13 weeks, whats happening.....

The baby now weighs 14 to 20 grams. The crown-to-rump length of the growing baby is 2.6 to 3.1 inches.
The baby is now about the size of a peach.There is a milky membrane that surrounds the baby. It is pierced by the umbilical cord and is made up of two layers, which are fused together. The placenta provides most of the nutrients and oxygen that the baby needs.
By this week, the placenta is well formed and ready to take over hormone manufacture from the ovaries. The placenta will produce progesterone and estriol. These hormones will be crucial in the maintenance of the pregnancy. Tissue that will form the baby's bones is being laid down, especially around the head and limbs. The nose and chin are becoming more prominent. The baby's eyelids meet and fuse together and they will not open again for nearly four months. The eyes started out on the side of the baby's head and they are now moving closer together on the face. The ears come to lie in their normal position on the sides of the head. If examined outside of the womb, you would be able to distinguish male from female at this time.

The sockets for all twenty teeth are formed in the gums, and vocal cords are beginning to form.

12 week scan

today we went for our 12 week scan.....very exciting...
Even though this is number 4 for me there is nothing like seeing that little jelly bean up on that monitor. The little heart was going ten to the dozen and it was jumping up and down...all healthy and good
the heart beat is sitting at a very good 161 beats a min.
We will know the results of the test in about a week.

Catch up with an old friend

Today I went and had coffee with an old school friend of mine. I haven't seen her since about Feb 1997. She has just returned home from living over seas and she is going back to live in South Africa for a year as her partner is from there and he is unable to immigrate here as yet.

It was great catching up.

Now that I am home I am very tired.....cant wait until I get my energy back....at least the morning sickness has gone

Tomorrow we are off for our 12 week ultrasound to check for Downs syndrome and just to make sure everything is OK....

12 Weeks....whats happening

The baby's crown-to-rump length is almost 2.5 inches and it now weighs between 8 and 14 grams! In just three weeks, the baby's size has more than doubled and begins to look alot more human. Even though I won't be able to feel the baby moving at this time, I would be able to stimulate him and he will squint, open his mouth and move his fingers or toes.

Because most of the structures are already formed at this point, few will be formed after this time. The structures will continue to grow and develop throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. The baby's skeletal system now has centers if bone formation in most of the bones. The digestive system is capable of making contractions that push food through the bowels and it is also able to absorb sugar. The pituitary gland beginning to make hormones.

The baby develops reflexes and the skin is very sensitive.
The brain is fully formed, and the child can feel pain. the baby may even suck his thumb. The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the seventh month to protect the delicate optical nerve fibers.

My girls are back home !!!!

Yesterday we drove to the airport and picked up the girls. They have both grown taller over the month and look so happy. Well not as happy as their mum :)

We came home and the girls unpacked and showed me all their new clothes that they were given. Darian then went and picked up Meg for the night and the kids spent the rest of the afternoon playing...

Will have to take some photos of them....

Pig hunting in the Northern Territory!

Great photo, thought I would share it....

Week 11...whats happening now.

The baby measures about 5 cm from crown to rump and weighs about 8 grams (0.28 ounces), nearly doubling in size during the last week!
Baby now has a limited ability to suck and swallow, although this action is not fully mature until 24 to 28 weeks.
Their taste buds have developed enough to taste the amniotic fluid that surrounds them and their kidneys are now functioning and secreting fluid into their bladder. The baby will soon pass a type of clean urine into the amniotic fluid, in a continuous cycle of swallowing and urinating this fluid to keep their kidneys functioning until birth. The baby also breathes amniotic fluid into their lungs to strengthen the muscle under them and to regularly practice rhythmic expansion of their lungs.
Their stomach now produces gastric juices and they have about 20 baby teeth in their gums! The baby's sex organs are still developing and their typical male or female characteristics are not obvious yet.
Baby's movements are now more coordinated and purposeful. Regular movement is now important for your baby's growth and development. Without it their muscles would waste, their joints would seize and their bones would become brittle. Movement of some description is now a daily part of the unborn baby's life (when they are awake!)

Matthews Paediatrician Review

Yesterday Matthew had his 6 month review with the Paediatrician. He had received the OT's report and was pleased with his progress. He then played a whole heap of games with Matthew, puzzles, building blocks and recognizing common objects.

He is pleased with the progress of Matthews speech and fine motor skills however he is still concerned about Matthew's balance and that is pigeon toeness is getting worse.

Matthew sees the physio for a review on the 30th of this month, so we will see what comes of that.

The Paediatrician will review the test and send out the results in about a week. One thing he did say is that he wouldn't mind Matthew being seen by a Neurologist a PMH, just to check his muscle tone, we have done a muscle enzyme test and that came back normal but the paediatrician is still concerned about the weakness and floppyness of Matthews muscles. So I guess we wait until we see them and see what they say.

Matthews OT Review

Yesterday Matthew had his 6 month OT review. We had a new OT but that was OK. His name was Matthew as well and he was nice.
Well after 1 1/2 hours of playing games there is some great news and not so great news...
In lots of areas including, puzzles, block building , threading, joining and fun things like that Matthew has caught up. he is doing the same things that a normal 3 - 4 year old would do...
However because his fingers are so flexible his drawing and cutting skills are still well below his age range...but we can still work on it.

This is all good news as 6 months ago he was in the 12 - 18 month range for his skills, so all our hard work is paying off.

He has been put down for another block of treatment in the new year...

10 weeks...whats happening.

The baby measures around 3.5 cm from crown to rump and weighs about 5 grams (or 0.18 of an ounce). By now, the baby's complete body plan is laid down. The baby will continue to develop and grow for the remainder of the pregnancy.This week is somewhat of a landmark for the developing baby.By the end of this week all of the baby's major organs will be in place!
Bubs legs are now longer than their arms and large muscles have developed, forming thick bands of padding between their skin and underlying bones. The fingers and toes have separated and the tail has disappeared now
The baby's brain and nervous system are maturing and their muscles and nerves now work together to facilitate their first movements. The baby has taste and tooth buds at this point, which will continue to develop. The brain will continue to grow at an amazing rate and nearly a quarter of a million new neurons are produced every minute!
The baby has primitive reflexes and can respond to touch if stroked on the palm of their hands or the soles of their feet. At the moment the baby's movements are small, jerky and uncoordinated and far too small for me to feel them just yet.
The baby can open their jaw and stretch. Their body is now straighter and small ribs can be seen through their chest.
Their digestive system is developing rapidly.
The embryonic heart is completely developed. External genitalia are not apparent until next week, but a male's testes will already be producing testosterone.

Do we really have to eat ????

Woke up this morning feeling OK, a bit queezy but I think its getting better....yay.
Matthew was still asleep at 7 am so I managed to duck off for a quick shower. Little man didn't wake until 7.30 and I was greeted with a big smile and "hallo mummeee" lets hope he is feeling better. He didn't eat breakfast so I guess his tummy is still feeling a bit off...

Unfortunately we have to go out today, we have become house bound, between me feeling like death and Matthew being ill we have stayed at home .... we need food. We have to leave the house...I cant put off for another day.....

a small catch up.

Well this weekend was quiet and normal. I am still feeling yuk and whats worse is the emotional roller coaster I am currently on.
Matthew is sick at the moment, he has gastro ....poor little soul. It also looks like he has conjunctivitis to add to his misery.

See my life is boring....nothing happening..

What happened this week...

A very quiet week, we had Megan stay with us this week. It made the house less quiet and Matthew enjoyed having someone to play with. Mum came up on Wednesday as they had a hospital appoint to go to so they stayed Wed night. They went to the Perth Royal Show on Thursday and went home yesterday.

I have been feeling a little better, Wednesday I didn't feel sick at all but it came back on Thursday. However there is light at the end of the tunnel...

My tummy is growing already, I am having to dig out the maternity clothes already...I guess it is to be expected with number 4...

The tiredness is easing, though come night time I am stuffed and am in bed asleep by 8.30ish.

Last night Darian, Matthew and myself went to the local pub Whale+ale for dinner. I couldn't be stuffed cooking and didn't want take away. It was very nice....very busy.

This morning Darian had to work 9-12....now that it is summer its getting busy so everyone in the office takes turns for Sat morns...means extra money too....not complaining

So that's it...

The girls rang the other day, they are having a great time, though Eloise is a little home sick. 2 weeks today and they are home....

9 Weeks....what is happening

The baby now measures around 2.5 cm from crown to rump and the webbing between it's fingers and toes has disappeared, creating separate digits. The baby's nail beds are starting to form, but actual nails are not present until they are about 20 weeks gestation.

The baby's heart has developed valves within their aorta and pulmonary blood vessels. These direct blood flow to and from their body and lungs, via their umbilical cord to my body. It's liver is now producing blood cells. This task will eventually be taken over by the baby's bone marrow, once their bones fully mature.

The baby's lungs are growing bronchi tunnels, which will eventually transport air after they are born. The baby's elbows, knees, wrists and ankles are developing. Their bones are initially soft and flexible (made of cartilage) and muscle tissue has begun forming between their skin and bones.
Their neck is more developed, allowing them to slightly lift and turn their head! They may even be able to touch their own face with their hands - the beginnings of thumb sucking!
The baby's ovaries or testes are now well developed. However, both sexes look the same at this early stage because their external sex organs are just beginning to form.

Only 10 more weeks to wait until we can see if baby is a boy or girl....yes we are going to find out.

Something to Share

Well as some of you know Darian and I are expecting baby number 5......well my 4th and his 2nd...doesn't make it any less daunting.

It was planned but we didn't think it would happen this quick.

I am 9 weeks today and the baby is due on the 6th May 2008

We told all the kids together before the girls flew to Kununurra and all seem to be pleased.

I forgot how tiring the first trimester is, I am having to have a rest in the afternoon and am in bed a t 7.30 pm....It doesn't help that I have been having really bad morning sickness. I am talking morning, noon and night...I cant wait for it to go away.

We had out first scan a few weeks ago to make sure I had my dates right....I was spot on and the heart beat was strong and there was only one in there.....

My next scan is at 12 weeks to check for the chance of Downes.....