Pregnancy Update

Hi All!

Just thought its been a while since I updated, so I figured I'd let you all know that pregnancy has been treating me very well.

I'm a little over 24 weeks now, meaning that, if born now, our little guy would actually have about a 40-70% chance of surviving with intensive NICU interventions.  We are hoping, however, that he will remain safely growing inside his mom for at least another 14 weeks.    

Statistically, our baby is about 12 inches (1 foot long), which is more than halfway to normal birth length,  weighs about 1 1/3 lbs at this point - and will supposedly start gaining 1/4 - 1/2 lbs weekly now until he's born.  He has been kicking up a storm for the past few weeks, and has newly discovered that I have ribs! 

I first started to feel some light kicking, very inconsistently, at about 18 weeks, but now feel him moving at least every few hours.  Even if he's not kicking, I can usually tell when he is awake because he tends to squirm more.  He is now strong enough that you can see him actually moving my belly outwards when he kicks - which I find very entertaining.  I can be found quite frequently just sitting on the couch watching my belly for signs of kicking.  He is a little shy though - because whenever I call his Dad (or anyone else) over to watch with me, he tends to quiet right down.

As for me - I think its very obvious that I am pregnant, but I guess I am still in that in-between phase where people are unsure if I am pregnant or just putting on a few extra pounds, so most people are reluctant to say anything.  Some people (mostly women) are more perceptive and seem to notice, but than I have also had others look me over from head to toe and say "really? you're pregnant? I never would have known!". 

Other than looking pregnant (to some...) and feeling the little guy kick and move around, I have been very lucky with the pregnancy thus far.  I've had no major issues or complications at all, and have overall been feeling fantastic!  It has been a little more difficult this past week since I'm on a required urology rotation, where I am on my feet from 6:00/6:30 am until 6:00/6:30 pm - but I only have four more days left of that, and then its all easy rotations (no weekends, no evening call, mostly sitting) for the next 12 weeks until I am done med school.

So hopefully I am in for another 14-16 weeks of normal, uneventful pregnancy where I continue to feel just as great as I do now!

Hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas!

Love Amanda