It kind of makes you miss the RE

I went to the OB on Monday, but I didn't get to actually see the OB, unless you call her walking past me saying a warm hello "seeing" the doctor. She was running late, coming back from an emergency C-section. Meanwhile, the nurse used a doppler device to find Uno's hearbeat - this took a long time, but I didn't worry too much - and she did find it, and said it sounded good. Good! I was so glad I didn't mind her getting ultrasound jelly goo all over my pants. She also weighed me and had me pee in a cup.

After more waiting, nurse informed me that Dr. S had to run out to another emergency C-section, to be followed by an emergency hysterectomy. I could wait around for 2 or 3 hours or have the appointment desk "fit" me in. Right. I have never been to this ob/gyn in 5 years when I didn't have a long wait, and that's when I have an appt, never mind "fitting me in". So, I took an opening on Friday afternoon at the other location - I'll drive more, but maybe it won't be so crowded. At least I know Dr. S will be there on the double if I need an emergency C-section.

Then I went down to the lab on the first floor. Everyone who works there must have been at lunch, because the waiting room was full and the reception window was empty. No problem, that shaggy dog movie with Tim Allen was on the TV - what more could I want? I had my cup of pee in the little white bag by my side, and I would just wait my turn. Reminded me of the IUI days, when HK and I would wait for our turn with the turkey baster (catheter). In those days, the little white bag we carried had a vial of sperm in it, and we waited for Nurse Honey to page us to report for insemination. I was glad to be on the other side of sperm-meets-egg, but I missed Nurse Honey just the same.

I had already irritated the OB's nurse by questioning the lab order - didn't I just have all these tests run in December? No, she said, those were different. Then she found the results in my file (yes I DID already have those tests), and she said, well, it's been 5 months, we need them again, this is our standard 10-week OB work up. Whatever, except that the lab had to draw six vials of blood to do all these tests. Then I irritated the nurse again about getting another appointment - but I didn't really care, I need to see the doctor.

All in all, I spent 2 and 1/2 hours at the OB's office and did not get to talk with the OB. Of course, confirmation that little Uno is still alive in there made up for it all. But it made me think that maybe graduating from the RE's office is kind of like graduating from college. No more coddling, no more feeding me with personalized information, no more celebrating our grade 4 embryo and successful IVF cycle, no more direct dial to Nurse Honey. We're in the real world now of the OB, just another pregnant woman coming in for her 10-week OB work up. Hmmm. Thank you, God! : )

The week 8 ultrasound

Yay, HK for getting our scanner to work! Uno is upside-down in the pic, where the dotted line is drawn, and the dark area is the fetal sac.

"Cletus" the fetus

That's what HK is calling Uno, now that we are starting week 10 of the pregnancy. Uno is starting week 8 of life in utero (they start counting pregnancy weeks before you are actually pregnant, which is kind of weird) and is entering the "fetus" phase. Here is what is happening this week:

"The crown-to-rump length of your baby is about 1.25 to 1.68 inches (between 3.1 and 4.2cm). He weighs about 0.18 ounces (5g).

The placenta is now producing progesterone which helps to make nutrients for your developing baby.

Your baby has passed the stage when he is most susceptible to damage. By the end of this week, the danger zone for congenital abnormalities has passed.

The plan for your baby's body has been completely laid down by now. Further growth and cell division will build on this plan.

Taste and tooth buds have appeared.

Your baby has recently developed fingers and toes which are now well-formed. Ankles, wrists and the inner ear have formed. Your baby's nose is flat and his eyes are far apart. His eyes, ears, mouth and nose are all recognizable. The tail is disappearing.

Your baby is moving around the amniotic sac, and moving his feet and ankles. You still will not be able to feel these movements but you may be able to see them on an ultrasound.

Blood is circulating through the arteries and the vein of the umbilical cord.

The brain of your baby is developing at a phenomenal rate. About one quarter of a million new neurons are produced every single minute at this stage in your pregnancy.

If your baby is a boy, his testes, though they are not even clearly visible, are already producing testosterone.

Your baby is no longer called an embryo, but rather a fetus."

So amazing! I am still very tired, but so far still no throwing up - gotta be happy about that. Anyone out there have a puke-free pregancy? Just one more week until we see the regular OB.

Just a quick one

I should be drying my hair and scooting out the door to work, but I had to take a minute to say WE ARE OKAY!!! It was all good news at the doctor on Monday. Uno is measuring 8 weeks 4 days, with a heart rate of 180 bpm. It was wonderful to hear that again. The u/s tech turned the screen around for first time, so I could see the image, and there was the tiny heart, and we could see it beating. Unbelievable. Thank you, God. And thanks everyone for your prayers and support! I will try to post the u/s pic, somehow. Happy Wednesday!

So thankful

Well, I have been out of touch with my online community for almost two weeks, partly because there has been nothing big to report on the pregancy front, but mainly because I started a new job in my first trimester, when all I want to do is sleep. Or lie still. The job is wonderful, despite the transition frustrations and being the "new kid" in the break room with no one to sit with. I am glad I made the change - from a tiny law firm to a large one. But it's all I can do on my days off to eat, dress and run an errand or two between stints of lying comatose on the couch. I am very thankful this is a part-time job and that it's going well, so far.

Catching up on some other blogs yesterday brought tears for others and more feelings of gratitude for how blessedly uneventful my pregnancy has been thus far. HK and I are reading through the "expecting" books and starting our list of possible names, stuff like that. But a couple women who became pregant after IVF the same time as me have been through hell. Please lift up Alison and her husband in your prayers, as they grieve a terrible loss, and also Amy, who has had a rough couple weeks of scary happenings.

Monday is our next u/s. I feel like everything should be fine, but it will be good to get confirmation from Dr. D on that. Meanwhile, we will try to take advantage of a rare, gorgeous weekend here in Houston. I'm gonna go re-plant some tomatoes now and cultivate some more gratitude.