10 Weeks!

How your baby's growing:

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
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10 weeks. It's been an interesting few days, one that has given a lot of people some emotional ups and downs. Be prepared for some TMI (too much info!), but if bodily fluids don't geek you out, proceed..

Monday evening I was sitting at my dining room table, working on something when I felt a gush. Now, gushing fluids during pregnancy can be normal, but this felt intense. I remarked to my husband that something was wrong and ran to the bathroom. It was clear but a much greater amount than I was used too. I used the toilet and upon wiping, pink .. and then red blood. I was in complete disbelief. Let me say here that I know bleeding during pregnancy can be normal, it happens for many women. But either way, you worry about the little one inside, and when you're pregnant with a surro baby? It just makes this a completely different emotional ballgame, at least for me.

I put on a pad, called the advice nurse (as I was told to do) and told to take it easy. I got out the doppler and listened, and quickly found the heartbeat. The bleeding was very light, so I wasn't as worried as I could have been, but I was still feeling anxious.

The spotting quit overnight and I was fine all of Tuesday, but still taking it easy, not doing much at all. I just didn't want to aggravate anything, or somehow cause irritation to my cervix. I woke this morning (Wednesday morning), used the bathroom as usual and bam, bleeding.. a bit more than what they'd call spotting, but not a lot either. Still, I got angry for a moment, and then I washed my hands and plopped myself back in bed for the next few hours. I'll admit here to indulging in naps quite a bit when my kids are off at school. ;) The OB agreed that there isn't much to do, and I didn't like the idea of them doing a pelvic exam (no matter what they may or may not find, there's nothing they can do), so I stayed home.

So, that's where we are. Baby has a good strong heart rate hovering in the high 160s, and the spotting is here and there, but light and what seems to be old blood. I'll take old blood over fresh!

I am hoping this little hiccup ceases soon, of course. For now, my plans of shopping, taking the kids for their Santa photo, etc. are on hold. I feel like a slug, laying here, but I'll do it. Thankfully my husband is incredibly understanding, and if I even so much as get up to get more water, he is telling me to go lay down. This may not be his baby, but I think he worries just as much about me and the baby as if it were his. I think he feels as much responsibility as he does during any other pregnancy, which is really sweet.

Otherwise, I am feeling fine - no cramps, no puking. My appetite is still hit and miss, but that's about it. I've had extreme cravings for spicy stuff, especially buffalo chicken with ranch dip. Yummm. Hopefully I can indulge in that craving this weekend sometime.

If you read this, I know my IFs and I appreciate thoughts and prayers - that Sprout hangs around until 40 weeks pregnant (which I think he/she will!), and these little scares quit, so I can relax (and eventually get off of this couch).