Fetal development in pregnancy week 10:

Your astonishingly tiny baby has graduated from embryo to full blown fetus! And so it should be, as they’ve been hard at work growing as fast as possible—almost doubling in size in the past three weeks! Amazingly, you’re in for a repeat size doubling performance within the next three weeks! Your tiny champion still weighs less than a quarter of an ounce but has already completed the most critical stage of their development. Using Doppler technology, your doctor or gynecologist can let you hear their tiny rapid fetal heartbeats this week (145-165 beats per minute!). Chances for miscarriage are greatly reduced when the heartbeat can be detected, so take a sigh of relief if you’ve been needing one—it hasn’t been an easy ten weeks! What’s more, they’re getting ready to make their first baby poop! Your little one’s major organ systems are developing, including a functioning digestive tract capable of moving food all the way through their bowels. The final shiny gold star on their fetal behavior chart for the week: your little scrapper has already developed defense mechanisms to protect them on reflex!

And how’s mom doing?

More good news for mom: the placenta has grown substantially, in both size and function. It is now beginning to manage some of your child’s hormones, finally taking some of the hormonal burden off of you! Since the placenta has gradually taken over the hormone production for your baby, you should finally start to notice that much-awaited decrease in morning sickness symptoms. Like everything else, though, this is just a general guideline… if you have lingering effects for another couple of weeks, don’t fret (or fret, but don’t blame us)—pregnancy is not a standardized procedure so much as an individual journey.

From: http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/calendar/week10

Fetal development in pregnancy week 9:

Voila! Your amazing growing baby has now been accepted into to the fetus club, a very exclusive and exiting new stage in their prenatal development. Basically, this means the little sweet pea has graduated from swimming embryo creature to a recognizable human being!

This week in particular, the irises of their little eyes can function, but (frustratingly for them?) their eyelids remain fused shut for a while yet. The external ears are formed, and their inner ears are now filled with fluid—so your little one actually has started to develop their sense of balance. Your baby’s little swimmer legs are still relatively short, although other developments are going forward at a nice pace: their kidney is actually functioning now, which means they’ve started urinating (this might seem charming now but wait till you have to start buying diapers!).

And how’s mom doing?

You’re nearing the end of the first trimester and while there are plenty of dynamic and noticeable changes going on inside of you, not many changes are noticeable to you save a mildly bulging midline– which doesn’t quite look pregnant enough to be exciting. Although your body might seem a little boring right now, you can expect the creeping up effect as you will gain roughly 1-2 lbs gain per week (some more and some less). It’s not a bad idea to chart this to make sure you’re not over or underfeeding both of you. As you’ve entered into the Fetal Period, it might be a good time to evaluate your personal health regimen—that is, if you haven’t already. Are you eating enough protein? Remember, protein can be found in beans, soy products and nuts—it doesn’t have to be a 12 ounce sirloin! Sleeping well, exercising right, drinking enough (non-sugary) fluids and getting your vitamin C? Having a baby is the ultimate test for your body—if you take care of your health now you’ll come out of the pregnancy on top of your health and ready to be an energetic mother, if not, well, let’s just say, you’re increasing the chances of suffering from depression, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, and a multitude of little nasty viruses (think colds and flues) that good health could beat before you even noticed they’d invaded.

From http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/calendar/week9

A Note from Me: My morning sickness seems to have eased a little over the last couple of days. My mornings are bearable, not much nausea at all, but it seems to hit me in the afternoon. I’m still really tired all the time but hopefully over the next couple of weeks I’ll get a bit more energy back. I can’t beleive that I’m 9 weeks pregnant already. The weeks seem to be going pretty quickly which is good considering this part of the pregnancy is not much fun.

I’ll be going to see my Doctor in the next two weeks. I haven’t bothered until now because he doesn’t do any tests and scans until 12 weeks if all is going well, which it is. I can’t wait to see his face when I tell him I’m pregnant again. I’m sure he thinks I’m already nuts…. which I am

Fetal development in pregnancy week 8:

We’ve got one whole inch of baby to measure! Your little embryo has finally reached the one-inch mark (30mm) at last. And if it were possible to take a peek, you could see your tiny baby with your naked eye! What’s more, your baby is finally starting to take on some very distinct human features. For starters, their little tail (really just the spinal cord) has disappeared completely. It’s nice to know your baby can no longer be mistaken for a sea creature! Additionally, both their toes and fingers are prominent with very little, if any, webbing. Upper and lower limbs all show recognizable joints (elbows and knees) and the lower limb bones are starting to ossify. But don’t expect your baby to resemble either parent quite yet. Right now, your baby’s head is disproportionately larger than the rest of their body–making up almost half of your little one’s height and weight!

And how’s mom doing?

Your slightly-larger-than-a-cherry embryo is also starting to have a physical impact on you this week—and not just hormonally, as you may be noticing a slight bulge at your midline. Most people wouldn’t even notice the change, but since you’re tuned in to every little change in your body, it hasn’t slipped past. Good news for the hormonally tortured: if you have been extra moody lately, that may start to subside this week, as the placenta is just starting to make your baby’s hormones. This means your body will soon be able to relax its over-production of hormones as the placenta starts to regulate your baby’s hormones– allowing your body to focus on producing more “regular levels” of hormones.

At this point any close family or friends have undoubtedly noticed you’re a little more moody and/or irritable than usual. And there are probably times where you’re ready to tell the world off (maybe you already have), but it’s always worth the time and effort to explain to yourself and others the reason for your current emotional rollercoaster; you don’t have to be a monster just because you feel a little whacked out. Focus on your breathing and energy levels. Take naps if you feel fatigued but don’t be afraid to take long walks outside for fresh air. Sit down if you start to feel nauseous, eat (healthy vitamin-rich) foods when you’re hungry. Even though there’s no bi-weekly paycheck or boss, pregnancy is harder work than you might think and you need lots of positive physical and emotional energy to provide your baby with the safest strongest home possible.

Fetal development in pregnancy week 7:

Your baby is really beginning to develop more physical definition this week – their oversized head isn’t just large and oblong anymore, it’s actually a little bit pointy. The tiny receding tail bud is now starting to be overshadowed by the growth of their legs, which are now complete with knees and the beginnings of toes. Their eyes and ears are the most visible features on the head and miniature bones are starting to harden throughout their body. You also have some variation on a boy or a girl at this point although their genitals won’t be visible enough to determine which color cigars you’re going to buy until around the 16th week.

And how’s mom doing?

Your hormones are still out of whack because the placenta won’t take over hormone production for your little one for another couple of weeks. So until then, expect more of the same. At this point any close family or friends have undoubtedly noticed you’re a little more moody and/or irritable than usual. And there are probably times where you’re ready to tell the world off (maybe you already have), but it’s always worth the time and effort to explain to yourself and others the reason for your current emotional rollercoaster; you don’t have to be a monster just because you feel a little whacked out. Focus on your breathing and energy levels. Take naps if you feel fatigued but don’t forget the plentiful benefits of long walks outside for fresh air and exercise. Sit down if you start to feel nauseous, eat (healthy vitamin-rich) foods when you’re hungry. Even though there’s no bi-weekly paycheck or boss, pregnancy is harder work than you might think and you need lots of positive physical and emotional energy to provide your baby with the safest strongest home possible.

From http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/calendar/week7

I found this on the Baby Gaga Pregnancy Calender……

Fetal development in pregnancy week 6:

A lot is going on with your little embryo this week! Their brain is still growing remarkably fast; miniature hand plates are starting to develop and the early formations of their individual fingers are visible. The lower limbs do not develop quite as fast, so they’re pretty much still flippers. Up until this point, your baby has been very curled up with the head and tail in close proximity, but this week their trunk and neck are beginning to grow and straighten as their tail recedes into its resting position in the back. Even though your little miracle is only 6 weeks old, they’re already demonstrating reflex responses to touch!

And how’s mom doing?

It’s official (grumble): if you’re going to have morning sickness, you’ll be feeling the unpleasant symptoms starting some time this week. If you don’t, then chances are you’re in the clear (but don’t blame us if we’re wrong!) There are always a handful of women who are officially morning-sickness late-bloomers with another week or two before the nausea sets in. There are several factors that can help you determine whether or not you you’re one of the unlucky ones. If you are having twins (or more), or had morning sickness with an earlier pregnancy, or experienced nausea or vomiting with birth control pills, then you might expect to have morning sickness with this pregnancy. To lessen your symptoms, you’re going to have to buckle down and focus on cleaning up your diet. Don’t eat fatty foods, drink lots of fluids, eat several small meals throughout the day, take plenty of naps, and don’t forget the prenatal vitamins! (Have you consulted with your doctor of nutritionist yet?) For those of you without morning sickness: don’t dwell on it. A certain percentage of (lucky) women never experience morning sickness, and this is perfectly normal too.

From http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/calendar

I brought myself a Pilates for Pregnancy DVD off eBay the other day and I can’t wait to get it.

Each pregnancy for me has gotten progressively more uncomfotable than the pregnancy before, especially in the later months. So this time I’m determined to minimise the discomfort as much as I possibly can.

And I’m going to do this by doing pilates The blurb on the DVD says it will help:

• Reduce back pain
• Stretch tight muscles to reduce risk of sciatic and lower back pain
• Improve flexibility and breathing
• Improve posture to minimise discomfort during babys growth
• Maintain muscle tone during pregnancy

It all sounds good to me. It will be interesting to see in 8 months time if it has made any difference. There’s only one way to find out

Folic Acid: A must for Women

Folic Acid, a much neglected vitamin in most women’s diet, is a naturally occurring vitamin B (also called vitamin B9) that helps a baby’s neural tube, the part of a developing baby that becomes the brain and spinal cord, develop properly. Neural tube defects are defects of the spinal cord and brain. If normal development does not occur, spina bifida and other anomalies can occur. Several studies suggest that women who do not consume enough of the B vitamin folic acid before and during the early weeks of pregnancy are also at increased risk of having a baby with a heart defect.

Your body also needs this nutrient for the production, repair and functioning of the DNA, our genetic map and a basic building block of cells. So getting enough folate is particularly important for the rapid cell growth that occurs during pregnancy.

Folate is also required for a complex metabolic process that involves the conversion of one amino acid in your blood (homocysteine) into another amino acid (methionine). If you don’t get enough folate, you can end up with excessive amounts of homocysteine in your blood, which is thought to contribute to some birth defects.

Finally, folate helps make normal red blood cells, prevents anemia, and produces nervous system chemicals.

The signs of folic acid deficiency are very subtle. You may experience diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss as well as weakness, a sore tongue, headaches, heart palpitations and irritability. If you are only mildly deficient, you may not experience these symptoms, but you still won’t be getting the requisite amount needed for your baby’s development. Thus the importance of folic acid for a childbearing woman can’t be stressed enough.

Natural sources of folic acid are broccoli, legumes, asparagus, spinach, peanuts, orange juice, papayas, and romaine lettuce, among others. Folic acid is also found in most multivitamin supplements and as well as a folic acid only supplement. If you, like most people, don’t get the amount of folic acid you need from your diet, you definitely should consider taking a supplement. Research shows that the body actually absorbs the synthetic version of this vitamin (found in supplements and enriched foods) much better that the version that occurs naturally in certain foods.

Article Source: http://www.articleinterchange.com

Jack Smith writes about various vitamin, nutritional supplement, mineral, and diet topics. Please Visit Directory of Vitamins for more vitamin and mineral supplement resources.

This whole pregnancy thing is wearing me out. I have noticed that by about 2pm I am ready to have a sleep. Of course I can’t because I have to pick up the girls from school at 3pm.

Yesterday while Riley lay down for a nap at lunch time, I lay down with him. He always has his day time nap in my bed, so I put on a movie and Caitie and I joined him. I didn’t get any sleep but just having the rest was very helpful. Caitie who doesn’t have naps anymore also benefited from having a little bit of a rest.

I wasn’t tired at all in the afternoon and even managed to sit through 2 hours of the girls dancing without to much trouble.

So from now on I’ll be napping with Riley everyday. I’m going to miss my quiet time, I like to potter around in the house or garden while Riley is having a sleep, but a rest is much more beneficial for me at the moment.