October 22, 2010
We had another appointment this week to check in on the baby. We heard the heartbeat again, this time a little slower - 130's. Our midwife told us the heartbeat will vary based on what the baby is doing - if it is sleeping it will be slower, but if it is active it will be higher.
Here are a few more updates on the baby's development at this point:
- The baby weighs about 5 ounces and is about 5 inches long, similar to the size of an onion
- Its skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone
- The baby is moving amniotic fluid through its nose and upper respiratory tract which helps to develop the air sacs in its lungs
- Although the baby's eyelids are still fused shut, it can sense light. If I would shine a flashlight on my tummy it would move away from the light
- I should be able to start to feel the baby move in the coming days or weeks
October 6, 2010
Pink and Blue!Pink and Blue!
Someone's expecting-
Can you guess who?
This week I told my co-workers by putting this bucket of chocolates and sign out in the kitchen. Now I work in an office of mostly men so there were only really two of us for people to guess between. Most people got it right and stopped in to say (usually through a mouth full of chocolate!) congrats and that it was some of the best news they'd heard around the office for awhile.
Nic told his co-workers when his advisor (and our good friend) Emily asked him before their lab meeting if he had anything he wanted to share with the group. I imagine a red face and big smile as he told the news and shared about hearing the heartbeat for the first time (he's still determined to buy a Doppler instrument so we can have one at home and listen to the heartbeat anytime we want!)
It's fun to have the news out now to everyone and to talk freely about it. Now only 6 more months of waiting!
October 1, 2010
We've decided not to find out if we're having a boy or girl but to be surprised. I think we're having a girl. Everyone we know either has had or is having a boy, plus on Nic's side there is an obvious lack of the female gender - Flori had only brothers and only sons. We need some more girls around!
And, of course we have to do all the fun little tests and old wives' tales that supposedly tell you what you're having. And you guessed it - they all point to a girl!
Fun Ways to Predict the Baby's Gender:
1. Baby's Heart Rate - According to legend, if the baby's heart rate is 140+ beats, it's a girl; less than 140 beats indicates a boy. Our midwife told us the heart rate was 140-150 beats!
2. Chinese Gender Chart (said to be 99% accurate) - this ancient Chinese chart takes the mother's age at conception (28) and the month she conceived in (July) and traces it down the chart to give you boy or girl:
http://www.thebump.com/calculators/ChineseGenderChart.aspx
3. Even or Odd - another legend says to look at the year of conception (2010) and the mother's age at conception (28), and if they are both even or both odd, then it's a girl; if one is even and one is odd, then it's a boy.
4. Where the Weight is Carried - one tale says that if you're carrying the baby high, it's a boy; but if you carry the weight more in your hips and rear, then it's a girl. We'll have to wait and see on this one (not too long though, I fear!)
5. Cravings - it's also said that if you crave sweets during your pregnancy to expect 'sugar and spice and everything nice' and if you crave saltier snacks then expect 'snips and snails and puppy dog tails'. Well, I can ALWAYS eat ice cream or sweets, but I have been loving the chips. We'll call this one a draw.
6. Dad + Beer - a friend at work told me she'd heard that if the dad-to-be likes his beer, that means they'll have girls.... and I think we all know where this is going!
Of course this is all in fun, and Nic and I don't care what we have as long as it's healthy. But wouldn't it be fun to start a poll?
What do you think we're having - boy or girl?
