Friday, October 7, 2011

12 Weeks Pregnant {Plum, Lime}

The Tater-Tot and I have finally reached a milestone...12 weeks!  That's 3 months and with the end of this week will be the end of the 1st trimester.  I'm that much closer to feeling almost normal again.  I'm still not an obvious pregnant woman, I just have a little bloated look to me, like after you had a big meal and can't suck it in all the way.  Not much has changed with me since my last update.  I'm still nauseous from time to time and a friend of mine recommended "Preggie Pop Drops" to help relieve the feeling.  I was planning on stopping by Bellies, Babies & Bosoms in Montrose, CA to buy some, but to my surprise, my doctor gave me a handful of samples that were sent to them in the mail.  Score!  I've tried a few and I love the taste and for me, they do relieve nausea for a short period of time.  I recommend giving them a try.

I am also wearing Sea Bands, which are another form of non-drug nausea relief.  While wearing one on each wrist, they have a bead that applies accupressure to certain pressure points.  I'm not sure if they're working or not, could be all in my head, but give them a try if you're desperate.  You can find them in a drug store or at Target by the Dramamine. 

Speaking of the doctor, I had my 2nd appointment 
with her a few days ago on Tuesday.  I was disappointed that we didn't get an ultrasound done to see the baby, but apparently she doesn't do one with every appointment.  Instead, she just used a device that listens for the heartbeat and plays it through a speaker.  Dominic and I heard our little Tater-Tot's heart for a few minutes, along with some occasional static...which was the baby moving!  I had a giant smile on my face.  I was so relieved that everything was alright and the doctor said that I should have nothing to worry about at this point.  Great, I can breathe now.
Image from www.babycenter.com

Now let's see what my phone app BabyCenter has to say about week 12.  "The most dramatic development this week: reflexes.  Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close.  His or her mouth will make sucking movements.  Toes will curl, and eye muscles will clench.  Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously.  In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it.  Your baby's intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into the abdominal cavity, and the kidneys will begin excreting urine into your baby's bladder.  Your baby's face looks unquestionably human:  His or her eyes have moved from the sides to the front of the head, and the ears are right where they should be.  From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long and weighs half an ounce."