7 weeks

How your baby's growing:

The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.

1st Appointment

I had my 1st prenatal visit last Wednesday. It was scheduled for 8 am, and thankfully, my sister Katie and niece Catalina spent the night with us (Phillip was out of town) so that I wouldn't have to get Daniel up early and try to get us both ready and to the clinic on time. I didn't get to eat breakfast that morning because they were giving me the glucose test, so I was very hungry as I was driving there! But it actually wasn't as bad as it could have been. I didn't get nauseated or faint or anything like that! My visit consisted of drinking the sugary drink for the glucose test and then waiting an hour before getting my blood drawn. While I was waiting, an RN did some paperwork with me and answered my questions. I found out that I definitely have to have another c-section, which I was prepared for. In my case, they say I had Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD) with my last pregnancy, which is the most common reason for doing a cesarean section. This is a condition in which the baby's head is too large or the mother's birth canal is too small to allow normal labor or birth. Again, in my case, I pushed for 2 hours with absolutely nothing happening. Daniel never dropped down and so that's why I ended up having a c-section. Now, with my 2nd pregnancy, I am not even a candidate for a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-sec) because of the problems last time. These are some of the things the RN talked with me about. We also talked about gestational diabetes. I also had this in the last trimester of my last pregnancy, which is why they are testing me early. I am hoping that I don't have it yet. I won't know for another few days or so. Basically, if I don't get a phone call from the clinic saying I have it, then I don't have it! I'd prefer they call me either way, but I guess I'll know for sure when I meet with my doctor Candy Birch at my next appointment 3 weeks from now...

Snoogle Total Body Pillow

So, I'm thinking I will splurge and get this body pillow for this pregnancy. I got pretty uncomfortable towards the end of my last pregnancy and I think this pillow would have helped me sleep better. Who know though! :) It costs around $50 so it better help!!

Pregnancy Reflections - 2nd Month

The hardest thing for me to give up is: caffeine!! I'm a caffeine addict!

This month I told: my family, Phillip's family, and some girl friends.

They reacted by: giving me congratulations, hugs, smiles and warm wishes! Thanks, everyone!

This month at my prenatal visit I learned that: Haven't gone to my first one yet. This Wednesday is my first.

New pregnancy symptoms I had this month: Extremely exhausted all the time! Ravenous hunger that pops up out of nowhere. No nausea yet...

My hopes: No nausea!!!! No early gestational diabetes.

My fears: That the above will happen!

Six Weeks...

Your pregnancy: 6 weeks

How your baby's growing: This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.

I'm pregnant!!

Well, I found out on March 11th that I am pregnant!! Phillip and I both are very excited and ready to welcome our 2nd baby! It's going to be a HUGE challenge, especially since we already have a rambunctious 2-year old! :)
My first doctor's appointment is next Wednesday, the 25th. I have to go ahead and have the 1-hour glucola test to make sure I don't already have gestational diabetes. I had it with my last pregnancy and it's very likely I'll have it again. I just don't want to have it so soon (well, I don't want to have it at all)!! I would appreciate your prayers in this area. I am prepared to deal with it but I would love to not have to deal with it until later in my pregnancy.
It's still a bit of a shock for me to think of being pregnant again, but I'm very thankful for this new blessing/challenge in my life. And so starts the journey...