Friday, March 20, 2009

Pregnancy is not 10 months

A year has 52 weeks (12 months).
You are pregnant for 40 weeks (9 months).
You are not pregnant for 12 weeks (about 3 months).

The average month has 4.3 weeks in it.
If you are pregnant for 40 weeks, that comes to 9.3 months.
Which is like nine months and a week.
So don't count the first "pre-conception" days and you get nine months.
Even a 42 week pregnancy (from LMP) is still not 10 months.

http://www.babiesonline.com/articles/pregnancy/a10monthpregnancy.asp


I'm currently 19 weeks + 1 day so that means I'm 4 months pregnant...I won't be 5 months pregnant until 21 weeks + 4 days (April 6th). =)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Aloha Festival


I took the girls to the Aloha Festival over the weekend. They enjoyed eating shaved ice and making paper leis. They walked all day and felt exhausted by the time we got back home!

Monday, March 16, 2009

18 week ultrasound

My 18 week ultrasound went well!!! Mostly everything is growing just as expected. There was one minor thing. The baby has a slight issue with the development of the choroid plexus area of the brain. It really does not mean anything but coincidentally, I researched this type of abnormality before my appointment. I found it interesting. This specific area of the brain is responsible for producing fluid. It has nothing to do with the "thinking" part of the brain. Bilateral choroid plexus cysts can be a soft-indicator of a chromosomal defect called Trisomy 18. The good news is that T18 is rare and in most cases the cysts are typically resolved in the 3rd trimester and the baby is born 100% normal and healthy.

My risk for a chromosomal defect was reduced to 1 in 10,000 at my 13 week ultrasound (the lowest it can be). The hands, feet, heart, spine, and placenta look completely typical. Therefore, the "heterogeneity" in the brain is just the tissue growing and changing. My baby does not have true cysts. I will not require another ultrasound because the doctor is confident that the abnormality is completely benign.

One more thing...it's a boy for sure!

Here are some videos of the appointment:

Listen to the heart beating

Anatomical Survey Part 1 (Dr. describes brain)
Anatomical Survey Part 2 (gender and more)

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

16-17 weeks pregnant

I'm at a scary part in my pregnancy. Last year, I lost Cole between my 16 week check-up and my 18 week ultrasound. He was fine at 16 weeks and his heart was no longer beating when I went for a routine ultrasound 2 weeks later. I lost Cole to cytomegalovirus (CMV). My doctor described it as being struck by lightening. It's uncommon but I'm still nervously waiting for my 18 week ultrasound this month. My 16 week check was good. The baby moved so much it was difficult to get his HR for more than a few seconds! Luckily, I feel my little one kicking and rolling every night at bed time and here and there during the day.

Here is a picture of my belly at 16 weeks. I've grown in size and gained a few pounds. I don't even try to wear my regular pants anymore. Maternity pants are much more comfy.

I found a fun game online...please click HERE to guess when my baby will be born.
Last, I found a silly website that will combine 2 pictures and produce a hypothetical picture of your future baby. I'm positive that you will enjoy the laugh!