Week 16

We had another appointment yesterday. It was supposed to be in another 4 days but I had to call the doctor in the morning because I got really anxious and needed some sort of confirmation that everything was ok. I had felt the baby moving, also described as "flutter" or "quickening" for a good week, and then last week it stopped, and I haven't felt anything since. I moved in positions that earlier made the baby move, I had a full stomach and still nothing. I tried not to worry and let it go to my head since it is still super early to even feel anything, but after 3 or 4 days or so I just couldn't stand it anymore, so after I called the office and described what was going on, they moved my appointment so I can come and make sure the heart beat is still strong, and to our relief it was! The doc made fun of me and said that it's too early to feel it, and I probably felt a burrito in there implying that it was just indigestion or something of that sort. I am still convinced that it wasn't but, oh well as long as things are ok.

While getting some paperwork for the labs and my ultrasound (which is now scheduled for July 30th), Jeromey kept joking w/the doctor and said something about his bad swing to the right when he played golf last Friday and thinking of Dr. Lim who is an avid golfer, to which the doctor didn't hesitate and said you know your wife will go into labor and she will not be getting an epidural... it was pretty funny. Then Jeromey quickly decided to fix the situation by writing him an apology email from the Blackberry, to which the doc replied with "apology accepted, but she still might not be getting an epidural". I think I am going to have to leave Jeromey at home next time...


Week 16 Development:

At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.