularly ingests and absorbs large quantities of the amniotic fluid and excretes urine."

Thebump.com: "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, if baby is a girl, her womb is now stocked up with her lifetime supply of six million eggs (the number will drop to around one million by birth)."

Dr. Stewart

I got to feel her kicks for the first time today!! It was the most amazing, indescribable thing! I hadn't felt her yet, but when Dr. Stewart was using the Ultrasound probe, Kaylynn didn't like it at all. She was kicking at the probe, and I could see her kick at the same time I could feel her kicking....no words to describe how amazing that was and still is.

So, the appointment was very helpful. My anxiety just melted away after this visit. Basically, we don't know why I'm bleeding, or what caused it, but Kay is developing perfectly. No sign of any defects or growth deficiencies. She weighs exactly 1 pound now!

I will now see him once a month, so we will be going every 2 weeks to see a doctor. Dr.S in 2 weeks (August 16th), then Dr. Stewart (they're both Dr.S's! Dernit! lol) in 4 weeks (August 30th). I will still have to meet my $35 copay to see Dr. Stewart, because it's not part of a normal pregnancy (He's a high risk doctor) and the insurance still requires the copay.

So! I have a lot of Sonograms to show off this time!
Body
Hands & Feet
Hand & Arm
Hand & Arm in Color
Head & Face
Face in Color
It's a Girl!
It's a Girl - 3 lines test
and the OB Report (for those of you that might understand this thing!)

Update on 20 Weeks

Halfway there! I can't believe it's been about 5 months already. It really feels like time just flew.

So, news to update: The baby's room is finished. Painted and window treatments just made the room. It all fit together just perfectly, in a weird sort-of meant to be kind-of way. Also, the appointment with the Ultrasound Specialist is tomorrow, so crossing fingers for normal, healthy development and healthy, happy baby.

Updates!

Babycenter.com: "Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He'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, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery)."

Thebump.com: "Congrats! You're halfway there...and at one of the great milestones of pregnancy. Increased blood flow is making the pelvic area extra-sensitive, libido is resurging, and the weight gain has just barely begun.

Those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch."

Babiesonline.com: "Over the last four weeks, your baby has grown an incredible amount, and has just about quadrupled his weight. He's big enough that you should be feeling fluttering or quickening quite regularly now. In fact, from his movements you may be able to tell if your baby is awake or asleep. (not for me, yet...the placenta is in between me and baby, plus my weight, so it's not abnormal)

Your baby has started to practice breathing motions, even though his lungs are not yet mature enough to breathe enough air to allow him to survive outside your body. Lanugo (the fine hair) covers your baby's whole body, and hair on his scalp is beginning to grow. Your baby's ears are fully functional now and he enjoys the sound of uterine noise. All the organs and structures of your baby's body are formed and your baby is now entering a period of simple growth. And you may be getting ready to be a grandma already: if your baby is a girl, her uterus is beginning to develop!"