Our midwives had ordered me to get an additional ultrasound ASAP at my last appointment with them because I again, or rather the baby, was measuring 3 weeks behind my EDD of 9-10-11 and measuring small. At first I wasn't super worried. My midwives tried to assure me that perhaps baby is measuring small because baby is laying funny or I'm just off on how pregnant I am and getting an additional ultrasound will answer any other more worrisome questions if any were to be had.

I had first arranged to get the ultrasound at Kaiser - since that is all I was used to and where I have always gotten it but when I received my bill I realized I was still paying about $253 out of pocket to have the ultrasound.  And my midwives had a referral to a place in Los Gatos that will perform one for $150..so it was a no-brainer to cancel Kaiser and do it in Los Gatos - on a Saturday too! With that $150 - I got a better explanation of the ultrasound, a few pictures (though baby was not being cooperative this time) and even a dvd of the entire ultrasound! A lot more than what I had received from Kaiser. I don't know why I still hold out for Kaiser. I guess because, well that's my insurance and shouldn't I be getting quality care..oh wait, it IS Kaiser. (OK, maybe its not ALL Kaiser facilities, but I haven't heard much in the positive for them so far)

Oh, yeah so - everything looked fine. It was in line with what Kaiser had showed in our last ultrasound at 18 weeks that from Kaiser's u/s, my edd was 9/17/11 and so this time around - the same thing..which is a good sign. Saw and heard the heart beat, saw the little toes and feet, and hands and fingers and surprisingly no balls this time - but we still decided not to find out the sex. Plenty of amniotic fluid around the baby, and yeah, baby is A-ok. :) I was trying to post up the video but for $150 you only get to "read" it off of the disc and not copy and post it up on the interwebs.

So with that, I have changed my EDD to 9/17/11 - not as cool as 9-10-11 but still a healthy baby is what we really want not some cool number thing.

At 25 weeks -

Baby is now pretty well built portion wise even though it still has little body fat and its skin is thin. The structures of the spine begin to form -- All 33 rings, 150 joints and 1000 ligaments. The tiny brain is growing rapidly, and the baby is starting to fill the space in your uterus. The uterus is now about the size of a soccer ball and mom looks pregnant.

Your baby's hands are now fully developed, although some of the nerve connections to the hands have a long way to go. Dexterity is improving. Your baby can make a fist and clasp objects placed in palm. Exploring the structures inside your uterus may have become baby's prime entertainment. Fascinated by the amount of tactile stimulation a fetus gives itself; it touches a hand to the face, one hand to the other hand, clasps its feet, touches its foot to its leg, its hand to its umbilical cord. Twins will explore each other and begin their bonding. (At the ultrasound, baby had both its legs to its face! Baby's feet was touching his face but s/he was being illusive and didn't want any close ups so I could have a picture)

Blood vessels of the lungs develop. Your baby's nostrils begin to open. The nerves around the mouth and lip area are showing more sensitivity now. Their swallowing reflexes are developing. Baby can hear sounds outside the womb and the brain cells are starting to mature also. Already it can learn and remember and can recognise its mother and fathers voice. The inner ear bones have hardened so hearing is more acute. Baby may hear your partner's voice more easily than yours, as baby is sensitive to a deeper pitch.