16 Weeks / 4 Months pregnant today!

Today I am 16 weeks pregnant (which equates to 4 months)! I still haven't felt the baby move yet. Last night I think I might have felt flutters...but I am not positive.  I weighed in and so far I am up 5 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight. So I am gaining, slowly but surely!

Baby is the size of an avocado this week: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces.  Baby's chest expands and contracts, drawing amniotic fluid into the lungs to prepare the lungs for breathing. Finger prints are forming and facial features are looking more like a baby and less like an alien! Ha!

Last night Jesús said my belly was taking on more of a basketball shape, all in front.  So, I know I am starting to show now, but I am still able to fit into my pants that I wear for work since they are a stretchy material.  However, I can't button my jeans anymore so I bought a "belly band" to wear if I want to wear jeans. This Sunday we are going shopping and I'll get a pair of maternity jeans. :-)

We made the 20-week Level II ultrasound appointment for August 28th.  So, that is when we find out the gender of our baby! I want to tell my immediate family all at once so I am thinking about doing a "Google Hangout" which is an online web chat that can have up to 10 people.  And then we can reveal the gender during the hangout :-)  I'm still working on the details for that...

Other than that...there isn't any more news.  Until next time...

- Lisa

Third appointment with the doctor went well

We had our third appointment with Dr. Gladdin last night. He asked how everything was going and I told him about my legs cramping at night and also about my heart palpitations.  He checked my legs (did some flexing of my foot and compressions on my calves) and asked if I felt pain anywhere. He was checking to see if there were signs of a blood clot. I didn't feel any pain or discomfort so he said to start eating more potassium (bananas) and more calcium. So I will.  Also, he said that he's not concerned about the cramping since there wasn't any pain when he checked.  He said to keep aware of my heart palpitations, but at this point he isn't concerned since it is normal and there isn't any chest pain or shortness of breath along with the palpitations. So, I wasn't really concerned in the first place, but knowing he isn't too concerned and that all is normal eases my mind even more.

He was able to find baby's heartbeat very fast this time! It sounded good and was at 152 beats per minute.  He said that I can call today and schedule a Level 2 Ultrasound for week 20. Technically, this ultrasound is done because I am over 35 and they want to check for any signs of abnormalities...however, we will also get to check the gender!! Yippee! I can't wait to find out!  I guess this Level 2 ultrasound is very detailed and clear and better than normal ultrasounds and will last about 30-45 minutes.  So I can't wait!

Lastly, he checked my weight and asked if I was eating anything! Ha! He asked since I've only gained about 4-5 lbs so far. I told him I was eating and not depriving myself, but I wasn't overdoing it. I don't know that my stomach has ever growled since I've been pregnant...so I know I'm eating :-)

 As we were leaving, he said we were the easiest patients ever.  So that made me feel good. The entire appointment lasted only about 15 minutes. The next appointment with him will be on August 22nd.

15 Weeks - Baby is about 4 inches long now!

Yesterday I made it to 15 weeks pregnant.  Time is going fast...yet slow at the same time! There are certain milestones I am looking forward to and they don't seem to come fast enough. For example, I want to feel the baby move and I want to know the gender...but I still have to wait for that to happen.  

So, my weekly email says that the baby is approximately 4 inches long from crown to rump and weighs about 2 1/2 ounces.  He/she is about the size of an apple (lengthwise).  Baby started "breathing" the amniotic fluid to help his/her lungs develop.  Also, baby can sense light now! I've learned so much in Massage Therapy school about our anatomy that it amazes me how fast everything develops knowing how intricate God made us. It blows my mind!

I've had a couple new symptoms the past week.  I've had a few nose bleeds so I bought some tissues to keep in my purse.  I don't want a nose bleed on the train while I'm commuting and then not have anything to take care of it! Also, I have noticed when I wake up at night and stretch my legs I start getting slight cramps in my calves.  And lastly, mostly in the morning and at night I am having some heart palpitations.  I will let my doctor know about these on Thursday when I see him. However, I know that it is all normal.  Also, my abdominal muscles are stretching. I feel it mainly at the end of the day. I can't imagine what it will feel like when the baby gets even bigger!  Other than that, I feel pretty good!  

Have a wonderful week!
Lisa

Baby's heartbeat at 14 weeks and 4 days

We bought a fetal doppler so that we could listen to the baby's heartbeat whenever we want at home. I was able to find the heartbeat last night and it was really strong :-)  In the days before, we would find it but then baby would move and we would have to go searching again!  So I was overjoyed last night listening to our baby's heartbeat.  He/she finally stayed calm and in one place so I could listen for a long time.  So precious!

The doppler calculated the heart rate to be in the 130's...however, when I counted it out/calculated it, it was more in the 150 range.

14 Weeks!

Today I am 14 weeks pregnant.  I weigh myself every week as well and I am only up 1.8lbs.  So, I'm doing pretty good with not overeating just because "I'm eating for two".  I was always fearful that I would slip into that habit of thinking and gain way to much weight and never get it off afterwards.  Don't get me wrong, I am not depriving myself by any means.  I am just eating better foods for snacks (cherries, nectarines, plums, grapes, greek yogurt, eggs, etc.) and for meals.

In the email I get from Babycenter, the baby is now the size (or length) of a lemon! He/she is weighing roughly 1 1/2 ounces and measuring about 3 1/2 inches from head to bottom – baby can squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his/her thumb! It baffles my mind that I have a 3 1/2 inch baby in my tummy and I can't feel it move. It just seems as though we should be able to feel it moving...but, every website said you probably won't feel movement until you between week 16 and 22 for first time pregnancies.

 

Today I ordered a fetal doppler so that we can listen to the baby's heartbeat at home. I am so excited for that to show up in the mail!  I know my husband is excited too. He said the baby has things to tell daddy but daddy can't hear! So sweet :-)

My next doctors visit is in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to that as well. I am hoping that he will schedule me for a gender ultrasound by week 20. We decided we do want to find out the gender early so we can narrow down and focus in on names. :-)

I think that is all the updates I have so far.  Have a blessed day!