8w1d - Peace of Mind

It's only been 9 days since we first saw the baby, but already today we could see how much it's grown in just over a week. The spine was so clearly visible this time, and the baby kept moving around. Moving and twisting around so much, already giving the tech a hard time in getting measurements. I think it might have even waved. ;) Baby has grown from 8mm to 1.4cm (give or take, different machine, different tech). We didn't get to hear the heartbeat, but we got to see that wonderful flicker again. She mapped it on the ultrasound at 168 bpm.


Hopefully this will help ease my mind until we have our next appointment. Somehow having little to no symptoms is really messing with my mind. I should just be glad that I feel as good as I do and hope it lasts for as long as possible.

And now for the weekly update: Week 8: Raspberry
Your baby is growing like mad, putting on about a millimeter every day and continuing to straighten out in the trunk. Though you can't feel it yet, baby is moving those little arms, legs and (now only slightly) webbed fingers and toes like crazy.

1st OB Appointment

7w6d - Yesterday was my first OB appointment.

Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. They specifically got me in sooner rather than later given my history of losses. Had I not seen the heartbeat the week before, I would have been really frustrated. They didn't do an ultrasound. Heck, this office doesn't even have an ultrasound machine on the premises. You have to go to one of several different offices when you have ultrasound appointments.

I know I was released from the RE, and he said I'd basically be treated like a regular pregnant person from there on out, but don't most regular pregnant people get to see their baby at the first appointment?

It was just all the basic stuff. I had to give blood, 3 vials worth. My poor arms still haven't returned to normal after all the blood draws during the IVF cycle that the poor girl had a hard time getting a good bleed. There was also a urine test, and the regular Pap and full exam.

We talked a bit about the different screenings they recommend. The NT or Nuchal translucency screening will be the first one we do. That's scheduled between 11-14 weeks, so I have about a month before that will take place.

Before I left, I did get scheduled for an ultrasound. It'll be tomorrow afternoon. Now I'm not sure what I want to do about clinics. How important is it to have ultrasound on site? Most of the important ultrasound appointments are going to be booked ahead of time. Do I stay at the convenient close to home location or make a permanent switch to one of the offices with the ultrasound machine? I guess this is something I need to think about a little more.

Tomorrow afternoon can't get here soon enough. I just want another peek at the baby and to see the flickering heartbeat again.

7w1d - 1st OB appointment scheduled

Not a whole lot to update since our appointment just 2 days ago. Yesterday I called and made my first OB appointment. Our RE thought they'd probably want to see me around 10 weeks, but since I have a history of loss, I'm getting in next week!

Having never had an OB/GYN before, I picked a clinic super close to home, but didn't really have a specific doctor in mind. When the receptionist was telling me which doctors had openings next week, it just worked out that it was the one that I kind of "wanted" to see. Her areas of interest are Infertility and High Risk. Not that I consider myself to be high risk (yet), but I am 35 now, and do have those losses under my belt. I don't know, maybe I'm hoping she sort of "gets it" when it comes to being pregnant after infertility. I'm also kind of excited because apparently the 1st appointment is usually just with a nurse practitioner, and I get to see the doctor right away.

Here's what's going on with baby. Week 7: Blueberry

Baby's brain -- both hemispheres! -- is growing fast, generating about 100 new cells every minute. Arms and legs are emerging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third!) is now in place.

6w6d - 1st Ultrasound

We made it. Today was the much anticipated first ultrasound. I was so nervous going into this appointment, I slept just horrible last night. It was just impossible to shut my mind off.

But, the nerves were for nothing (yeah, right)!! As soon as the ultrasound image appeared on the screen, I could see it was good news. There is one precious baby growing in the uterus with the unmistakable flickering of the heart. Baby was measuring 8mm which equals 6w5d, so we are right on track.

Each day is truly a blessing. It feels so amazing to have come this far.

Here are the pictures from today. They aren't the greatest, but they are our baby.

6w1d - Update

Since I've gotten a few emails asking how I'm doing, here's a quick update.

I returned for a 3rd beta this week and my numbers continue to rise nicely. Next week we have our first ultrasound at what will be almost 7 weeks. By that point we should be able to see the flicker of a beating heart.

So far I've been feeling really good. Still taking it extremely easy and avoiding heavy lifting, straining, twisting, etc. I'm starting to feel more hungry throughout the day and always wake up really hungry in the morning. Most days I end up taking a short afternoon nap while watching some show on HGTV or TLC. By bedtime I'm definitely sporting the bloated belly look.

I'll try to be better about posting updates. It just doesn't "feel" like anything is happening right now.

Here's what's happening inside the belly: Week 6: Sweet Pea

Growing like crazy, baby is starting to sprout eyes, ears, nose, cheeks and chin. Those little hands and feet- still webbed like paddles- might wiggle by week's end, the heart is beating (almost twice as fast as yours!), and blood is starting to circulate.

I Have Something to Share

Okay, first of all, I'm sorry I haven't updated sooner. We got the results of my first beta on Thursday. My number was kind of low at only 39. I was warned that it was really low, and could be a sign of miscarriage. They don't do pregnancy tests on the weekend so I had to wait until today to get the repeat beta done. We were hoping for something around the 160 mark. That would have been perfect 48 hour doubling. My beta came in at 447! Someone told me about a calculator. I guess my doubling was 1.13 days or 27.12 hours. :)

The same nurse that called on Thursday called again today and I could tell she was so excited for us. She said this is a really good number based on where it was on Thursday.

Next week I have one more beta and then an u/s the following week.

Could it be possible that this is actually happening? I sure hope so. I'm more than ready!

More Birthday Festivities

Surprise! A great group of friends turned up at our favorite Mexican restaurant tonight to surprise me for my birthday. Yes, the same restaurant we were just at on Sunday! What can I say, we love this place. I sure was surprised. We usually eat dinner by 5pm, so when I was told our reservations were for 7pm I thought for sure it was for some place else, and it was so late because it was a last minute thing. Boy was I wrong. Apparently this has been in the works for about a month.

I got a couple of very thoughtful gifts that go along with our whole thing about Hope. I got a bracelet that incorporates Rose Quartz stones (for its protection and connection to serenity and fertility. Just like my Angie bracelet) and has a butterfly and a Hope charm on it. The other gift is one of the WillowTree statues, The Angel of Hope.

Our Hope collection just keeps growing. I love all of these wonderful little reminders that so many people around us also have Hope for us and are always thinking and praying for us.

Thanks to all who came out tonight to celebrate my birthday. I love you all.