Tuesday, April 26, 2005

My Baby's Fourth Month

Finally, a triumph! Here's now a glimpse of my baby via ultrasound. Thanks to modern technologies of science that soon-to-be parents like me can view at least the silhouette of the fetus which is a product of my genes. I still can remember vividly how my heartbeat is pounding fast as I am viewing the screen with the figure of the baby kicking as if it's showing off while being watched by its parents. I can't help but feel proud how it feels to be a father.

The baby is now in its fourth month. With what I learned in college of medical science (ironically, this was my report in Physiology 2), the baby's heart now pumps about 25 quarts of blood a day. This will increase to be about 300 quarts by the end of pregnancy. All of the teeth have formed and even has a scalp hair pattern (God, don't let the baby inherit my chromosomes involving hair pattern)! The baby is about 3 ounces (85 grams) and 6.3 inches (16 cms). The gender can't still be detected by ultrasound. Though gender predictions at this point are much harder to rely on. More subtle changes, such as the development and positioning of the eyes and ears, will take place, making the fetus look much more human. Movements now are being observed, and the baby now really kicks a lot.

Whew! I wonder how I will be called five months from now... Dad? Papa? Itay? Tatang? Tatay? Itang? Papay? Father? Pere? Vater? Padre? Pater? Patris? Sator? Ojca? Patria? Far? Whatever.....