Heard the Heartbeat

This might sound crazy to some people BUT I ended up buying a home doppler so that Luke and I could hear that baby's heartbeat whenever we want. I was a little worried about becoming obsessive or compulsive with it, especially if I couldn't end up finding it on certain days. I decided to buy one anyway because I figured it would give me some peace of mind in between doctor's appointments, especially since we are leaving next weekend for Canada and will be gone for several weeks.

Well, last night we heard the baby's heartbeat for the very first time! It was amazing! It is so much faster than my own. And I was so relieved/excited/overwhelmed. I can't believe that we could hear the heartbeat of something so small. It was incredible.

I have also been keeping track of the baby's development with a couple of books. I have a daily pregnancy journal that tells me what sort of physical development the baby is undergoing that particular day, as well as provides tips on nutrition and throws in some fun facts about babies in general. I also have a daily countdown book that also gives a brief description of the baby's development but also provides helpful information about the physical changes my body is going through and what to expect emotionally. These books definitely make the whole experience more "real" and it's fun to know exactly what is happening with the baby on a day-to-day basis.

9 Weeks!

I absolutely love Wednesdays because it means that our baby is one week older! We have officially hit the 9 week mark and our baby is now considered a fetus instead of an embryo! Check out the ticker on the right (floating blob baby). It actually looks like a baby now! So exciting. I told my work last week that I am pregnant and they took it very well. We also told my grandma last week (my Dad's mom). She was so happy that she cried and leaned on my shoulder. It was such a touching moment. This will be her first great-grandchild, so she is very excited.

Thankfully, I haven't had any additional bleeding or spotting. It definitely helps to keep my mind at ease. I have had some nausea but haven't been throwing up. Mostly, I get really bad acid reflux and indigestion, bloating, gas (lovely!) and side ache type pains in my stomach. We are excited for our 10 week appointment on May 31st, where I am hoping we will get to actually hear the baby's heartbeat!

Our baby is now the size of a green olive!

Our little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like...well...a baby!

Second Doctor's Appointment

We had a bit of a scare the day before yesterday. Around lunchtime, I went to the bathroom and noticed some bleeding. I also had some cramping on and off that didn't feel very normal. The next morning (yesterday) I had more bleeding. I was a total mess worrying that something happened to the baby. Thankfully, we had a prescheduled appointment yesterday at 11:10 AM. At the appointment, they did a second ultrasound and we got to see our little baby moving around. We even got to see the heartbeat! It was truly amazing. And such a huge relief.

The baby looks healthy and the doctor couldn't find a source of the bleeding. I am thinking that I may just have a sensitive cervix that gets irritated easily. The bleeding is very unsettling so I am hoping and praying that it goes away. I haven't had any bleeding today. Phew!

We have our next appointment on Tuesday, May 31st to get another ultrasound and just check in to make sure the baby is growing as it should. We are leaving for Canada on June 4th for Luke's job and won't be back until June 24th. So our next appointment will be the last one of the first trimester.

Our baby's first photos are below! The baby is the small white dot at the bottom of the dark peanut shaped area. Our baby is now 8 weeks and 2 days old! :)

8 Weeks!

We have hit the 8 week mark! Yay! We are really hoping to see the heartbeat at our ultrasound tomorrow. If we do, it would significantly decrease the chance of a miscarriage. Please send positive thoughts our way for this appointment!

Our baby is now the size of a raspberry!

Our baby is growing like mad, putting on about a millimeter every day and continuing to straighten out in the trunk. Though I can't feel it yet, baby is moving those little arms, legs, and (now only slightly) webbed fingers and toes like crazy.

7 weeks, 5 days

Not too much to update today. We are still anxiously awaiting our next doctor's appointment on Thursday. I have been feeling pretty sick lately. Mostly feeling hungover, which I most certainly am not. Feeling sick if I eat too much or too little. And feeling tired all the time.

This morning while in the shower, I felt very lightheaded all of a sudden and had to get out, while dripping wet, and lay down on the bathroom floor. I then felt like I was going to throw up, but didn't end up having to. Thankfully, my wonderful friend Sarah bought be some Preggie Pops which really do seem to help with the nausea.

I am feeling pretty good today. I am enjoying the break from feeling sick but it also makes me nervous that something is wrong with the baby because of a lack of symptoms. I have become such a worry wart over this pregnancy. I am not a worrier by nature but I am constantly worried about every little symptom, or lack thereof. I haven't had any more spotting or unusual cramping so I am really trying to stay positive. I am sure I will breathe a huge sigh of relief once we can finally see our little baby and a heartbeat. Keep those fingers crossed for a great appointment on Thursday!

7 Weeks!

We are now in our 7th week! Our baby is now the size of a blueberry! I have been completely exhausted lately. I went to sleep at 7:00 PM the other night - the earliest I have gone to bed in quite a while. I also needed a nap the following day! Crazy. I have also been feeling much more nauseous. I threw up this past weekend but haven't since, thankfully. I am trying to eat right when I wake up, which is a big change since I have never really been a breakfast person. I am also trying to never let myself get too hungry or too full since that always ends up making me feel sick. I have also just been feeling blah. Not like myself. I can't buckle my jeans and can't wait until I can finally break down and buy maternity pants. I know my "bump" isn't actually the baby - just bloat, but it's still uncomfortable! I am hoping that everything goes smoothly this week and that we get to see our little one on the ultrasound next week.

Baby's now the size of a blueberry!

Baby's brain -- both hemispheres! -- is growing fast, generating about one hundred new cells every minute. Arms and legs

are emerging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third!) is now in place.

First Doctor's Appointment

We had our first doctor's appointment today! Everything looked great - my uterus is in a good position, no signs of miscarriage and everything is looking normal. They tried an abdominal ultrasound but couldn't see much, as I am only 7 weeks. I was hoping that they would end up trying a vaginal ultrasound but instead they are just having me come back next week, when I will be just over 8 weeks.

They took all of my medical history, I had a pap smear and I gave a urine sample. Thankfully, I had already done all of my blood work so no poking this time! All pretty standard stuff. I am a little disappointed that we couldn't see the baby or the heartbeat today, but I am staying positive for next week's appointment. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers for this appointment! I will keep everyone posted as things progress.

Gagtastic

Well, I may have spoken too soon about not feeling sick. A couple of nights ago, Luke was making chicken and the smell made me really nauseous. Today, I got a Thai Chicken Wrap from one of my favorite lunch places, which I eat a few times a week. While eating it at my desk, I had a terrible gag reflex and had to try not to throw up all over my computer. A had to take all of the chicken out of the wrap in order to finish it. Just typing about it is making me feel queasy.

I am actually welcoming morning sickness and nausea because I hear they are signs of a normal, healthy pregnancy. I can handle a gaging and barfing if it means I get to welcome a baby in December! :)

6 Weeks!

Our baby is 6 weeks old today! Not much new to report as we are anxiously awaiting our first doctors appointment on May 10th, less than one week away! We are hoping to see the baby's heartbeat so we can relax a little bit. It's been strange knowing that we are having a baby but not being able to see it yet.

I haven't had many pregnancy symptoms so far. My ta-tas are pretty sore, I am really bloated and I have had some minor cramping. I haven't felt sick at all yet (thankfully!) and I am not too tired. Although I have been going to bed pretty early most nights. Sometimes it's hard to believe I am really pregnant.

Our baby is now the size of a sweet pea!

Growing like crazy, baby is starting to sprout eyes, ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. Those little hands and feet -- still webbed like paddles -- might wiggle by week's end, the heart is beating (almost twice as fast as yours!), and blood is starting to circulate.