Nine Weeks

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Wow! I can’t believe I’m nine weeks already.

I had to take the dreaded glucose screening this morning. It really wasn’t that bad. Had to fast until 9 a.m. then had to drink a very sweet orange liquid. It tasted like a melted orange flavored ice pop. This will give the docs an idea how my body processes sugar. I’ll have to take another one between week 24 and 28. These tests will determine if I have gestational diabetes. Let’s hope I’m in the clear for now!

Feeling good today, just tired. The wonder drug Zolfran continues to work its magic. I really enjoyed a bagel this morning for the first time in weeks.