12 weeks!

This week has been another eventful week.  One Tuesday we finally had the appointment with the perinatologist.  I had already decided in my head that if all went well I didn't care who found out I was pregnant.  So, I was hoping for a good day just to be able to let the news out.

First off was the ultrasound to check on my cervix and the baby.  The ultrasound tech went for the baby first and this time as a trans-abdominal ultrasound.  Baby popped up on the screen right away!  It was so exciting to see Baby waving and kicking and sucking his (or her) thumb.  What a little sweetie!  We got plenty of pictures and Baby cooperated perfectly.

I had gotten so nervous before the appointment because I hadn't seen or heard the baby in over a week and it seems that early on I just get more and more nervous hoping everything is okay, but not knowing for sure.

Seeing Baby was such a relief and I feel like a huge weight lifting off of my shoulders.  I just know that all is going to be well after seeing the little one doing so well and having a nice strong heartbeat.

After the tech finished checking out the baby (and taking measurements for the NT scan that we didn't care to have), she went to find the doctor.  Dr. Gaffaney came in and proceeded to measure my cervix.  She said all looked as it should at 12 weeks, but we still needed to sit down and talk with her to go over my history so we could make a decision moving forward.

We went into her office and went over my entire medical history it seemed.  We talked about my prior pregnancies and my PCOS, etc.  After about 30 minutes we finally started to discuss the loss of the twins.  I explained to her that Dr. Lyell, the perinatologist who treated me in the hospital with the twins, told us that for any subsequent pregnancy I needed to avoid multiples and get a cerclage.  When she heard that, she was convinced that putting in a cerclage was our best option.  Otherwise they would do weekly cervical checks, but with the twins my cervix went from good to bad in less than one week.  Matt and I both agreed that we wanted a cerclage put in place.

So, we scheduled it for the 21st--right before Christmas.  I'll be able to take the whole week and relax, so it was good timing.
After we left the office, I finally felt like things were moving forward and I could relax.
The next day at work I decided to let the news out.  I told Shelley and then the whole group at work (with just added Karen & Bill since both Chris & Dolores already knew), so I figured that I needed to tell all the other people I wanted to tell instead of them finding out through the grapevine.  Everyone has been so happy for us!  It has been wonderful to have such great support from all of our friends.

In addition to telling people, I found that I really am starting to show.  One co-worker, Dennis, hadn't seen me in about a month or so.  He looked at my belly funny and then said I looked like I lost weight.  I laughed and said I looked more like I have gained 15 lbs.  Just as I started to say that I was pregnant, he asked, "Are you pregnant?"  I was surprised, but it also makes me feel good to know that I am not just looking fat anymore.  I really am starting to look like I am carrying a baby.

On top of all that, yesterday I pulled out the doppler again in hopes of being able to find the baby's heartbeat.  And I did find it!  The doppler registered the nice strong 150-160 bpm heart rate.  It jumped around a bit, but it was obvious that I had finally found it!  Then again this morning I decided to try again.  This time I put the wand down in the right area and immediately heart the whomping of the heart.  What a wonderful sound!  Our baby is doing so well and I couldn't be happier.  I am so looking forward to the next 6 months and then finally getting to meet our little one face to face.

Oh, and in just over a month we will get confirmation of gender!  January 18th, 2011 is the day!  I am so excited that I can barely wait.  I'm hoping that we will have at least one more ultrasound at the perinatologist and we might get a glimpse of the gender a little early.  No guarantees just yet, but it would be nice to have a hint. :)