Sunday, January 20, 2008

Eight Reasons Why

Well, would you look at that.

Over there! To the left! See that little moving shape in the black box? Our little baby is starting to look a little less like a blob and a little more human.

According to Pregnancy Week By Week at Babies Online, our baby has a face! Features are becoming more obvious, as his lips, tongue and nostrils, as well as the buds for 20 baby teeth are already present. The back muscles are growing along the spinal column, and his or her reproductive organs have started to form and soon will become either testes or ovaries. The arms and legs are growing and elbows and knees appear as well. The fingers and toes are starting to show but are still webbed. Our baby is about 8 - 11 mm or 0.31 - 0.43 inches in length.

Our baby is starting to show signs of reflex activity - an automatic response to certain types of stimuli Connecting you and the baby, the umbilical cord with all its blood vessels, is starting to function. In fact, what will be our baby's intestine is forming in the umbilical cord as well. An ultrasound done this week would show our baby's fluttering heart and reflex movements.

To commemorate the beginning of the eighth week, I present to you:

Eight Reasons Why This Pregnancy Is Different and Should Result In A RLB*

1) IVF - Good egg, good sperm, good embryo. That's gotta help, right?
2) Lovenox - My stomach is a rainbow of bruises, thanks to the lovely nightly encounter with the needle, but it's worth it.
3) That beautiful heartbeat - At 7 weeks, 1 days, the baby's heartbeat was a nice and steady 145 BPM. Right on track for it's gestational age.
4) Measuring ahead - At 7 weeks, 1 days, the baby measured 7 weeks, 3 days.
5) Pregnancy vitamins - They were a bit harder to keep down this week, but I am giving it my all.
6) Zofran - this week, I had some good days and bad days, but the Zofran still seems to help.
7) Pure and utter faith - As the days tick by, a little bit more hope seeps into my spirit. I am finding myself checking for spotting less (although still pretty constantly) and not worrying as much about every single twinge.
8) Knocking on wood here, but absolutely no spotting. In every single other pregnancy, I have had spotting. With Gummy Bear, it was just a bit and just once, but it was still red blood. Despite my constant checking, I have yet to find even a tinge of brown or speck of pink. Thank God.

*Real Live Baby

12 comments:

Waiting Amy said...

Thanks for doing my homework for me! Its pretty exciting huh? I feel different these last days. More "full".

I'm having a few more good days, or at least parts of them. So glad you are too! Keep thinking good thoughts. I am for you.

Alyssa said...

Katie, I think it is high time you go home with a RLB in your arms, so I couldn't agree more that you've got some good mojo going on over there. :) As always, my fingers are crossed with hope and joy for you!

Anonymous said...

Keep sticking with the positive thoughts, those help the time speed by. Thinking of you.

Anonymous said...

Hoping for a RLB with you. I am glad you are doing well.

AwkwardMoments said...

Happy 8 Weeks to you! Praying with you for that RLB!

Kathy V said...

That is so exciting. I am happy for you. Hopefully you little one continues to grow and grow. Have you thought of a nickname for your little one yet?

Debby said...

I look forward to next week's 9 reasons, then the 10 after that and so on and so on. The no spotting thing is HUGE and I'm so glad that you haven't had to deal with that this time around. So happy for you!

Maria said...

Those are 8 wonderful reasons!!!

I love your little floating baby. Which is now really starting to look like one!!

Happy 8th Week!!

Tracy said...

Every time I read your blog, I SMILE. I am so happy things are going your way, I could just cry.

Thanks for rooting me on...it means the world.

Anns said...

Yay!!!!!!!
Go baby!

PS: I really think that us mothers-to-be should be given carte-blanche when it comes to naming our little ones.. I mean, we're the ones doing all the work!

Mel said...

So glad to read such good and positive words. I am so happy for you!
KEEP THE FAITH.

Antigone said...

I've never measured ahead in each of my three unsuccessful pregnancies. I don't want to 'jinx' myself but I think that if/when we have pregnancy #4, my hopes will utterly hinge on measuring ahead. Anyway, a sincere congrats to you. I really look forward to following your pregnancy (for my own selfish hope of doing the same).