I had my first appointment (but second ultrasound) at the Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine in Annapolis this morning. The facility seemed nice enough and the staff were friendly. Dr. Spencer reviewed my ultrasound results and he was very pleasant, as well. When I entered the ultrasound room, I started to untie my shoes and proceed to get undressed, but the tech stopped me and said that undressing was unnecessary and I just needed to hop on the table. She said she can tell who underwent ART to have a baby because those were always the ladies who start stripping once they enter the room.
Thankfully, Murtle seems to be on track and is doing well. Today she is 8 weeks and 2 days along. She measured 1.73 cm (up from 8mm at 7 weeks and 0 days) and her heartbeat was beautifully beating at 161 bpm (up from 122 last week). She technically measured at 8 weeks and 1 day, but that was considered to be ok and within the normal target range. So, that will be my last chance to see her until my first trimester screen at 12 weeks - four weeks away from tomorrow! Once again, I've been researching to make sure her numbers are ok and have been finding that chances are good that she is healthy and will make it to delivery. One of the most reassuring pieces of information that I found was that while the first trimester miscarriate rate is about 15%, for babies who have a strong heartbeat such as Murtle's at the 8 week point, the chance of miscarrying is only 1%. Whew! We're still planning on not telling anyone who didn't know we were undergoing IVF that we're pregnant until after the first trimester screening results come back - but that should be a perfect time because it will be just in time for Christmas!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
8 Weeks - First OB Appointment!
I had my first OB appointment this morning! It was pretty uneventful since Chesapeake Women's Center doesn't have an ultrasound machine at their Gambrills office, which doesn't make much sense to me because of all doctors, shouldn't all OBs have ultrasound machines in their offices? Anyway, the nurse practioner (NP) that I saw wrote me a referral to see a specialist at the Center for Maternal Fetal Medicine in Annapolis because of my age, so I will get a "viability" ultrasound on Wednesday and then the full-blown first trimester screening and ultrasound at 11 weeks.
Otherwise, they had me pee in a cup (not for a pregnancy test to my dismay, though, but for some other type of testing), took five vials of blood to test for a variety of things (TSH, blood-type, etc.) and did a vaginal culture for some STD stuff that's supposedly required by Maryland law. I luckily didn't have to have a pap test done since the past few have been normal and if that's the case, you just have to have them done every three years. However, the STD culture testing was just as uncomfortable as a pap test and resulted in some concerning ongoing spotting and pain. Apparently, the spotting is normal and can last up to a few days. Otherwise, the appointment was a breeze and the nurse practioner just reviewed my medical history and went over some basic pregnancy no-nos (mostly just no drinking or smoking). She told me that this first appointment would be the longest appointment and the only one for which I would even need to undress! The subseuent appointments will be with the various doctors in the practice, who will simply listen to my heart and have my weight and blood pressure checked, as well as order any testing that needs to be done at the appropriate time.
Otherwise, they had me pee in a cup (not for a pregnancy test to my dismay, though, but for some other type of testing), took five vials of blood to test for a variety of things (TSH, blood-type, etc.) and did a vaginal culture for some STD stuff that's supposedly required by Maryland law. I luckily didn't have to have a pap test done since the past few have been normal and if that's the case, you just have to have them done every three years. However, the STD culture testing was just as uncomfortable as a pap test and resulted in some concerning ongoing spotting and pain. Apparently, the spotting is normal and can last up to a few days. Otherwise, the appointment was a breeze and the nurse practioner just reviewed my medical history and went over some basic pregnancy no-nos (mostly just no drinking or smoking). She told me that this first appointment would be the longest appointment and the only one for which I would even need to undress! The subseuent appointments will be with the various doctors in the practice, who will simply listen to my heart and have my weight and blood pressure checked, as well as order any testing that needs to be done at the appropriate time.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Beautiful Beating Heart!
Well, it's official -- I'm really pregnant after all! I was pretty doubtful these past few days since I hadn't been feeling any nausea or any symptoms that indicated that I was truly pregnant. Well, lo and behold, Murtle pleasantly surprised me again because today's ultrasound showed that she was safe, sound and snuggled inside my uterus. She measured 8 mm and her heartbeat was beautifully beating at 122 bpm. What a surreal experience to hear that little heartbeat, especially when I only had hoped to see a heartbeat today. Dr. Sacks said that things look good so far - Murtle's on track size wise (I'm 7w0d today) and any heartbeat above 100 bpm at this point indicates a healthy pregnancy.
As for the next steps, I need to stay on my suppositories for two more weeks - thank goodness I'll finally be done with those soon and I need to schedule an appointment with a perinatologist who will perform the the first trimester scan in about four weeks. I think that I will truly relax after receiving those results, but in the meantime, I will bask in the glow of having seen and heard that precious little heartbeat.
As for the next steps, I need to stay on my suppositories for two more weeks - thank goodness I'll finally be done with those soon and I need to schedule an appointment with a perinatologist who will perform the the first trimester scan in about four weeks. I think that I will truly relax after receiving those results, but in the meantime, I will bask in the glow of having seen and heard that precious little heartbeat.
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