Week 6

Made it to Week 6! Everything I've read online supports that once the embryo has a viable heartbeat - chances of miscarriage are greatly reduced. The chances of miscarriage are then reduced even further once the embryo reaches the 12 Week mark. Last week marked what should have been our baby's first heartbeat. The heart starts out beating a mere 80 beats per minute, increasing to 140 this week (which it will sustain until birth). 

Some women can actually go in and get an ultra sound during week 6 and hear the beating heart. Trust me, if I could, I probably would. It's a good thing (I think) that I can't get into Tripler Army Hospital until December 14th. I'll be 10 Weeks along by then and the heartbeat should be easy to hear. Plus, the less ultra sounds done - the better. Some women choose not to have any done throughout their pregnancy ... but I know that hearing that viable heartbeat will make me feel a little more relaxed. I still don't have too many symptoms (other than occasional, and slight, nausea - along with some cramping in my abdomen and back) - so it doesn't FEEL like I'm pregnant. I still am having "food aversions" to a small degree. Nothing sounds good to eat and I have to force myself to finish each meal. But other than that, I would have no idea I was pregnant.

Week 6: Nose, mouth, and ears are beginning to take shape. Little buds are starting to protrude where the arms and legs will soon be. Intestines and lungs are in the very first stages of development. This week marks the time when the Y chromosome (if it's a boy) sends out chemical markers that trigger the cells to develop as a male, rather than a female. Brain, muscle, bones, and pituitary gland all continue forming.