Week # 9

Week 9 means that our embryo is officially a fetus! WOO HOO! Our baby is approximately one inch long and has develop a heart beat which could be heard with a Doppler (a handheld ultrasound device that amplifies the lub-dub sound the heart makes). It's exciting to know that this week, some of the organs begin to form (the liver, spleen, and gallbladder) and minuscule muscles. We are extremely excited to have our first visit to the midwife, Maggie, on Tuesday October 7th, 2008.

Rachel has been quite lucky thus far. No morning sickness, but she has been quite tired. This morning, we stayed in bed until almost 7:15am- normally, she is awake and running out the door to the YMCA around 5am. But, according to "What to Expect" (http://www.whattoexpect.com/) Rachel is experiencing "pregnancy fatigue." They say that "extreme fatigue during pregnancy is a common symptom, especially in the first trimester. And for good reason. Making a baby is hard work — make that very hard work. Consider this: During these first weeks and months of pregnancy, your body is manufacturing the placenta — your baby's life-support system. What's more, your body's metabolism and hormone levels have increased significantly while your blood sugar and blood pressure tend to be lower. Add it all up, and it's no wonder you feel as if you're competing in a triathlon each day." Alas, I have the third trimester to look forward to, because they say "The good news: You'll recover a lot of the get up and go that has gotten up and left once your body has adjusted to being pregnant and your baby's placenta is finished developing — somewhere around month four. The not-so-good news: Pregnancy fatigue is likely to reappear during the last trimester as the demands of toting around a larger fetus increase."

But don't worry folks, not only is she experiencing pregnancy fatigue right now, she's also in the midst of what they refer to as "swing time." No, this isn't a fun afternoon in the park... this is "amazing: One minute you're getting a medal for being the best spouse in the history of the world, the next you're being berated by a sobbing woman. Don't fight these mood swings, it's the hormones talking…and they'll be doing a whole lot of talking in the months to come. A hug, if you can get close enough, will do wonders. And keep a tissue box handy for those insipid TV commercials that will reduce her to tears." I've already threatened to move out of our house & into the Jeep Commander with the dogs!

Needless to say, it's Friday night and I'm sitting here on the computer because it seems to be the "safest" room in the house... only seven more months of hiding in the computer room! (Unless she bans me from the computer after reading this post!)