Cloud 9

There are so many ways that I could announce this that I've been debating back and forth for quite a while now. So instead of starting with, hmm, let's see, why Onyx and Lola are losing their place, our long story, how excited we are, how nervous we are, our new life, or the version where I sit here and cry for an hour pouring my heart out, I think I'll just copy and paste this here:

How Big is the Baby at Four Weeks Pregnant?
Your baby at 4 weeks is still incredibly miniscule, about .014 to .04 inches long. That is roughly the equivalent to 1/2 to 1mm long, which isn't very long at all. Your baby will however slowly start changing by 4 weeks pregnant so that he/she starts resembling more of a small tadpole with eyes than an egg. That is quite an accomplishment for your little bean!

Your Baby's Growth and Development:
Your baby will be implanting furiously during pregnancy week 4 into the uterine lining, to ensure that he/she has a safe and secure home for the next nine months. Fetal development by and large is still in the earliest stages at this point in time. By now the blastocyst or ball of cells that is your baby will be imbedding deeper and deeper into the lining of the uterus. The amniotic cavity is forming and the placenta is starting to form.

As you continue to grow and expand during your pregnancy week by week, the placenta will help nourish and support your baby during the nine months of pregnancy. It consists of vascular networks and blood from your body that helps transport oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. There are several different layers of cells developing in your body, which will eventually develop into your baby's organs and other body parts. Other layers will form the nervous system including the brain.

A pregnancy of 4 weeks is often noted as the beginning of the embryonic period. During your pregnancy at 4 weeks, your baby's organs will start developing. The early weeks of pregnancy are considered a critical time of development.

Your Growth and Development:
By the end of 4 weeks pregnant you would normally expect your period to arrive. If it does not there is a good chance you might be pregnant!

During the early weeks of pregnancy before the placenta is fully formed, an area of your ovary forms what is called the corpus luteum. This generally occurs at the site where your egg is released from the follicle. The corpus luteum is believed to produce progesterone during the early weeks of pregnancy. The placenta actually starts producing the majority of progesterone your body needs to carry a pregnancy typically by about 12 weeks.
Changes in You:
You might actually start realizing some changes 4 weeks pregnant. Some women start to feel a little bit tired (Yeah I've been in bed by about seven every night this week, but I also wake up at three and start thinking about things and can't go back to sleep!) during pregnancy at 4 weeks, which is not a surprise given the remarkable work your body is performing to support your new baby! Many women liken the symptoms they are feeling during this stage to those they feel around the time of menstruation. You may in fact experience during pregnancy at 4 weeks nothing other than some menstrual symptoms, including a bit of nausea and even some cramping. Believe it or not, some women cramp very badly during this time and are absolutely positive that they are about to get their period, only to find that they are actually pregnant a week or so later. (Not me! After a total of 6 tests, I'm pretty sure it's a yes!)

I thought this was really interesting and I hope that this blog will stay up for a long time so that I can look back on it. I'm planning on posting this information on a weekly basis as well as how I'm feeling. We couldn't be happier and we can't wait.