Finally - the Ultrasound!!!

Yesterday Jochen and I went for my ultrasound to help determine Ernie's risk of Down Syndrome. Ernie was however most uncooperative, he was facing the ultrasound and I think he was sleeping at the time because he really wasn't moving very much at all. The lady doing the ultrasound tried poking him to get him to move but he just wasn't interested in moving. It was extremely uncomfortable for me as I had to have a full bladder but Ernie didn't even seem to notice that he was getting poked.

Most of the time Ernie had one arm in the air near his face and was comfortably kicking back, laying in the bottom of the amniotic sac. Finally Marion (the ultrasound lady) decided to try an internal ultrasound and although we got some great images on the video it didn't help her see the bit of Ernie that she needed to measure. We did find out that he is 7.5cm long from crown to rump and that his heart beat was 155bpm. We could see arms and legs and a distinctly baby like head and general shape. When we saw his face straight on it looked incredibly evil in a very funny kind of way. Jochen and I also thought we saw something suspiciously boy like in between his legs but apparently it 'is too early to tell.' Because Marion wasn't able to obtain the measurement she arranged for me to go again this morning at 10.00am hoping that Ernie would had moved and we could finally get the measurement. It was really our last chance because once the baby reaches a certain size the measurement is not longer able to be used to help determine risk. But to celebrate seeing Ernie looking so well and me finally feeling great, Jochen took me to Babyco at Fountain Gate to start looking at baby stuff - but more on that later.

So this morning off I headed to Warragul Hospital again, uncomfortable bladder and running late after accidentally sleeping in. This time it was a male ultrasound person and luckily for us Ernie had completely changed position and although he was still kicking back at the bottom of the sac (making it a little challenging), he was now side on and his head was where his feet had been yesterday. He must have been doing somersaults at some point. Today his heart beat was 145bpm, the ultrasound guy told me that it is very normal that they change a fair bit from day to day and even hour to hour. We were also able to finally get the measurement of the nuchal fold translucency that we were after - 1.8, apparently well within normal range(3 is abnormally high) but combined with many other factors, including blood test will give us our risk. We will have to wait until we see the OB in late May before we get the actual result.

Today was probably even more special than yesterday and it was really unfortunate that Jochen wasn't there with me to see Ernie awake and active. Ernie was waving his arms, kicking his legs and was even trying to put one hand in his mouth at one point. I am also sure that he was suffering from hiccups for a little while. So - our little Ernie is growing up and is really starting to look and act like a little baby now. Seeing him like that on the ultrasound really bought a smile to my face, tears to my eyes and lots of love in my heart for our growing child. I can only imagine the blubbering mess I will become when I hold him for the first time.

Second Trimester - Here we come!

Well, here we are - at the start of the second trimester. Yay.... I've been a bit confused about the whole trimester thing as some web sites and books say I reached it last week and others say that it is today. Well regardless, we are definitely there now.

So today is Week 13 or the start of the Fourteenth Week. By the end of the week Ernie should be looking something like this.

He will be about 9cm long and will weigh about 50 grams. At the moment Ernie is about 7.6cm long and weighs about 30 grams, most of his major organs are formed or are almost formed, his bones are developing and from here on in he is concentrating on growing rather than developing all the bits and pieces that he will need in the outside world. Ernie is now relying on my fully functional placenta to provide him with oxygen, proteins, vitamins and minerals and fats. As well as providing Ernie meals on wheels, my placenta is also the local garbage collector for the area taking away his wastes and carbon dioxide.

As for me, well nothing much has changed. I'm supposed to not be as sick, nauseous, tired or need to go to the toilet as much, however none of that has gone away yet. I'm still sick, tired and have continued to lose weight, other people are even starting to notice that I've dropped a few kilos.

The most amazing thing for me is looking down at my tummy and seeing how it has changed - it is definitely a baby belly. Even Jochen agrees. I've noticed that I tend to rub it a bit - my belly that is. It's really comforting and makes me feel like I'm bonding with the baby, almost like the baby can feel me rubbing it. I know it sounds crazy but it is hard to explain. As I only look pregnant to Jochen and I yet it probably looks pretty funny as well. Note to self - only rub tummy at home.

A Boy or a Girl - Another Quiz

Jamie at Small Wonder seems to find the funniest quiz's related to pregnancy and babies.

The latest quiz related to the chances of having a boy or a girl based on a series of old wives tales. Apparently after answering the questions I have
- a 59% chance of having a boy.
- a 40% chance of having a girl.

I'm not sure about the missing 1%.

And Here's Why...
I am carrying the extra weight out front, so it's a boy.
The hair on my legs is not growing any faster during my pregnancy, so it's a girl.
Boys are carried low. I am going to have a boy.
Sleeping in a bed with my pillow to the south indicates that I will be having a girl.
My feet are colder than they were before pregnancy. I am having a boy.
I refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. I am having a girl.
Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with me, so it will be a girl.
I had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so I am expecting a girl.
I am looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a boy, because girls steal their mother's looks. (not that I had any in the first place).
My chest development has not been very dramatic during pregnancy. I should expect a boy.
Since the sum of my age at conception and the number of the month of conception is an odd number, it will be a girl.
A needle on a thread held over my belly moves in circles, so I will have a boy.
I have a craving for salty or sour foods, which means that it is a boy.
I have no desire for orange juice, so it's a boy.
I am having headaches, so it's a boy.
My belly looks like a watermelon, so it's a girl.
I show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl.
I use the handle on a cup, so it's a boy.

Thought it was pretty funny.

Welcome Teddy!

So on our way home from the OB visit we bought our first present for the baby together. I wanted it to be something special that we would both remember and something the baby would keep for a long time. Jochen picked out this Teddy as he had the sweetest face and is he is just so soft and cuddly. I could just snuggle him all day.

Teddy will now reside on the chair with Ernie until the nursery is set up. Hopefully the two of them will do some bonding. I think they are off to a good start.

The First OB Visit.

Well for everyone who may be wondering... yesterday I had my first visit with the OB and one of the midwives. Dr Simon seems quite nice and not too old...so that would have to be a good thing. He asked me all the normal questions about previous pregnancies - none, previous illness - some, and discussed the results of the blood test that I had a few weeks earlier. Everything was quite normal. Then he had a listen to my chest, a tap and a feel of my belly and then it was going to be all over until I asked if I could have a ultrasound to reassure me that everything was okay. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to put in our video so we don't have any footage, but there was a good heart beat, we could see that Ernie had definitely grown quite a bit and Jochen is sure that he could see arms and legs. The image wasn't very good because apparently my bladder wasn't very full - no more internal ultrasounds for me as Ernie is now big enough to see without having to enter the void. So far everything seems to be fine. (Belinda sighs with extreme relief and gives herself a headache from the release of pressure and stress that had been building up.)I think we can safely say that I'm largely out of the major danger period. Annie and Kell - consider yourselves Aunties in waiting.

We then discussed if I wanted to test for the risk of Downs Syndrome, which I do. So I have another ultrasound in about a weeks time (have got to ring and make the appointment) and have a blood test on Monday. This will give us an idea of risk, if our risk is high we may decide to do an amnio to find out for sure and then we would have to make some very hard decisions if it was to be positive. But I'm not going to think about that at the moment. I see him again in five weeks so we will probably get some answers then.

After we saw Dr. Simon we met with Carol one of the midwives. It was her job to see how I was going generally, check my weight (down some more), check my blood pressure (also quite low at 90/70) and discuss my diet (extremely poor). Carol told us that the maternity section is undergoing huge renovations and by the time that we get down there at the end of October we should be able to be in a nice new, up to date facility. What good timing. At our next appointment we formally book into the hospital, book into numerous classes (antenatel, breastfeeding, physio and heaps of others) and start the process of getting ready. Carol also suggested that we use the second trimester to get prepared so that during the third trimester when I will probably be feeling at my worst I don't have to worry about anything. This means the gloves are off and the shopping can now commence. Oooh I'm going to enjoy this bit and if that pesky morning sickness would just go away, things around here will be pretty good.

Future Predictions

I was just reading Jamie's blog Small Wonder and she had found on the Just Mommies site Madame Zaritska who, after you answer some questions, predicts what your birth experience is going to be like. Okay I think, this could be funny.... so I answer the questions and below is the prediction that I received.

Madame Zaritska's reading

Madame Zaritska, our resident clairvoyant, wants to help you prepare for the arrival of your child. Here she does her best to predict certain aspects of your labor and birth experience.

What she senses for you
The day you deliver, outside will be overcast. Your baby will arrive in the evening.

Okay, fair enough.. with our weather here there is definitely a chance of that.

After a labor lasting approximately 8 hours, your child, a girl, will be born.

50/50 chance of her being right on the girl bit. Although Jochen and everyone else is pretty sure that we're having a boy. Jochen's instincts are normally really good with these things. I think I trust him more. But I wouldn't mind if it was a girl. An 8 hour labour, well that isn't probably that long for a first child... but I don't want to think about it.

Your baby will weigh about 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and will be 19-1/2 inches long. This child will have dark brown eyes and a lot of hair.

Now, I'm a bit worried about the brown eyes thing. If we get a child with brown eyes, both of us having blue eyes, I'll be asking some very serious questions of the IVF clinic. I'm also not expecting a lot of hair.... you just have to look at his father to understand. Oh my goodness almost eight pounds seems quite big. Maybe I'll go for a Caesar.

But there is more. I know you imagine your baby often. You wonder if your baby is safe and healthy. Why don't you go listen to a baby's heartbeat and think soothing thoughts about your own child.

Wow, how clever is this woman, to know that I'll be listening most likely to a heart beat today at my OB visit. That truly is psychic. But I'm one up on her, it will be my own baby's heart not just any old child.

A bit of fun and it gave me a good laugh.

Hang on.... I just went back and put in the exact same answers again..... and did I get the same result...No way.... I'm now having a boy.... I think Madame Zaritska is hedging her bets.

What she senses for you
The day you deliver, outside will be sunny. Your baby will arrive at night.

After a labor lasting approximately 5 hours, your child, a boy, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and will be 21 inches long. This child will have hazel eyes and a lot of hair.

But there is more. I sense that you have thought about labor in the water. You ask yourself, "Why do women find it helpful?" I think you should look here to find out more.

A belly or not a belly? That is the question.

I'm often on the internet looking for interesting baby information, researching products that we may eventually buy and checking out other people's blogs, particularly those related to pregnancy and infertility.

The other day whilst visiting a website called 'Just Mommies' (I'm pretty sure it's a US site based on the spelling) I discovered that they have a whole section where people who are due in the same month can post messages to each other. So I checked out the October section and found a really nice web page called Small Wonder written by Jamie who is due just a few days before me. I think her blog is really great and I'll now be a regular visitor to her site, checking out how things are going for her, her partner Wade and their developing baby.

Jaime mentioned that she thought that she was starting to show, which I hadn't even considered up until that point, but today I've been looking carefully. I think I am as well but only in a very small way. It is made that much harder by the fact that no one could have called me skinny since my mid 20's, I well and truly had a bit of a pot before I was pregnant. So the question was, "Is it my normal pot? Or is it a pregnant belly?" Well after careful consideration and examination of said belly, my findings are as follows -

"Stomach much more rounded, including out to the sides than pre-pregnancy pot. However, anyone not knowing I was pregnant or even those that do, would not notice whilst I am wearing clothes. Due to my 4-5 kg weight loss due to morning sickness, changes in the way clothes fit (ie currently looser rather than tighter) are not able to provide any additional information."

So there you have it folks. I think I have pregnancy changed belly. Now if only everything is fine after our first OB visit on Friday (and hopefully other ultrasound) I'll be really happy.

News Flash

Belinda Reaches 11 Weeks - Crowds throw wild parties in the streets.

Okay so that is a bit of an exaggeration. There are only very small crowds throwing parties... alright so I'm still exaggerating. I am very happy, will celebrate with a glass of lemonade and another barley sugar. Thank goodness we are another week down and another week closer to the end of the first trimester.

So at 11 Weeks what should Ernie be looking like about now..... ?

Ernie should be about 5 cm in length and weigh about 8 grams... He has put on 3 grams in the last week alone and should now be the size of a slightly larger cherry tomato. Apparently Ernie now has 20 baby teeth in his gums - hmm I'm sure they will give us some fun times in the future. He is also breathing in amniotic fluid into his lungs, has functioning kidneys and has started producing gastric juices (which he will definitely need if he is going to eat as much as his father).

Ernie will now start moving every day in a more co-ordinated and apparently useful way, he is probably sucking his thumb as I write. If he doesn't want all those new muscles to waste away he will have to keep them moving - at least when he is awake anyway. How funny - he is now able to have periods of being asleep and awake. Apparently if I'm lucky I may start to feel him moving from now on but it isn't very common so I'm not going to get my hopes up.

As for me, I've had a few shocking days of morning/all day sickness. I also got back my blood test results yesterday and everything looks pretty good. My progesterone has increased again so I really don't think I have any problems there. Was a little concerned about my HCG level, thought maybe it hadn't risen enough, but did a bit of research and my mind was put at rest when I realised that it actually will start to drop again fairly soon anyway. This is why morning sickness often ends around the start of the second trimester.

So what do I have to look forward to. Well next Friday I have my first appointment with my obstetrician and hopefully we will get to see Ernie on Ultrasound again and hear his heart beat for the first time. This will be a huge relief for me - assuming everything is alright. Roll on Friday.

Week 10 - Oh my goodness getting closer to the magical 12 Weeks

Well as the title of this post suggests I'm 10 weeks pregnant today. Ernie has given me a bit of a hard week but I think I'm coping really well, probably due to the large amount of sleep that I'm needing (and getting).

So what has our dear Ernie been up to? Well already he is about 3.5 cm long and weighs about 5 grams. I just went to find something that is 5 grams to see how much it is and the only thing that I could find was a smallish cherry tomato. Needless to say it was pretty small. Ernie should look something like this at the moment.

Ernie has built his muscles in his arms and legs and is starting to move. Apparently he can also open his jaw and stretch although of course I can't feel any of this as he is far to small. I wonder how many more weeks it will be before I can feel any movement. It could take quite a while - this being a first pregnancy.

Anyway, Ernie has a bit of work to do this week, he has to finish off the creation of all his major organs, work on his digestive system and have a growth spurt as well as many other things. So as you can see Ernie is about to have a pretty busy week.

As for me, well I had another blood test yesterday to check my hormone levels. I won't get the results until some time next week as my GP is away on holidays. Hopefully, if what is going on with my body is any indication, everything will be fine and I'll be yet another step closer to a healthy baby.