Pocket Bebe

That is exactly what Bebe has been doing!  Last week Lucy, Bebe, and I met in Tampa to hear and see just how Bebe was growing.

First stop was our birthing center where we did the initial visit and went over all the medical records, legalities, finances, and all that jazz.  Once all that was done Lucy and I (mostly me) was taught how to check my own urine for protein and sugars and how to record the results and my current weight in my chart; it is called patient participation.  After the full exam and culture we were able to hear Bebe’s heartbeat on the Doppler and it was nice and strong.  I asked at least twice what the heartbeat was but now I can’t remember (and Lucy is sleeping since it is her work week so I can’t verify).   It was a very good visit and kicked our prenatal care off to a good start.

After leaving the birthing center we headed straight to the perinatologist because Lucy wanted an ultrasound done and we were able to do the first trimester screen at the same time.  The screen was a combined ultrasound screen and blood test.  The blood testing measured the levels of plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Combined with the Nuchal Translucency test (ultrasound) that assesses the risk of having a baby with a chromosomal defect by measuring the clear space in Bebe’s neck, the perinatologist is able to identify if there is an increased risk of Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, or congenital heart defects.  Bebe’s measurements were perfect!  Here is Bebe saying, “Hello Friends!”

Lucy, Ricky, and their family were really hoping they would be able to find out the sex of Bebe since we were having the ultrasound done at the perinatologist but Bebe wouldn’t even give them the chance because he/she was sitting indian style and was bouncing around like crazy.  It was probably still too early to see anything but a clear shot of the general area would have been the icing on the cake.  Last picture:

Our next appointment with the midwife and the perinatologist will be on May 17th and we will be 18 weeks pregnant.  The midwife visit will be a routine visit and the visit to the perinatologist will be for the second trimester screen.  Instead of doing the Multiple Marker Screening or the triple screen (blood test) that is most common in an OB/GYN setting, we will be doing the Stepwise Sequential Screening which will be another ultrasound that when combined with the first trimester screen and the quad marker test it will produce a highly accurate (90-95%) prediction of chromosomal abnormalities.  We will also be able to see if Bebe is a boy or a girl at that visit!!

So, this week we are working in the 13^th week of pregnancy and that means we are now in the second trimester!  This weekend I was able to start back on my allergy medicine.  The pollen count is horrible right now and I was really feeling miserable.  Ever since the first dose of Claritin I have not felt queasy!  It feels wonderful to feel so good!

I’ve only tried four times to use the Doppler that Lucy sent because it is hard and it makes me really frustrated.  I’m getting better at it but I once I find Bebe’s heartbeat I can’t keep it long enough to record it.  I can find my own heartbeat clear as day which sits in the 70’s but finding Bebe’s whose rate is in 150’s is illusive.  I tried to do exactly what the midwife did, but I don’t get the same results. Big sigh….

Five long weeks until our next appointment, I’m going to have to start sharing my getting fat pictures with you since I won’t have anything new to show from Bebe unless I can keep the heartbeat long enough to record it.  This has been the first pregnancy that I haven’t really felt good consistently in the beginning and the first pregnancy that I made it to the second trimester without any weight gain.  Things have shifted, that is for sure but now will probably be the time I start growing my second booty butt, the added layer of back fat, third and fourth thighs, and my second chin.  Sweet!!

Growin’, Growin’, Growin’.  Let’s get it started in here!

© Pocketbebe, 2010