Last Check

Today was our last scheduled cervical check.  It was measuring nice and long--over 4cm, so the doctor was very pleased and said no more checks were necessary.  I'm back to being under the care of just one doctor.  As much as I like going in for the checks, I am totally happy to not have to keep going in.  I know that this one is doing well and my cervix is holding very well.  I have less than 2 weeks to make it to viability and that will a huge relief to me.
We got one last good look at the little one as well.  He is growing like crazy!  His head was under my belly button and his butt was down low.  I have been pretty sure that I feel him wiggling his feet down low, but I wasn't sure.  Now I am. :)  I am really starting to get excited to meet this little one!  Hopefully less than 4 months left!

Heart Healthy

IVF babies have a higher risk for heart issues, so the perinatologist scheduled us for a fetal echo cardiogram.  Basically, that is just a detailed ultrasound of the heart.  

After a LONNNNGGG wait in the lobby (our appointment was at 3:40pm and they called us back at 4:40pm), we finally went back for the heart check.  The sonographer did a few measurements on the baby and then focused in on his heart.  He checked the blood flow and beats going through each chamber of the heart.  It was pretty cool to see the heart beating and watch the blood flowing through it.  He had a little trouble because Baby was comfortable and didn't feel like moving around too much.  He was swinging his arms and legs, but not really moving positions.  The sonographer left and got Dr. Gaffaney who then tried to get all the right angles and finally had me move to my side to get Baby to move a little.  Baby finally cooperated and she got all the right views.  She then gave us the good news that the heart appeared healthy and there were no signs of any defects.  She also said that many defects are not visible until after birth, so we aren't 100% in the clear.  

Dr. Gaffaney also measured my cervix and it looked really good.  It was over 4cm!  That is longer than the last check.  I am so happy to know that all is going well in there. :)  

We also were given a few shots of Baby, but they aren't that great.  We got some face shots and he also likes to show off his goods, so we know he is still a boy!

The BIG ultrasound

Ok, so since we already know the gender, the ultrasound was as exciting, but it is still good to see everything and know all the organs are working as they should.  Plus, we got to verify that he really is a boy. :)

All went well and he is measuring about 3 days ahead and weighs about 8 oz.  He is right on track to be a little over average size if he is born on time. 

My cervix was looking good.  Dr. Gaffaney didn't give a measurement number, but she was very happy with the number.  I asked if they were going to check it again and she said since my cervix failed at 20 weeks before that they would check it again in 2 weeks.  That was a huge relief to me because as we get closer and closer to the timeframe when I lost the twins, I get more and more nervous.  Knowing that I will have another check on the cervix makes me feel better. She also wants to do a fetal echo just to check on his heart to make sure all is well.  That is getting to be normal with IVF, so I'm not really worried.  Okay, so maybe I am just a little.

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. :)

Baby's 2nd Photo!

After a seemingly long two weeks, we finally got to see Baby for the 2nd time.  This time Baby wasn't just a grain of rice, but is now a blob.  You can kind of see the head and body, but it is pretty blurry. Baby's heart was blipping away at 140 bpm.  It was quite reassuring to see the little one there on the screen.  I still haven't been able to register Baby on the home doppler, but I don't expect to be able to for another week or more.

So, our next appointment is the first one with Dr. Wong!  We were officially released to the OB.  No more FPNC.  I'm a little sad about it, but happy, too.  Leticia gave both Matt & I hugs as we left, so that was nice.  She told us she didn't want to see us again without a baby.  I'm looking forward to that.

I'm finally starting to feel like this is real.  I even ordered more maternity clothes at OldNavy.com this morning.  I really need some pants that fit!  I just feel fat right now and can't wait until I feel pregnant and not fat! :)

Update:  Tonight I decided to try and find the baby on the doppler again.  I'm pretty sure I found Baby!  I heard plenty of whooshing noises and the monitor registered a 145-146 with a solid heart for about a second!  I'm so excited!  It was about 3 inches below my bellybutton, so exactly where Baby would be!  Yay!  Now I think I will wait another few days and try again when Baby is even bigger. :)

Exciting things are happening!

Baby's First Picture!

After a grueling two weeks of waiting, we finally got to see our little one!  Dr. Nelson performed the ultrasound and told us the baby is looking perfect.  We even got to see a little flutter of the heart.  It was such a wonderful sight.  Only one baby in there this time.  That was a bit of a relief to me.  Not that twins aren't great, but I am not ready to be that terrified of losing them again.  This is a nice change to just have one baby moving around and putting pressure on my organs and cervix.

Now we get to wait another 2 weeks until we get to see Baby again.