First Midwife Appointment Today

Today was our first appointment with our midwife.  I really liked everyone in the practice including the midwife.  I had a ton of questions and she answered some of the really urgent ones and then asked if we could save the rest for our next appointment which is much longer.  The appointment is next Friday, so I was fine with that.  So, their measurements brought us to June 12 as the EDD b/c they said we were 11w6d, but they didn't say they were changing our previous EDD from the RE of June 15 during the visit.  I guess I'll ask just to make sure on the next visit.

I told my boss and the VP that I work with closely today.  Yesterday, I told one of the men I work with that I feel pretty close to.  He was really excited and shared some of what he and his wife did and how much he loved being a parent - his kids are grown and married and they are hoping to have grandchildren soon.  It was very encouraging. 

So, here are some ultrasound pics from today.  At first I was really nervous that the baby wasn't moving, but then the lady doing the ultrasound pointed out that we could see the heart moving.  Whew!  Then, she had me cough and suddenly the baby jolted awake and was super active.  We could see that while the baby was sleeping, his little hand was up over his face and then when he woke up, we saw both arms and legs flailing around.  It was very sweet.  Of course, I say "he" in the generic sense because I don't want to say "it" or "the baby" all the time.  We are still not planning to find out the gender of the baby before birth.

Great Appointment!

I was hoping to scan the pictures and post them, but I haven't yet and I don't want to keep waiting to post about our appointment on Wednesday.  Everything was great!  Our official due date is June 15.  The baby looked great.  The heartrate was 182.4 bpm.  We could see his or her little arm waving.  It is amazing how much this little baby has grown in 2 weeks!

When we first found out we were pregnant, we thought we were 5 or 6 weeks.  We googled what size the baby would be and it said it was the size of a grain of rice.  My husband referred to the baby as "Rice, Rice Baby" for several weeks.  Yeah, wow.  :)

We have picked a doctor, for now.  I tried to call today to make an appointment, but they close at noon on Fridays.  So, I'll call on Monday.  We don't know anyone who has been to this practice, but it is small - two OBs and a midwife and I read a lot of good reviews and kudzu and the medical review sites.  They work out of a smaller hospital, but I am okay with that.  I couldn't find many practices in our area that had midwives and could find even less that would deliver at hospitals I wanted to deliver at.  I did not want to deliver at the hospital closest to us - their c-section rate was crazy.  I also did not want to deliver at the baby factory, which is where both my husband and I were born.  I think they handle just too many babies and everything is a bit too routine for my tastes. 

I hope to get an appointment the week we get back from our cruise.  I'd really like to have one more appointment near the 12-week mark.  That way, we'll feel more comfortable telling people at work and at church. 

We are telling both the hubby's parents and sister and her family and my dad and his wife this weekend.  Tomorrow, actually.  I am super nervous.

I am extremely tired and I think I am finally getting a little bit of pregnancy sickness.  I feel fine when I'm sitting down, but as soon as I stand up, I feel slightly nauseated.  Ick.  But, I can't complain, it's not that bad.

Well, I hope you all have a great weekend. 

Time is Flying!

I can't believe it's already been a week and a half since our last visit to the doctor.  We are giong back to the RE on Wednesday.  I am not sure when he'll tell me I have to go to the OB.  I am still looking.  I have found some that look good and plan to take my list to the RE and get his two cents worth. 

I am extremely nervous about picking the person who will deliver my baby.  I would really like to have a natural childbirth.  I have read a lot about epidurals and I know that a lot of people have them.  But, I have read a lot of negative things about them as well.  Additionally, I have a serious fear of needles and the thought have having a huge needle stuck in my spine would give me nightmares before and after.

I personally would like to not even have an IV, but I don't know if I'll find any doctor or hospital that will agree with that.

So far, I don't have many symptoms.  I might have felt a little teeny bit queasy this morning before I ate breakfast.  But, eating took care of that.  I have been feeling a little weird in my head a lot.  I guess it's kind of like vertigo, but not really strong.  I don't have trouble walking or driving.  My boobs are sore and definitely bigger.  DH loves to point this out.  I can feel my jeans getting a bit tighter (yes, I can wear jeans everyday to work - it's one of the perks of working for a technology company).  A friend of mine is going to lend me her bella band in case I feel like I need it before I feel comfortable buying maternity clothes.  I did buy a pregnancy pillow after we had our first ultrasound.  It does keep me from rolling onto my back for the most part.  It's not quite as firm as I'd like, though.  It's amazing how much those things cost!

In other news, we are getting ready to go on a cruise with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece in 2 weeks!  Yes, we will be cruising the Atlantic Ocean on Thanksgiving Day!  I am pretty sure that DH and I made the perfect preparations today by working out in the yard and getting lovely farmers' tans!  HA!  We are going to Nassau, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.  I was seriously looking forward to doing the water slide over and over and over...but alas, I will happily forego that experience because of the pregnancy.

We told my sister and brother-in-law last Friday.  My sister sort of took a minute to get what I said then I got worried because I thought she was having a stroke based on the expression on her face!  They are very excited for us.

Well, look for an update this week after we have our 9 week OB visit/ultrasound.  Can't wait to see that little baby again and hear the heartbeat!