Today was Sam's 12-month checkup. She did as well as can be expected! She did a little better than she did at her past few doctor visits. She was running around and charming everyone in the doctor office until it came time to measure her and weigh her. As she did the past couple of times, she threw a fit. But, she got over it soon enough! Here are her latest stats:
Height: 29 1/2" - 65%
Weight: 20lb - 30%
Head Circumference: 45cm - 50%
My baby has gone from a tall girl to a little shrimp! I am honestly not surprised though...from the start I had a feeling we were going to have a small fry, since neither of us come from big stock. And in the past few months, I really didn't feel like she was getting any taller or heavier! Since her 9-month checkup, she has gotten 1/2" taller and 1 ounce heavier. Her head grew one centimeter. Sam has actually become the petite little thing that she has looked like all along!
Nothing to worry about though, it's common at 12 months for babies to slow way down on the growth, especially when they become mobile. Sammy is constantly running and burning off fat, and she's so busy learning and having fun that she doesn't always eat a lot. (Unless we are having spaghetti.) Otherwise, she is perfectly healthy!
Sam got a few vaccinations and was VERY pissed off. She cried for a while, but as usual, she survived. The doctor said that she should probably be drinking whole milk instead of 2% (that's what I get for going off information I read online...) but since she only drinks about a cup a day (she still nurses the rest of the time) it's not really a big deal. Dr. Wood confirmed what I've intended to do...cut back one nursing a day until she's weaned. Easier said than done, especially when you have a fussy, teething baby! I still intend to do it though. Wish me luck...
Next checkup? 15 months! August will be here before we know it!
Showing posts with label doctor visits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctor visits. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Monday, November 15, 2010
6 Months - Doctor Visit
Sammy finally had her 6-month checkup today. She is getting to be a little tank! Let's get right to the good stuff:
Height: 28 inches - 98th percentile
Weight: 17 lbs, 14 oz - 80th percentile
Head Circ.: 42 1/2 cm - 50th percentile
I was surprised to find that she has gotten so much taller. I guess I should have known though, since she has a much easier time standing in her exersaucer now! Her weight constantly amazes me. She weighs almost a pound more than I would have guessed. She is definitely a good eater! She is right on cue for all of her development. We are still having lots of constipation issues, but hopefully we'll get those resolved. I'm going to keep her on solids, but we are not feeding her ANY binders - no rice, no sweet potatoes, bananas, etc. Today she had oatmeal, pears, and prune juice. Mmmm....
We have to take her to a specialist in a couple of weeks to look at her head and make sure her cranium isn't closing up too soon. I'm very nervous - hopefully everything is okay!
Next visit? 9 months!
Height: 28 inches - 98th percentile
Weight: 17 lbs, 14 oz - 80th percentile
Head Circ.: 42 1/2 cm - 50th percentile
I was surprised to find that she has gotten so much taller. I guess I should have known though, since she has a much easier time standing in her exersaucer now! Her weight constantly amazes me. She weighs almost a pound more than I would have guessed. She is definitely a good eater! She is right on cue for all of her development. We are still having lots of constipation issues, but hopefully we'll get those resolved. I'm going to keep her on solids, but we are not feeding her ANY binders - no rice, no sweet potatoes, bananas, etc. Today she had oatmeal, pears, and prune juice. Mmmm....
We have to take her to a specialist in a couple of weeks to look at her head and make sure her cranium isn't closing up too soon. I'm very nervous - hopefully everything is okay!
Next visit? 9 months!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
4 Months - Doctor Visit
Yesterday Samantha had her 4-month doctor visit. She got her next round of shots which hurt me HORRIBLY, but she did okay. I nursed her right away and she got past the tears pretty quickly. She has been doing fine since she got them!
Here are her stats:
Height: 25.5" (90th percentile)
Weight: 15 pounds, 2 ounces (82nd percentile)
Head Circumference: 41cm (50th percentile)
A lot of her 4-month old buddies are the same height, but Sammy is the heaviest of them all! Funny thing though, she appears to be much smaller. I think she's just solid muscle and that's where the weight is hiding. :)
And, the doctor gave us the okay to let her try solids, since she is showing so much interest in food. We are going to let her try some brown rice cereal this weekend! Stay tuned for pictures of THAT adventure!
Here are her stats:
Height: 25.5" (90th percentile)
Weight: 15 pounds, 2 ounces (82nd percentile)
Head Circumference: 41cm (50th percentile)
A lot of her 4-month old buddies are the same height, but Sammy is the heaviest of them all! Funny thing though, she appears to be much smaller. I think she's just solid muscle and that's where the weight is hiding. :)
And, the doctor gave us the okay to let her try solids, since she is showing so much interest in food. We are going to let her try some brown rice cereal this weekend! Stay tuned for pictures of THAT adventure!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
2 Months - Doctor Visit
Today Samantha had her 2-month Well Baby visit. She is doing great!
Height: 23" (74th percentile)
Weight: 11lb 9oz (70th percentile)
Head Circumference: 38cm (25th percentile)
She definitely has my little head! And she's pretty tall, too. She is definitely a good eater - she's growing fast!
Sam did pretty well for her vaccinations. She took the oral vaccine really well, and hardly spit out any of it. I guess she likes strawberry flavor. :) The injections were a bit harder on her. The nurse said she was very strong since she kept flexing her muscles when the nurse put the needles in. Must be from all the standing exercises! Sam cried first in pain, and then she switched to an angry cry. It was heartbreaking - I must admit, Mommy cried a little too. :,( But, I nursed her after her shots, and she calmed down quickly. Samantha slept for the first few hours, but after waking up, the pain kicked in. I gave her a dose of Infant Tylenol and nursed her, and now she's trying to relax. The shots were in her thighs, so every time she flexes her legs it hurts her. Poor baby! She's doing pretty well though as long as I can keep her comfortable. I am already dreading the next round of vaccines at 4 months, but I know it's for the best!
Height: 23" (74th percentile)
Weight: 11lb 9oz (70th percentile)
Head Circumference: 38cm (25th percentile)
She definitely has my little head! And she's pretty tall, too. She is definitely a good eater - she's growing fast!
Sam did pretty well for her vaccinations. She took the oral vaccine really well, and hardly spit out any of it. I guess she likes strawberry flavor. :) The injections were a bit harder on her. The nurse said she was very strong since she kept flexing her muscles when the nurse put the needles in. Must be from all the standing exercises! Sam cried first in pain, and then she switched to an angry cry. It was heartbreaking - I must admit, Mommy cried a little too. :,( But, I nursed her after her shots, and she calmed down quickly. Samantha slept for the first few hours, but after waking up, the pain kicked in. I gave her a dose of Infant Tylenol and nursed her, and now she's trying to relax. The shots were in her thighs, so every time she flexes her legs it hurts her. Poor baby! She's doing pretty well though as long as I can keep her comfortable. I am already dreading the next round of vaccines at 4 months, but I know it's for the best!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
2 Weeks - Doctor Visit
May 21
Samantha is 2 weeks old! Her 2-week checkup went well. At 2 weeks they make sure that babies are at least back up to their birth weight. Our little eater is WELL above hers - she has already gained over a pound, and is now 8lb 6oz. She has also gotten taller, and is 20 3/4" long. She is definitely eating well! She's still not pooping very often, but since everything else is just fine, it looks like her system is just slower than the average baby. Not to worry! Her belly button is almost completely healed now, so soon we'll be able to give her her first real bath.
Her next checkup is at 2 months!
Monday, May 3, 2010
38 Week Doctor Appointment
Today I had my 38 week doctor visit. Everything went well. I haven't gained any more weight since Thursday (that's a relief!), and my blood pressure and everything looks good.
I talked with Dr. Biter a bit about checking for dilation, and I was happy to find that he agrees with me. He also feels that it is unnecessary, especially since I am planning to do this naturally. All it would give us is a number that really doesn't mean anything either way. So, we are just going to wait and let things happen on their own!
He said I am still measuring right on, Baby's heart rate is great, and he checked her position. He said that she is still head down...WAY down. As I know very well! My daughter is such a good little girl already, getting into position! Now if she would only decide to grace us with her presence sometime soon! :)
I talked with Dr. Biter a bit about checking for dilation, and I was happy to find that he agrees with me. He also feels that it is unnecessary, especially since I am planning to do this naturally. All it would give us is a number that really doesn't mean anything either way. So, we are just going to wait and let things happen on their own!
He said I am still measuring right on, Baby's heart rate is great, and he checked her position. He said that she is still head down...WAY down. As I know very well! My daughter is such a good little girl already, getting into position! Now if she would only decide to grace us with her presence sometime soon! :)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
37 Week Doctor Appointment
Just a quick update from my doctor appointment this morning!
My doctor was out on Monday, so they rescheduled me today, and I met with the new Physician's Assistant, Kathy. She was really nice, and I liked that she updated me on everything. It was a little more formal than my usual visits with my doc, but it was nice to hear all the actual measurements of everything.
I was surprised to find that I've gained 2 more pounds since my last visit a week and a half ago, bringing me up to 32 pounds. I thought I was supposed to stop gaining around this time! :P We'll just say that Baby had another growth spurt. ;) My blood pressure was 116/60, which is good, I guess, and my belly measured right on at 37 weeks. Little Bean's heartbeat was at 147. Kathy said it feels like Baby is still head down, and according to my records, she has been for quite some time. No surprise to me, because I sure feel her head butting me all the time!
Nothing new to report at this time. I go back again on Monday for my next checkup! They didn't offer to check me today, but I'm going to turn them down every time unless my doctor actually tells me they NEED to check me. I don't think there's any reason for it right now! I've been having some mild cramping in my lower abdomen, but for now it doesn't sound like it's anything to get excited about. They told me to let them know if it gets more intense or painful. So for now, I'm just resting, and walking, and moving around to try to get this little girl moving on out!
My doctor was out on Monday, so they rescheduled me today, and I met with the new Physician's Assistant, Kathy. She was really nice, and I liked that she updated me on everything. It was a little more formal than my usual visits with my doc, but it was nice to hear all the actual measurements of everything.
I was surprised to find that I've gained 2 more pounds since my last visit a week and a half ago, bringing me up to 32 pounds. I thought I was supposed to stop gaining around this time! :P We'll just say that Baby had another growth spurt. ;) My blood pressure was 116/60, which is good, I guess, and my belly measured right on at 37 weeks. Little Bean's heartbeat was at 147. Kathy said it feels like Baby is still head down, and according to my records, she has been for quite some time. No surprise to me, because I sure feel her head butting me all the time!
Nothing new to report at this time. I go back again on Monday for my next checkup! They didn't offer to check me today, but I'm going to turn them down every time unless my doctor actually tells me they NEED to check me. I don't think there's any reason for it right now! I've been having some mild cramping in my lower abdomen, but for now it doesn't sound like it's anything to get excited about. They told me to let them know if it gets more intense or painful. So for now, I'm just resting, and walking, and moving around to try to get this little girl moving on out!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
36 Week Doctor Visit
Just a quick update about my doctor visit yesterday. Not much to report - my blood pressure and baby's heart rate are good as always. I've gained a total of 31 pounds. *gasp!* That's really about it! I could have gotten checked, but I chose not to since it's uncomfortable and really pointless. Even if I were dilated a bit, it wouldn't necessarily mean I'll go into labor soon. And if I'm not, that doesn't necessarily mean it will still be a long time. So, why get excited or disappointed unnecessarily? Plus, I haven't felt any contractions, so I'm pretty sure there's no action going on yet. From now on I go back to the doctor every Monday until baby comes (or until she's really late). I've already got my appointments booked!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
33 Week Doctor Visit
Just a quick update from my doctor visit yesterday. Everything is still looking good! Mike was able to come with me this time so he could meet our doctor as well.
Weight gain: 25 lbs total (More than I would like...I need to be careful in this last month so that I don't gain too much more! The average is 25-35 pounds total during your entire pregnancy, and I was hoping to stay closer to 25.)
Blood pressure: 112/75 (I think? Something like that...they said it was good.)
Belly: Measuring right on schedule!
Heartbeat: Not sure of the BPM, but it sounded strong and healthy!
We still aren't sure if the birthing center will be completed in time for me to deliver there, but at this point I really don't mind either way. I am completely comfortable and prepared to deliver at the hospital. I know everything will be just fine however things work out!
One thing that really caught my attention: my doctor told me that at 34 weeks (which I will be in 2 days!), they won't stop labor. Meaning that if I were to go into labor at pretty much anytime now, this little girl will be coming! I'm not expecting her to come this early, but it was quite an eye opener to realize that we are already to that point! I don't mind if she comes a little early, but I'm hoping that she'll at least wait until the beginning of May so that I can enjoy some Me Time before she arrives. (And I'm still okay with it if she comes late, too. If my due date comes and goes, I'll just look at it as an extended personal vacation. I have to make the best of my time to myself while I still can!)
Weight gain: 25 lbs total (More than I would like...I need to be careful in this last month so that I don't gain too much more! The average is 25-35 pounds total during your entire pregnancy, and I was hoping to stay closer to 25.)
Blood pressure: 112/75 (I think? Something like that...they said it was good.)
Belly: Measuring right on schedule!
Heartbeat: Not sure of the BPM, but it sounded strong and healthy!
We still aren't sure if the birthing center will be completed in time for me to deliver there, but at this point I really don't mind either way. I am completely comfortable and prepared to deliver at the hospital. I know everything will be just fine however things work out!
One thing that really caught my attention: my doctor told me that at 34 weeks (which I will be in 2 days!), they won't stop labor. Meaning that if I were to go into labor at pretty much anytime now, this little girl will be coming! I'm not expecting her to come this early, but it was quite an eye opener to realize that we are already to that point! I don't mind if she comes a little early, but I'm hoping that she'll at least wait until the beginning of May so that I can enjoy some Me Time before she arrives. (And I'm still okay with it if she comes late, too. If my due date comes and goes, I'll just look at it as an extended personal vacation. I have to make the best of my time to myself while I still can!)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
28 Week Doctor Appointment
Yesterday I had my 28 Week doctor appointment. The wait was forever long, but I finally got in and I saw Dr. Biter for the first time. Until now I've always ended up seeing Dr. Cap instead, who is great, but since Dr. Biter will be the one who is there for the actual delivery, I was really looking forward to meeting with him.
Everything went well! We started out by discussing natural birth, the new birthing center, and my birth plan. He answered all the questions I had about my birth plan, and told me that while I could list everything out, I didn't need to worry about it. All I need to do is let them know that I want to avoid all interventions if at all possible, and the staff will know that I want "The Biter Birth." That was reassuring, although I do still plan to have my birth plan written out for reference for Mike and I. I am going to write out all my reasons for not wanting an epidural so that if in the heat of the moment I am weak and question myself, I can look at that list and remember why I am doing this in the first place. I didn't find out much more about the birthing center and its opening date - it still may or may not be ready in time for me. He eased my mind a bit about delivering at the hospital though. The staff all knows him there, so as long as I am his patient, they will be willing to let me have things the way I would like. I did find out that my insurance will probably not cover delivery at the birthing center (if it is completed in time for me) so he advised me to get things set up with my VA health coverage. He introduced me to his office manager, so she is coordinating things with the VA for me now.
We also discussed pediatric care, and he recommended that Mike and I interview a pediatrician soon, before the baby comes, since they will be taking care of her right away. He recommended one in particular at El Camino Pediatrics, so I will probably give her a call in the next week or so.
We discussed the results from my glucose screening the other day, and he said that everything looked great, including my iron. So, that was good news! Before I went in to the office, I did the math to see what range my weight should be in so that I wouldn't freak out when I saw the scale. According to my weekly emails, I should have gained about 17-24 pounds this week. I was very thrilled to find that I have gained just 16 pounds - just enough to be healthy, but still at the low end of the weight spectrum. I gained 6 pounds total in this past month, so it's slowed down a bit from my 8-pound gain last month. I can live with that. My blood pressure was good, and baby's heartbeat was nice and strong. My belly is measuring right on track.
All in all it was a great visit. I go back in 3 more weeks for my next checkup. I guess since things are going so well, I don't need to go back every two weeks just yet. I like the 3 week interval better than a full month though - it doesn't seem so long that way!
Other news: I found a brand new crib mattress on Craigslist for only $40! That puts the total cost of our crib and mattress at $260. That is awesome, considering that we were expecting to have to put down somewhere between $350 and $400 for them. Now I just need to find a night stand and a shelf of some sort, and other than that, just wait for after the baby showers to get all the rest of our necessities off the registries!
Everything went well! We started out by discussing natural birth, the new birthing center, and my birth plan. He answered all the questions I had about my birth plan, and told me that while I could list everything out, I didn't need to worry about it. All I need to do is let them know that I want to avoid all interventions if at all possible, and the staff will know that I want "The Biter Birth." That was reassuring, although I do still plan to have my birth plan written out for reference for Mike and I. I am going to write out all my reasons for not wanting an epidural so that if in the heat of the moment I am weak and question myself, I can look at that list and remember why I am doing this in the first place. I didn't find out much more about the birthing center and its opening date - it still may or may not be ready in time for me. He eased my mind a bit about delivering at the hospital though. The staff all knows him there, so as long as I am his patient, they will be willing to let me have things the way I would like. I did find out that my insurance will probably not cover delivery at the birthing center (if it is completed in time for me) so he advised me to get things set up with my VA health coverage. He introduced me to his office manager, so she is coordinating things with the VA for me now.
We also discussed pediatric care, and he recommended that Mike and I interview a pediatrician soon, before the baby comes, since they will be taking care of her right away. He recommended one in particular at El Camino Pediatrics, so I will probably give her a call in the next week or so.
We discussed the results from my glucose screening the other day, and he said that everything looked great, including my iron. So, that was good news! Before I went in to the office, I did the math to see what range my weight should be in so that I wouldn't freak out when I saw the scale. According to my weekly emails, I should have gained about 17-24 pounds this week. I was very thrilled to find that I have gained just 16 pounds - just enough to be healthy, but still at the low end of the weight spectrum. I gained 6 pounds total in this past month, so it's slowed down a bit from my 8-pound gain last month. I can live with that. My blood pressure was good, and baby's heartbeat was nice and strong. My belly is measuring right on track.
All in all it was a great visit. I go back in 3 more weeks for my next checkup. I guess since things are going so well, I don't need to go back every two weeks just yet. I like the 3 week interval better than a full month though - it doesn't seem so long that way!
Other news: I found a brand new crib mattress on Craigslist for only $40! That puts the total cost of our crib and mattress at $260. That is awesome, considering that we were expecting to have to put down somewhere between $350 and $400 for them. Now I just need to find a night stand and a shelf of some sort, and other than that, just wait for after the baby showers to get all the rest of our necessities off the registries!
Monday, January 25, 2010
24 Week Appointment
Today I finally had my 24-week appointment. It's funny how excited I was about it, and how uneventful the appointment actually ended up being! It's always good to get out of the office for a bit though, and of course I love to hear my little baby's heartbeat!
First things first - I had a bit of a shock when I got on the scale - 147 pounds!!! That means I'm up 8 pounds in the last month, for a gain of 10 pounds total. Yikes! I think I might need to lay off the cookies and ice cream for a while.
Little girl's heartbeat was right about 166 bpm - nice and strong!
I told the doctor that I didn't feel her moving so much during the week that I was sick, and asked if she could have been affected by my flu. He said that no, she wouldn't have been bothered by it, but he said it seems that babies usually follow the lead of the mother - when Mom's not feeling well and is just relaxing, Baby usually does the same. When Mom is active, so is Baby! I suppose that is true most of the time...although she does get active sometimes when I'm trying to sleep!
It's just about time for my glucose screening test. In a few weeks I'll go in and drink the sugar drink. Fun, fun!
I also found out about bi-weekly visits. They begin after 28 weeks, so one more monthly appointment, and I start going in every 2 weeks! That will really make it feel like time is moving quickly!
It's also time for me to call the hospital and schedule a time for Mike and I to take our tour. I guess they don't always do tours due to the H1N1, so hopefully they'll be doing them at a time when we can attend. I'm still really hoping that my doctor's new birthing center will be open in time for me to deliver there, but in the meantime I'm just going to prepare to deliver at the hospital. If I find out the birthing center will be open in time, then we'll adjust plans accordingly.
My next regular appointment is February 22nd - by then I'll be in the 3rd trimester!
First things first - I had a bit of a shock when I got on the scale - 147 pounds!!! That means I'm up 8 pounds in the last month, for a gain of 10 pounds total. Yikes! I think I might need to lay off the cookies and ice cream for a while.
Little girl's heartbeat was right about 166 bpm - nice and strong!
I told the doctor that I didn't feel her moving so much during the week that I was sick, and asked if she could have been affected by my flu. He said that no, she wouldn't have been bothered by it, but he said it seems that babies usually follow the lead of the mother - when Mom's not feeling well and is just relaxing, Baby usually does the same. When Mom is active, so is Baby! I suppose that is true most of the time...although she does get active sometimes when I'm trying to sleep!
It's just about time for my glucose screening test. In a few weeks I'll go in and drink the sugar drink. Fun, fun!
I also found out about bi-weekly visits. They begin after 28 weeks, so one more monthly appointment, and I start going in every 2 weeks! That will really make it feel like time is moving quickly!
It's also time for me to call the hospital and schedule a time for Mike and I to take our tour. I guess they don't always do tours due to the H1N1, so hopefully they'll be doing them at a time when we can attend. I'm still really hoping that my doctor's new birthing center will be open in time for me to deliver there, but in the meantime I'm just going to prepare to deliver at the hospital. If I find out the birthing center will be open in time, then we'll adjust plans accordingly.
My next regular appointment is February 22nd - by then I'll be in the 3rd trimester!
Friday, December 18, 2009
18 Week Checkup
Today I had my 18 week checkup. Everything is looking great! To my surprise and excitement, the doctor asked me if I wanted to do another ultrasound. Well, why not?!? So, we went to check in on the little bean. He asked if I wanted to find out the baby's gender, so I just said yes - I figured it would be fun to see if he came to the same conclusion! My little girl was being modest today, and had her legs crossed like a little lady, and even had her hand in front of her goods. We managed to maneuver her a bit, but from the angle we were able to see, the doc said he would guess (about 75% sure) that we were having a girl. No surprise there!
She sure is getting big - it's looking more and more crowded in there! Her legs are crossed and folded, and she doesn't have so much room to move around. I asked the doctor if it was normal that I would have felt her twice earlier this week, but nothing since. He said it can take a while longer to start feeling regular movement. I'd be happy just to feel another flutter again soon! It was good to see her moving around though.
As for me, things are looking good. I have still only gained 2 pounds, up to 139 pounds. I am pretty surprised that at 18 weeks I've only gained this much! I'm definitely not complaining though!
I asked about the birthing center, but it looks like I'll probably be delivering before the center is ready. I'm not worried though - I know that the hospital I'll be delivering at is a good one for natural birth options.
Just two more weeks until the BIG ultrasound! We'll get to spend about 45 minutes with the tech and measure everything. It'll be fun to get to see our little girl for such a long amount of time!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
15 Week Doctor Visit
Yesterday I had my first appointment with my new doctor. I didn't end up seeing him, as he was out delivering someone else's baby, but I was able to get in to see his backup doctor, who I like just as much as my regular doctor. (I'll probably end up seeing more of the backup doctor anyway, so that will work out fine.) It was a pretty simple visit, just going over the basics, making sure I was caught up on everything, etc.
I am officially back to my pre-pregnancy weight now. I lost a total of 4 pounds, so I guess now, at 15 weeks, I am starting the uphill climb. I'm not sure how I feel about that - I was kind of liking the fact that I hadn't gained anything! But, I suppose starting to gain from 4 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight is a good thing. :)
We did an ultrasound since it was my first visit with this new clinic. I told the doctor that I did not want to find out the baby's gender yet, since Mike wasn't with me. So, we didn't look anywhere near the baby's junk. :) Baby is starting to look crowded in there now! Baby has definitely grown (just over 15 centimeters now) and the spine is really noticeable now. Baby was measuring right on schedule. He or she was doing some kind of dance in there - bouncing up and down and waving the arms all around. Gotta put those legs to good use, I suppose! :)
My next visit is December 21st, and my big ultrasound isn't until January 2nd. Mike and I decided that we couldn't wait that long, so we scheduled a 3D ultrasound for this weekend. I will be 16 weeks, so hopefully baby will cooperate, and we'll be able to find out the baby's gender - just in time for Christmas shopping! Wish us luck...and stay tuned! :)
I am officially back to my pre-pregnancy weight now. I lost a total of 4 pounds, so I guess now, at 15 weeks, I am starting the uphill climb. I'm not sure how I feel about that - I was kind of liking the fact that I hadn't gained anything! But, I suppose starting to gain from 4 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight is a good thing. :)
We did an ultrasound since it was my first visit with this new clinic. I told the doctor that I did not want to find out the baby's gender yet, since Mike wasn't with me. So, we didn't look anywhere near the baby's junk. :) Baby is starting to look crowded in there now! Baby has definitely grown (just over 15 centimeters now) and the spine is really noticeable now. Baby was measuring right on schedule. He or she was doing some kind of dance in there - bouncing up and down and waving the arms all around. Gotta put those legs to good use, I suppose! :)
My next visit is December 21st, and my big ultrasound isn't until January 2nd. Mike and I decided that we couldn't wait that long, so we scheduled a 3D ultrasound for this weekend. I will be 16 weeks, so hopefully baby will cooperate, and we'll be able to find out the baby's gender - just in time for Christmas shopping! Wish us luck...and stay tuned! :)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
11 1/2 Week Checkup
Yesterday's appointment was quick and *mostly* painless.
I started off by peeing in a cup (I hear I will be doing a lot of that for the next several months!). Then I met with the nurse, and she weighed me and checked my blood pressure. I was sure I would have gained weight by now, but NO - I LOST weight again!!! I am down to 134 now. I have been trying to lose weight for years, and to no avail. And now that I'm actually supposed to gain weight, the pounds keep falling off! At this point, I think I'm just losing muscle since it's been a few weeks since I've been in the gym. It's looking like I won't be gaining any weight in the first trimester!
After chatting with the nurse, I met with my doctor. I asked him all of my questions. He said that if I decide to use self-tanning lotion, I should wait until the 2nd trimester. He also recommended that I DO get the flu shot (both seasonal and H1N1), but I can't get either one until the 2nd trimester. I also asked him if the 20-week ultrasound was a routine procedure, and he said that yes, it is! After I finished asking questions, he checked for the baby's heartbeat. He said that at first it can be hard to find the heart beat, but he found it right away! It was beating at a strong 140-150 (that seems like a wide range to me, but he said it sounded perfectly normal.) He said that I look great, and everything seems to be going well.
After talking to the doctor, I went back with the nurse and she took my blood for the first of the prenatal screening tests. Here is where the not-so-painless part comes in. I HATE having my blood drawn. When she stuck me at first, it hurt! and so I cringed, and apparently twisted my arm a bit. She had to start over!!!! I got all teary-eyed, and she kept telling me how I needed to relax and not twist. The second time worked fine, but by that point, I had tears about to spill over. I was so embarrassed to walk out of there after obviously crying, but I think I pulled it off okay. I blame the hormones!!! She also said that they were all out of the flu shot, but since I can't get it for a couple more weeks anyway, I didn't mind. (She did call me later in the afternoon to tell me that they got it in, but I'm sure it'll be gone by the time I can get it!)
So, next Tuesday is my Nuchal Translucency ultrasound, and then my next regular appointment is November 24th. I can't believe that I'll be in my second trimester so soon!!! My birthday is coming up, and I'll hit the 2nd trimester right around that time. Yay! We are going on vacation a week later, so I think I'll try to get the flu vaccine a few days before we leave.
I started off by peeing in a cup (I hear I will be doing a lot of that for the next several months!). Then I met with the nurse, and she weighed me and checked my blood pressure. I was sure I would have gained weight by now, but NO - I LOST weight again!!! I am down to 134 now. I have been trying to lose weight for years, and to no avail. And now that I'm actually supposed to gain weight, the pounds keep falling off! At this point, I think I'm just losing muscle since it's been a few weeks since I've been in the gym. It's looking like I won't be gaining any weight in the first trimester!
After chatting with the nurse, I met with my doctor. I asked him all of my questions. He said that if I decide to use self-tanning lotion, I should wait until the 2nd trimester. He also recommended that I DO get the flu shot (both seasonal and H1N1), but I can't get either one until the 2nd trimester. I also asked him if the 20-week ultrasound was a routine procedure, and he said that yes, it is! After I finished asking questions, he checked for the baby's heartbeat. He said that at first it can be hard to find the heart beat, but he found it right away! It was beating at a strong 140-150 (that seems like a wide range to me, but he said it sounded perfectly normal.) He said that I look great, and everything seems to be going well.
After talking to the doctor, I went back with the nurse and she took my blood for the first of the prenatal screening tests. Here is where the not-so-painless part comes in. I HATE having my blood drawn. When she stuck me at first, it hurt! and so I cringed, and apparently twisted my arm a bit. She had to start over!!!! I got all teary-eyed, and she kept telling me how I needed to relax and not twist. The second time worked fine, but by that point, I had tears about to spill over. I was so embarrassed to walk out of there after obviously crying, but I think I pulled it off okay. I blame the hormones!!! She also said that they were all out of the flu shot, but since I can't get it for a couple more weeks anyway, I didn't mind. (She did call me later in the afternoon to tell me that they got it in, but I'm sure it'll be gone by the time I can get it!)
So, next Tuesday is my Nuchal Translucency ultrasound, and then my next regular appointment is November 24th. I can't believe that I'll be in my second trimester so soon!!! My birthday is coming up, and I'll hit the 2nd trimester right around that time. Yay! We are going on vacation a week later, so I think I'll try to get the flu vaccine a few days before we leave.
Monday, October 5, 2009
First Ultrasound Appointment!
This morning I finally had my first prenatal appointment and ultrasound. So exciting! M came with me so he could see the baby and ask any questions he might have.
We started out with the ultrasound. I know it's silly, but I was SOOO paranoid that when she started the ultrasound, we wouldn't see a baby, and it would all have been a mistake. But no, as soon as she got started, I noticed a little flash of something, and thought to myself that I must have seen a baby. She started out slow, measuring my cervix, and then FINALLY came around to the little light flash I had seen. She showed us the yolk sac, which wasn't very exciting. Then, she moved around, and there was my baby!!! We could see the head and the body, as well as the start of the spine. We could also see the little arms beginning to form. The best part was being able to see the heartbeat. It was beating so fast! She played it out loud for us too so we could hear it. It's so amazing to me now that I have actually seen this little life growing in me. I can't wait for the next ultrasound!
Right now baby is just under 2cm long. Still very small, but he or she has been doubling in size almost every week. I'll be showing before you know it! Everything looks good for now. Today I saw the nurse/midwife at the clinic, and I really liked her a lot! I actually think I like her better than the OB, so hopefully I'll be able to see her often too. My next appointment is in a few weeks!
We started out with the ultrasound. I know it's silly, but I was SOOO paranoid that when she started the ultrasound, we wouldn't see a baby, and it would all have been a mistake. But no, as soon as she got started, I noticed a little flash of something, and thought to myself that I must have seen a baby. She started out slow, measuring my cervix, and then FINALLY came around to the little light flash I had seen. She showed us the yolk sac, which wasn't very exciting. Then, she moved around, and there was my baby!!! We could see the head and the body, as well as the start of the spine. We could also see the little arms beginning to form. The best part was being able to see the heartbeat. It was beating so fast! She played it out loud for us too so we could hear it. It's so amazing to me now that I have actually seen this little life growing in me. I can't wait for the next ultrasound!
Right now baby is just under 2cm long. Still very small, but he or she has been doubling in size almost every week. I'll be showing before you know it! Everything looks good for now. Today I saw the nurse/midwife at the clinic, and I really liked her a lot! I actually think I like her better than the OB, so hopefully I'll be able to see her often too. My next appointment is in a few weeks!
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