So, as many of you know, I haven’t seen much of Rachel over the past two weeks as she’s been traveling non-stop for work. Rachel has been lucky enough to visit the warm west-coast in Southern Californian and was able to view the effects of the catastrophic wild fires first-hand in Anaheim, CA., she slept one night in our bed in Greenfield, spending less than 24-hours in Massachusetts before she ran off to Washington D.C. and the Virginia areas for more college fair fun. Despite her physical absence from my life over the past two weeks, she has been on my mind constantly… it’s bizarre to think that there is a baby doing acrobatics in her uterus, while she runs around both the west and east coasts. She continues to feel well and hasn’t had (knock on wood) any negative symptoms (i.e. morning sickness).
Right now, according to “What to Expect” (during week # 12) the baby is in constant motion and because it weighs half an ounce now, and the crown-to-rump length is about two and a half inches, Rachel wouldn’t be able to feel the baby’s daily calisthenics. Apparently, at this point, babies begin growing at different paces, some faster than others, some more slowly, though they all follow the same developmental path. In the past two ultrasounds, the fetus has appeared “top heavy”, meaning that the head was about half the size of its body, which was expected, but by the time the baby makes his or her entrance into the world, its head will be only one-fourth as large as the body. It’s amazing how anatomy & physiology work and how Rachel’s uterus is cooking up a little person!
Since we’ve missed a few weeks of blogging, I thought I’d provide a mini-recap of the developments over the past few weeks. As noted earlier, Rachel continues to feel well and she isn’t having any overt pregnancy symptoms. She’s gained a mere 1.6 lbs. She continues working out at the gym with our faithful friend, Josianna. And more importantly, while away, Rachel continues her gym routines at the hotels where she stays. She tends to be a little more tired than usual and she definitely craves sweets. Here’s what “What to Expect” says about the specific baby developments over the past few weeks:
Week # 12- Fetal Organs and Systems- Most of your baby's systems are fully formed. This week marks a turning point for your baby. The herculean task of developing new bodily structures is nearing an end as most of your baby's systems are fully formed. Now comes the maintenance phase, during which your fetus' systems continue to mature for the next 28 weeks and the organs get to work. The fetal digestive system is beginning to flex its digestive muscle — as it starts practicing contraction movements, a skill your baby will need after birth to push food through the digestive tract. The pituitary gland at the base of the brain has started producing hormones. And the bone marrow is making white blood cells, which will one day help your baby fight infection.
Week # 13- Fetal Growth Rates- Your baby's intestines are also in for some big changes right now. Up until this point, they've been growing in a cavity inside the umbilical cord; but now they're moving to their permanent (and more conveniently located) address, in your baby's abdomen. And to serve your growing baby's needs, the placenta is also growing. It weighs about an ounce now and will weigh one to two pounds at birth. Your baby's vocal chords are also developing this week, because sound can't travel through your uterus, you won't be able to hear any sounds or cries just yet, but those vocal chords will get a good workout once that baby is born.
Week # 14- Your Baby is a Mover (But Not a Shaker Yet)- WOO HOO- Welcome to the 2nd trimester!!!! Growing by leaps and bounds, by week 14 of pregnancy, your baby is leaping and bounding. He/ she is on the move almost constantly — and those movements are a far cry from those jerky twitches of last trimester They are now ballet-like, smooth and fluid. Your baby’s neck is getting longer, helping his or her head stand more erect. This gives your 14-week-old fetus a more straightened-out appearance. Growth is happening on top of the head as well, your baby could be sprouting some hair (though the final color may not be determined until birth) and the eyebrows are filling in, too. Hair growth isn't limited to the baby's head, though. He/ she is also covered with a downy coating of hair called lanugo, largely there for warmth. Most of the lanugo will shed — though some babies, especially those born early, still have a fuzzy coating at delivery (it sheds soon afterward).
Week 15- Baby Kicking and Curling- So what keeps your baby busy all day? Mostly, your fetus is in rehearsals — practice, practice, practicing, and getting ready for that big debut. Babies practice breathing, sucking, and swallowing so that when they leave your comfy womb and move into your comfy house, they'll have the skills necessary to survive. Fetal body movements continue to get practice this week, too. But because your baby weighs so little (a bit over two ounces), you won't feel the calisthenics going on inside your abdominal gym. But don't let that fool you. Your fetus is holding daily aerobics classes — kicking, curling toes, and moving those little arms and legs.
Week 16- Baby's Hearing Develops- Popping out of your clothes yet? At 16 weeks pregnant, you're getting to the point where the bulge in your belly says "baby" and not "fat." So, when you’re screaming about “getting bigger”, remember that the tiny bones in your fetus's ears are in place this week, making it likely that the baby can hear your voice when you're speaking. In fact, studies have found that babies who are sung to while they're in the womb recognize the same tune when it's sung to them after they are born. And baby's busily boning up in other ways. For one, the backbone (along with the back muscles) is stronger now — strong enough, in fact, to enable your baby to work on straightening his or her head and neck even more. Baby's crown-to-rump measurement is between four and five inches in length, and weight is hovering around three ounces.
On this day, the day before Thanksgiving 2008 (November 26th), Rachel is beginning week # 17. Our baby is about five inches long and more than three and a half ounces — they say, it’s the size of an open hand. The Masson baby's body fat is beginning to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of your pregnancy. By the time he/ she is born, body fat will make up about two-thirds of his/ her weight. The baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises such as the Grace or Riley barking, will actually startle the baby (and also get him/ her used to such noises). His/ her eyes (which have finished their migration to the front of his/ her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed. And since practice makes perfect, the baby is sharpening his/ her sucking and swallowing skills in preparation for that first suckle at the breast or bottle. In fact, most of the survival reflexes that he/ she will have at birth are being perfected in utero right now and there’s some proof that he/ she is truly one of a kind- within the next week or so, the pads on his/ her fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints).
Today, I give thanks to my beautiful wife and the family that we are beginning. I also give thanks to the wonderful friends and family that have supported us through this adventure! I hope everybody has a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season.
Right now, according to “What to Expect” (during week # 12) the baby is in constant motion and because it weighs half an ounce now, and the crown-to-rump length is about two and a half inches, Rachel wouldn’t be able to feel the baby’s daily calisthenics. Apparently, at this point, babies begin growing at different paces, some faster than others, some more slowly, though they all follow the same developmental path. In the past two ultrasounds, the fetus has appeared “top heavy”, meaning that the head was about half the size of its body, which was expected, but by the time the baby makes his or her entrance into the world, its head will be only one-fourth as large as the body. It’s amazing how anatomy & physiology work and how Rachel’s uterus is cooking up a little person!
Since we’ve missed a few weeks of blogging, I thought I’d provide a mini-recap of the developments over the past few weeks. As noted earlier, Rachel continues to feel well and she isn’t having any overt pregnancy symptoms. She’s gained a mere 1.6 lbs. She continues working out at the gym with our faithful friend, Josianna. And more importantly, while away, Rachel continues her gym routines at the hotels where she stays. She tends to be a little more tired than usual and she definitely craves sweets. Here’s what “What to Expect” says about the specific baby developments over the past few weeks:
Week # 12- Fetal Organs and Systems- Most of your baby's systems are fully formed. This week marks a turning point for your baby. The herculean task of developing new bodily structures is nearing an end as most of your baby's systems are fully formed. Now comes the maintenance phase, during which your fetus' systems continue to mature for the next 28 weeks and the organs get to work. The fetal digestive system is beginning to flex its digestive muscle — as it starts practicing contraction movements, a skill your baby will need after birth to push food through the digestive tract. The pituitary gland at the base of the brain has started producing hormones. And the bone marrow is making white blood cells, which will one day help your baby fight infection.
Week # 13- Fetal Growth Rates- Your baby's intestines are also in for some big changes right now. Up until this point, they've been growing in a cavity inside the umbilical cord; but now they're moving to their permanent (and more conveniently located) address, in your baby's abdomen. And to serve your growing baby's needs, the placenta is also growing. It weighs about an ounce now and will weigh one to two pounds at birth. Your baby's vocal chords are also developing this week, because sound can't travel through your uterus, you won't be able to hear any sounds or cries just yet, but those vocal chords will get a good workout once that baby is born.
Week # 14- Your Baby is a Mover (But Not a Shaker Yet)- WOO HOO- Welcome to the 2nd trimester!!!! Growing by leaps and bounds, by week 14 of pregnancy, your baby is leaping and bounding. He/ she is on the move almost constantly — and those movements are a far cry from those jerky twitches of last trimester They are now ballet-like, smooth and fluid. Your baby’s neck is getting longer, helping his or her head stand more erect. This gives your 14-week-old fetus a more straightened-out appearance. Growth is happening on top of the head as well, your baby could be sprouting some hair (though the final color may not be determined until birth) and the eyebrows are filling in, too. Hair growth isn't limited to the baby's head, though. He/ she is also covered with a downy coating of hair called lanugo, largely there for warmth. Most of the lanugo will shed — though some babies, especially those born early, still have a fuzzy coating at delivery (it sheds soon afterward).
Week 15- Baby Kicking and Curling- So what keeps your baby busy all day? Mostly, your fetus is in rehearsals — practice, practice, practicing, and getting ready for that big debut. Babies practice breathing, sucking, and swallowing so that when they leave your comfy womb and move into your comfy house, they'll have the skills necessary to survive. Fetal body movements continue to get practice this week, too. But because your baby weighs so little (a bit over two ounces), you won't feel the calisthenics going on inside your abdominal gym. But don't let that fool you. Your fetus is holding daily aerobics classes — kicking, curling toes, and moving those little arms and legs.
Week 16- Baby's Hearing Develops- Popping out of your clothes yet? At 16 weeks pregnant, you're getting to the point where the bulge in your belly says "baby" and not "fat." So, when you’re screaming about “getting bigger”, remember that the tiny bones in your fetus's ears are in place this week, making it likely that the baby can hear your voice when you're speaking. In fact, studies have found that babies who are sung to while they're in the womb recognize the same tune when it's sung to them after they are born. And baby's busily boning up in other ways. For one, the backbone (along with the back muscles) is stronger now — strong enough, in fact, to enable your baby to work on straightening his or her head and neck even more. Baby's crown-to-rump measurement is between four and five inches in length, and weight is hovering around three ounces.
On this day, the day before Thanksgiving 2008 (November 26th), Rachel is beginning week # 17. Our baby is about five inches long and more than three and a half ounces — they say, it’s the size of an open hand. The Masson baby's body fat is beginning to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of your pregnancy. By the time he/ she is born, body fat will make up about two-thirds of his/ her weight. The baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises such as the Grace or Riley barking, will actually startle the baby (and also get him/ her used to such noises). His/ her eyes (which have finished their migration to the front of his/ her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed. And since practice makes perfect, the baby is sharpening his/ her sucking and swallowing skills in preparation for that first suckle at the breast or bottle. In fact, most of the survival reflexes that he/ she will have at birth are being perfected in utero right now and there’s some proof that he/ she is truly one of a kind- within the next week or so, the pads on his/ her fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints).
Today, I give thanks to my beautiful wife and the family that we are beginning. I also give thanks to the wonderful friends and family that have supported us through this adventure! I hope everybody has a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season.
