Baby girl fetus is 20 weeks along!

At 20 weeks, her digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth.  I think I will leave that diaper for the hubs - I hear it really freaks out the guys!
By now, she is sucking in and out and practicing breathing.  All these motions are very important little helpers for after she's born when she has to start feeding.

It's a girl!!!!!

We are very excited to announce that we will be having a little girl!  At 19.5 weeks, she is 15cm from crown to rump.  The pic is from the full anatomy scan so the resolution was such to see organs and bones clearly...as you can tell from the Alien-ish view of her spine.  Her head is in the bottom right-center of the shot and you can see her legs at the other end curled up to her belly.  It's kind of a creepy shot, but I still think she's cute!  Dr. says all looks very healthy.  We are very, very excited!!!

What baby is up to at 19 weeks

This week baby is building a protective layer of cheese on his or her skin; sorta. Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. This layer can resemble cottage cheese.  Soon the baby will start gaining more fat and weight...as will I, I assume.

We have an appt!

By next weekend we should know the sex of the baby!!!!  Then we (I) really get to start our nursery and registry!  Woot! Woot! 

What baby is up to at 17 weeks

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.
Soon, I will again be able to see our one-of-a-kind little gem...but not until the HMO finds the correct ultrasound facility...Stay tuned!

Anxious

We had our 3 month appointment last week and although we got to hear the baby's heartbeat - Woot!, and had to give blood - blech, no new pictures. Now that I know all of the changes the baby has made, I am just dying to see him or her again! I am in line to have the 2nd trimester ultrasound - would love to do 3D or 4D - but it is done at a facility other than my doctor's office so I have to wait for the authorization and appt. contact info from my HMO/medical group. Last time I had to do something similar, 1st trimester blood test and ultrasound, it seemed as though I got the notice so quickly - of course, I wasn't as anxious then because I had just seen my baby at the 11 week appt. and who really gets anxious to give blood?

Anyway - I am very anxious. Authorization sent from Dr. to HMO/medical group last wednesday....and now I am waiting....waiting....not exactly patiently.

Oh, and did I mention we get to find out the baby's gender at this upcoming ultrasound????? Woot! Woot!!!!!!!!!!