Week 12

I went back for more bloodwork this week and this time I made it through with flying colours, no trouble whatsoever. But I still haven't heard back from my doctor about the results from my NT scan/ultrasound. I am getting more and more frustrated with the doctor. The told me they would have them in a couple of days. It has been a week!

This week I have felt pretty good, but very tired. More tired than in previous weeks. The nausea is still there, constantly in the background, but low most of the time. It seems to fade immediately after I have eaten for about thirty minutes. I would eat all the time if I didn't feel so bloated.

I am still at a four pound weight loss. I am expecting that to change very soon. I don't think I gained any weight during the first trimester with Kylie, but I am pretty sure I did with Emma.

I know it is still early but this week I bought the baby a bouncer and a high chair. I got them both in greens and beiges/browns, not just because I don't know the gender, but because they will match our home. They are both made by Fisher Price.


Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Bouncer Seat


The is so cute, it has bunny ears. It vibrates and plays music and has a washable liner. And it will give the baby a sfe spot to sit no matter what room of the house I am in.


Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair, Scatterbug

The high chair is called a Space Saver high chair. It will strap onto any kitchen type of chair. It doesn't take up a lot of room and can be easily transported. It also can be set into a reclining position for younger babies, or used as a booster for older children. Plus it was cheaper than most full sized high chairs. And the fabric isn't the hard vinyl type that was popular when Kylie and Emma were babies. It's much softer. I am very happy with my purchases. I can't wait to use them!

I Almost Fainted

After my NT scan I was sent to the hospital lab for a urine sample and to have blood drawn, all standard pregnancy screening stuff. The lab tech was a lovely, kind woman who had trouble finding a vein because they were faint and they kept flattening on her. She tried both my arms and hands. I'm not afraid of being poked and I'm not that squeamish, it didn't bother me... at first. About the fourth time, she had a vein but for some reason my blood was dripping through very slowly. It wasn't filling up. I suddenly began to feel nauseas. At first I thought it was just morning sickness. I've never had that happen before when having blood drawn. Then I became very lightheaded, and the room started to move and things seemed far away, and got darker. I nearly fainted.

The nurse stopped taking my blood right away, leaned me back and got me orange juice. It was so embarrassing. Is it because I'm pregnant? I don't know. All I know is that I have to go back to have it done again because they never got enough blood for even one tube. And now I'm worried it could happen again.

And I am left wondering if there's a reason she couldn't find a vein, or why my blood seemed to drip through so slowly. Could that be pregnancy related too?

My NT Scan

Yesterday I had my first ultrasound, or NT scan. It is done between 11 and 13 weeks and measures and dates the baby and looks for chromosomal abnormalities like Down Syndrome.

My instructions beforehand were to empty my bladder two hours before the scan, and to drink four large glasses of water up to one hour before as well. I don't know many people who are capable of doing this without peeing their pants. Water travels pretty quick. Let's just say from previous experience, I decided to drink one litre of water starting one hour before my appointment.

I entered the doctor's office, already having to pee, but not too badly. I discovered my elderly neighbour there. She too was having an ultrasound and had to drink a lot of water. Unfortunately they were behind at the dotor's office, and my poor neighbour came from her appointment, having urinated all over herself and was so embarrassed. I felt awful for her. Time ticked by slowly as I waited for my appointment and hoped the same wouldn't happen to me.

I got in over 40 minutes late. I was very relieved, because I felt like my bladder might burst. When the technician found a squirming little baby in there, I was absolutley elated. I had questions for the him but his English was very poor and he didn't understand me very well, so I don't know the baby's heartbeat, or the NT measurements. I do know he dated the pregnancy at 12 weeks 2 days, which is 6 days ahead of my calculations using the first day of my last menstrual cycle. He was also unwilling to make an educated guess on the baby's gender.

All in all I was very pleased with my scan, more because of sheer relief at seeing a live wriggly baby. I will get the results in a couple of days when my doctor phones. And I will be receiving a CD with pictures in a couple of weeks at my next appointment. And I made it through the ultrasound scan without peeing my pants... barely.

11 Weeks

I am anxiously awaiting my first ultrasound on Wednesday. I get more nervous by the day. I wish I could bring the girls with us when Martin and I go but I don't want to bring them if there's a possibility something could be wrong.

The belly that I grew last week has, well, sort of shrunk back a bit and I fit into my pants again. I must have been really bloated. I feel jipped. I want a cute baby bump! I can, however, feel the top of my uterus above the pubic bone now, so things are definitely growing. Still haven't gained weight though. I remain at my 4 pound loss. But I'm not complaining. I figure, even if, from here on out I gain a whole pound per week, I'll only put on 29 pounds. With my olldest I gained 25, and with my youngest, about 27, and both times left the hospital with all of it gone, except a pound or two. I'm hoping this pregnancy follows the trend.

This past week I've been more tired than usual and had to go to bed early because I just couldn't keep my eyes open. Otherwise I feel like my body is returning to a state of feeling good. There have been longer periods of feeling good between the bouts of morning sickness. I'm looking forward to the second trimester where all of that will hopefully fade away. With my girls pregnancies I felt great during the second trimester. Well it's just two days off. Not far now.

This past week has also marked the one year anniversary of the horrible miscarriage I had last year. It was made worse by the fact that I am only a week difference in how far along I am in the pregnancy. But that's over and I'm trying not to think about it or worry so much.

Two long days days to go until the ultrasound. I hate waiting.

I really, really hate waiting. How am I going to get through another 29 weeks?