Eighth Week Update

Kelly took a picture of me the other day so we can start tracking my soon-to-be-growing belly. This is me at seven weeks pregnant.



No real external changes yet, but I know it won't be tooooo long before there are.

We're both signed up for weekly updates on how LBH (Little Baby lastname) is doing. Here's the one I received today from one of my favorite sites, the American Pregnancy Association.

What changes are occurring with your body?

Even though it may not look like your body has changed from the outside, many changes have occurred throughout your body. Before you were pregnant, your uterus was about the size of your fist, but it is now about the size of a grapefruit.

You may have noticed changes in your breasts. They may be more tender and sensitive than usual. This is completely normal as your body is preparing for lactation.

Another change that has occurred that you may not be aware of is that your blood volume has increased by 40 to 50 percent.

What is happening with your baby?
Everything that is present in an adult human is now present in the small embryo. The ears are continuing to form externally and internally. The bones are beginning to form, and the muscles can contract. Fingers and toes are webbed but are growing longer.

The facial features continue to mature. The tip of the nose is present and the eyelids are now more developed. The embryonic tail is also disappearing, and your baby's body is beginning to straighten out.

While your baby's gender has already been determined, the external genitals are still forming and cannot be clearly seen. The embryo is at the end of the embryonic period and begins the fetal period.


How big is your baby?
The embryo is about 1 inch long and is approximately the size of a bean.

My favorite line is this one: "Everything that is present in an adult human is now present in the small embryo." Wow! Everything is already there! It's all present and accounted for - just maturing and getting bigger and more functional and independent from this point on! It blows me away every time I think about everything that's happening right under my belly button without any conscious effort on my part!

As for me, I'm doing just fine. I've passed most of the little pregnancy problems like morning sickness or sensitivity to touch and smells. Periodically, I'll want a particular food, but I haven't had any super odd cravings or any food craving that's lasted longer than one time of having that food. Last night I decided spontaneously that spaghetti sounded really good, so that's what we're having for dinner. Kelly's immediate response to that was "You don't even like spaghetti," which is true. It used to be my favorite dinner item, but in the last five or six years I've only eaten it maybe twice and both times at other people's houses. But for some reason, it sounds good now...gentle red sauce, hamburger, mushrooms, lots of fresh-grated parmesan cheese...Yum!