Saturday, March 29, 2014

Jesus Christ in the Womb

With permission of the author, Mary Rigert, I'm posting this for anybody who wishes to use it. This week marked the celebration of the 2,015th anniversary, give or take a few years, of the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ.
March 23/25, Sunday, Tuesday, 2014 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . .

Following Baby Jesus in the Womb

This year, between the Annunciation (March 25) and Christmas, we will remember the nine months Jesus spent growing inside the Blessed Virgin Mary. Everybody loves the beauty and innocence of a newborn baby. We hope to reveal the beauty of babies before birth by describing their steps of growth, as Jesus experienced. He, like each of us, lived through the amazing stages of prenatal development. While the mechanism of His miraculous conception (the Incarnation) is unknown, it is likely that His subsequent journey followed the normal milestones of early human life.

At the very moment of conception, a new and unique individual is formed. All of the inherited features of this new person are already set –whether it’s a boy or a girl, the color of the eyes, the color of the hair, the dimples of the cheeks and the cleft of the chin. He or she is smaller than a grain of sugar, but the genetic fingerprint is complete.

The first cell soon divides in two. Each of these new cells divides again and again as they travel toward the womb in search of a protected place to grow.

Follow the development of Baby Jesus in the weekly bulletin!

Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

April 6 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb Day 6 – 14

Implantation: The new life is composed of hundreds of cells and has developed a protective hormone to prevent the mother’s body from rejecting it as foreign tissue. The lifeline is secured with mother for continued nourishment. The new individual at first attaches loosely to the wall of the womb, then burrows deeply and attaches securely to it over the next week. Sensitive pregnancy tests may now show positive, but this depends on the level of hormone produced by the new life. Many women are still unaware of the pregnancy. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

April 13 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb Day 17 – 20

The tiny heart and blood vessels begin to form. The foundations of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system are laid. The new life soon develops its own blood cells. The placenta is a part of both the new life and the mother. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014


April 20 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb Day 21

The heart begins to beat unsurely at first, but gains strength day by day. The heart beats 70 times per minute initially reaches a maximum of 170-190 at seven weeks, and finally slows a bit to 160-180 at 9 weeks. A day later the eyes begin to develop. The earliest stages of the ears are now present.

Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

April 27 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb Day 28 - 32

Two tiny arms have appeared and budding legs follow two days later. Blood flows in the baby’s veins but stays separate from the mother’s blood. The mouth, nose and tongue now begin to form the baby’s unique face. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

May 4 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb Day 36 – 41

The baby’s eyes begin to develop with the retina. The baby makes his first reflex movements. The fingers begin to form, followed by the toes a few days later. Energy output of the heart is reported to be almost 20% of an adult. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb May 11 Bulletin Day 42

The baby develops nerve connections that will lead to a sense of smell. Eyelids begin to form, protecting the developing eyes. Internal organs are present, but immature. 99% of muscles are present; each has its own nerve supply. Electrical activity is detectable in the brain. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

May 18 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb Day 52

The baby has the appearance of a miniature doll with complete fingers, toes, and ears. Spontaneous movement begins. The baby then develops a collection of movements during the next 4 weeks, including hiccupping, frowning, squinting, furrowing the brow, pursing the lips, moving individual arms and legs, turning the head, touching the face, breathing without air, stretching, opening the mouth, yawning, and sucking. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

May 25 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 8 Weeks

The baby is now 8 weeks old and well proportioned -- about the size of a thumb. Every organ is present. The liver is making blood, the kidneys function, and the heart beats steadily. The skull, elbows, and knees are forming. Along with the spine, arm and leg bones begin to stiffen as bone cells are added. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

June 1 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 9 weeks

If prodded, the baby’s eyelids and hands will close. Genitalia that formed in the 7th week now become visible, indicating whether the baby is a boy or girl. However, the doctor won’t be able to tell by ultrasound until the 12th to 20th week. Early muscular movements begin. The thyroid gland activates.

Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

June 8 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 10 weeks

10 fingerprints begin to form. The fingernails start to develop. The eyelids now fuse together until month 7, protecting the delicate eyes. The number of connections between nerves and muscles has tripled since last week. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

June 15 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 11 weeks

The baby now ‘practices’ breathing, since he will have to breathe air immediately after birth. The baby urinates. His stomach muscles can now contract. Vocal chords and taste buds form. He can make complex facial expressions and even smile. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

June 22 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 12 weeks

Fine hair begins to grow on the upper lip, chin and brow so the face is prettier. Expressions may resemble those of the parents. The baby swallows and responds to skin stimulation. The baby is active, but mom may not feel anything yet. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

June 29 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 15 weeks

Rapid production of nerve cells begins and continues for a month. A second surge will occur at 25 weeks. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

July 6 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 4 months

Nostrils and toenails become visible. The baby may suck his thumb, turn somersaults and has a firm grip. The ovaries of girls contain beginnings of eggs. Baby begins to develop sleeping habits. At about 4½ months, he is able to experience pain. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 July 13 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 17 weeks

Fetal movement, also called ‘quickening’, is usually felt between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. The time and frequency is different for every woman and from one pregnancy to another. One baby may be more active than another. Baby weight has doubled and is about 3½ ounces. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 201 July 20 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 18 weeks

Baby is continuing to grow and to develop, but the growth rate levels off. An ultrasound done at this point in pregnancy is helpful for confirming the baby’s due date and examining the baby’s anatomy. Parental bonds are strengthened with the visual picture of their baby. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

July 27 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 19 weeks

Baby weighs 7 ounces. It is incredible to think baby will increase its weight more than 15 times between now and delivery. Since week 6, the main divisions of the central nervous system have been established while increased development of the brain and spinal cord continues. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

August 3 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 20 weeks

20 weeks marks the midpoint of the pregnancy. The skin covering baby begins growing from two layers: the epidermis, which is on the surface, and the dermis, which is the deeper layer. The dermis contains small blood vessels, a nerve and large amounts of fat. Thicker hair grows from new follicles. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

August 10 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 5 months

Mother may feel the baby kick, turn or hiccup and may be able to identify a bulge as an elbow or head. Each side of the brain has a billion nerve cells. Different organ systems within baby are maturing. Baby swallows more to promote growth and development of the digestive system. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

August 17 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . .

Following Baby Jesus in the Womb

22 weeks

Baby continues to grow; the body gets larger every day. Eyelids, and even eyebrows, develop. Fingernails become visible. Baby’s organ systems begin to specialize for their particular function. The liver cleans the blood. A baby born with ‘jaundice’ results from an incomplete formation of this liver function. This yellow tint to the skin and eyes is easily treated with phototherapy. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

August 24 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 23 weeks

Baby weighs almost 1 pound. Crown-to-rump length is 8 inches - about the size of small doll. The body is getting plumper, but the skin is still wrinkled; baby will soon gain even more weight. The pancreas is developing quickly. This organ is vital to hormone production - particularly insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to break down and to use sugar. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

August 31 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 24 weeks

Baby is filling out. Its face and body look more like an infant at the time of birth. Amniotic fluid continues to increase as the due date approaches, and its composition changes during pregnancy. During the first half, it is similar to maternal plasma. Then, it changes to more of baby’s own cells. There isn’t a great deal of room to move in the mother. As the weeks pass, space gets even tighter.

Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

September 7 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 6 months

The baby will be able to hear by next week. The child sleeps and wakes, nestles in his favorite positions and stretches upon waking up. If baby is delivered now, it would have a high chance of living. No one wants a baby to deliver this early, but new treatment methods like ventilators, monitors and medication increase its chances of survival. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

September 14 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 26 weeks

Baby now weighs almost 2 pounds and will put on more weight. Baby has distinct sleeping and waking cycles. Certain times of the day will have baby very active, while other times he will be asleep. In addition, all five senses are now fully developed. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

September 21 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 27 weeks

This week marks the beginning of the 3rd trimester. Eyelids will now open. The retina, at the back of the eye, is light-sensitive. It is the part of the eye where light images come into focus. These layers receive light wave information and transmit it to the brain for interpretations—what we know as “sight.”

Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

September 28 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 28 weeks

Crown-to-rump length is close to 10 inches. Brain tissue increases. Eyebrows and eyelashes are present. Hair on the baby’s head is growing longer. The body is becoming plumper and rounder. He is beginning to fill out a little due to increasing fat under the skin. Before this time, the baby had a thin appearance. Baby has increased its weight more than 10 times in 11 weeks. Baby is growing rapidly. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

October 5 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 29 weeks

Baby weighs about 2 ¼ pounds. Crown-to-rump length is almost 10 ½ inches. Total baby length is 16 ½ inches. A couple of interesting factors about birth weight have been identified: Boys weigh more than girls. Birth weight of an infant increases with additional pregnancies or number of babies delivered. These are general statements and don’t apply to everyone, but they consistently reflect birth trends. The average baby’s birth weight at full term is 7 to 7 ½ pounds. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

October 12 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 7 months

Baby weighs about 3 pounds. Baby is usually quite active during pregnancy. Still have 10 weeks to go and mother’s body feels like it’s running out of room as baby grows under mother’s ribs. Still, along with increased amniotic fluid, baby continues to get larger. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

October 19 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 31 weeks

Mother’s body produces as much as 50% more blood and body fluids during pregnancy to meet baby’s needs. Enlarging baby pushes on mother’s pelvic veins, and blood flow in the lower part of her body is partially blocked. This pushes fluid into her legs and feet, causing swelling. Mother may be a bit (or very) uncomfortable, but baby is being fed and kept warm. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

October 26 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 32 weeks

Baby weighs almost 4 pounds. Total length is nearly 19 inches. If mother is carrying twins, it is important to keep babies within mother to increase birth weights and to continue maturity of organ systems. The average length of pregnancy for twins is about 37 weeks. For triplets, it is about 35 weeks. Before ultrasound was available, diagnosing twins was much more difficult. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

November 2 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 33 weeks

Mother gains more weight as baby continues to grow and develop. Mother may be gaining weight faster than at any other point during pregnancy. However, mother is not putting on most of this weight—baby is! Baby is going through a period of increased growth and may be gaining as much as 8 ounces or more every week! Baby’s approximate due dat: December 25, 2014

November 9 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 8 months

Skin becomes pink and smooth. Baby weighs almost 5 pounds and measures 19 ½ inches. The baby is really getting cramped now. “Lightening” begins - the period in which the head of the baby enters the birth canal. False labor is usually seen in late pregnancy. It seems to occur more often in women who have been pregnant before. It usually stops as quickly as it begins, and the baby is never in danger. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

November 16 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 35 weeks

Baby now weighs over 5 ½ pounds. Total length is 20 ¼ inches. Mother’s increasing size is due to the growth of baby and placenta, as well as the increased amount of amniotic fluid. All these factors make estimating baby’s weight more difficult. Emotional changes within mother are normal. Many changes are happening to mother’s body as baby grows. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

November 23 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 36 weeks

Baby weighs about 6 pounds measures 20 ¾ inches. Maturation of the lungs and respiratory system will enable baby to breathe on his own outside of the mother. Only 4 to 5 weeks until the due date! Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

November 30 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 37 weeks

The maximum amount of amniotic fluid surrounds baby now. In the weeks to come, baby continues to grow. However, some amniotic fluid is reabsorbed by mother’s body. This decreases the amount of fluid around baby and the room in which he has to move. Mother may notice a difference of baby movements. For some mothers, it may seem like baby is not moving as much as he had been. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

December 7 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 38 weeks

Baby weighs about 6¾ pounds and is around 21 inches. Many mothers don’t grow larger during the last several weeks of pregnancy, yet still feel very uncomfortable. Mother may not feel like eating much at this time, but it’s important to keep eating a healthy diet. Snacks are also important to keep mother’s energy levels up, nourish baby and help avoid heartburn. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

December 14 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 39 weeks

Baby weighs a slightly more than 7 pounds, yet baby continues to gain weight even up to the last week or two. Baby doesn’t have much room to move inside. At this point, his organ systems are developed and in place. The lungs are the last organs to mature. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014

December 21/25 Bulletin

The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 40 weeks

Baby weighs about 7 ½ pounds. Total length is 21 ½ inches. There is little room for baby to move. Mother feels as big as she could ever be, and is more than ready to have baby The child triggers labor and birth occurs -- an average of 264 – 270 days after conception. We have followed baby’s development from conception to birth! Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!!!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Curtis, Dr. Glade B., OB/GYN and Schuler Judith M.S. Your Pregnancy, Week by Week. Da Capo Press, Cambridge, MA 02142. 2004. “Milestones of Early Life/How You Began Your Journey” (brochure). Heritage House, 919 S. Main St. Snowflake, AZ 85937. 2007.

Each week we will show the Baby Jesus’ development with Our Lady of Guadalupe’s picture in the same place in St. Cecilia’s parish bulletin.

Parishioners may more understand the meaning of Our Lady’s visit to St. Juan Diego in 1531 and also become familiar with the placement within the bulletin of “Baby Jesus in the Womb.”

Bulletin Insert:

**********************************************************The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb THE WEEKLY ENTRY . . . . . . .

Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014. ************************************************************ We are going to keep it simple. We are not going to talk about abortion ~ just leave it with “Jesus in the Womb”. We want to focus on God made Man.

We ordered holy cards and put them in the pews after each Mass. We are being very careful to keep things tidy and easy for the parish priests and staff.

Father Pat and Nancy, our Office Manager, have been wonderful.

Holy Cards – 3 suggested options:

1. English - This is a bookmark that we ordered. We liked the Holy Family picture.

Bookmark Prayer Card.
2. Our Lady of Guadalupe cards (English and Spanish) – I ordered Spanish from Arthur Maes of Denver, Colorado. He prints and distributes cards with a lovely full color image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the front, a brief description of the program and the short prayer composed by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on the reverse.

11142 Osage Street, Northglenn, CO 80234. Phone: 720-977-9150

Both men sent the cards express mail. They came in two days. They both took credit card numbers. Great to work with.

3. Make your own Our Lady of Guadalupe cards.

Make your own Our Lady of Guadalupe Cards

Questions:

email Mary Rigert

rigert3@frontier.com

St. Cecilia Catholic Church



Mary would LOVE to chat with you with ideas or suggestions!
Permission to use however you wish!!!
Have fun and may God bless us and our efforts!
Special thanks to our son, Nicholas Rigert, 214 Weeks old, for the excellent editing job!!
Love, Mom More BEAUTIFUL pictures:

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