31st Week of My Development

This week, I measures over 16 inches long. I weighs about 3.3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. During the next several weeks I will really begin to put on the weight. Remember the average size of a newborn is about 7 ½ pounds and 19 to 21 inches long. I am continuing to develop a layer of fat under my skin. This is in preparation for my arrival into the world and gives me more of a newborn appearance.

I can turn my head from side to side, and my arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath my skin. I'm probably moving a lot, too, so mom may have trouble sleeping because my kicks and somersaults keep her up. (Take comfort mom: All this moving is a sign that I am active and healthy)

My lungs are fully developed this week, although they're not mature yet. I'll be 'breathing' rhythmically now though, although occasionally I will swallow some down the wrong way and get hiccups, which mom can feel.

The brain connections that control sensory input are forming now. My bones are fully developed (although still soft) and I'll begin building up my own stores of iron and calcium. It's possible that I will turn into a head down position in preparation for birth, although some babies leave it until the very last minute.

Did you know that my weight gain is rapid – and may now increase by anywhere from 175 – 300g a week.

Friends see you soon!!!

Image from: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-31-weeks

My First Name....

The next thing to think now is my name. I'm a girl just like my parents expected (and prayed). My 2nd name is Gabrielle and I need to have a 1st name which begins with the letter "R" and that will compliment my adorable 2nd name.

My parents' 1st choice was "Reign" (meaning Queen) but a friend has a daughter with the same name so they are thinking of other variation (spelling) of the name and dad found other interesting names and its meaning.

See the list of names they are considering and have your vote counted by clicking on the choices found on the right portion of this page.

• Raine - means abundant blessings from above (in German origin, it means mighty army which compliments the name Gabrielle)
• Renee - means reborn
• Reine - means Queen
• Ruth - means friend
• Rhianne - means gracious woman
• Others - please specify on your comment below

Only 6 weeks and 5 days to go and I will be ready to meet you (it could be anytime after the 37th week)

Friends see you soon!!!

30th Week of My Development

It's a busy week for me. My bone marrow takes over production of red blood cells meaning I'll be better able to cope on my own when I'm born. I can also recognise mom's voice as distinct from other people's. Research has shown that the fetal heart rate slows down when the mother speaks, suggesting that babies not only hears and recognises their mothers' voice but is also calmed by it.

I am about 15.7 inches long now, and I weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). My growth in length will slow down, but I'll continue to gain weight and as that happens the volume of amniotic fluid that surrounds me, which is currently about 750ml, will gradually decrease. Also, the fine, downy hair (lanugo) that has covered my body is beginning to disappear as my fat stores increase and help to regulate my body temperature.

My eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after I'm born, I'll keep my eyes closed for a good part of the day. When I do open them, I'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means I can only make out objects a few inches from my face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

My first poo, known as meconium, is being formed in the intestines – it's made up of various waste products including lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid and old skin cells. I'll pass in it the first 24 hours or so after birth, and it will be dark green and sticky!. That's all for now

Did you know that by 30 weeks I have the ability to produce tears?. Amazing!!!

Friends, see you soon!!!



Image from: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-30-weeks

29th Week of My Development

I now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. My muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and my head is growing bigger to make room for my developing brain. This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in my hardening skeleton each day, so my mom need more calcium to meet the demand.

I am still in the midst of a period of intense activity and gaining around 25g in weight every day. The blood vessels in my lungs are maturing and they're gradually getting ready for my first breath. For now my mom's placenta is providing me with all the oxygen I need.

All five of my senses are developing well (sight is the last to develop and will continue maturing once I am born). I am increasingly sensitive to changes in light, sound, taste and smell and may indicate preferences for particular tastes or odors. Whatever mom is eating will flavour her amniotic fluid – it can smell strongly of curry, garlic, onion and cumin for example – and researchers have found that baby will drink it faster the sweeter it tastes (one study showed that a 33 – week premature baby will suck harder on a sweetened nipple than on a plain one).

Did you know that if you could see me, you'd be able to observe me making faces – frowning, grimacing and making what looks like a smile (although a true smile doesn't occur until I'm about six weeks old).

Friends, see you soon!!!

Image from: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-29-weeks

28th Week of My Development

It's a big week for me since this is the beginning of the last stage of my development. My eyes, which have been fused shut until about now, open and I begins to blink. The irises don't have any pigment yet, they're a slate grey, but my pupils will react to different levels of light by contracting and dilating. I may respond to a bright light from outside by giving a little kick. I am already looks a lot like I will appear at birth. I'm still quite wrinkly though, because of being surrounded by the amniotic fluid.
My respiratory system is still very immature (were I to be born now I would still need very intensive care and lots of intervention and help with breathing), but it has developed to the point where gas exchange is possible.
By this week, I weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of my head to my heels. I can blink my eyes, which now sport lashes. With my eyesight developing, I may be able to see the light that filters in through my mom's womb. I'm also developing billions of neurons in my brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Friends, see you soon!!!

Image from: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-28-weeks

My Name is Gabrielle

It's official, after waiting for 27 weeks my gender is determined. I am a girl....yahoo. Mom and dad was praying for a baby girl and God grant their prayer.

Dad was not able to recognized (or visualized) my genital shown on the ultrasound monitor. The sonologist said it looks like a hamburger (not the top view just what my dad was looking, ha ha ha). Anyway, they're both happy to know my gender and now it's time for you to make a suggestion (and buy your gift, LOL) on what should be my first name. It should be a one syllable name that begins with the letter "R", don't forget to research for its meaning.

"Reign" meaning rule, sovereign was the name they really want but a friend already used it so dad modify it and become "Raine" meaning abundant blessing from above. Nice name, Raine Gabrielle but it's not yet final. Help them up.

Friends see you soon!!!

2nd Trimester Milestone

Here's the summary of the 2nd trimester of my development:

Week 13: Flexes and Kicks
Week 14: Hormones gear up
Week 15: My skin begins to form
Week 16: Facial expressions are possible
Week 17: Fat accumulates
Week 18: I begin to hear
Week 19: Lanugo covers my skin
Week 20: The halfway point (my skin develops layer)
Week 21: Nourishment evolves
Week 22: My taste buds develops
Week 23: My lungs prepare for life outside the womb
Week 24: My sense of balance develops
Week 25: Exploration continues
Week 26: My eyes remain closed
Week 27: Second Trimester ends (my lungs, liver and immune system are continuing to mature)

3rd Trimester begins today, August 5, 2009

Friends, see you soon...

27th Week f My Development

Just 10 weeks to go until I reaches full term! From now until about week 30, I go through a very active phase – my muscles are increasingly developed and my nervous system is mature enough to control some of my bodily functions. So you can look forward to my kicking and moving around a lot.

The rest of the time I will be sleeping. I am settling into a sleep cycle that's similar to what I'll follow as a newborn: asleep during the day and awake at night! My brain is growing rapidly too and the grooves on the surface are developing.

I am practicing my sucking reflex a lot now. This is important as it will help me feed effectively once I'm born. Meanwhile my muscles, organs and limbs are all formed, and throughout this final trimester I'll be busily building up fat stores and muscle mass.

This week, I weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with my legs extended. While my lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if I were to be born now. (For Mom: Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother me, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.)

Did you know that by now, I have all my bones (there are 300 of them!). Throughout the remainder of mom's pregnancy they will be getting stronger and harder, and they will continue to ossify throughout the first year of life after birth. Amazing!!!!

Friends, see you soon!!!

Image from: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-27-weeks