The Adventures of Haley and Autumn

Photo:

10-18-05 - 6 weeks

This is the girls first picture. You can see both the sacs on the right. The white dots inside the far right sac and far left are the babies. Right now the babies are about the size of a small lentil bean and their hearts are beating about 100 to 130 beats per minute — and blood is beginning to circulate through her body.

Photo:

11-17-05 - 10 weeks

Baby A and Baby B The babies are no longer an embryo! Though they are barely the size of a kumquat — just an inch or so long — and weigh less than a quarter of an ounce, they have completed the most critical portion of her development. During the next three weeks, the babies will more than double to nearly 3 inches. Their heads are proportionately smaller now than a few weeks ago, but still almost half the length of their entire body. Each day, more minute details — including tiny fingernails, toenails, and peach-fuzz hair — start to appear on her body. Their fingers are now completely separated; arms bend at the elbow and curve slightly; hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over her heart; legs are lengthening; and feet may be long enough to meet in front of the body.

Photo:

11-17-05 - 10 weeks

Baby A side - you can see the umbilical cord!

Photo:

11-17-05 - 10 weeks

Baby B side - and no that is not an ear! :)

Photo:

12-27-05 - 16 weeks

Baby A is a GIRL!!! The babies are about 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, they'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling her weight and adding inches to their length. The lower limbs are much more developed now; the head is more erect than it has been, and the eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Their ears are close to their final position, too, and some of the more advanced body systems are working, including circulatory system and urinary tract. Their hearts are now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day. Although closed, their eyes are moving (slowly), and toenails have started growing.

Photo:

12-27-05 - 16 weeks

Baby A's Profile

Photo:

12-27-05 - 16 weeks

Baby A and Baby B side by side

Photo:

1-24-06 - 20 weeks

Baby Girl A The girls are about 12 ounces now. They are also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats their entire body to protect their skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. The girls are swallowing more, which is good practice for their digestive system. They are also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in their bowels, and you'll see it in their first messy diaper.

Photo:

1-24-06 - 20 weeks

Baby Girl B

Photo:

1-24-06 - 20 weeks

Baby Girls side by side

Photo:

3-8-06 - 26 weeks

Baby Girl A The girls now weigh little under 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches, from head to heel. The nerve pathways in her ears are developing, their lungs are developing now, too, they take small breaths of amniotic fluid — good practice for when they're born and take their first breath of air.

Photo:

3-08-06 - 26 weeks

Baby Girl B

Photo:

3-08-06 - 26 weeks

Baby Girl B yawning... how cute!