23 Weeks Pregnant

 At 23 weeks, Owen is around  8 inches from the top of his head to the bottom of the buttocks (known as the crown-rump length). His height is over 11 inches from the top of the head to the heel (crown-heel length).1 This week, he weighs approximately 20 ounces or 1 pound 4 ounces (565 grams).

Activity 

Owen is building more muscle and getting stronger and is very active. We can see his kicks already!

Brain Growth 

His brain is developing very quickly during this time.4

Eyes 

Owen can respond to light as early as 23 weeks.5 (If you shine a flashlight on your belly, your baby may react and move.) He reacts to our touch as well!

Fingernails 

Owen’s fingernails now reach the tips of the fingers.3

Survival Outside the Womb 

It is rare for babies born before 23 weeks to survive. However, extremely premature babies born during the 23rd week of pregnancy do have a chance of surviving. Babies born this early are still not ready for life outside the womb. They require a high level of specialized care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Research shows that in developed countries, between 23% and 27% of babies born at 23 weeks survive to go home with their family.6 

22 weeks view!

22 Week Belly Pic!

 

22 Weeks Pregnant!!!

How big is my baby at 22 weeks?

Guess what? Now that you're 22 weeks pregnant, your baby, who’s about the size of a small doll, has finally broken the 1-pound mark.

How heavy is that? Hold a 1-pound bag of sugar in your arms the next time you're in the grocery store — and expect people to ask you why you're grinning from ear to ear.

Is the bag 11 inches long? That's about the length your baby is too!

Baby's grip, vision and hearing are getting stronger

This week, your Owen is making more sense of the world as he develops his sense of touch.

In fact, his grip is quite strong now, and since there's nothing else to grab in utero, he may sometimes hold on tight to that umbilical cord. Don't worry — it's tough enough to handle it.

The sense of sight is also becoming more fine-tuned. Owen can now perceive light and dark much better than before, even with those fused eyelids.

Owen can also hear voices, Mommy’s heartbeat, her gurgling stomach and the whoosh-whoosh of blood circulating through her body!

Also,Blood sugars have been more stable with insulin. Mommy is just tired all the time 😴 

Video- 21 weeks!

 

21 Weeks - Belly

 

21Weeks Pregnant!

 

How big is my baby at 21 weeks?

How big is your baby? Switching from crown-to-rump to crown-to-heel length, he's 10½ inches long and weighs 11 to 12½ ounces, about the size of a large banana!

Baby's moving and sleeping

Until those uterine walls start closing in, however, there's plenty of space for twisting, turning and even an occasional somersault — so that's what you were feeling last night!

With all that belly dancing going on, it's hard to believe your baby is getting any shut-eye at all. But believe it or not, your fetus sleeps as much as a newborn. Now if only you could get some sleep yourself!

Baby's taste buds develop 

Speaking of milestones, whatever you eat this week, there's a good chance your baby will taste it, too. That's because when you're 21 weeks pregnant, your baby swallows a bit of amniotic fluid each day — not only for nutrition and hydration, but also to practice swallowing and digesting, skills he'll need as soon as he arrives in your arms.

And keep this in mind: The taste of the amniotic fluid differs from day to day depending on what you've eaten — spicy enchilada one day, sweet banana the next. That smorgasbord of flavors won't be lost on your baby since your little one has very developed taste buds already.

In fact, researchers have noted that babies who were exposed to certain tastes in utero via the amniotic fluid were more eager to eat foods with those same tastes after birth. Want your peanut to eat his broccoli later? Eat yours now!

Baby's getting coordinated

Your little action figure is able to choreograph Matrix-like moves at 21 weeks pregnant. Arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain and muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone.

All these upgrades combine to give your baby more control over limb movements, which explains all that kicking, stretching and bodysurfing, or rather bellysurfing, you may have started feeling.

20w4d

Officially at shelf stage!! 🤣

Belly Comparisons

 

20 Weeks!

18 Weeks!

16 Weeks!

20w2d Belly Pic!

 

20 Weeks Pregnant!!!

You weigh about 10 ounces and have a height, crown to rump, of about 6½ inches. This is usually the time an anatomy scan is done, however Mommy already had one due to previous bleeding.  As we all know, you are still a boy and your name is Owen Joseph!  During this time, your testicles are beginning to descend from your abdomen once your scrotum finishes growing large enough for them.  

You are also an acrobat!  Mommy feels you move, your sister and I have felt you kick and….Mommy caught your kicks on video that I posted a few days ago!  SIMPLY AWESOME!

This week you are also starting to put on more body fat to keep your body temperature regulated as you get ready for birth over the 2nd half of this pregnancy.

We love you to the moon and back little man!

19W4D- First Movements caught on video!

 

He is big enough now that I can feel him kick off the left side and push into the right at the same time 😜 

19W2D- BABY KICKS!

 You are one active little baby! Plus Mommy’s placenta is in the back which helps!  Your sister, Gracyn and I felt your kicks!  It won’t be long and we will be seeing them as well!  WOOT WOOT!

19w1d- More bleeding!

 Mommy had a small scare with more bleeding.  She knew you were ok because you wiggle so much and the doppler showed a nice strong heartbeat but still the worry set in and she called the OB….

..An Ultrasound and. Pelvic Exam were set up ….Ultrasound went great and turned into an anatomy scan.  Your HB was 151 and you are perfect in every way…growing right on track!  Placenta has moved off the cervix, SCH has resolved. Waiting for the pelvic exam. Mommy was Hopeful the bleeding was due to her “friable cervix” and vessels around her uterus looked “angry” as well 🙃  

Pelvic exam was very painful and Mommy had two areas on her cervix with active bleeding that he had to use silver nitrate to cauterize ! Ouch!

Mommy was advised to put her feet up as much as possible…even at work and rest!  Oh and by the way little man…you have a name for sure.  Mommy and Daddy have been calling you Owen Joseph from the day they found out you were a boy!  

19 WEEK BELLY PIC!

19 WEEKS PREGNANT!!!

 Mommy says that you are a little wiggler! She doesn’t need to use the doppler much these days!  Here’s what’s happening with your development: 

How big is my baby at 19 weeks?

Six inches long this week and just over a half pound in weight, your baby has gone through a bit of a growth spurt. 

Vernix develops

Your little one may have a cheesy varnish this week.

Say what? You read that right — a protective substance called vernix caseosa (vernix is the Latin word for "varnish"; caseosa means "cheese") now covers your fetus' skin. It's greasy, white and made up of that downy hair known as lanugo, oil from your baby's glands and dead skin cells.

This waxy "cheese" may not sound too appealing, but it's there for good reason: Vernix protects your baby's sensitive skin from the surrounding amniotic fluid. Without it, he'd look very wrinkled at birth — sort of what you'd look like if you soaked in a bath for nine months.

The vernix sheds as delivery approaches, though some babies — especially those born early — will still be covered with it at birth, so you might get a look at your baby's first anti-wrinkle cream.

Guest Speaker

Daddy was the Guest Speaker at the Memorial Day Ceremony!!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Planted family graves today!

18W1D- Belly Pic!

 

18 Weeks Pregnant!

Mommy will be induced about 2 weeks early due to gestational diabetes and producing large babies!  If so, this is the halfway mark for the pregnancy.  It is flying by!  

How big is my baby at 18 weeks?

At 5½ inches long from crown to rump and 5 to 6½ ounces in weight — about the size of that boneless chicken breast you're making for dinner — your baby may be large enough now or anytime in the next few weeks for you to feel twisting, rolling, kicking and punching in the womb.

Baby is yawning

Now for the skill of the week: The art of the yawn has been mastered by your baby, along with hiccupping, which you may feel soon, too!

In fact, you might catch a glimpse of that adorable yawn and all those other fetal movements at your ultrasound this month.

Baby's nervous system is maturing quickly

Something you won't see on the ultrasound — but you'll learn is in working order — is your baby's nervous system, which is maturing rapidly when you're 18 weeks pregnant.

A network of nerves, now covered with a substance called myelin that helps speed messages from nerve cell to nerve cell, are forming more complex connections.

And those in the brain are further developing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing.

Speaking of hearing, your baby's is growing more acute and baby can finally fully hear you this week, making your little one more conscious of sounds that come from inside your body. Meaning you could both be listening to each other hiccup!

FAMILY!!

OB APPOINTMENT !

Okay. Blood sugar is elevated. My next appointment is on June 13th for my anatomy scan and appointment to discuss insulin

17w5d-Glucose Test

Cheers 😂 Glucose test! Earlier this time around. Fingers crossed the diabetic diet is enough to pass this test!

17w4d- BELLY BUTTON

Belly button is starting to pop!

17W1D BELLY BUMP!

17 Weeks Pregnant!!!!

 Mommy was laying on her side and could feel your hiccups! How exciting….here’s some more development for week 17!!!!

How big is my baby at 17 weeks?

My, how your baby has grown! Your little one weighs about 5 or more ounces and is the size of your palm, or around 5 inches long. Body fat (baby's, that is) is beginning to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of your pregnancy — join the club, baby!

Baby's practicing sucking and swallowing

Since practice makes perfect, your baby is sharpening his sucking and swallowing skills in preparation for that first and second…and third suckle at your breast or the bottle. 

In fact, most of the survival reflexes your baby will have at birth are being perfected in utero right now.

Fingerprints are forming

Here's some proof that your baby is truly one of a kind — as if you needed any! Within the next week or so, the pads on your baby's fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases, aka fingerprints.

Baby's heartbeat is more regular

Baby's heart is now regulated by the brain, so no more random beats, and is churning out 140 to 150 beats per minute — about twice as fast as yours.

16w4d- Progesterone

 I took my last dose of progesterone yesterday!

16w3d- SUNNING!

Bumping in the bathing suit today ☀️

16W2D BELLY PIC!

 The baby bump is very noticeable.  Now people are asking when she is due!

16 WEEKS!

New symptom this week with the warm weather I’ve had swelling in my legs, feet and fingers 😜

16 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 16 weeks pregnant, you're in month 4 of your pregnancy. Only 5 months left to go! Still have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.

How big is my baby at 16 weeks?

Your baby now weighs in at a whopping 3 to 4 ounces and is 4 to 5 inches in length.

The backbone and tiny muscles in your baby's back are gaining strength, so she can straighten out that head and neck even more.

Baby's eyes are working

Thanks to those developing facial muscles, your baby is capable of making a few expressive frowns and squints, even at this early stage.

Baby's beautiful eyes are finally working too, making small side-to-side movements and perceiving light, although the eyelids are still sealed. Peekaboo!

Baby's skin is transparent 

Your fetus is becoming a looker too — with a face that's starting to look more human — but a skinny looker, since there's no baby fat yet.

And here's the skinny on baby skin: It's practically translucent now, so if you took a peek inside your uterus, you'd be able to see your baby's blood vessels under that thin skin.

Baby will soon hear your voice

Listen up: Tiny bones in your fetus' ears are in place, making it likely that baby will soon be able to hear your voice (or something like it) when you're speaking. Generally, babies fully develop the ability to hear in the womb by 18 weeks of pregnancy.

In fact, studies have found that babies who hear a song while they're in the womb recognize the same tune when it's sung to them after they’re born — so choose your lullabies with that in mind.

15w5d- Hiccups?

 Mommy was listening to your heartbeat via the Doppler tonight….she has been hearing you kick at the doppler for quite some time…but tonight, she is pretty sure she heard the rhythmic sound of your hiccups.  Toooo bad she didn’t have her phone close by to record it!

15w0d- Flipping? And Belly Pic

 I felt the biggest movement so far last night while sitting down so I wander if was him flipping and moved ?

15 Weeks Pregnant!!!

 💙 he scared me this morning. I went to listen with the Doppler and couldn’t find it straight away! He was tucked by the top left side of my belly button! Scared the crap out of me!  I almost threw up! But he was hiding and moved in a spot he hadn’t been before!! 

I found this on a baby website…So I guess we should start expecting to search for the heartbeat as he is trying out his new movement skills!

Baby is looking more like a baby

With each passing week, your fetus is also looking more and more like the baby you're picturing in your dreams.

By now, the ears are positioned properly on the sides of the head — they used to be in the neck — and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face — where they'll soon meet your loving gaze.

Baby is practicing for the outside world

So what keeps your baby busy all day? Mostly, your fetus is in rehearsals — practice, practice, practicing and getting ready for that big debut.

Babies work on breathing, sucking and swallowing motions so that when they leave your comfy womb and move into your comfy house, they'll have the skills necessary to survive.

Your fetus is also holding daily aerobics classes — kicking, curling toes and moving those little arms and legs!

14w3d- Bigger Baby Movements!

 This mama just felt bigger movements!!!!  

14w1d- BELLY PIC

All same symptoms but morning sickness is better 🙌🏻

Happy 14 weeks!

 You are trying out some new moves this week! Your eyes are starting to move, and those little legs and arms are starting to flex. These movements also allow you to practice the important skill of moving hands to mouth. We saw this during your gender reveal video last week!

The senses of smell and taste are also developing, and your skin is thickening too. And… right now, hair follicles are forming under the surface of the skin. With each passing week, you are looking more and more like the little person we will meet the day you are born!

Love you baby Boy Thompson. (PS…so far Daddy wants to name you Owen Joseph Thompson…time will tell if this name sticks!)

Family

 

13w1d Gender Reveal Video

 

13w1d- Announcing….

 

13w1d Ultrasound video

 

13w1d- Gender Reveal Ultrasound

 Well one person in the family knows if you are a boy or a girl!  Your heartbeat was 165 measuring right on track and weighing in at 3 oz!  Tomorrow evening is the big reveal during a small family dinner! My guess is a Girl…. Time will tell!

13w1d OB appointment

Mommy had her OB appointment today.  Baby's HB is a strong 160.  And Caitilin's fundal height is measuring more around 14 weeks. OB said that's normal with Mommies who have had previous pregnancies.    The next appointment is on May 23rd along with the ugly glucose test!  Caitlin needs to do it earlier than normal since she was a gestational diabetic with both pregnancies before.  Fingers crossed the diabetic diet is doing the trick and insulin is not needed this time around.  🤞

13w0d Belly Pic!

 Oh my…that little round belly is really popping out!  Daddy is just as excited as Mommy!

Happy 2nd Trimester! 13w0d!

Little Bean is around 7.4cm long, which is about the size of a peach. The weight is about 25g, which is as heavy as a toothbrush with toothpaste on it.

The baby’s ovaries or testes are fully developed inside and final tweaks are being made on the outside.  The ultrasound is tomorrow evening for the gender determination!  But we are waiting to find out if you are a boy or a girl at the gender reveal dinner at Great Grandma and Grandpa Richards’ house on Friday evening.  Only Great Grandma will know your gender just before she bakes the cake!  You are also moving all around and Mommy catches you on the Doppler kicking the sound waves and move away from it!  

Pregnancy systems are the same, and Mommy’s belly is growing by the day!  One problem is the hernia from previous pregnancies,  Her belly muscles separated and it is noticeable this time around…this early.

12w4d EASTER 2022