18 Weeks

I had my prenatal appointment on Wednesday, April 30. All went well. Both Baby G and I are doing well...both healthy. Yay! Baby G's heart rate was at 150 BPM...it has been fairly consistent since the beginning...back at 8 weeks it was 156 BPM. All my stats (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, weight) are all normal to low, which is good.

I had my appointment with my new doctor. I am VERY happy to say that this doctor and I are both on the same page. She has the same views, thoughts and opinions on labor and delivery as I. She agrees with what I want on both testing and birthing. Things are finally looking up and my fears have been eased a bit.

I have been feeling Baby G moving a lot more this week. Feels funny, but so much fun! I can't wait until Chris is able to feel the baby move. On Sunday, Jackie and I were at the Padres baseball game and, in the 9th inning, the Friar rang the rally bell. Well, Baby G was very startled by this bell and jumped at the noise. Biggest movement by far I have felt. WHOA! It was funny. Poor Baby G! hehe

Update on Baby G -

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Baby G measures about 6 inches (13-15cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 7 ounces (200g). About the size of a soda can. The buds for the permanent teeth are forming behind those that have already developed for the first teeth. Baby's nervous system and brain development continue at a spectacular pace. By this week, your baby's motor neurons, which connect muscle to the brain, have grown into place so that your baby can consciously direct her movements. Millions of neurons inside your baby's brain are growing and forming connections and the nerves in her body are being covered in a fatty substance called Myelin. Your baby's ears are now placed on the sides of her head and her limbs are now in proportion. Your baby's tiny foot is just one inch long, but is in perfect proportion to the rest of her leg. Your baby can hear your voice and recognize it. Also there are now two distinct skin layers—the epidermis and dermis. Currently, their skin is covered in a waxy like substance called Vernix that protects the skin from bruising, abrasions as well as chapping cause by swimming around in fluid for 40 weeks.