26 weeks...

Here is a little update: Baby Abelson is a little less than 2 pounds now and measures about 14 inches in total length. Her weight will more than triple between now and birth (which is around August 4th) as she rapidly puts on baby fat. She'll need that fat to help adjust to colder temperatures outside the womb. Her feet are about 2 inches (5cm) long.
The baby's eyes begin to open around this time.

She begins making breathing movements, but there is no air in the lungs yet, she is breathing in fluid. Hands are active and muscle coordination is such that they can get a thumb into the mouth. Thumb sucking calms the baby and strengthens the cheek and jaw muscles.

The fetal brain scan will show response to touch. Touching and playing with the baby is possible now, as they may respond to your touch through your belly wall. Brain growth continues with brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems starting to develop. Baby is probably very active in the womb, as the most active weeks are typically between weeks 24 and 28, when there is some room left!

I have been experiencing what are called "Braxton hicks" or painless "practice" contractions which help the uterus strengthen for the real thing!

Stay in touch, be well
Alissa and Stephen

Baby Abelson at week 25

Head to heels, baby is now about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight is about a pound and a half. She's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. Her hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after she's born.

Steve and I had a great time with family at the Stern Bar Mitzvah! We were dancing up a storm and got to spend time with family. It was such a great time!

More later,
Alissa and Steve

Dr. Appointment 4-19-2007

Steve and I went to see Dr. Aaron 4-19-2007 for the check-up (measurement of the uterus, my weight, etc). I also took a test that all pregnant women take; a glucose test for gestational diabetes. I fasted from 12-4PM, took an orange glucose drink at 4PM (which I had to finish within 5 minutes and was pure sugar), waited one hour, and then they took a blood sample which we will see the results of in a couple weeks. Steve's parents, Barry and Margo, are in town for our cousin Benjie Stern's Bar Mitzvah, so they sat with us at the doctor as well.

All was good at the doctor; Dr. Aaron said we are progressing wonderfully. We go back to see her in 3 weeks at week 28. After week 28 we see Dr. Aaron every 2 weeks for check-ups. During the last few weeks of the pregnancy we will be going each week, until Baby Abelson decides to meet the world!!

FYI: Week 27 starts the 3rd Trimester and 7th month = Sunday May 6th!

Happy Friday,
Alissa and Steve

24 weeks

Baby Abelson is now about 11.81 inches crown to heel!!!

Baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long and about 1.32 pounds she has a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

It's also time for Spring Cleaning at the Abelson household! We have been doing a thorough dusting and cleaning. We had painters in today to fix up any chipping paint in the apartment and most importantly...they PAINTED BABY'S ROOM!!!

More later,
Alissa and Steve

23 weeks

Baby Abelson is now more than 11 inches long in total length and weighs just over a pound.

Baby Abelson does a regular 'workout' inside the womb. She turns from side to side and head over heels. Thanks to a fully developed inner ear, which controls balance, she may have a sense of whether she is upside-down or right side up in the womb. Skin pigment is now forming. She is now proportioned like a newborn except thinner since her baby fat has not developed much yet. The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. Baby has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.

Her movements have been getting stronger and we can sometimes see my stomach pop with her movements, it is very exciting!

More later,
Alissa and Stephen

Passover 2007

We had a great Passover with friends for first Seder and then Aunt Bev and Uncle Joel's for second Seder with the Slobodin's and Stern's in New Jersey. It was great to catch up with everyone for stories, great company, and excellent Jewish cooking. We are so excited to see everyone and celebrate with everyone in about 2 weeks at Benjie's Bar Mitzvah!!!

Alissa and Stephen

My Pregnancy "Surprises"...

1. How easy pregnancy has been for me
2. Mood swings in the 1st trimester were a bit tough; thanks Steve for the support. I didn't think they would be that up and down or that I'd be teary since I don't cry usually! Thank goodness that has gone away!!!!
3. Hunger, especially in Trimester 1, was extremely strong; waking up in the middle of the night starving
4. Lack of weird cravings, other than what I normally eat (which people can attest is weird to begin with). Although I have noticed my chicken craving has been swapped with red meat, and I have been craving dairy products more now, if that's possible.
5. Calmness in regard to Dr. appointments and baby's development, no worries, I feel things will be what they are
6. NO morning sickness, nauseau, food aversions, etc.
7. I underestimated how awe inspiring it would be for Steve and me to await meeting our baby for the first time and thinking about what she'll be like, look like, like to do, and what a beautiful miracle life truly is
8. How fun it is to shop for the maternity clothing, the baby crib, clothes, strollers, etc.
9. How fun research has been to find out the best daycares in NY, bottles to use, strollers, car seats, cribs, and so on.

6th month begins; 22 weeks along

Baby Abelson now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches (crown to heel, last blog entry was the inches from crown to butt) and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

Happy Passover to all,
Aliss and Steve