I'm Pregnant!.....Episode 3

I'm starting this post on 10-27-2009. I'm four days late starting my cycle and I figured it was because of our vacation last week and how active I was. I don't know why I decided to take a pregnancy test this morning, but I did. Positive!!! I can hardly believe it!

We are so excited....cautious, because of the 2 miscarriages I had earlier this year, but hopeful and excited! I'm going to the doctor tomorrow to have my blood drawn and hormone levels checked and to see if there is anything we can do to ensure this pregnancy is a successful one.

10-28-09
They started me on progesterone supplement's, twice daily. My Beta HCG level was 137. She said this was good and strong and normal for this early in the pregnancy. Based on my calendar, I am about 4 weeks along. WOO-HOO!!

11-2-09
I am very happy today because I made it through the weekend without any spotting, like I experienced last time. I feel a little premature by even starting to blog about this pregnancy because it IS so early and I do run the risk of something happening again. But since I've always been a "glass half full" kind of person, I just want to celebrate and let the whole world in on it. I'm going to have my second blood test tomorrow, so we'll know more then.

11-3-09
WOO-HOO!! My Beta HCG level was 2267! That is a most excellent number. The nurse said that it is a very strong number and they want me to come in this Friday for my first ultrasound. I cant express how excited I am! And the best part is, I've not had any spotting or cramping like before. If I can get to the 6 week mark without any issues, I'll feel more confident that this pregnancy is strong enough to stick! Hurry up Friday and get here!!

WEEK 1  "It’s been a momentous past couple of days—even if you don’t know it yet. At some point roughly 1.5 – 3.5 million sperm took aim at your fallopian tubes and one superior little seed hit the target spot on. The now fertilized egg is still inside your fallopian tube and is already merging with the sperm to become a zygote. Cell multiplication is occuring at an astonishingly rapid rate. Your little zygote will spend the next 7-10 days dividing and multiplying as they slowly descend into the uterus, where it will nestle into the already cozy blood-rich uterine wall. The implantation process may result in a little spotting for some, caused by the sloughing off of uterine wall at the implantation site. This is perfectly natural and not a cause for concern. When your little zygote is finally implanted, it is a blastocyst measuring about 0.1 – 0.2 mm. This will be your baby’s spatially-challenged home for the next 38-40 weeks."

WEEK 2  "Your little blastocyst is now separating into two distinct parts: the amniotic cavity (or yolk sac) and the embryo (your baby-to-be). The yolk sac’s main job is to protect and nourish your baby until the placenta is fully formed. Right now, the placenta is just beginning to take shape, but won’t be complete for another 8 weeks or so. The beginnings of the umbilical cord are visible and partly functional, although it is still not fully formed."

WEEK 3  "Although your belly is still the same size and shape as it was pre-pregnancy, a plethora of amazing and dynamic changes are taking place despite this fact. Right now your little zygote is already 1.5 – 2.5mm in size. This is quite a change from the microscopic pack of cells you had just two weeks ago. Your microscopic little one is already composed of three complex “germ” layers: the ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. Although you could hardly see them at this point, these layers are the beginnings of your baby's nervous system and brain, stomach and inner organs, and skeleton and connective tissue. Your baby is also starting to take on recognizable physical dimensions somewhat comparable to a very tiny pear. The round part of the pear will eventually become the head and the pointy part will be the spine. Perhaps the best part of this week is that somewhere around the 21st day, your miraculous little pear will have a beating heart, although the heart chambers and valves will not be completely developed for another couple weeks."

WEEK 4  "By the end of this week the round and pointy ends of your little pear-shaped baby will be slightly more exaggerated and their body will look more like that of a miniature manatee. Despite your baby not looking particularly human without any eyes, ears or mouth, the earliest developments of what will become the larynx, internal ear, and eye lens are already forming, although you’d have to be a trained expert to recognize them for what they’re going to be in the future. Likewise, tiny bumps are forming on your little embryo which will eventually be their cute little arms, elbows, fingers, legs, knees and toes. What’s more your little swimmer will have a teeny tiny tail by the end of this week-- but don’t worry, it’s just the end of their developing spinal cord! A microscopic photo would reveal what seems to be their vertebrae filling out the spine and tail. Although they aren’t bones yet, but rather, the “bone seeds” that will give rise to your baby's tiny vertebrae, ribs and sternum."