PARENT BLOG - New Born Day 3 [02.15.11]

It's the third day of having the dolls and I already got into trouble. We were allowed to split the twins so each of us gets to carry just one. That is so much better. I felt easier handling my stuff with a baby in my arm. It wasn't as tiring as the first time I had to carry the baby because now I don't have both of them at the same time,

PARENT BLOG - New Born Day 2 [02.14.11]

It is my turn to take care of the twins today because my partner had them over the weekend. They were really heavy. My babies somehow had weights for their bodies so they are very bony and uncomfortable to hold. I had difficulties carrying my books, opening my locker and doing any other ordinary things that require the use of hands. It annoyed me after some times. I decided to change back to my negative view towards babies once again.

PARENT BLOG - New Born Day 1 [02.11.11]

Today is the day we officially start having a real baby to carry around. I was not very keen in this. My partner, Matt, wanted to have the twins since he's very excited about having babies so I let him. I only had to hold them for a while. It didn't feel as bad as I thought it would, so I kind of changed my perspective on having babies, for the projects as well as in real life.

PARENT BLOG - 24 weeks

Your Baby in Week 24 of Pregnancy
Your baby is about eight and a half inches long and weighs one and a half pounds, gaining steadily at a rate of six ounces per week. Much of that weight comes from accumulating baby fat, as well as from growing organs, bones, and muscle. Those little ears of hers are getting sharper and can hear very loud sounds, from a yapping dog to a jackhammer. Also by now, that fabulous face is almost fully formed, complete with eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. Is your baby a brunette, a blonde, or a redhead? Actually, right now her locks are white since there's no pigment yet.

Your Body in Week 24 of Pregnancy
If your former innie is now an outie, welcome to the club. Almost every expectant mom's pregnant belly button pops at some point as her swelling uterus pushes on everything in its path. Things should return to normal after delivery, though your navel (and some other parts of your body) might look a bit, well, stretched. Just think of it as one more badge of honor that only moms get to wear. What other pregnancy woe is pushing your buttons? Well, probably your uncomfortably numb wrists and fingers, thanks to carpal tunnel syndrome. (Don’t worry — the sensations will disappear when you give birth.) 

PARENT BLOG - Embryonic Development Question

Cellular Differentiation

• Definition: The machanism by which a less specialized cell develops or matures to possess a more distinct form and function. Specialized cells are the product of differentiation. For example, a single-celled zygote develops into a multicellular embryo that further develops into a more complex multisystem of distinct cell types of a fetus. The cell size, shape, polarity, metabolism and responsiveness to signals change dramatically such that a less specialized cell becomes more specialized and acquires a more specific role.

•  The three germ layers:

1. Ectoderm: develop into the skin and the nervous system
2. Mesoderm: form many of the body's internal structures, including bones, muscle, blood cells, and gonads.
3. Endoderm: form the linings of organs in the digestive system, such as the stomach and intestines, as well as in the respiratory and excretory system.

• The five stages involved in cellular differentiation:

1. The Morula stage
2. The Blastocyst stage
3. The Implantation stage
4. The Gastrulation stage
5. The Neurolation stage

Image: http://stemcells.nih.gov/StaticResources/info/scireport/images/figure11.jpg

PARENT BLOG - 16 weeks

• Life Card: You've learned that your baby is not developing properly.

Regarding this life card, I have no idea what exactly my baby has yet, so I can't decide my level of anxiety right now. I am sure it won't be something severe since I'm not smoking, drinking and/or taking illegal drugs. I will take immediate measures the moment the cause of this harm is determined.

• Week 16 Time Line

My baby now measures about 4.3 to 4.6 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 2.8 ounces. Fingernails are well-formed and the fine hair, lanugo, may be growing on the head. Arms and legs are moving. The nervous system is functioning and muscles are responding to stimulation from the baby's brain. I may be able to hear the baby's heartbeat in the doctor's office. 

I am now gaining weights and my belly is getting bigger, it becomes noticeable that I'm pregnant. As long as I eat right during pregnancy (minimize junk and maximize nutrient-dense foods) and get regular exercise, I'll be fine in the long run. The membranes in my nose may be swelling, leading to congestion.

PARENT BLOG - Life Card

I received a life a card that said I have a twins. At first, I was absolutely terrified because I only have two hands and if I have twin babies, I'll have two use both of them to carry the twins which will leave me no more hands to do other stuff that maintain my homeostasis. Besides, having a baby is already troublesome enough, having two babies at time is a double kill. I fear I'd be like that girl on Teen Mom who constantly complains about how hard it is to take care of twins, which in turn annoyed people around her and isolated her from the world. But then I thought there're only 3% of getting twins so I should feel like it's something special or so. Anyways, I can't just kill one of them so oh well.