Today I am 12wks & 3 days pregnant

Your Pregnancy: A Week-by-Week Guide

You are going on 13 Weeks Pregnant! Yay! I've started my second Trimester!

WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING WITH YOU THIS WEEK

The second trimester is sometimes referred to as the "honeymoon of pregnancy." This is because women often regain energy, with much of the arduous work of organ development now almost complete.

As you enter your second trimester, your nausea most likely has faded into a memory. (If you had to stop taking prenatal vitamins during this time, you should begin to take them again as soon as possible.)

You may feel absolutely wonderful. You aren't yet subject to the physical discomforts that may appear in the later weeks of pregnancy and you may finally feel ready to reveal your long-held secret to the world.

I don't know if I'd go as far as to say I'm in the "honeymoon" phase, but I do feel like I have more energy then I have had the past 2 months, but I'm certainly not back to my usual energy level. Probably won't be for a long time. :)

WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY THIS WEEK

Measuring in at about seven centimeters crown-to-rump and weighing about two ounces, your baby-to-be will spend the rest of the pregnancy concentrating on growing and becoming strong enough to live outside the uterus. Your baby's intestines have now moved from outside the body to inside the abdomen. While your baby won't be saying "Mommy" for some time, vocal cords are now developing. Your fetus also has developed many reflexes and will squirm inside of you if your abdomen is prodded.
Less glamorous but highly necessary, the organ systems for making hormones, absorbing nutrients, & filtering waste will also be in place this week. The pancreas, gall bladder, & thyroid will have developed. The kidneys will now be able to make urine & its bone marrow is making white blood cells to help fight infection after birth.

A lot more seems to be going this month then in previous ones. I find all this extremely fascinating!

EATING FOR TWO

Soy products are a great way to boost protein and calcium intake. Make sure that soy milk products do not contain unnecessary levels of sucrose.

I have found this to be very true. I love my soy smoothies every morning. Especially since it helps w/ getting those 80 some grams of protein I'm suppose to be consuming every day.

FACT OF THE WEEK

You may want to start thinking about whether or not you are interested in the Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening. This test is now generally known as three (triple) or four (quad) marker screen. The test is generally performed between weeks 15 and 18 but might still be valid as late as 20 to 21 weeks. Abnormal MSAFP or other marker levels are associated with genetic conditions, birth defects, retardation and late-pregnancy complications. Usually, if a woman has abnormally high or low levels, a follow-up with an ultrasound and amniocentesis may be recommended for a more definitive diagnosis. This test is safe, however, it does occasionally produce false results. While just 50 in every 1,000 women will get high results, only one or two of those women will end up having a baby with a defect. For the majority of women, normal test results can often indicate a healthy pregnancy and may be a relief after any first trimester anxiety.

To be honest we've really been struggling with whether to have this test done or not. This test is by no means 100% accurate.
For me, if I for some reason get an abnormal result I know that I will become a nervous wreck! I will worry myself sick. I don't want to go through the rest of my pregnancy like that...it would be bad for me and bad for the baby to have that added stress. I guess I need to stop looking at this from a negative stand point and start looking at this positively. Easier said then done!