16 1/2 weeks!

I'm finally starting to show a "bump" as my waistline is disappearing! So far, I've only gained 6 pounds....which is WAY better than the first time around. I've been keeping up my exercise and doing well with eating (although I've noticed I want smaller, more frequent meals lately).

When I went to see the doctor last month, she talked to me about the MME or Triple Screen test to check for Down's syndrome, Spina Bifida, etc. I declined this with Bryce, as I did with this baby. No matter what the results of the tests are, it wouldn't change wheather or not I had this baby.....plus, it would save me from worrying about a "false positive" until September.

TOMORROW IS THE DAY!!! I'm going to visit my friend Stephanie to find out "officially" what this child is! I'm about 85% sure it's a boy based on what I've seen from scanning myself, but I just need someone else's eyes to take a look to be sure, so stay tuned!

Week 16: Time for ye olde ultrasounde
Fetal development in pregnancy week 16:fetus in fourth month Over the past three weeks your astounding growing baby has managed to stretch yet another 2 full inches (totaling about 4.5”) and weighs around 3.5 ounces. That’s pretty serious growth, and with it comes several physical developments! For starters, their head to body ratio is finally starting to even out a bit as the rest of the body is actually growing faster than the head at this point. Finally, your little light bulb is not so top-heavy. Their adorable little limbs have lengthened, almost reaching their normal proportions which they will have at birth. Their eyes are still closed but moving now and if you had an ultrasound, which many doctors recommend you have at about this time, you may even see your little one sucking on a thumb, not to mention the necessary signifiers to let you know whether you’ve got a wee lad or lassie.

And how's mom doing? Along with an ultrasound, many practitioners recommend administering the “Multiple Marker Test (MMT)” (sometimes known as the “Triple Screen Test”) this week. This very common procedure checks your blood (not your baby’s) for specific protein and hormone levels as well as informing you about any potential Before you start breathing in that strained fearful way or furrowing your brow in concern, you should know that even if you do get a positive test, this hardly means your little trooper is in trouble. Only about 3 to 5 percent of women yield positive results risks of genetic or birth defects. Before you start breathing in that strained fearful way or furrowing your brow in concern, you should know that even if you do get a positive test, this hardly means your little trooper is in trouble. Only about 3 to 5 percent of women yield positive results and of those women, only 10 percent actually have any sort of complication to report. Obviously, a positive test from the MMT will mean further testing for you, including amniocentesis and more ultrasounds. Although this test sounds like a bit of a dud with the high percentage of false positives coming back, it's popular because it has and can effectively identify a majority of all neural tube defects as well as babies with Down syndrome. So despite its obvious drawbacks, you’ll still want to arrange to take the test to better prepare you and your family for the fact that anything is possible.