Five Weeks

Baby Hartsell is five weeks old this week. I think I am right about conception and the age of the baby, but the doctor will confirm this when we have the first ultrasound March 7th. Based on my best guess of conception, baby Hartsell's weeks are from Thursday-Friday. So, baby turned five weeks yesterday. Angie let us borrow a week-by-week book she used when she had the girls. It's an awesome book and lets you know what's happening each week of pregnancy. It's amazing all the development and changes that happen each week.

5 Week stats:

• At start of this week baby measures 0.16 to 0.2 inches, and by the end of the week baby has doubled in size to about 1/2 inch.
• Leg buds appear as short fins.
• Arm buds are longer and have divided into a hand segment and arm-shoulder segment.
• The hand and foot have a digital plate where the fingers and toes will develop.
• The heart bulges from the body and has divided into the right and left heart chambers.
• The primary bronchi (air passages) are present in the lungs.
• The cerebral hemispheres, which make up the brain, are growing.
• Eyes and nostrils are developing.
• Intestines are developing and the appendix and pancreas are present.

Let's catch up on the past weeks:

4 Week stats:

• Baby is 0.08-0.16 inches.
• The body has a head and tail.
• The neural groove closes and early brain chambers form.
• Eyes are starting to form.
• Limb buds appear.
• The heart tubes fuse and heart contractions begin.
• Often the heart beat can be detected on a sensitive ultrasound.

3 Week stats:

• Baby is 0.05 inches.
• A plate develops that will later become the heart.
• The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and muscle and bone formation are beginning.
• The skeleton is also starting to form.

2 Week stats:

• Very tiny at 0.014 - 0.04 inches.
• Implants deeper into uterus.
• Amniotic cavity which will be filled with amniotic fluid starts to form.
• Placenta is forming.
• The vascular network that contains maternal blood is becoming established.
• Three layers of cells form: Ectoderm will become the nervous system; Endoderm will develop into the lining of the GI tract, liver, pancreas, thyroid; Mesoderm forms the skeleton, connective tissues, blood system, urogential system, and most of the muscles.

1 week stats:

• The embryo is only a group of cells, but is multiplying and growing rapidly.
• Embryo is the size of the head of a pin, 0.006 inches.

The book has week-by-week pictures, too. I found a website that has really neat pictures, but they don't match totally with the book I have, but will give you a good idea of how baby looks. It's amazing!! http://www.pregnancy.org/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment1.php

I am still feeling good, twinges of yuckiness once in a while but nothing too bad. Maybe more tired than usual and I'm sleeping very soundly. Otherwise, I'm doing fine and am happy! I'm going to enjoy the weekend and relax and rest up!