11 weeks

I'm 11 weeks pregnant...yesterday, I'm 11 weeks 1 day today! :) We got to meet the doctor yesterday, she was very nice. Our appointment went well. My blood pressure is good, I am down 1 pound on their scale since my previous visit. But the very best part of the visit was hearing Baby Chick's heartbeat for the very first time. It was amazing. It was a lound fast swishing noise. The doctor asked me to be patient with her while she tried to hear the heartbeat. Since I am only 11 weeks it could be hard to find. Not my Baby Chick!! As soon as the doctor put the doppler on my belly, we could hear it right away!! Beating at 170 bpm, Baby Chick is doing well. My next appointment will be with the NP in 5 weeks instead of 4. Since there is bloodwork to do at 16 weeks, we are just combining the two appointments. AND...we scheduled the BIG ultrasound. We will get to find out if Baby Chick is a boy or a girl on Wednesday July 1st. 3 days before my birthday...I can't think of a better present!
So here is all the info for the week:
How far along?: 11 weeks
Total weight gain: -1 lb
How much does baby weigh?: less than an ounce
Maternity clothes?: work pants and jeans
Stretch marks?: no new ones
Sleep?: It's ok. I get up at least once to pee, and I toss and turn a lot.
Best moment this week?: hearing the heartbeat!
Movement?: nope
Food cravings?: sour things, cold and creamy things
Labor signs?: no way!
Belly button in or out?: in
What I miss: Starbucks frappucinos
What I'm looking forward to: The NT scan on Friday
Milestone: Hearing the heartbeat
And here is the bely pic!

10 weeks

This post is late... but better late than never. Monday marked 10 weeks pregnant. So far so good. Baby chick is the size of a prune! No morning sickness to speak of, just a genreal mild nausea throughout the day and a keen sense of smell. I'm still exhausted. We had a family function in Vegas this weekend, so we (Steve) made the 6 hour drive to Vegas. It was uncomfortable, but totally worth it. We got to see a lot of my family and share the news of baby chick with them. They were all so happy. I am the youngest in the family...they have a hard time realizing that I have grown up! Three years ago when we got married, they couldn't believe it. Now that I am pregnant, they are even more in shock! They are all very happy for us though. It was so nice to share the news with everyone. This Sunday is mother's day and Steve will call his grandmother and let her know we are having a baby. After that, then I get to go public on Facebook. I will probably still wait until Friday the 15th to post it though. That is our next ulstrasound, so I will have great pics to go along with the announcement. A lot of gals have this on their blogs, so I thought I would do it too!
How far along?: 10 weeks
Total weight gain: .4 lbs
How much does baby weigh?: a few ounces
Maternity clothes?: work pants and jeans
Stretch marks?: no new ones
Sleep?: It's ok. I get up at least once to pee, and I toss and turn a lot.
Best moment this week?: telling my extended family
Movement?: nope
Food cravings?: sour things, cold and creamy things
Labor signs?: no way!
Belly button in or out?: in
What I miss: Starbucks frappucinos
What I'm looking forward to: First appt with MD and hearing the heartbeat next week
Milestone: just making it to 10 weeks!

And last but not least....here is my first belly pic!

This is first thing in the morning. And I know it is just bloat, but it is still because of my baby! By the end of the day I definitely look pregnant!

Heartbeat

We got to see baby chick for the first time today...it was absolutley amazing! I have tears in my eyes just thinking about it. Baby chick is growing healthy and strong. He/she is 16.5 mm "long" and his/her little heart is beating 174 bmp. The best part was seeing the little heartbeat flickering on the screen. It was so so amazing, there aren't enough words to describe it! I am 8 weeks today, but baby chick was measuring at 8w 2d. Since it is only off my a couple of days, they will not change my November 30th due date.

1st baby dream

I had my first baby dream last night. Steve and I were at out "big" ultrasound and baby chick was a....boy!

7 weeks

I'm 7 weeks pregnant today and baby chick is the size of a blueberry!! I had my first appointment today, I saw the NP Melissa. She was very nice and sweet. She went over my family history and my medical history. She suggested that since there is a family history of Downs Syndrome on Steve'e side of the family and mental retardation on my side of the family, that we see a genetic counselor. And also, since there is a family history of genetic disorders, she also thinks that my insurance will cover first trimester screening. Since there is no harm to the baby or me, and insurance will cover it, there is no reason not to have it done. Plus it is an extra chance to see baby chick. On that note, I also got to schedule my first ultrasound...1 week from today!!! I'm so excited to see baby chick!!

I also signed up for a clinical trial. It is a gender study to see if a lab is able to find a new marker in bloodwork that will determine the baby's gender. I don't know if we will get to find out early, but its a cool opportunity anyway! I know how hard it is to enroll patients in a clinical trial and I get a $25 gift card to Target. I will do the bloodwork for this study next week when I go back in for the ultrasound.

So todays visit went well. Lots of questions, lots of paperwork, a pelvic exam, peeing in a cup and 7 vials of blood! During my pelvic exam, she said that my uterus is already starting to grow!!! Yeah!

So genetic counselor appt, study bloodwork and 1st ultrasound on April 20th. Appointment with OB and hearing the heartbeat on May 11. I will have appointments every 4 weeks from now until 32 weeks, alternating between the OB and NP.

Sharing the news

We are starting to tell more and more people. Last night my parents went out to eat with some family members. I thought it was just going to be my aunt and uncle, so I gave my mom permission to tell them. Well it turns out that there were quite a few more people there than expected, and she told them anyway. Its ok though, we are all so happy for baby chick!! Today I told my boss. It was the first time I have seen him since I got my BFP. There were a few people at work that already knew, so I had to tell him before someone else did! He was so happy, gave me a hug and then asked if I was coming back to work. I said of course and that I was already looking into daycare! He even offered to buy a peg perego carseat for baby chick!

Baby Chick, you are already loved by some many people. I hope that you feel all the love in my uterus and stay there for the next 34 weeks. We all love you so much and want to you be healthy and grow big and strong.

Flowers

Flowers were delivered to me at home yesterday...from my inlaws. That was so sweet of them! They are beautiful pale pink roses and white cala lilies, just like our wedding flowers. Here is a pic of them:


Also they bought their plane tickets to come see us in the middle of May.

We haven't always had the best relationship, Steve's parents and I. But I am hoping with baby chick on the way, things will change...