Our 12 Week Appointment

Well, I have officially decided that these OB appointments are for the birds unless we are getting an ultrasound. We both work night shift on weekdays, which means that we have to sacrifice sleep to make the hour drive (each way) to the OB's office, and I am finding these appointments totally anticlimactic, lol. All I do on non-ultrasound days is get my blood pressure checked (which I can do every day at work), pee in a cup to check it for sugar (which I can do every day at work), and get a doppler of the baby's heartbeat (which I can do every day at work). Baby's heartbeat was 169 this time. Then we see the doctor for three seconds, she asks me if I have any concerns, I say no, and then we leave and make another appointment :/ But, we have to do what we have to do!

I also got to sign my "OB Contract" at the 12 week appointment, which stated that my insurance pays 50% of hospital costs related to our labor and delivery. The grand total of the hospital stay is around $3000, so I will end up forking over around $1500 cash to pay for the baby to come into the world. I then looked around the waiting room and saw all the pajama clad teenage baby mamas who I am assuredly also paying for, via my taxes. Fantastic.

So, anyway, no news at our appointment. No excitement.

We go back in 4 weeks for another boring appointment, but in SIX WEEKS we find out baby's gender! We also started taking "bump" pictures this week of my non-existent bump!

Baby Preview...

I was in Milwaukee vising my family and friends this weekend. I had totally forgotten (until I drove past) that there is a "sonography boutique" near my mom's house called Baby Preview. It is a "non-medical" place that does 2D, 3D, & 4D ultrasound, as well as sells really cute baby stuff in their store. So, I called and made an appointment for a "sneak peak" ultrasound, which is all they can really do when you're fairly early. We showed up (and it turns out my best friend knows the owner so my services were FREE), I laid down, and in just a minute we were up and rolling! I was surprised an external ultrasound was even possible because I am not showing at all, can't really even feel my uterus, and I figured I was still pretty much low and in the pelvis. She put the probe on me and there was our baby! Long legs and all :) He or she still has a good strong heartbeat, and it is amazing how much better an ultrasound is at 11 weeks than at 8! The baby was rolling around and kicking it's legs, it was so sweet. We switched it over to the 4D but the baby just looked like a blob with nubs---the lady said that the arms and legs are too see through and the scan looks right through them until they're bigger. I wish Jeremiah had been there. I did get photos printed and had one to say "Happy Birthday Daddy!" and I gave it to him when I got home :) The resolution is not very clear in the pictures, but you really could see a pretty detailed face on the scan!

Weeks 9 & 10

Today we are 11 weeks pregnant! I am so excited to almost be out of the first trimester. Not that it has been horrible, but I am excited for what is to come. I can't wait to get a bump. I am not showing---at all. I know this is normal for a first pregnancy, but it is so hard to talk about being pregnant without looking the part! I can't wait until I am showing enough that it is obvious that I'm pregnant, and not something people will wonder about :)

Weeks 9 and 10 were about the same as one another, and were overall uneventful. I took nausea medicine on a few different days, but I am certainly not feeling bad every day as I had been earlier on. I have some aches and pains (probably related to uterine stretching), but nothing I can't tolerate. Week 9 I seemed to crave all healthy foods...I was taking all fruits and vegetables to work with me for my lunch. When Week 10 rolled around, I just wanted junk! Donuts, ice cream, anything sugary was exactly what I wanted. For the last few days, I have felt more "back to normal" as far as diet and food cravings.

We worked on the baby's nursery this week. We painted trim and started to gather a few things, and we also got a GREAT deal on nursery furniture from another mom who decided to get a new set :) I also added to my diaper stockpile...my goal is to not need to buy any diapers until the baby is wearing size 4.

I drove 9 hours today to visit family, and boy was that uncomfortable. I felt like I had to shift positions a few times an hour, and I stopped to get out and stretch a few more times than I normally do when I make this drive. In one week we will have our next appointment, can't wait to see how our baby is doing!