NT Scans and MFM Visit

Let me just get right into it kind of long post.

7/27/2017
I had my NT scan on Thursday when I was 12 weeks and 3 days, all looked great and the kid was measuring 13 weeks. They did not adjust my due though I guess because it is still so close.

The scan was with my favorite scanner, did I mention that I did elective scans at 9 week/10 weeks because I was anxious and crazy? Anyway at the elective scan facility the scanner told me she worked at the OB office I go to and she hoped she would get to do my NT scan and God worked it out that it happened just as we both hoped. She is very patient and explained everything we were looking at.  All measurements were fine, baby was sleeping and was not moving so she had me cough and pushed on my stomach and the kid started wiggling..

After the scan she led me to the OB's office for the visit.. She was really nice and thought I was a pretty easy going patient. So anyway I told her about my spitting issue, yes I have the gross excessive saliva thing in my pregnancy. *sigh*  *expletive sigh*
Currently spitting in my trash can at my cubicle. I sooooooooooo hate this darn symptom. I told her that a month was too long for me to come back so she has me scheduled for Doppler 8/9th, then I go back 2 weeks for the anatomy scan? Not sure...then I go back for a level II scan? I wasn't paying too much attention, I was on cloud nine from a great NT scan. I am not completely out of the woods so I asked for the Harmony Test. It was at the end of the day but I was able to have my blood drawn and should hear back in 10 days...maybe less. The Harmony test is a genetic test that can detect abnormalities as well as tell the babies sex.  For more details visit here http://www.ariosadx.com/

MFM Visit 7/28/2017
So I had to go back to the clinic the VERY next day. This was not fun nor my idea, this was to meet the MFM specialist and this was how they scheduled the appointment.

Dr. J asked me general questions, and told me why I was considered high risk. I am advanced maternal age & pregnant via IVF so I am an automatic candidate high risk patient..... YAY me ( being sarcastic....well kind of ). She asked me about the NT scans then went into the computer to
review the results. There was talk about if I did any genetic tests and if I would like amnio
to which I responded  " I will not do any invasive testing" she then asked me if I used my own eggs and I said yes and I can see the slight judgment in her eyes. That's right I will not do it, am I the only woman over 35 that got pregnant and not wanting to do these invasive test?...NO then
be a peach and not bring it up again unless I ask. Overall she is a nice lady and just doing her job but I just didn't like the judgment in the eyes about the amnio question. After our talk and her notes she asked me to go to get an ultrasound, I am thinking she either has no faith or did it to see if the bub is ok. Anyway the babe had it's back turned and was facing my back, with a perfect heart beat. This scan was literally perhaps 2 minutes long, the tech said you just did NT yesterday and she wants heart tones we both kind of rolled our eyes... LOL . I didn't mind it as long as it doesn't hurt the kid.

12 weeks & A Day

I do not have much to report except that waiting and waiting and waiting is killing me.

Just 2 more sleeps until the NT Scan and my meeting with the OB this Thursday 7/27th and then of course the very next day I have to do back and speak with the MFM or Peri. Uggh why couldn't they schedule it all in the same day. This practice is so huge..... just like for air travel you have to check in online for your appointments as you would for your flight. Like I said I am ok with a huge practice for now, sometimes I think perhaps I should call Dr. C but then I say no. Dr. C was my OB from 2003-2012. I ended that relationship after he performed the D&C from my miscarriage from my first IVF cycle. He was very nice and all but I just think of him and that time period and I just have not set foot back in that office.

Nothing exciting happening except I have been a nut job all weekend thinking the worse. I cannot wait for this Thursday to see what's going on inside. I also turned off notification for the FB group I am apart of. It's not that the women aren't the best and supportive but reading the negative things put me in a bad head space. I have been trying to pray the negativity away but it still gets to me. It especially gets worse since for the most part I feel normal.

Symptoms- Still queasy, and threw up twice Sunday but overall feel great. I had a pounding all day headache that was so bad that I took Tylenol which did absolutely nothing to ease it. So I tried sleeping it off and that worked, but then I woke up and there is was.

My Body: I think I have a bump or it is still fat but it is rounder more at the top so I believe it is fat? The baby is tiny and a plum so this is either bloat or just as I said fat. I can rock it and pretend it's a bump LOL.

Baby- 12 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a lime.
Your lime-sized little one now weighs 1/2 ounce and is just over 2 inches long from head to bottom.

11 Weeks & 4 days

I have been seriously slacking on trying to keep up but since I don't have my appointment for another 7 days there isn't anything much to report.

I gag daily at least 2-3 times, still throw up here & there but I will say this week has been much better overall. Everything I have read said nausea should be waning and I will go as far as to say it has gotten better but it is definitely still ever present. If I eat something that is not baby approved I pay for it big time.

The odd thing is I still fit my clothes but they are uncomfortable. I think maternity clothes will be in my future soon unless I decide to wear only dresses........which I LOVE right now.

What's Going On with My Body: Feeling lots of twinges, stretching and perhaps cramps too.

What I am looking forward to: NT scan at 12weeks 3 days.

What's Going On the Baby:
It's now the 11th week of your pregnancy, and your little one has officially graduated to the status of "fetus." This is a big step in his prenatal development. Now that all of your baby's major organs have started forming, his growth will be all about maturing and putting on pounds.

 

I got this from the Bump Box website here https://bumpboxes.com/week-by-week/

At 11 weeks pregnant, your baby is now the size of a macaroon, around 1 1/2 inches long and weighing a 1/4 of an ounce. If you got a peek inside your uterus, you would see her kicking, stretching, sighing and hiccupping. She’s looking more and more like a baby every day she matures. The bones in the face are forming nicely, and the proportions of the body are starting to get closer to those of a newborn’s

Somewhere in Limbo

I didn't post this originally on the day written 7/14/2017

Morning (all day sickness) hit with a vengeance this past weekend. So much so that I am definitely am dehydrated which has me terrified about the baby, my pee is pretty yellow when it use to be clear. I am trying to sip liquid here and there but I am throwing up everything. Water, Coconut Water, Gatorade, Ginger Ale, you name it I have been tasted it twice and it is gross. While said "morning" sickness was reassuring for a while, I feel pretty reassured now, this is until today when ALL symptoms basically disappeared.

I am freaking out and see an elective Ultrasound in the near future....as soon as tomorrow.

Two weeks from today I have the NT scan…..it feels so far away. Why in the world are these appointments so far apart. I get to do the genetic testing the same day. It is as if they want to torture me and have me there forever on the 27^th and the 28^th, I don’t mind as long as I get to see the baby.

Things I have learned so far:

• you can be nauseous and hungry at the same time. Weird, but true.
• you can be happy about your pregnancy and still hate morning (afternoon, evening) sickness, and this does not make you a bad person. It makes you a normal person.
• fear does not go away very easily.
• this, too, shall pass.
• that glass of orange juice the other morning was a BAD PLAN.
• sweat pants or no pants are awesome
• it is okay that you are freaked out about telling people about this pregnancy. That makes sense. But you will have to start getting over it. Because, eventually, it's going to get hard to hide.
• the bitchiness will also pass (please please please please)
• take a deep breath. Be grateful for today. Worry less about tomorrow.
• still working on that last one.

 

10 Weeks & Another Elective Happened

Disclaimer- If you are in a bad place on your TTC or IVF journey do not read, pregnancy symptom post. I know how painful this journey is, and I will never forget it. Heck it took us forever just to get to this point so no complaints just documenting.

This past Saturday at 9 weeks 5 days, I did another elective  ultrasound. Hubby was not happy with my decision so I went alone. His argument is that if I have faith why do I still have fear? That isn't
quite the case, for me I just needed to see but I won't be doing them again back to back. He is right, enough is enough I have to trust God and the process and let it go.

Before I went in to be scanned I drank orange juice and our peanut  must have been woken up because he/she was dancing and wiggling in there. Kicking his/her leg and putting hand to mouth. In my excitement I did not even record it. It was all so cute.  I also ordered and received my Doppler this Saturday which I did not open or attempt to search for the baby. I am going to try to remain content and as calm as I can.

Morning ( all day) sickness hit with a vengeance. Sick as a dog all weekend and threw up everything I ate. At this point I am not sure what I can eat since nothing is working, nothing. I know I can take medications but the side effects worry me. I might try the over the counter ideas such as Vitamin B6 for now and see how it goes.

Today we hit Double Digits.

10 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is about the size of a kumquat or strawberry and can stretch his spine. Her eyes and eyelids are more developed and her eyebrows are beginning to grow. Baby's Length: 1.22in.

Baby's Weight: 0.14oz. It’s important to know that your baby is completely out of the embryonic stage and fully into the fetal stage

 

Weight | Don't know and won't know until the next OB appointment in 2 1/2 weeks Sze of baby | Baby's Length: 1.22in.

Baby's Weight: 0.14oz

Gender  Too soon to know   Movement | None Yet, probably not for another 10 weeks
  Maternity clothes | Not yet but I can see this coming really soon. None of my clothes fit, even my big pants. I prefer to wear dresses, not comb my hair and basically look frumpy at the moment. No energy and I just do not care. I do work in an office so I will have to get this together soon.     Cravings/Aersions | No cravings and I basically can't win on the eating front right now.  Also liquids are a no too. Ginger ale is iffy, Water is a no, coconut water is a no, tea is a no...Coke is a yes...the worse thing to be a yes.  

What I'm looking forward to |  Eating again and getting to the 2nd Trimester bliss I hear so much about. :-)

Elective & 9 Weeks

Did an elective Ultrasound this past Saturday at 8 weeks 5 days and the babe was measuring a day ahead. The kid had a super strong heartbeat, Hubby while did not agree to this ultrasound, enjoyed seeing and hearing the babe. I got a cute little goody bag and a heart shaped recorder with the heartbeat recorded.

Worries- Well I had fish later that evening and only after eating it did it dawn on me that I probably should not be eating it. It was snapper fish that was steamed cooked. It is on the lower end of the mercury level but still I have to be more careful.

How Far Along:  Nine weeks! We're pushing on ahead...

Size of baby: Baby is the size of an olive or a grape. And, is a foetus now, apparently!

Random & Interesting Developmental Stuff:  Here's this week's run-down:

Even though you still have to wait another eight weeks to find out if your new addition will be a boy or a girl, this week, your baby gets the goods she'll need to, well, make her own baby one day. That's right -- reproductive organs are beginning to form now, along with some other key organs, like the pancreas and gallbladder. At this point your baby has doubled in size and her head, which is about half the length of her entire body, is tucked down toward her chest. Her tiny fingers are growing longer, and the ends are slightly enlarged right now -- this is where those unique fingerprints will ultimately form.

 

 

Total Weight Gain: Not sure wont check....scared.

 

Sleep: Not too bad but interrupted by lots of pee-stops.

Symptoms: Not feeling much of anything this week. I still haven't thrown up, queasy and nauseous here and there. I'm bloated, hungry all the time, and constantly tired. Meat has become an aversion as of Saturday/Sunday

Cravings: Fries.

Gender: Not sure my guess is a Boy.

Movement: Way too early yet.

Maternity Clothes: I can see this happening soon, all my clothes are uncomfortable, boobs hurt and bras will be the first purchase!!!

Milestones: Another week going by, which I LOVE. I want time to speed up a little.. just a little. I really hate to rush through but I want to be done with the 1st Trimester worries and anxiety.
What I'm looking forward to: Our  next OB Appointment which will include the NT scan at 12 weeks and 3 days...seem so far away. 3 more weeks and 3 days to go.

The belly: Bloated....so I have a bloated bump.

High Risk & Peri Appointment

 

It looks like I am High Risk Folks.

The OB Practice I am apart of has a Perinatologist on site. As a matter of fact they have just about everything in that office and it is on the compound of the hospital I will deliver.

 

A perinatologist is an obstetrician/gynecologist who has completed specialty training needed to understand and treat complex medical problems relating to pregnancy that can involve the mother and her unborn baby. They are also called a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist.

 

I chose to attend this practice because it is a big network and I wanted to be monitored closely for this pregnancy. I am not sure I will feel about it later down the road because at first glance, they have lots of patients and it is definitely busy there. Even so the staff was caring and the NP was very warm and did not rush through her time with me. Again later on I might be singing another tune.

 

Symptoms- Still dry heaving out of the blue, waves of nausea out of the blue too, weird taste in mouth still, telling hubby to buy food I do not want when I get it. EXHAUSTED. All in all nothing I cannot handle and will continue to gladly handle because I am excited to be at this point. Everyday is a gift, every moment a blessing. My fears are still there but the more I focus on the positives the more I can keep the negative thoughts at bay...

 

First OB Appointment

I had my first Ob appointment today and it went really well. The Nurse practitioner was the best. They did a complete work up on me including a pap which I told them I was nervous about since I was spotting off and on.  We went through some history and I did advise them this baby was conceived through IVF. I was told I may be monitored closely because of my age and because I have a Subchorionic hemorrhage (subchorionic hematoma). Yes you read that right, despite seeing the local R/E for 3 scans as well as going to the Emergency room neither of them told me about this. Both told me they had no idea where the spotting was coming from. I am now stuck with a $1700 bill from the ER for nothing.....just great.  Anyway the nurse said it is small so she is thinking it is collapsing and was perhaps bigger a few weeks prior, and mentioned this seems to be common with IVF babies. Also I have to take the glucose test twice, once now and then the other around 28 weeks. Yay me ( rolls eyes).

On Another Note- Who knew you had to pay the doctor for birth prior to getting there. I was told I have until 24 weeks to pay the practice $1800, granted $1500 of this is because I have not met my deductible.  Phew....thank goodness it wasn't higher or I would be completely screwed. Keep in mind this does not include the hospital costs so I will either have to get an estimate of that or switch to my husband's insurance if they out of pocket will be cheaper. While it could be worse, that is still pretty high.

Our Bambino is measuring spot on at 8weeks 1 day which is exactly what I am today. I heard the heart beating for the very first time, & it beating away at 166 bpm. It was one of the best sounds I have ever heard.  Unfortunately for this practice video or pictures are not allowed with the ultrasounds so the print out I received sometime later I will try to scan and upload. I have been bad at doing that I know. The good thing is they did an abdominal scan and boy did it hurt when she pressed down on my tummy. I have graduated to no more wands....Woot Woot. I think today may be the very day I start the bump pics, I want to document this pregnancy as much as I can but honestly I am feeling so drained.....so sleepy. I can't wait to get home and go to sleep and perhaps do the bump pic. I so my blogging at work......don't judge. I need the welcome distraction from the stress around here.

Symptoms-Dry Heaving.... :-/  I can drink soda just fine...don't worry only had a sip yesterday and 1q can today. Anyway I cannot seem to make water work so I am just to stay hydrated anyway possible.
I also do not like my husband right now, this must be a boy. I swear he can't breathe without me wanting to smack him. I hope this passes. Still have the metallic or weird mouth taste.

8 weeks

Let me start off with the weekend scare

...

So at 1:30 am Sunday Morning which was 7 weeks 6 days I was spotting.....yet again. I am just so dang over it. It lasted for a few hours and I spent the entire Sunday basically vegging around doing absolutely nothing.

There seem to be a trend where I am spotting weekly, could it be a Growth Spurt? Something else? I do not know but I am happy to say that at this very second it is gone. I did forget to put in the Estrace last night so I might double up later. One thing I also notice about myself, before I could drink at least 1/2 gallon of water per day and now I have to force myself to drink a liter. Now is the time to actually drink water and I cannot make myself just gulp it down like before. I have to really work on that. I think being hydrated helps with the growing.

 

On A Positive Note

Today I am 8 weeks and my first prenatal appointment is tomorrow morning.

I am excited and hoping to see our Bambino.

 

According to the Bump baby is the size of a raspberry and I am considered 2 months pregnant today.

I do get weird dreams from time to time. Some are really explicit so I wont even mention here. Yikes.

I don't have morning sickness, but I do occasionally feel queasy....and I still have that weird taste in my mouth after eating. It is not as bad these days which worries me but still there.

 

After week eight your baby is officially called a ‘foetus’ which means ‘offspring’, but is still getting nutrition from the yolk sac rather than the placenta. Over the next few weeks the placenta will develop, forming structures called ‘chorionic villi’ which help attached the placenta to the womb wall. See more details here

 

I have been trying to eat at least 2 fruit servings per day, I have to tell ya, this kid is not a fan of fruit, fried foods or burgers. I am powering through it anyway. Today I had Special K for breakfast and a plum an hour later.

 

I have mangoes and banana for snack today let's see how that  goes.

 

 

 

Food and Diet

Growing up we all have those little healthy tidbits that we were forced to do, take or hear about.

I was basically never sick as a child because I was given Cod Liver Oil, Liquid Bitter Vitamins & Ferrol all the time plus I ate only natural home cooked meals. That was the norm for me, and then I moved to Florida and it all went to hell. My diet had NO JUNK FOOD for most of my young live, none. The co-relationship with eating food that is bad with diet and health is a real thing ladies and gents. Living in florida with my mom she would work a lot so cooking was not frequent, it was KFC, McDonalds and whatever else she can grab and we all know how bad these are.

As an adult I try to limit but let's be honest how easy is it to reach for Junk? Last year I did clean eating for a few months, lost weight and felt great. Now that I am back eating junk I am sluggish, tired, gaining weight rapidly and having some issues. Since I am pregnant I cannot diet but I can certainly make as many changes for a cleaner diet as I can. First I need to work on hubby to use the Salt Free seasonings.

Let's talk coconuts. Hubby got me coconuts, & lots of them. I live in Florida so there are coconut trees lined just about on every other street. Sometimes while working he will see landscapers pruning the trees and tossing perfectly good coconuts away, which is a major SCORE for us. Do you know how much these cost in the stores? plus the ones in the stores are not all natural. We have a tree behind our condo but we never get the coconuts, they are so high and no one gets them down so they usually get over ripe and then fall and roll into the lake. Why am I going on and on about coconuts and diet? I forgot that drinking coconut water will bring down blood pressure. This is something I knew growing up and forgot. I drank a glass of water and blood pressure not only went down but is back to normal. Here's a little article on it as well but like I said this was something I knew growing up.... Read . It is so refreshing and if you found a really good husk it tastes just like water. Yum can't wait to get home and have some more.

Trucking Along & Graduation

Things are trucking along ever so slowly. I have good news & not so good news.


The God news I did an ultrasound yesterday at 7 weeks 2 days & bambino ( this is what my husband calls him or her) is growing and is spot on for growth, the flicker of the heart beat is there and of course there is no reason for the bleed/spotting. Per the Local R/E everything looks perfect so I can relax and breathe......easy for him to say right?

The Bad news - I have high blood pressure, they checked twice and it freaked me out. There are a plethora of bad things that can happen if it is not kept under control but most importantly I have to be monitored very closely. I am going to have to work on my eating habits and start exercising, even if it is walking. I already gained too much weight and I think I will definitely have to stop it right here where it is. Not dieting but choosing healthy choices. I went to Walmart and got a monitor, according to the reading this morning it all went down...a little elevated but down. I think it was high because I was nervous but since I have never had high blood pressure I am not taking it lightly. I am on

I graduated yesterday, after the clinic received the ultrasound they told me I am released and gave me instructions on how to continue meds to wean. I will be emailing them today because it makes no sense to stop PIO at 10 weeks and then continue Endometrin since it does not register in the blood as much for progesterone. They are also concerned and would like me in with an OB as soon as possible. I do not plan to stop cold turkey...quite the contrary I will wean myself from the PIO shots and go either to 11 weeks or 12. I am being my own advocate and will advise them of such, why stop me from the thing that actually goes to my bloodstream and keep me on the one that does not?

Symptoms- I feel queasy a few times here or there but I still have that odd taste in my mouth after eating. I will take it to see my bambino. LOL  I also have horrible gas pains that have me doubled over crying. I won't complain about my symptoms because I've waiting way too long for this. Let me just say that I believe everything going on is normal in early pregnancy

Side Note-What is it with these doctors and prenatal appointments? I feel like I am begging to see a Doctor & it is getting really annoying.