Monday, May 22, 2006

Weekend

My weekend was alright for those of you who were waiting on my next post (Tonya). Saturday morning I went to a women's brunch at church (good food!!!). They had pulled in a couch for me to lay on. We went to David's parents' house to spend the night on Saturday and then went to church on Sunday after not going since February. I should have taken a picture of the olive green striped couch that they put in the back for me:) Then we spent the afternoon/evening with his parents again because we were having a dinner with his uncle from California. Now we're hoping to avoid the stomach bug that David's sister got yesterday (it would be a bad thing not to be able to keep down my anti-contraction meds). Other than that worry we had a good weekend and it was refreshing for me to get out of the house for a while even though I was still a prisoner on the couch!

Saturday I reached 24 weeks, so Dorothy has a chance of survival now. Even if it is still small it is something.

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Week 24
Your Baby's Growth and Development:

* the fetus reaches a length of 11.2 inches
* the fetus weighs about 1 lb. 10 oz.
* eyebrows and eyelashes are well formed
* all the eye components are developed
* the fetus has a hand and startle reflex
* footprints and fingerprints forming
* alveoli (air sacs) forming in lungs


Your baby continues to grow more proportional each and every day. During pregnancy week 24 her organ systems continue to mature as do the central nervous system, digestive system and even reproductive and circulatory systems. During a pregnancy at 24 weeks your baby's lungs are also starting to form little branches and will eventually start producing a substance called surfactant which happens closer to the time your baby's lungs start maturing.

The amniotic fluid surrounding your baby begins to increase in volume after about pregnancy 24 weeks.. This continues until delivery when your uterus will hold up to 2 pints of amniotic fluid.

Changes in You:

Your baby has less and less room to move in your womb after uou are about the 24 weeks pregnant. You should be feeling strong kicks by 24 weeks pregnant, but gradually your babies movements will start to seem slower and more rhythmic rather than all over the place. This is perfectly normal.
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My next appointment is wednesday afternoon, so hopefully we will get some more good news and be one more week towards our goal. It's always good to hear that my stitch is holding well, even through the contractions I am having.... that means it was put in well! If I ever get pregnant again (scary!) I hope to have the same Dr. as I have this time. I respect him a lot and I am glad to have a Dr. that is attentive to my questions.

In all, I am mainly stir crazy after laying down for 11 weeks and knowing that I most likely have 11 more laying down if the cerclage is removed at 35 weeks. That means I am halfway through my bedrest, which is good, but overwhelming when I look at what is left. But hey, if I survived the first half, I can survive the second half, right? That's what I tell myself!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yay for 24 weeks. I will keep everything crossed and hope, hope, hope for many more weeks. Just keep taking it one minute, by hour, by day. You are doing such a wonderful job.

Maggie (Sarah's mom) said...

I was getting a little worried yesterday when I hadn't seen a post but I was hoping you were just busy!
Congrats on the 24 week milestone. In my distorted view of reality - 24 weeks is awesome!!! You have been doing this for so long now. You are on the edge of viability which is awesome (Sarah was born at 24w/6d). Keep Dorothy cooking for another 11 weeks though! You are doing a great job!!!!!!

Tonya said...

Ohh Becci so glad to see you post :) Yes me the worry wart..lol YAY!! @ 24 weeks!!! that is great news already and I am so glad you were able to get out of the house for awhile even though you were still on the couch. At least you had a different change of scenery!! It does seem long when you think of another 11 weeks on bedrest but you can do it girl!!! Just stop.. take a deep breath and think about Dorothy.. We all know you want a strong healthy baby and staying on bedrest is what is going to get you one and Dorothy is worth every second on that couch!!! *hugs*

Emmakirst said...

Congrats on 24 weeks. One milestone down, making you so much closer to reach 35 weeks.

It's great that you had a chance to get out. I hope you don't get that bug!

Hoping your dr. appointment this week is good. Take care.

Melissa said...

I am glad to hear that your weekend seemed to pick up your spirits a bit.
Congrats on being 24 weeks along AND half-way through your bedrest! I know 11 more weeks seems daunting now, but you can totally do it! Hang in there!

Elizabeth said...

Yay! 24 weeks! Congratulations!

I have a countdown going in my head - 5 weeks until I hit 24 weeks, 9 weeks until I hit 29 weeks, 16 weeks until 35 weeks and skipping the NICU.

Mandy said...

I am so happy you've made it to 24 weeks. My water broke on Maddy at 24 weeks and I had them two weeks later at 26 weeks. Dorothy is going to be just fine! Just keep cooking mama! :)