The Masson baby weighs about ten ounces and has a height, crown to rump, of about six and a half inches- Think small cantaloupe (and probably as sweet too). Is it a boy cantaloupe or a girl cantaloupe? We'll be able to find out the baby's gender on Monday December 22nd, 2008 @ 3pm. Apparently, if the baby is a girl, her uterus is fully formed this week and her vaginal canal is starting its development. She also has primitive eggs in her tiny little ovaries now, seven million of them — though by the time she's born, that number will be down to two million (still more than she could ever hope to use). And interestingly, your baby girl will be born with all the eggs she'll ever have.
What if the baby is a male? If it’s a boy, his testicles have begun their descent this week, though they're still located in the abdomen, waiting for the scrotum to finish growing so they'll have a place to drop into in a few weeks. Though the external genitals in both male and female fetuses still have a way to grow, you should be able to find out the sex of your baby during the ultrasound exam.
Two appointments ago, Rachel was offered an additional prenatal test. Our theory on these tests have been: 1) As long as our insurance covers the majority of the cost; and 2) As long as there aren’t risks to either Rachel or the baby’s health. So, she had a simple blood test done- actually a small prick of the finger for an “AFP Test.” We didn’t know much about the test, other than it was looking for genetic markers that would indicate the likeliness of genetic abnormalities. With a little research, I found some additional information. Also, our mid-wife, Maggie, is WONDERFUL at explaining the details and especially the “pro’s” and “con’s.” But here’s some more information for all of you who were not in the room with us when Maggie gave her explanation.
When is the Alpha-Fetoprotein test performed?
During the period of 15 to 20 weeks gestation, about halfway through pregnancy, many pregnant women are offered and encouraged to undergo more invasive prenatal testing. One of the tests available is called the AFP or Alpha-Fetoprotein test. The AFP test is a blood test used to screen the baby for certain conditions. The blood taken is that from mom, but a sample can be obtained for testing from amniotic fluid. The AFP test is not a diagnosis. It can only be used to test for the increased likelihood of an abnormality or birth defect.
What is Alpha-Fetoprotein and why is the AFP test done?
Alpha-Fetoprotein is a substance produced by the fetus in utero. AFP stops being produced once the baby is born. The AFP is excreted in the fetal urine which crosses into the mother’s blood stream. This is why AFP can be detected by a blood sample taken from the pregnant mother.
High levels of AFP can indicate an increased chance of the fetus having a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. Another possibility with a high level of AFP can be a low level of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. An abnormally low AFP level can indicate an increased risk of Down syndrome.
The AFP is rarely performed alone. AFP is usually part of a test called a “triple screen.” The purpose of the triple screen test is to use the results of all three blood tests to increase the accuracy of the results. There are practically no risks involved with having the test performed.
The accuracy rate of the AFP test is estimated at 80%. Many times women who under go testing are given results that indicate a high risk for birth defects and the baby is born without an abnormality. This is referred to as a “false positive.”
What if the baby is a male? If it’s a boy, his testicles have begun their descent this week, though they're still located in the abdomen, waiting for the scrotum to finish growing so they'll have a place to drop into in a few weeks. Though the external genitals in both male and female fetuses still have a way to grow, you should be able to find out the sex of your baby during the ultrasound exam.
Two appointments ago, Rachel was offered an additional prenatal test. Our theory on these tests have been: 1) As long as our insurance covers the majority of the cost; and 2) As long as there aren’t risks to either Rachel or the baby’s health. So, she had a simple blood test done- actually a small prick of the finger for an “AFP Test.” We didn’t know much about the test, other than it was looking for genetic markers that would indicate the likeliness of genetic abnormalities. With a little research, I found some additional information. Also, our mid-wife, Maggie, is WONDERFUL at explaining the details and especially the “pro’s” and “con’s.” But here’s some more information for all of you who were not in the room with us when Maggie gave her explanation.
When is the Alpha-Fetoprotein test performed?
During the period of 15 to 20 weeks gestation, about halfway through pregnancy, many pregnant women are offered and encouraged to undergo more invasive prenatal testing. One of the tests available is called the AFP or Alpha-Fetoprotein test. The AFP test is a blood test used to screen the baby for certain conditions. The blood taken is that from mom, but a sample can be obtained for testing from amniotic fluid. The AFP test is not a diagnosis. It can only be used to test for the increased likelihood of an abnormality or birth defect.
What is Alpha-Fetoprotein and why is the AFP test done?
Alpha-Fetoprotein is a substance produced by the fetus in utero. AFP stops being produced once the baby is born. The AFP is excreted in the fetal urine which crosses into the mother’s blood stream. This is why AFP can be detected by a blood sample taken from the pregnant mother.
High levels of AFP can indicate an increased chance of the fetus having a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. Another possibility with a high level of AFP can be a low level of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. An abnormally low AFP level can indicate an increased risk of Down syndrome.
The AFP is rarely performed alone. AFP is usually part of a test called a “triple screen.” The purpose of the triple screen test is to use the results of all three blood tests to increase the accuracy of the results. There are practically no risks involved with having the test performed.
The accuracy rate of the AFP test is estimated at 80%. Many times women who under go testing are given results that indicate a high risk for birth defects and the baby is born without an abnormality. This is referred to as a “false positive.”
1 comment:
Are you sure I'm not that baby's daddy? That cantaloupe looks an awful lot like me...and don't get me started on the quarter...
This is gonna be the longest weekend of waiting ever...thank god the ultrasounds have gotten better, we didn't know Jordan was a boy until he popped out.
...pink or blue...pink or blue...
I wanna know! I wanna know!!!
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