6 week old edamame bean

Today in our 20 minute ultrasound appointment Colin and I got a glimpse of our baby bean, it was a little edamame bean of an embryo. The Dr. said based on the size of the embryo we were at 6 weeks, rather than at 8 weeks like we estimated (based on my last period). The baby is currently 3.5 mm in length. That is the size of a little risotto!

We were so happy to see the little blurry image flicker, an indication of heart beating. It almost looked like digital 'noise' on the sonogram monitor. 6 weeks is still too early to see any parts form, but we could clearly see the yolk, which would eventually end up growing inside the baby. In another 2 weeks our little edamame bean will be the size of a gummy bear. I love how we can talk about the baby in relation to size of food. they are all my favorite ones, too. I love it!

Week 6

The embryo is starting to look like a tadpole. It's about 0.08 inches to 0.16 inches -- the size of a BB pellet -- from the top of the head to buttocks. (This crown-to-rump length is used more often than crown-to-heel length because the baby's legs are most often bent and hard to measure). The eyes and limb buds also are forming. A heartbeat can sometimes be detected by an ultrasound around now. This is also an extremely important time in the development of your baby, since between 17 and 56 days the embryo is most susceptible to factors that can interfere with its normal growth.

Projected due date was calculated based on the size of the embryo.... i guess I know what I'm going to do for my birthday this year... celebrate a double birthday! This little baby Bogart is estimated to arrive on December 22, 2009. Oh boy, yet another combo Christmas-Birthday gift baby! It will be so special to see the baby brought home in a Christmas stocking like I was...