The Weekly Run-Down: 19

How Far Along: 19 weeks + 2 days pregnant.

Size of baby: Baby is a mango - or a six inch sandwich from Subway, if you're so inclined. :)

Random & Interesting Developmental Stuff:  Here's this week's run-down:

Vernix caseosa begins to coat the skin. The greasy, cheese-like white coating helps regulate body temperature and protects your baby's skin while it's submerged in amniotic fluid. By the time your baby is born, most of the vernix will be gone. Your baby's heartbeat is growing stronger now and it's about twice as fast as yours.

Total Weight Gain: I'm up about 3kg from the first OB weigh-in at 10 weeks. 

Sleep: Since Monday's ultrasound, I've slept beautifully. Maybe it was the worrying making me an insomniac.

Symptoms: More stomach pain, and I'm getting hungrier now. Still with the discharge.

Cravings: White chocolate Magnum icecream. Mmmm.

Gender: IT'S STILL A GIRL! (It's nice to be able to say that.)

Movement: Felt a few jabs this week, but still not consistent. So excited about this!

Maternity Clothes: More dresses - our weather has been 38-40o C quite a lot this week, boo summer.

Milestones: Seeing baby girl (still a girl!) at our morphology scan, looking HEALTHY. Best news ever.

What I'm looking forward to: Hitting 20 weeks in a few days time & having Jase home in a week. Huzzah!

The belly: Poppage!!!!

You can catch up on my weekly pregnancy updates {in reverse order} by clicking here. For bump shots - go here!

Our Baby Girl

Our 19 week morphology scan went well today - thank you for all of the good wishes. And yes, she is STILL a girl! :)

{Seriously - how amazing are those features for a 19 week 4D scan? Incredible!}

We had the same sonographer as last time, which I had been hoping for, as she's very calm and gentle, and totally understood my nerves. Before we even started, she mentioned that the 12-week bloodwork is still very new, and that scans were important too, so I took that advice with a grain of salt before we even began.

Baby has all arms, legs, fingers and toes. We even got to see some of them up close today, as she waved at us!

All organs seemed normal, so that was positive - heart beat was steady at 154bpm. Baby flipped into her favourite 'face plant/frog leg' position halfway through the scan, so we had a few breaks to try filling up my bladder and helping her to stretch her legs out better. Nothing seemed to work! The second or third break was agony: I must have drunk nearly two litres of water, plus juice, plus a banana, and then had to hold it. PAIN, omgosh! But eventually, she flipped, and the sonographer could measure her legs.

We didn't get a very good profile shot today, as she was upside down most of the time - but it was very cute. This isn't the clearest of pictures, but you can see the face and her little hand next to her nose, awww!

We meet with our OB next week {when Jase is actually HOME!} so I suppose we just wait and see what happens next. I am so, so relieved to have had a 'perfectly normal' ultrasound - the fact that baby girl is doing well and growing and frolicking about makes my heart so, so happy. That's all an almost-mum like me could ask for.

18 weeks + 4 days

Thanks for all your reassurances over Monday's upcoming morphology scan. I'm still nervous {surprise!} but I'm also really, really looking forward to seeing baby girl again. The excitement trumps the nerves, always.

I wish there was a better description of what round ligament pain feels like. I have done lots of research, and I'm fairly sure that's what I'm feeling lately, but it's just so.. not concrete. Today, I've had pain down one side - worse when I'm up standing, and better when I'm lying flat. I'm also having weird twinges in the ladyparts; where my cervix is, I imagine? Hoping all is well, but these little pregnancy cramps and spasms are weird, man.

It's been a while since I've share my not-so-little guy here on the blog, but he's doing beautifully. Spencer is  missing his daddy, he's going to go nuts when Jase gets back from Germany. The kitties are also doing well, with Evie being my snuggle-bunny at night & Oscar being my front-door protector. He's there with me whenever it rings. I may be a novice at being pregnant & having kids, but I absolutely adore being a fur-baby mama.

Thoughts & Fears

I haven't mentioned a lot about our high risk possibilities since the aftermath of the 12-week NT scan. There are a few reasons behind it, I suppose. I've been determined to enjoy being pregnant, and not let myself ruin the experience by unnecessary worrying. Also? I don't mention it because I'm afraid of something medical going wrong.

The original risk results that I received said that there was a 1:169 chance of abnormalities. If you remember the details, our scan was great - ultrasound looked normal & the nuchal fold was very average, at 1.4mm. The problems flagged up due to the blood screenings, with low hCG & extremely-low PAPP-A.

When I received the referral for the anatomy/morphology scan, there was an extra number thrown in there. Apart from the 1:169 for Down's Syndrome, it also specified that we were 1:100 for T18. Now those numbers are still a 1% chance, meaning there is a 99% chance that baby is fine - but I was very thrown to have seen the higher risk number there without having being told about it.

At the end of the day, it wouldn't have changed our decision not to have an amniocentesis. We wouldn't terminate this pregnancy, and the risks of complications from the testing still frighten me as much/more than the idea of a special needs child. It just would've been nice to prepare for both odds, especially the higher ones.

My 19-week medical scan is coming up early next week. A part of me is scared, yes. I'm worried about finding medical problems that point out one of the above genetic abnormalities, or a completely unique concern with baby's growth or development. I think most pregnant women worry about having a 'healthy baby' but it seems amplified by the fact that this is our miracle baby. However, the other part of me is strangely calm. There is nothing that I, or hubby, could have done differently in this pregnancy - whatever will be is what was decided from the beginning.

I have faith that we're pregnant with this baby, this time around, for a reason.

Since hubby is still away in Germany, I'll be taking my mum along again with me. She held my hand through the NT scan, cried with me at the gender scan, and will be there for me in the upcoming morphology scan, no matter what the results. And in the meantime, I keep listening to baby's heartbeat, waiting to feel her move, and sending every positive thought & prayer I have out into the universe, hoping she is going to be okay.

The Weekly Run-Down: 18

How Far Along: 18 weeks pregnant! :)

Size of baby: Another ugly veggie - sorry, baby sweet potato. A picture of a capsicum would be much nicer.

Random & Interesting Developmental Stuff:  Here's this week's run-down:

Do you and your partner talk to your baby? Well, with the bones and nerves in her ears now developed enough to function, she can hear all sorts of sounds -- including blood coursing through the umbilical cord, your growling tummy, and your heartbeat. In fact, sudden or loud noises may startle her. Go ahead and sing, tell stories or play music for your baby now. Even though your baby doesn't understand what these sounds are now, eventually she'll recognize your voice better than any other.

Total Weight Gain: Still out of the comfort zone - but I'm hungry a lot, so yah. Doesn't surprise me. 

Sleep: I'm sleeping better, which is good.

Symptoms: So last week's huge boobs? Are now leaking. Isn't that a bit early? Also, I'm having some more intense cramping and pressure in the tummy, and lots of tiredness and soreness all round. Growing pains, I hope.

Cravings: All I want to eat right now is pizza. That craving came seriously out of nowhere.

Gender: IT'S A GIRL! (I love that I can say that now, how incredible.) :) :) :)

Movement: I'm in the 'don't know if that was baby or gas' phase. Nothing concrete that I can identify as baby.

Maternity Clothes: Lots of dresses this week. I'm not liking the feeling of anything touching my tummy.

Milestones: 18 weeks sounds like a milestone in itself. Almost halfway there.

What I'm looking forward to: Monday's 19-week ultrasound. I want to check that Baby Jag is still a SHE baby... and most importantly, that she's healthy. I'm so scared that they'll find something medically wrong, but I'm trying my best to be calm. There is nothing I can do except look after myself & keep baby growing, so that's what I'm doing.

The belly: I think it's fairly safe to say that it's becoming more noticeable as a preggo-belly now.

You can catch up on my weekly pregnancy updates {in reverse order} by clicking here. For bump shots - go here!

17 weeks + 5 days

Just two more weeks until hubby is home. Very excited about that! While we were having a Skype chat this morning, I found the baby's heartbeat & played it for him - he seemed so excited to hear it again. :)

I received my first belly gropes yesterday - both by children under the age of 7! A little girl in my class decided to gently pat my stomach as she left the room at the end of the day, saying 'Bye Baby!' - very cute, though unexpected. And after babysitting a friend's two girls last night, the youngest surprised me with a cuddle and a belly smooch - again, completely random but very sweet. As for adults copping a feel... don't even think about it... yet.

I'm almost 18 weeks along now and still anxiously trying to sense any kind of movement from the wee one. Every night before bed, I lie down and wait - sometimes I'll get a gurgle or a twitch, but then I generally just let one rip. (Oh pregnancy, you so sexy.) My stomach has been so heavy and sore and bloated, like I'm carrying the weight of a full term baby - which I was freaking out about, until I read that my uterus is the size of a rockmelon right now. No freaking wonder it feels heavy. Going from an orange to a rockmelon is ridiculous. 

Speaking of fruits, I'm ready to not have baby be an onion anymore. Bring on Week 18!

Yesterday at work, I could've SWORN I felt something jab me. It wasn't a pleasant, fluttery, butterfly sensation though - it was a sharp poke. It got me twice on the right hand side, and then I didn't feel anything again. I've decided it was either one of my internal organs being shifted, or I just felt my first ninja baby kick. Time will tell. :)

Random stabby pregnancy moment of the day when watching Breaking Dawn pt1: being jealous when Bella gets to feel her creepy vampire baby move in her belly all of five minutes after getting magically knocked up. We have to wait nearly 2 years to get pregnant & she's barfing up chicken in seconds. Why am I watching this crap?

The Weekly Run-Down: 17

How Far Along: We're at 17 weeks and counting!

Size of baby: An onion? Isn't that smaller than an avocado? Sometimes these fruits/veggies confuse me.

Random & Interesting Developmental Stuff:  Here's this week's run-down:

Finally, your baby's arms, legs, and trunk have caught up to the size of his head. Baby starts plumping up this week, as body fat is deposited under his skin and sweat glands develop. Also worth noting: The placenta is almost as big as your baby. It provides vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and oxygen, along with removing waste and filtering carbon dioxide.

Total Weight Gain: Definitely up. I feel like I've gained quite a bit this past week. 

Sleep: I quite enjoy it, yes.

Symptoms: My boobs are feeling HUGE. Also, I keep getting this 'I feel like a bowling ball is going to drop out when I walk' vibe - even though I'm only 17 weeks. Everything feels big and heavy and kind of uncomfortable.

Cravings: Back to dairy. Cheese and yoghurt.

Gender: IT'S A GIRL! (I love that I can say that now, how incredible.) :) :) :)

Movement: Frustratingly, nothing. 

Maternity Clothes: Leggings.

Milestones: No big ones this week, really. I'm just powering away & hoping time goes by quickly.

What I'm looking forward to: The weekend! I'm exhausted. I'm also looking forward to the 19-week scan, which is coming up on Monday week. I am so anxious to see that things look healthy - lots of prayers.

The belly: I'm back to feeling bloated again rather than 'rounded' - my belly feels heavier than last week, for sure. Scary considering that the baby is only the size of an onion, eh? KITTY PHOTO BOMB, ftw.

You can catch up on my weekly pregnancy updates {in reverse order} by clicking here. For bump shots - go here!

17 weeks

This was my view this morning...

Is it scary that my feet are looking a little far-away already, and I'm just 17 weeks? :)

Happy Monday, folks!

16 weeks + 4 days

What a week!

I can't believe that only a few short days ago, I saw my perfect, willy-less little baby on the ultrasound screen - it feels like ages ago. I'll admit, the shock of finding out that it was a girl actually took a few days to sink in, but now I can't imagine her being anything else. {I'm going to laugh hysterically if we find out that things have, er, 'dropped' in the lady-parts department at the 19-week morphology scan!}

Time has been flying since Jase has been away, but it's also standing still. I've bought a little handful of baby goodies, but nothing major - just practical stuff, and some cute bits and bobs. 

School has been horrible. Hot weather, sick kids, you name it, it's happened. Just today I had to send a child in my class home with suspected chicken pox - when we rang the parents, turns out they had been 'worried he would have it' as his younger sister is off sick with it. We've also had head lice, head colds, and a whole slew of mystery lurgies being passed around. This baby is hopefully going to be born with a strong immune system... unlike her mama. 

{Thankfully I've had chicken pox before & my immunities are okay, but still - keep the sick kids at home, peeps.}

As for other pregnancy related rambles, I've had no movement as yet, but heartbeat still sounds good and strong when I check in on the doppler. The cough is finally starting to die down, and I'm sleeping MUCH better. I've had some tightness and stretchy pains in the belly lately, as well as some sharp jabs to the lower back {but only on the right hand side} so I'm assuming everything is growing and shifting as it should be.

How are you all doing this week?

The Weekly Run-Down: 16

How Far Along: 16 & a bit weeks. :)

Size of baby: Baby is an avocado this week - getting a little heavier again, too. AVO BABY... I love you!

Random & Interesting Developmental Stuff:  Here's this week's run-down:

Your baby's delicate skeleton continues to harden from rubbery cartilage to bone. Even so, his bones will remain somewhat flexible for an easier trip through the birth canal. The umbilical cord has fully matured with one vein and two arteries that are protected by Wharton's jelly (a thick substance that makes the cord slippery so it can move freely around your baby). By the way, if you're having a girl, hundreds of thousands of eggs are forming in her ovaries this week -- your future grandchildren!

Total Weight Gain: Up 1kg. Yick!

Sleep: I'm getting a little more sleep now. It's still hard to drift off without hubby there next to me.

Symptoms: Hungry, but also really overheated. I break out into a clammy sweat when I get too hot. 

Cravings: Still frozen drinks. I'm not particularly hungry this week.

Gender: IT'S A GIRL! (I love that I can say that now, how incredible.) :) :) :)

Movement: Still nothing. I'm hanging out for the baby to kick!

Maternity Clothes: Elastic waistbands, friends. Elastic waistbands. That's all I'm saying.

Milestones: Our cheeky gender scan, where we {finally} found out that Baby Jag is a SHE. I'm still in shock!

What I'm looking forward to: Just getting through the next few busy weeks of work. Nothing special coming up for a little while now, so hopefully time speeds up a bit for me.

The belly: I'm not feeling particularly big this week - feels about the same as last week. You decide! 

You can catch up on my weekly pregnancy updates {in reverse order} by clicking here. For bump shots - go here!

Gender Reveal!

You guys... Baby Jag is a GIRL! Can you say mind: blown?

I announced the gender to family & friends with this next picture. If you're wondering why I chose the chicken to help me out, it's because that facial expression mirrored my own after hearing those words. Total shock.

We had a crazy start to the ultrasound. I had been worrying {just a niggling feeling} that the baby was going to play cheeky and keep it's legs crossed - and wouldn't you know it, the minute we started the scan, it was in the most awkward, face-planted position in the womb, fast asleep. I rolled, I twisted, and baby stayed sleeping. It was adorable, but not ideal for an ultrasound! Baby looked like this:

I was sent out for a few brisk laps of the block, told to empty my bladder & drink some more liquids. A quick plea to the interwebs on 'how to wake up my sleeping baby for an ultrasound' suggested orange juice and sugary soft drink, so I grabbed one of each, walked, jumped, and drank! Thankfully, this worked a charm. The second scan showed baby flipping around, hiccuping, doing all sorts of crazy movements. We flipped into 4D mode and saw some baby stretching out - such long legs compared to last time!

After a good ten minutes of prodding and rolling, we still hadn't gotten a good look at the baby's gender - not for lack of trying! The legs were crossed at the ankle, and baby eventually rolled back face down, doing little frog leg jumps. Very cute. But... finally! We got our lottery shot {which you can see on the reveal photo above} - and the sonographer announced that we had a little girl on the way. OH MY GOSH!

I was so shocked. I would've put money down that we were having a little man, I was so sure we'd see a willy. I just kept repeating 'there's nothing there! there's really nothing there!' and starting at the screen. Totally crazy. I watched our DVD {a few times, ahem} when I got home, just to be sure - and there really wasn't anything there. 

It's a girl!

{In case you were wondering... I rang Jase straight after the appointent. I woke him up, since it was nearly 2am in German time, and he is thrilled. We both are! So lucky and blessed.}

Now to pray baby girl keeps on growing and stays healthy - three more weeks until our 19-week morphology scan.

Thanks everyone for voting! The final result was 68 boy/60 girl, so pretty close. :) 

Boy or Girl? Time to Cast Your Votes!

Our 16 week early gender scan is tomorrow! I'm really excited, both about seeing the baby again for the first time in a month, and about hopefully finding out whether my instinct was right or oh-so-wrong!

Now... I'm going to be very logical up front, reminding myself that there is a very good chance that our little one will be bashful & keep his/her legs closed - that's what most of my 12 week 3D pictures showed!

But, on the odd chance that we DO find out tomorrow in our quickie ultrasound, how about a little guessing game?

What do you think - Is Baby Jag a boy or a girl?

Here are some old wives tales & predictions to help you guess...

• Baby's heartbeat has been consistently over 140bpm at every scan so far. {It was even 139 at just 7 weeks!}
• Even though it's early days with the bump yet, baby is still sitting very low, down near the pubic bone.
• My hair has gotten thinner, and my face is dry and splodgy - pregnancy glow, ha!
• I've had no morning sickness with this pregnancy.
• I prefer salty foods over sweet foods, and spent my first trimester obsessed with dairy products.
• All the tests I do come out with 50/50 odds, except for the Chinese Gender test

As for me, well, you guys know I've been calling Baby Jag a 'he' since very early on - just a gut instinct. I was never a real girly girl myself, so maybe that's why I feel boy. I am just praying all looks good and healthy.

So... leave your thoughts in the comments - boy or girl, and why? {& cross your fingers for a good potty shot!}

Is Baby Jag a Boy/Girl?
	Boy
	Girl
pollcode.com free polls

15 weeks + 4 days

I had my second OB appointment today. It was scheduled for 9am, but I left early because I was nervous about driving & parking at the busy hospital on my own - thankfully, all was good on both fronts. There were two things I was nervous about for this appointment - my weight and my blood pressure.

Since I arrived early, I'd brought my handy dandy urine sample cup & a bottle of water, thinking I'd fill 'er up while I was waiting. Peeing at will is NOT a problem I've been having lately - not since the first positive pregnancy test, actually - but wouldn't you know it? All liquids and running water aside, I could barely fill up a quarter of a cup.

I felt like the least pregnant woman in the OB's waiting room today - seriously, little porker belly had nothing on some of the gorgeous mamas there today. Once I was in with the doctor, we went over blood pressure {slightly lower this week, but still borderline at 130/90} and how I'd been feeling - he's all for me getting some cough suppressants to help me sleep, thank heavens! Otherwise, he said that I seemed well - should we try for the heartbeat?

YES, PLEASE.

Baby Jag was there immediately - a nice, loud heartbeat at 156bpm. I've been hearing him at home, but it's nice to have the medical professional comment on how all sounded very well. Dr. P then measured my uterus, giving my belly a good old squish in the process, and my fundal height is measuring at 16 weeks - not bad, since I'm 15+4.

No more visits for a few more weeks, but I'm armed with my 19 week referral scan for the BIG ultrasound, and I'm looking forward to our sneaky 16 week early gender scan next week.

As for irony... remember my shy bladder? Well, his midwife was off sick today, and so they skipped urine checks & weight checks to avoid a backlog. No need for pee! And if you want even MORE irony? The urge to pee was so strong on the drive home that I had to pull into a McDonalds to use their restroom. Ah, the joys of pregnancy...