9th and 10th Weeks

Shamus and I have been learning from National Geographic's In the Womb video about our baby's development. Our baby (AKA Bartok - a womb-only name) is exploring the womb now by bouncing off the walls - literally! Luckily, Bartok is so small that I can't feel it; however, I'm still feeling queasy everyday before bed and right after I wake up. I've learned that it is not due to my baby, but rather to the excessive amount of hormones my body is pumping out to make sure it knows that it's pregnant and that it knows what to do (while the baby may function like a parasite, so say my doctors and Shamus's mom, my body is supposed to resist the urge to destroy the cute little thing and gladly give the baby anything he wants without complaining). Apparently, that takes a lot of convincing.
Bartok is about the size of a ten-week old fetus. Most people have no idea that's around 1.2 inches long and weighs about 0.1 oz. Most people couldn't guess that those measurements are comparative to a prune. Many people don't know that a prune looks like this
(pic from thenestbaby.com) Fortunately for Bartok, he looks more like a baby than a prune. His head is ginormous, though! Don't worry, by the end of next week, his head will be the same size as his body, which is much more normal.
Now, my womb is apparently the size of an orange - I'm hoping most of my readers are familiar with that fruit. Since you can now compare the sizes of a prune and an orange, you can get a great picture in your mind of the little bouncing baby springing off his head, feet, legs, arms and whatever other body parts he has, and bonking into the sides of the womb. Sounds like fun!!
Well, Bartok and I are pretty worn out from a long day of trampoline-womb and tutoring kids of all ages. Time to get another night of what I think is too much sleep but my body says is almost enough - around 9 or 9 and a half hours. Here's to another happy, healthy week!

Baby Update - Development Weeks 1-8

Here is an update on how Baby Cronin aka Bartok/Batman is developing.
Bartok

Batbaby

Batman

You can see from the images above how our baby will develop over the next 20+ years.

I got this REAL info below from http://www.pregnancy.org/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment1.php

Weeks One through Four

• Ovulation occurs - The time is right; now you just need this egg to be fertilized!
• Conception occurs - Did you know that during your pregnancy that your uterus will increase its capacity by 1000 times?!
• Gender is determined - Immediately upon fertilization your little one is set as a boy or a girl. Ladies, this is one that you can't take credit for since it is up to the sperm to determine the sex of your baby. Sperm carries either a "X" (girl) chromosome or a "Y" (boy) chromosome. (*Hint:* You will have to hold off on picking out the pink or blue until at least the second trimester when the gender will be visible via ultrasound.)
• Implantation - Occurs about 10 - 14 days after conception.
  
• Neural tube forms - It will develop into the nervous system (Brain, spinal cord, hair, and skin). Already your baby has the foundation for thought, senses, feeling, and more!
• Heart and primitive circulatory system rapidly form - While still in its beginning stages, this is the very life support system that will carry your child throughout his or her life.
  

Week Five

• First heartbeats begin - If you have an early ultrasound you may not be able to recognize this tiny being as a baby, but there is no mistaking what it feels like seeing your child's heartbeat on that screen. That rhythmic beat is echoed in your own heart.
• Umbilical cord develops - This is your baby's lifeline in utero. It bears the responsibility of pumping in oxygen, removing waste, and supplying the necessary nutrients for the remainder of your pregnancy.
• Blood is now pumping - All four heart chambers are now functioning, insuring your baby's body will receive all it needs over not only the remainder of your pregnancy but throughout life.
• Most other organs begin to develop - Your infant's lungs start to appear, along with her brain. Already your little one is preparing for a quest for lifelong learning!
• Arm and leg buds appear - While they may not appear to be much at this stage it is ok to dream of the future. Just imagine your ballerina twirling and jumping around your kitchen floor. Or perhaps you will have the precocious boy that throws the perfect pitch -- right through the neighbor's window.
  

Week Six

• The arms and legs continue to develop - These limbs are stretching out more and more. Later on you will be feeling those feet and elbows up close and personal right in your bladder!
• Brain is growing well - Did you know that over the course of the remaining months that your baby's brain will develop over 100 billion neurons? This is just the beginning!
• Lenses of the eyes appear - If you could catch a glimpse inside, you would notice your baby's appearance becoming increasing like a newborn's.
• Nostrils are formed - The position of the nose seems to shift into its proper place as well. Soon, the nerves running from the nose to the brain appear.
• Intestines grow - Initially these are actually located outside the baby's body within the umbilical cord.
• Pancreas - Your baby is now equipped to deal with digestive enzymes and take on processing the insulin and glucagons the body needs to function.
  

Week Seven

• Elbows form - Again, taking a peek inside you could see your baby's fascination with bending and flexing. Later you will swear you can enlist your child as the star of the next "Karate Kid" movie!
• Fingers start to develop - These digits often become your baby's first toy!
• Feet start to appear with tiny notches for the toes - It is fascinating that at less than a half inch, your little guy (or gal) already is leaving "footprints" on your heart!
• Ears eyes and nose start to appear - Although they may resemble an alien life form, these all "shift" soon enough into a more normal appearance.
• Intestines start to form in the umbilical cord - Did you know that initially the intestines are not formed inside your baby's body?
• Teeth begin to develop under the gums - Thankfully, right now you won't be dealing with teething pain!
  

Week Eight

• Cartilage and bones begin to form - At the end of this week your baby will have already completed 1/5th of the journey 'til his birthday!
• The basic structure of the eye is well underway - The position is more "newborn" like already!
• The tongue begins to develop
• Intestines move out of the umbilical cord into the abdomen.
• Body grows and makes room - Two months along and this little one is growing inside and out by leaps and bounds!
• The fingers and toes have appeared but are webbed and short
• Baby's length (crown to rump) is 0.61 inch (1.6cm) and weight is 0.04 ounce (1gm)

Baby Cronin is 7 weeks and 4 days old!

Today we had our first appointment and our first ultrasound. We saw these pictures of the baby and heard a healthy heartbeat!

Shamus is really excited and is telling everyone! He thinks it looks like a bat (because it's hanging by it's feet). You be the judge.
Karen is also very excited and was touched to see the baby and hear it's heartbeat. She is nauseas most of the day - but especially when she thinks about food or walks into the kitchen. She started a new "eating plan" today - so far she's had 2.5 tiny breakfasts and she's planning on having several teensy lunches and dinners. The doctors say this helps!
We found an excellent practice where we will have one doctor for the whole pregnancy. If you want to know more, check out http://carolinawomenshealth.org/index.php
We'll be under the care of Dr. Mazzoli!
Have some fun and cast your votes on the due date (doctors say Nov 24) and gender! (Scroll down - it's on the right.)
What a blessing we have been given!