Surprise Appointment Tomorrow

I posted on MISS Message Forum a moment ago:

Okay - last night around 6 pm, on my way to handbell rehearsal, I got a phone call for which I didn't recognize the number, except that I thought it was my DH calling from a number at his workplace and not his cell phone as he does work at some of the local hospitals and this number has similar prefixes . . .

No, it was a recording reminding me that I have an appointment at an OBGYN clinic (that is not my usual one) on Wednesday, now tomorrow, at 2 pm! I was rather shocked (I haven't had any really bad "pregnancy brain" yet during this pregnancy, that I know of.) I had no knowledge of this appointment, and I had to pull over and write all of the info down. I called this morning first thing, and it turns out that my OB office had actually probably made an appointment for me with a pediatric cardiologist - NOT the one they actually referred us to at my last OB appt - the appt at which my husband and I were arguing with my OB, who kept saying they wouldn't be willing to do a fetal echo until at least 20 weeks along. She finally gave us a name of a Ped Card, who we promptly called and made an appt with at the earliest they could get me in - next week at 17 1/2 weeks along!

So now I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon at 16 weeks +1or2 days with a different doctor in a different clinic, whom I am sure is excellent, plus they are willing to do this as early as I had wanted in the first place! I am still rather shocked, but thrilled that I don't have to wait until next week! I just hope they can see this little one's heart, and be able to at least tell us if it has both ventricles, and the veins and arteries on the correct sides (Sam also had Double Outlet Right Ventricle).

I don't know if we cancel with the other doctor then for a week from Friday? I guess we'll find out. Wow.

Two Weeks from Today

Two weeks from today, at about 17.5 weeks along, we will be getting a fetal echocardiogram. I am nervous. This baby needs to be well! At least, no major heart defects. Then at 19 weeks, a Level II ultrasound. It still feels like mostly everyone around here is so stubborn about when echoes and level IIs can be done. I don't understand it. In Europe, it seems some of this can be taken care of earlier. Is it Tucson? Is it the US? I don't know, and it's very frustrating. I just don't want to be suddenly at 20 weeks again having to make a horrible decision. Can't any of these medical professionals around here understand that? Apparently not, or maybe they are just not good enough. Very few, including my OB, seem empathetic.

Sigh.

At least I got a compromise on the fetal echo, sort of. My DH talked directly to the pediatric cardiologist and he okay'd the so-called "earlier" echo.

15 Weeks - Maybe felt the baby "kick"?

I will write a longer post soon - about the OB issues we've had, etc, but first I have to post this:

I think I just felt the baby kick! Twice in quick succession, and then it was over.

It definitely was not gas! (I know what gas feels like. . . )

13 Weeks, Nuchel Fold Scan, Blood Test

Here is what I posted to the Subsquent Pregnancy board:

We don't really know the results yet, of course, but I was so nervous going into the ultrasound - worrying that the baby was still there (still alive) - more than anything else! It was such a relief to see the baby again! The baby measured at 12weeks, 6 days, which is fine, since I am 13 weeks based on lmp today. We (DH was with me this time) saw and heard the heart beating again. We still don't know about the actual heart structure yet, but hopefully will in just a few more weeks. The baby's heart rate was between 140 and 160 bpm during the session - which is nice and normal! The baby was moving a lot - and we saw the baby stretch out, and then pull its legs back in (so no guesses for sex for now). We saw both of the legs and feet, and arms and hands. At one point during the measurements, the ultrasound person had to make the baby move its arm because the baby suddenly had it in the way near its face. The baby's profile looks MUCH different than Sam's profile - we could see early on that Sam had my head shape (and my grandpa's!), which my DH adored. DH's first comment was on this - how this baby looks so different already. I think this baby seems to have my husband's profile - and perhaps even DH's nose! (Sam also had my nose.)

I had a small fibroid, which was measured for future monitoring. Is this anything to be concerned about? I have had no spotting or bleeding at all during this pregnancy.

Hopefully all will come back well with the results of this test.

Nearly 13 Weeks

On Tuesday we are getting the NT Scan done. My husband also plans to meet this perinatologist for the first time. He is going to be the one to ask about when we will get a fetal echo done. I am still waiting to hear back from Sam's former doctor, who said that if we were ever back in the Chicago area and expecting to call and come in to get the new baby checked out. I hope they get back to me soon. I will have to call again, otherwise. We will be persistent.

I had not felt very nauseous in the last week, and started eating a more varied diet. I traded nausea for intense sinus-type headaches for nearly a week, and then spent most of yesterday sneezing and my nose running. I don't THINK I have a sinus infection - but I might visit my primary care physician this coming week if this doesn't clear up soon. Today I am somewhat nauseous again.

I have been craving jello lately - and specifically grape. My local Safeway does not carry grape Jello. I had to go to a different store to acquire this desire.

I think I am finally starting to "pop". That said, my pre-pregnancy clothes, including my denim shorts, still fit. I am still about 9 lbs down from where I was pre-pregnancy. However, I just have a little more "pudge". My uterus feels like it has started to "move up" now.

I have been missing Sam more again lately, while remembering my pregnancy with him. The plans for him that I'd envisioned at 12 weeks along, that never came to furition.

Almost 12 Weeks - A little less nausea and started a scrapbook

I have been a lot less nauseous in the last two days, which has been really nice! However, I apparently traded for extreme tiredness. Last night, I just HAD to go to bed really early - and then slept 10 hours! I did get up for the bathroom four times during that 10 hours, but practically collapsed back into bed each time, already almost asleep again.

It is 9:00pm here, and all I want to do is go to sleep already. My husband's response to this a few minutes ago was "It's too early! It's not even 10 pm yet." I think I am going to have to override his objections and go to bed. . .

Still, I think this exhaustion is preferrable to the nausea.

On Friday, I gave in, and made a scrapbook page for the baby's book. We haven't purchased an actual scrapbook to put the pages in, but hopefully will be able to in the next couple of months. I made the page for the 10-week ultrasound pics. It turned out nicely, and I do hope that we will be able to put it in an album soon.

I still have not gained any weight, but I haven't lost any more weight, either. I am still able to wear even my pre-pregnancy denim shorts that were a bit snug before I lost weight, and they are loose on me still right now. I think that I am having the same "problem" I had with Sam - the baby has to get pretty big before it will become at all evident that I am pregnant. I had a relatively long abdomen for my organs to get crammed in, and nice sized hips.

11 Week Update

I am past the 11th week mark . . . we have been thinking about a middle name to go with our choice of a boy's first name. We might not even have to make that decision if we find out the baby is girl. We've had a girl name picked out since before we knew Sam was Sam.

I am still nauceous and vomit-y. I last threw up two days ago, though. I've been waking up with heartburn the past few nights, too, which is strange, because I had relatively little heartburn/acid reflux with Sam.

We're very nervous about the heart, etc. We WANT to know already if his/her heart is fine!