A Star Trek Character In My Belly

Well, I said in an earlier post that I only had nausea. Well, I better take that back. I've been fortunate to make it this far without any vomiting but lately, I've vomited a few times. This morning, a lightbulb in my poor foggy mind went off (if somewhat dimly) -- dairy makes me sick. This morning, for example, I had yogurt and a banana. The last couple of times, I had cereal with milk. I've decided that I can't eat dairy in the mornings, at least not on an empty stomach. All kinds of smells can set me off and also brushing my teeth, believe it or not.

I also have to take DHA (fish oil for omega-threes - apparently for the baby's brain) and it gives me the terrible fish burps. It's absolutely disgusting and I had several close calls to retching it all up. Needless to say, I've quit taking it until I see the doctor next week.

As you may know, I was diagnosed at 7 weeks with celiac disease. So on top of my total pregnancy aversion to food, I've had to try new food like tapioca bread (dense), flaxseed bread (good but you can only toast it since it's frozen), quinoa, quinoa pasta, rice pasta, gluten-free bars, soy milk, corn flakes sweetened with fruit juice as opposed to regular sugar, etc. I make Greg taste all the strange food first and describe the taste to me. I just can't risk throwing up some more.

As the title of this post may intrigue you, I've posted below what is happening in my belly at 10 weeks. Apparently the baby's forehead is bulging (I immediately pictured Star Trek) temporarily to accommodate a huge brain (oh my!). If you'd like to read it, read on. If not, ciao for now!

How your baby's growing:

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.