July 10-16

[Arwyn]

Anyone else notice it's a new week?

So, we should have women ranging from 2-4 weeks post-ovulation here, right?

Two weeks past ovulation
Fetal Development:
Taking root! Implantation occurs. Once the blastocyst gets to the uterus, it searches for a spot to settle down. Blastocyst means "sprout pouch," and these cells begin to divide into two groups - those that form the placenta and those that form the baby. The blastocyst will burrow itself into the lining of the uterus which is called implantation.

Three weeks past ovulation
Fetal Development:
The developing embryo has three layers. In the top layer (ectoderm), the neural tube will form which will further develop into the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, skin and hair). In the middle layer (mesoderm), the heart and circulatory system, bones, muscles, kidneys and reproductive organs will develop - eventually. At this stage, however, the heart and primitive circulatory system will rapidly form. In fact, the circulatory system is the first organ system to function. In the inner layer (endoderm), a simple tube will develop into the intestines, liver, pancreas and bladder.

Four weeks past ovulation
Fetal Development:
My Heart Belongs to You!
The first heartbeats have begun! The baby is now an embryo and is about 1/17 of an inch long. Growth is very rapid this week. The umbilical cord develops. The eyes and ears begin to form as well as an opening for the mouth. The heart has begun to pump blood and most of the other organs are well under construction. Buds form on the body that will become the arms and legs.

Information is from www.pregnancyguideonline.com, because all my midwifery and embryology and pregnancy books are somewhere in Indiana.

Have a great week everyone!

[shalena]

Thanks for starting this thread, Arwyn.

I'm thinking about calling my midwives today to just give them a heads up that i'm pregnant. I almost feel silly calling when i'm only 41/2 weeks, since I didn't start seeing them until close to 20 weeks last time around.
I'd really like to get their advice on breastfeeding while pregnant and what supplements I should be taking. Extra Calcium or Iron or anything?

And, well, I miss them and can't wait to see them again! :

[Arwyn]

Call them, definitely! Most midwives love getting to talk to early pregnant women, help with nutrition, etc.

Good luck!

I'm going to be calling friends today to talk about which midwives to call tomorrow or later this week. And I'm at 6w already - I feel like such a laggard!

[tika]

Limb buds already? Wow.

I am in no rush to call the midwife, I'm 6wks. Enjoying being pregnant in peace, connecting with my pregnant self and my new growing baby. I'll call soon enough.

Nausea kicked in wk 6, this part sucks. It stuck around the entire time with DD, hopefully it will not last that long this time around.

[Elizabethmidwife]

I'm struggling, too, about when to call the midwife. Funny thing is that I am a midwife, and I always tell women to call me whenever they feel ready--the sooner the better. But, I feel strange calling. i guess I am worried that this isn't "real." Still really worried that I will m/c. Rational? I suppose...
-Elizabeth

[Yo Becca]

Sprout pouch!!! I love it!

I'm STARVING today. And eating total crap. Must improve diet. I had just made lots of good changes a few weeks before I got pregnant, so I need to NOT fall off the wagon - but obviously I'm needing more calories at the moment.

I am in a rush to see my midwife - but only b/c I'm leaving the country in a few weeks and am trying to figure out a totally jacked up medical system. I'm looking forward to getting to China and start making decisions. We haven't told DH's work yet (they're paying out of pocket for medical expenses there)

I was sorting through a box of DD's newborn clothes yesterday, pulling out the gender neutral stuff (I have lots b/c we didn't know her gender). The day before, I had told her she was going to be a big sister (she told MIL "I be big sister!" - that's how we shared the news with her) and that mama was growing a baby in my belly (she's 22 months, she doesn't get womb yet ). So she came up to the box of clothes and I told her it wasn't to play in (she likes throwing laundry) and she asked, "Is this for my sister?" Then when we came back in from our run this morning she saw another baby item in the garage and asked "Is that my brother's?"

My SIL thinks kids are psychic and know when you are pregnant and the baby's gender - she says her DD talked about a boy both of her pregnancies and she had 2 boys. So now she's teasing me about twins (mad props to mothers of twins, the thought scares the daylights out of me!).

[Arwyn]

Tika - I think the emphasis is on buds, there. I think embryology is absolutely fascinating. (Having Faith is a great book, but probably shouldn't be read during pregnancy.)

[Ligmom]

thanks for starting the new thread, Arwyn. I am officially 5w. pg today...21dpo. so far, i feel fine minus the sleepiness and the feeling that i must eat ALL THE TIME. this is baby #4 for us and i've never been so hungry early on--wierd! just shows me that everytime is different.

anyone here still charting even though they already have a bfp? i am, and my temp dropped some this morning. i feel fine, and nothing seems different--but it did freak me out a little

[Arwyn]

Yup, I'm still charting. Don't worry, Paisley will be along in a few to tell us to throw away the thermometers. I actually had to start (well, DP started, 'cause he records my temp) a new page yesterday! My usually 25-27 day cycles are now at 42 days and counting!

There's just something so cool about that.

And my temps flux a fair amount too, and I've had a couple of dips I've just discounted due to poor sleep or having my mouth open or what now. I have had a noticible if subtle second temp shift, though.

Oh, and "welcome" Ligmom. I was wondering how long you'd get away with the second name thing, but I wasn't about to report you.

[Yo Becca]

So Ligmom is secretlypregnant no more....

I don't temp. I'm too lazy.

With the big move, I've been on a shopping tear - hard to find sizes over size 8-10 in China, and hard to find clothes for my 6'4" hubby too. SO now I've bought all these non-pg clothes I've already worn or bought out of \town, so I can't return them. Now I've piled on the charges again - ordered LOTS of maternity clothes online this weekend. I have clothes from my first pg, but many are worn out, stained, etc. from getting overworn b/c I didn't have a lot, plus my biggest months were summer then. I also borrowed a lot from a friend then, who got pg again and took them back. And I was working, so my nicer, warmer clothes are fancier than I wear now. Plus I'm heavier going into this pg, so my jean size is bigger now

I know I needed to do it - I won't be able to find american sized maternity clothes in china - but boy was that a lot of money!

[lotusdebi]

I'm so hungry! All the time!!! ACK!

I'm trying to figure out when to tell my son that I'm pregnant. I don't want for him to have to deal with another miscarriage. But, I do want to share the joy with him, especially since he REALLY wants to be a big brother! Of course, once I tell him, everyone will find out! DH wants to wait until I'm past the first trimester before we tell anyone, but I don't believe I'll make it that long. DS is turning 4 soon, and we'll be seeing family this weekend to celebrate. I think I'll wait until after the birthday celebrations. But, when oh when should I tell my son?

[ASusan]

Thanks so much, Arwyn, for posting that embryology information. I was thinking while driving (6+ hrs) today, that I would post something like that. Glad to see that it's already been done. Also, Having Faith is just about my favorite books. I have my students read it - so I'll be reading it again this fall. I agree, it's not the best for a pregnant woman to be reading! We're hyper vigilant about everything already.

Does anyone know what happened to the PALS discussion? I saw it yesterday morning, but when I went to post to it in the evening, I couldn't find it. I actually DREAMED about all of you who have posted in it.

My DH says that when we tell people is up to me...I'm seeing my parents on Wednesday, and I don't know if I want to tell them yet. I almost think that I want to wait until the end of the first trimester, but then again, we didn't tell anyone last time and then ended up telling everyone that I was miscarrying.

Waiting for more symptoms to kick in...

Susan

[Arwyn]

PALs is still here, just with a different title. What do you teach that your students read that awsome/awful book?

Speaking of, the water quality out here is much better than it was in Indiana, but suddenly it doesn't taste so good to me anymore. I so want a reverse osmosis filter...

I actually just called DP (an hour before he gets off work) to tell him I'm hungry, come home and feed me. I am hungry more now, although a large part of it I think is just that if it's been more than 1-2 hours since I've eaten anything, I start to get queasy. I don't think I'll be one of those women who loses weight in the first trimester.

[paisley]

I just felt this uncontrollable urge to come along and tell you all to throw your thermometers away!

Ligmom - I so want to tag you with a DDDDC about your new lack of secret but I'm not sure if you'd appreciate such a board-wide announcement.

ASusan - What did you dream about us? I had a dream about our DDC last night and then I woke up feeling silly for dreaming about MDC (again ).

Lostusdebi - Hard call about when to tell him. What does your heart say? Maybe it would be better to wait until after his party anyway so as not to upstage his day?

Arwyn - We got our RO system at Costco. LOVE it.

Just chillin over here. :

[happyblessedmama]

hi all...

This is my 2nd or so post in here I don't see an intros thread and don't want to make a big one all my own.

Anyway... I'm Christine, 3 kids so far ages 5, 3.5, 1.5 and #4 is due 3/15/05 so I'm pretty early yet still. Don't know how much I'll post but I like to read... I'm not a homebirther - we have no birth centers here, and our last was a birth center transfer that resulted with complications for the baby... anyway; it's the rural hospital for us this time around.

I just wanted to say hi and intro myself in case I decide to post more I usually stick around and read.

[Arwyn]

Paisley - you'd be so proud of me, I just gave both my saliva microscope AND my BBT to a friend who's TTC.











It was my spare BBT.

[Yo Becca]

Arwyn - GFIL has well water that has a metallic smell. When I was pg with DD, just washing dishes made me want to throw up. I couldn't even be int he kitchen when the water was running. It had never bothered me before, but I wouldn't drink it or drink tea or lemonade made with it. But I didn't want to drink caffenated cokes, so I'd just get dehydrated when we went to visit. I think your body just knows it's bad for you/the babe. I was so amazed by the power of my body's response.

Lotus - I've decided to tell my immediate family and closest friends. We'll spread the news farther after 12 weeks. I haven't told my folks yet - they are the last people I need to tell other than one friend. I probably would wait a few more weeks to tell family if we weren't moving in a month - I want to give them time to celebrate with me a bit, and time to deal with the fact that I'm moving to China pregnant. MIL is worrying about that - my mom will probably be mad that I'll be keeping ANOTHER grandchild away from her (she's very upset at not being able to see Robin whenever she wants to - they love each other very much). If I wait until closer to time to leave, it will be more stressful to tell them.

I went ahead and told DD (She's 22 months) b/c I wanted to share the excitement with her. She loves babies - we have a new nephew and a friend just had a baby the next day - and she so wants one for our house . So I just wanted to give her the good news - she thought it was so exciting when the babies were growing inside their mothers, and now I have one inside me.

[Ligmom]

good morning, y'all welcome to ASusan and happyblessedmama

well, my temp went back up this morninig so no cause for the freakouted-ness of yesterday....um--i think i'm a little too dependant on my bbt to throw it away just yet i'll get there, bear with me.

Originally Posted by paisley

Ligmom - I so want to tag you with a DDDDC about your new lack of secret but I'm not sure if you'd appreciate such a board-wide announcement.

oooh, a ddddc! i've never had one--i might not even care about the big secret if i did have one. yes, i am that sad


on a serious note, i am leaving today for atlanta. i have to go be with my sister as her baby (5.5months) is having open heart surgery tomorrow. please pray or send positive thoughts that his surgery will go well and he will heal quickly (his name is bailey). also, for peace for my sister, vicky.

don't know when i'll be able to check in, but i look forward to seeing who else will be joining us

[lunadoula]

Ligmom, I'll be praying for your niece and sister. I hope everything goes smoothly.

I only had one pair of clean pants that are suitable for work, and of course they are the ones that I could *barely* squeeze my non-pregnant waist into (the pants aren't tight but for some reason have a smaller-than-normal waist). So I left them unbuttoned and put on the new bella band thing b/c I didn't have much of a choice - was hoping not to have to use THAT yet but eh. I've actually lost a couple pounds but I am just so incredibly bloated still, even with drinking a ton of water. And mega-sore, swollen boobs. : hehe.

I'm glad to read/hear in several places that it's normal to feel at this time that maybe I'm not really pregnant, or be doubtful. If it wasn't for the bloat and fatigue, I would hardly remember. I still kind of feel like I'm in kind of a denial/shock, even though this baby was so planned and we are excited. Just such a major life change, you know?

[Arwyn]

Ligmom - healthy happy successful surgery dust
And calm, peaceful, loving having-do-watch-one's-child-go-through-surgery dust

Beth - I kinda know the feeling. I've progressed to not really doubting it, but I still every once in a while go "WTF?? What the hell do we think we're doing?! We can't raise a kid!!!!!" and worrying about how life will change and our relationship will change, and maybe this will send me back into emotional hell from which I only recently climbed out of, and, and, and...

But then I breathe, and focus inside, and think "Hey, there's a bean in there. That's pretty cool." And go on with life, one day at a time, which is the best anyone can ever hope for.