Tuesday, April 13, 2010

14 weeks

This week's big developments: baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his/her thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his/her facial muscles are getting a workout as tiny features form one expression after another. His/her kidneys are producing urine, which he/she releases into the amniotic fluid around him/her — a process he'll keep up until birth. (We actually got to see this last week during the ultrasound. The tech showed us the bladder and you could see tee tee in it!) By now baby is also starting to produce hormones on his/her own. His/her thyroid gland has matured, and her reproductive organs have accelerated their development. If baby E is a boy he is developing prostate glands by week 14, and if baby E is a girl, her ovaries have descended. Blood is forming in your baby's bone marrow, and his/her lungs are working away, preparing for that big day when he/she takes her first breath of fresh air. (We are so ready for this day)
From head to bottom, she/he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon or the size of your fist — and weighs 2 ounces. His/her body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his/her arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of the body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) Baby is starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over the body-even on the head and eyelashes (maybe Baby E will get Daddy's thick eyelashes). Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and the spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his/her tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.(We also go to witness this in the ultrasound...hopefully I will feel him/her within the next couple weeks!)
Mommy this week...
We have finally made it to the second trimester! whoop whoop! I have gotten "sick" twice in the past week. It wasn't bad but let's hope it won't happen again. I think that by switching and taking my vitamins at night I will be much better(fingers crossed). BJ told me on Saturday morning that he could finally tell!!! He may have just told me this b/c he was getting tired of me asking him everyday..haha. I went this past weekend and got a good bit of maternity clothes to start me off. They are actually still a little big but so much more comfortable! I'm already beginning to toss and turn at night. I'm not blaming this on Baby E just yet. I've never been one to sleep on my stomach so it's not that so I'm not sure. I have to have a few pillows...and so does BJ so we're running out of room! ha
Keep on coming week 15...

No comments:

Post a Comment