Thursday, July 3, 2008

11 Weeks!

So, yesterday I turned 11 weeks and had my appointment. All in all it was fast (45 minutes at most) as opposed to the first appointment that took 2 hours! After all the initial tests they run, the doctor walked in and took the doppler out to hear the heartbeat. Side Note: My midwife is on vacation, and I am required to have appointments with the two OBs on staff, in case they end up delivering the baby due to complications. Anyway, he's real nice & a father of 8 himself (just like my dad!). He found the heartbeat in less than a minute. It sounds just like they say it should - kinda like a train! I was so relieved. I was a bit bummed it didn't display a read of the heartrate. :( My iron was a little low at 7 weeks (11.4) so he perscribed me some to start taking. All the foods it interacts with and how it's best taken on a fasting somach is a bit overwhelming - I don't know quite when I'll be able to ideally take it. Anyway, nothing else of note.

So when I got home, I decided to take my doppler out (which I've not used in a week) and see if I could hear the heartbeat, since I watched where the doc found it. Sure enough, within a minute, I'd found my own little one's heartbeat! It was glorious and astonishing to hear. I was so touched, I started crying. Not a happy, gentle cry. A cry like something was wrong. Though it wasn't; I just felt so emotional over knowing my baby was still alive and I could now actually hear its little heart beating away on my own. I guess it was the first time in private I could experience the emotions. It was so wonderful!

I tried again this morning, and got it almost instantly. I only intend on using it every few days if I can contain myself. :) It's just a great way to start the day, hearting that little one whose making me so sick!

My husband continues to serve me every single day. Makes breakfast if he can, makes dinner. Tries to think of enticing options to eat if we're out. He's amazing, because he never complains, and serves so wonderfully. I hope to be rid of the nausea soon, though, and get back to making my own meals. Until then, I think we've used the grill every single night so I don't have to smell foods in the house! My big aversions are chicken and seafood (gross)! I prefer cold food to hot, always, since there are less smells on cold food.

I'm getting the nuchal translucency test within the next 2 weeks, and not seeing the midwife until 16 weeks. They said I was off their typical schedule (8, 12, 16 wk), so if I could wait 5 weeks to the next appt, they'd like it. But they said if I got to worry I could always come in for a quick scan. They never make it sound like a hassle on them, which I appreciate. I haven't had a reason to worry so far (just mental ones), but I'd go in a heratbeat if I had cramps or anything of the kind. Maybe it's good they're 30 minutes away, just so I don't abuse that. :) I should be able to handle the 5 weeks wait, b/c there's an ultrasound for the NT test, which then makes my wait only 3 weeks from that. Plus, I have my doppler now.

Now with all this happy news, I do want to say one thing. Nobody tells you that in pregnancy you can be miserable (physically) all the time. Seriously. It's either nausea, or pressure to go to the bathroom every other hour (without ever feeling fully relieved), or tremendous gas pains, or headaches, or you name it. Seriously, everyone talks about the "glow" and the good stuff. And it's totally worth it, but I wasn't prepared to just feel icky and be in pain so much of every day. This is my FWIW to all you ladies in your early weeks. But as I said, I'd never trade this for anything.

12 comments:

Christy said...

Wonderful news! I'm so glad that everything is progressing swimmingly. I hope you feel better soon, too.

Samantha said...

I'm glad all is going so well with your pregnancy! The nausea is a bit of bummer, though, isn't it? No one ever talks about all of the burping either! (Or maybe that's just me!)

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I am so happy things are going along so well....I am happy that you have the doppler so you can hear your sweet one's little heartbeat whenever you want!!! :)
You will turn a corner in a few weeks and start feeling better...you will be back to your old self till about the last 3 weeks or so, then you will be so tired again...but like you said, it is all worth it to hold that sweet baby in your arms!!!! Praying for you.....

Baby Blog Directory said...

Everything sounds wonderful! The more pregnancy blogs you read, the more you'll hear about how crummy the first trimester can be. Luckily, the second trimester really does usually make up for all of those painful weeks.

Katie said...

Oh, wonderful news about the HB! I remember crying like a BABY the first time that we heard that magical sound - and I wasn't alone. I still tear up every time we hear it - it's the best sound in the whole wide world.

A word of assvice on the iron pills - take some sort of fiber supplement, too, even if you aren't currently stopped up. It took a few days of taking them, but eventually, it caught up to me. I am taking meta.mucil. Ask your OB for a recommendation. Also, I can't take mine on an empty stomach, so I take them with a small snack.

Adriane said...

Yay for a good 11 week appt!! So glad you got the doppler so you can check on your own. I never did and kinda regret it now.

I was definitely surprised with how icky I felt in the beginning. The nausea, etc., was terrible and took whatever *glow* was there away! :-) Hang in there. Hopefully, the bad part will be over soon. I truly MUCH felt better at 16 weeks.

docgrumbles said...

I keep wondering how women who already have children manage to care for them while pregnant again - it really isn't a pleasant experience! But I am so grateful for the misery!

I am glad things look good!

Searching said...

Kudos on 11 weeks. :) I'm glad you have a doppler to hear that magical little sound whenever you wish. I'm sorry you feel so wretched and hope it lets up SOON!

Jules said...

The 2nd trimester is definitely the 'honeymoon' phase of pregnancy but be prepared for the last 4 weeks or so...you think you're having pee issues now...you haven't seen anything yet! lol And then as the baby drops, it just gets worse...but at the same time, that means that it's closer to baby time :)

I'm sorry to hear about the morning sickness. I had it with all three of my pregnancies (I lost our first at 16 weeks). The best advice I can give - rest as much as you can. When I was pregnant with our last baby, our oldest was only 8 months old so I napped every time she did - it was really the only way I could get through the morning sickness...aside from the Diclectin.

Hang in there - everything is TOTALLY worth it :)

Carrie said...

Just popped by to thank you for all your support in this cycle. It is really kind of you, even more so since I've been missing in action for so long :-)

11 Weeks, congrats. I really hope you feel better soon. It doesn't matter how much you appreciate being pregnant, feeling poorly is not nice.

andrew + camille said...

just read through your last couple posts... super exciting for you!! And I applaud you for being sensitive to all of your readers, you're a total sweetheart. I really hope that 11 weeks turns into 12 and so on.
i invite you to tune into my blog that i'm starting up...wileywomb.wordpress.com

glenna marshall said...

How's it going??