15 Weeks...Tomorrow!!!

15 Weeks! That's only 5 weeks from halfway done. I cannot believe how quickly time is flying by. Less than one month now to the wedding....Drew and I wrote our ceremony last night. I cried as I re-read it this morning...I'm so looking forward to our big day and our marriage. (<----Sappy as hell, I know.)

I discovered a new way to cause myself pain this morning - putting on tights. I don't think pregnant bodies were meant to stretch in those ways. I guess I'll be wearing mostly pants from now on. So, in my research I've been finding out all sorts of interesting facts about pregnancy and prenatal babies. Some of the more interesting things I thought I would post:

• Every three seconds a baby is born
• During pregnancy, the uterus expands to 500 times its normal size.
• During pregnancy a woman's blood volume increases up to 50%. In addition to meeting the needs of the fetus, this is a reserve against fluid loss that occurs during childbirth. (I've heard that this amount can weigh 8 1/2 pounds!!!!)
• A newborn baby's head accounts for about one-quarter of it's entire weight.
• Relaxin is secreted by the woman's hormonal structures during pregnancy. Relaxin softens ligaments in the back and pelvis in order to make birth easier. It can also relax foot bones making a pregnant woman's feet grow longer and winder.
• Unfertilized sperm can live in a woman's body for up to five days. An unfertilized egg only lives for 24 hours. It's a numbers game!
• Amniotic fluid is mostly the unborn baby's urine...which it swallows and practices breathing.
• The heaviest baby at birth weighed 24 pounds! The smallest weighed 10 ounces. (Let's hope for a healthy 7-8 lbs. for the little lima bean!)
• The blood moves along in the umbilical cord at 4 mph!
• The amniotic fluid in the uterus is completely replaced every 3 hours.
• A pregnant woman's ribcage volume will increase by 20% and each breath she takes will take in 20-30% more oxygen.

And, for those of you who are interested, below is what will happen during week 15:

• You may begin to feel some fluttering movements as baby kicks, flails, twists and turns (but don't panic if you don't yet). She can also grasp, squint, frown, grimace and maybe suck her thumb!
• Your baby's legs have grown longer than the arms and the body is now longer than the head. And you'll be happy to note that he is moving those arms and legs often!
• His skin is very thin -- so thin blood vessel are visible. It's covered by a fine, soft layer of hair called lanugo. Lanugo comes from a Latin word meaning "down." This hair is thought to help insulate your little boy.
• The three tiny bones in his middle ear have begun to harden. The auditory centers in your baby's brain haven't developed yet, so she might not really understand what you say but her hearing capacity is in the process of developing.
• Fingernails and toenails are growing.
• Eyebrows are beginning to grow and even the hair his head is sprouting. It will probably change color and texture after birth.
• All this and your little one is an amazing 3.98 inches (10.1cm) long and may weigh 2.47 ounces (70gm).