Ultrasound #2, 11 Weeks

Although the baby has grown exponentially in just a few weeks, it's even harder to tell what it is in these pictures. I got to watch the monitor with the Doctor while she did the ultrasound and this is one hyperactive baby! He was moving around so much it was hard for her to get a still shot, hence the blurred fuzzy baby pictures. If this is any indication of outcomes of future portrait sessions, I am going to need to invest in a good camera/lense with a super fast shutterspeed!

In the early months, before you can feel your baby kick or move, an ultrasound is the only way you can witness your baby's growth and development. I never take one of these appointments for granted; they completely amaze me every time. Seeing the baby move his arms and legs (well, actually more like nubs and nubs)was unbelievable, I got to see the heartbeat again too; it was much more steady and prounounced than last time. At this point, the head is almost the same size as the body -- it's completely normal, I was sure to inquire about that -- and all of the vital organs are now formed and functioning. Unbelievable! This week, the nail beds will begin to form and the ears will assume their position. As my RN friend Michelle always reminds me, each week of development in pregancy is so significant.

I still feel great! I haven't had any morning sickness at all, the fatigue is going away and the only thing I've really had a craving for is White Chocolate Mousse frozen yogurt from TCBY ... the good news is it's 96% fat free. Let's hope the whole pregnancy is this easy!

Weekly Womb Workings: The baby is about 50 millimeters crown to rump and weighs about eight grams (about a quarter of an ounce). The irises are now forming. The liver, intestines, brain and lungs are beginning to function on their own. The primitive "tail" is now gone and the intestines are beginning to migrate into the abdominal cavity. Now that most of the major organ work is done, the baby adds such details as hair, fingernails and toenails. While his head is nearly as large as the rest of his body, head growth begins to slow during this period.