3 months and counting

So much for updating this every week!! lol. Life gets busy. Well. Let's see. Last midwife appointment was September 15th, 2010. The baby's heartbeat was 156. Weight gain is great. I weigh 231, so I've gained about 4 pounds so far.

Nausea is going away, which I'm grateful. My acne is starting to clear up and hormones are getting the best of me. I'm quick to snap at someone, yet I can be really upbeat and happy. Funny thing that just happened- I was watching a show called Fear Factor and I was fine until they started eating stuff, like coagulated blood balls, pig rectums, live ants, 100 year old fish eggs, bull penises, etc. Well, I had just eaten a LOT of Spaghetti-O's and.. I had to run to the bathroom and vomit. LOL. That makes a total of three times I've thrown up since pregnant. Not bad.

So this is the status at 3 months:

Fetal Development:

By this point, nearly all of the organs and structures of the fetus are formed. They will continue to grow and develop until delivery. Fingers and toes have separated and hair and nails begin to grow. The genitals begin to take on their gender characteristics. Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as thebaby's kidneys begin to produce and excrete urine. The muscles in the intestinal walls begin to practice peristalsis - contractions within the intestines that digest food.

Maternal Changes:

Around this week, your uterus will shift up and forward as it grows. The good news is it won't be pressing on your bladder so much and those bathroom visits will get less frequent. Enjoy this while you can because by the third trimester, the uterus will grow large enough to sit on your bladder once again. Morning sickness is usually getting better by this time, and you may be less tired. Headaches and light-headedness are common now thanks to the increased blood volume but be sure to discuss these symptoms with your care provider.

Ideas for Dad:

Mom is probably feeling better. Now's a good time to exercisewith her regularly. Go out for a nice walk in your neighborhood and be sure to hold hands.

And here is the status for 14 weeks, which will be on September 23, 2010 :

Fetal Development:

Our baby is a whopping 3 1/2 inches long and is 1 to 2 ounces. S/he begins to practice inhaling and exhaling movements. The eyes and ears continue to move and develop, the neck is still getting longer, and the baby's chin no longer rests on his/her chest. The hands are becoming functional, and the baby is beginning to learn to move/use them (probably more reflex than anything). At this point, our little one is receiving all of his/her nourishment from the placenta. If you haven't already, you should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat with a doppler. Don't panic if you can't (I know, easier said than done.) ~ an ultrasound can confirm a beating heart if it isn't heard through a doppler.

Maternal Changes:

By now, pregnancy hormones are leveling off. This means less nausea, less frequent urination and less exhaustion. What a relief! However, you may be experiencing some constipation since those darned hormones have relaxed your bowel muscles causing them to work slower and less efficiently. Your uterus is also pressing on your bowel. Be sure to increase the fiber in your diet if constipation becomes a problem. You may notice the veins on your chest and breasts are dilated and more noticeable. The areolas of your breasts may be darkening and growing in diameter. Your body has been preparing for breastfeeding since you became pregnant!

Ideas for Dad:

How are you dad? Are you totally stressed out worrying about finances, working overtime and fretting about expenses? If so, stop and take a deep breath and then try to rationally assess your situation. Are your worries out of proportion to your family'sreal needs? Many times, men are expected to handle family finances which becomes dad's focus while he's actually hiding his true worries - fear of fatherhood and the pregnancy. Think about what your REAL worries are. Often putting your finger on them is enough to make them smaller.