First weekly appointment

We're to the weekly appointments, today being the first at 36w.  Today we did a group b strep swab, which I'll find out the results to next week.  The doctor also went through their recommendations for when to call etc etc.  The little one's heart rate remains nice and strong in the 140s.

One more boring visit and then in two weeks we start checking effacement, dilation, and station!

Last night I tried to pull everything from the Saturday shower out of the bags and get things into piles that will be easier to show to my guy.  From there we can make decisions on what is going to try and get returned if in a size we have too much of or duplicates of and then move on to washing and putting away.

He did get the car seat bases installed, but the one in my car feels awfully loose.  I've been watching some additional videos and will play around with it a bit before I make an appointment to get it inspected at the local fire station.

Heading in the right direction

I had another doctor appointment today.  One more spread two-weeks out and then it is every week... so we booked them up through August 23, which just highlights how imminent everything is!

The appointment was the fastest one yet.  I was out of there less than 15 minutes after my scheduled time and I only arrived a few minutes early.  The heartrate was super strong at 165, which was nice after she was slower last visit - but it definitely confirms last time she was sleeping and this time since she was moving about as we waited for the doctor it all makes sense.

I also received confirmation that she is head down and the hard bump I've been noting above my belly button or off to the right is her butt, which is good since I've been patting it on the regular.

Photos came back and I'm pleased with them.  In many I do look larger than I realized I am, but I guess I have  apretty good excuse.

Appointment Scheduling wah.

My appointment went normally yesterday.  The wee one remains in the 150 range on heartbeat - doing well!  The doctor wasn't worried about the swelling (as noted, I know it's normal) or the pain I had the other night.

I do have my first complaint about this office though... now that I have to go every two weeks it is harder to get scheduled.  This time there wasn't a single appointment for 2 or 3 weeks out here in this office.  So I am scheduled to drive the whole way to the hospital location in 2 1/2 weeks *sigh*  at least they have evening hours so I won't miss as much work, but what an irritation.  She was able to then go ahead and book the next two appointments in advance to make sure I was on their schedule, so that's good at least.  Let me tell you how crazy it feels that the third appointment is August 2.  August.  My due date month.  Yikes.

I took the time to go lay down and cuddle with my guy last night as was starting to feel very necessary.  It was nice to just lay close, or at least as close as the belly would allow.  He was also so kind as to rub my feet and calves for a while, which was delightful.

Kickboxer in the making?

There was no doubt in my mind on Wednesday night - I had just settled into bed at my friend's place (I had to travel back to Jtown for work for a few days) and jab jab...... jab jab.  This was definitely not gas and was way more than a little flutter.  I'm calling it.  If it wasn't her before this was definitely it!  I've not gotten anything else since like this, but I've ready enough to know that's ok/normal.  Like I said, back in Jtown, and starting to get to the point where it doesn't just look like I'm fat, so a few others in the training with me were made well aware if they were not already.

I've returned from Jtown with a whole mess of stuff gifted from friends and family. I've been trying to keep the Amazon registry updated with things that are given/purchased for us.  Wow she has a bunch of stuff already.

TMI warning:  I have started to get another typical pregnancy "symptom"... but fortunately I had a therapeutic poo when I got home this evening.  Ugh.  Feeling a bit backed up is miserable!

Anatomy Scan Ultrasound

One day can offer so much to update on!  Yesterday we had both the anatomy scan ultrasound and a regular monthly appointment at the obgyn.  I'll start by saying that the tech commented that "everything was normal", but only after she had answered a question I had by saying she "wasn't allowed to give results", so for whatever that's worth.  I'm hopeful that I will get a call from the obgyn as well when they have/review all of the information to confirm the same.

I'll also throw these right here:

The tech did her work and then took a break to have me empty my bladder and move around to try and get kiddo to be a little more cooperative so she could get a few more images she needed.  At one point the tech commented about how calm she is.  I take that as a good thing - I'm keeping my stress down, yay me!  Everything we saw looked good (two arms, two legs, feet w/ toes, hands w/ fingers etc).

I will say I'm disappointed with the videos we got.  There are about 16 3-second clips on the DVD.  Sure there are a few little moments caught that are pretty cool, like when she was opening her mouth right before she then put her hand to her mouth like she was going to suck a thumb (but then it looked like she instead stuck a finger up her nose).  I guess I just expected something a little longer.

At the regular appointment a little later the heartbeat was still in a good range and no issues there (no blood draw either - yay!)  My weight is creeping up now, I will need to be a little more careful w/ my junk intake if I want to stay under the number I had in my head by the end, but I'm still in a healthy range.

We did stop at a consignment sale twice in the past week at which we managed to score a like-new boppy pillow w/ cover and a very clean pack n play w/ a changing 'tray' and mobile - both at a fraction of the new price.  There is so much STUFF for kiddo already it's crazy.  How can something so small have so much stuff that takes up so much space?!

Ob Appointment Update

I had my monthly Obgyn appointment today.  It was a bit of a wait, like an hour past my appointment time before I was taken back, so the water I had guzzled to make sure my veins were ready was already overflowed out the other side.

Today's heartbeat came in at a solid and well within typical range of 150bpm.  They needed to redo a platelet draw from last visit as something went awry there, so I was already getting stuck today.  After discussing some of the optional tests with my sweetheart I did have them add a few other items on the draw including a cystic fibrosis carrier test and a multiple test that may highlight any possible abnormalities as well as offer up gender information before the next ultrasound.  We draw the line at poking holes in the placenta at this point, but heaven knows if anything comes back abnormal we may need to rethink other tests.

Yes, they needed to try and hit both arms for the blood again today.  At least the second time was a charm.  Unbelievable given how much water I had drank before the appointment.

I also asked about the incredible back itch and had my concerns put at ease with regard to potential liver issues that show symptoms like this.

I'm still not seeing my weight jump upward, but I'm not sure what the diff was between doctor's visits.  Heaven knows clothes could alter that too.

More firsts

I had my first ob/gyn appointment here in my new location before heading out on vacation.  She was surprised to hear the heartbeat quickly on her lesser in office equipment, which clocked in at 162.  The blood draw was a nightmare that resulted in my hand getting stuck.  During the internal she noted the presence of a polyp, which is likely why I have been bleeding so easily.  The tests that came back told me I had my first ever UTI, which is crazy to me, since I've never hard one and I'm completely asymptomatic.  I'm assured however that isn't all that abnormal when pregnancies occur.  Also the one clumped up, but no biggie as it's better than it being too low.

I'm still closing the jeans I was in but I cannot suck in my gut as well as I once could. I'm still feeling pretty good with some minor bouts of tired (maybe that could be from the UTI even).  Thank goodness I have lots of time to get things unpacked and space created for the new addition.  As I am hitting week 12 today I am feeling a lot more confident we'll get to announce to the world.

Thump thump thump

A couple of days after the first hcg bloodwork we did another and I went from the 230k range to the 280k range.  At that point, my doctor wanted me to get an ultrasound scheduled.  Given that I am relocating very soon and eager to dispose of the ob/gyn in my current location we came to the agreement that I would scheduled my first appt with an ob/gyn out at my new location and they would get me into the local ultrasound.

This morning I went for the ultrasound still have afraid we'd see only an egg sac, or no heartbeat, or something else entirely - who knows, when I got up this morning one thing was for sure, it still wasn't 100% real.

Well lo and behold boom.  Within seconds she had this in view and seconds later a solid 167 bpm heartrate thumping away.

A few minutes and measurements later and I'm told I am at 9w 6d, which is about spot on to where I guessed based upon what I know for sure.  They also gave me a due date of August 29. I'd rather not have an August baby for a few reasons, so a couple of days late and into September would be nice.

Regardless, this right here is insanity to me but here it is.  I know we're still early, but seeing arms and legs (one of those arms was even taking little jabs), hearing a heartrate, and knowing that despite my lack of morning sickness or other tell tale signs, tells me this is for real.