The Bean Grows

Wednesday 22nd July - the third scan

The Baked Bean is now 9.7 mm long so has tripled in size within a week. Clearly a high-achiever. In the top photo you can still see the yolk sac, but the Bean now has a lumpy appearance. The nurse thinks these are the developing limbs. In both photos you can see a tiny white dash at the top and this might be the start of the umbilical cord.

Parental development: Julie is thirsty all the time and still wants dairy products at every meal. Still no morning sickness (touch wood). Ian still can't quite believe it, but has dreamt about babies a few times.

We're having a Baked Bean!

Tuesday 14th July - the second scan

The nurse finds a heartbeat and shows us a picture of a baked bean. We also hear the heartbeat. The Bean is 3.5 mm long at this stage and we can't tell yet which college it's going to go to (but it'll probably be St Hugh's and St Cross anyway).

When the nurse is out of the room speaking to the doctor we hold each other very tight for a very long time. This is the best birthday present ever.

In these two pictures the black blob is again the amniotic fluid, and the little white bean inside is The Baked Bean.

Parental development: Now it's all about dairy products; Julie buys things which haven't seen the inside of her fridge in years - fromage frais, creme fraiche, paneer, goat's milk, halloumi, mozzarella, as well as evaporated milk straight out of the tin and sterilised cream in tins. Banana smoothies still a daily special. Ian still can't quite believe it.

The Baked Bean has a blog!

Friday 10th July - the first scan

The nurse at the fertility clinic suspected that 6 weeks (4 weeks after the embryo transfer) might be a bit early, and she was right. In this ultrasound scan you can clearly see the amniotic fluid (black blob) and the yolk sac which feeds the baby until the placenta forms (looks like a wedding ring inside the amniotic fluid). However, the baby itself isn't visible, so another scan is booked for the following week.

Parental development: Julie is over the vinegar and sauerkraut stage and is marginally off her food. However, she is often thirsty and wants at least one banana smoothie per day. Ian still can't quite believe it.