172 Beats per Minute

Since last week's scare, I can gladly report that L.L. is good and healthy!  I went to my appointment today to follow up since I was released from the hospital and everything checked out well.  At first, the doctor didn't think he'd be able to detect the heartbeat the monitor, but he said that because I'm thin, he should hear it just fine!  YAY!  So at 9 weeks, the heartbeat was at 172 bpm and sound great.  He told me that I could begin telling my co-workers because the likelihood of a miscarriage is rare at this point and with that strong of a heartbeat, but I think I will still wait a couple more weeks!

Another "thank the Lawd" moment!

What's happening at 9 weeks according to Baby Center?
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.