Testing, testing
Well, my doctor called today to give me my first ultrasound appointment in two weeks! This one is typically done between 8-10 weeks and is used to date the pregnancy. My doctor insists on using the old "first day of your last period" approach to dating my pregnancy, which assumes a 28 day cycle. I do not have a 28 day cycle, I have a very irregular cycle and I think she is overestimating my baby's age by about 9 days so I will be very glad to get an accurate age. Plus, at this ultrasound, even with the miscalculation in age, we should see the baby's heartbeat. After you find the heartbeat, miscarriage rate drops to 2% so it's a very big deal.
In four weeks I have a second ultrasound and series of blood tests that are a first screening for genetic disorders and birth defects, things like down syndrome and spina bifida. These tests aren't diagnostic, they just tell you risk factors. If they come back negative, chances are very good your baby will be healthy and normal, if they come back positive, you get to do lots more testing. Pretty nervewracking but I'm hoping that I'll get a big old negative and be able to relax a little about my baby's well-being.
Tomorrow I go in for my first blood work - checking that my old vaccines are still active and that I'm not anemic, that sort of thing. Since we did all of it several months ago as part of my preconception check up, this one should come back just fine.
In the meantime, while I continue to be fortunate enough to evade morning sickness, first trimester fatigue is starting to hit. Between 1-3 pm, usually my best time of day, I am dead tired. Early evening, also often one of my better times, is also getting dicey. Just walking home from the subway is starting to seem difficult after a long day. Plus I'm getting pregnancy nose - heightened sense of smell. My honey scented shampoo is suddenly sickeningly sweet and strong. But hey, as long as I'm not vomiting or having pregnancy migraines, I'm not going to complain!
In four weeks I have a second ultrasound and series of blood tests that are a first screening for genetic disorders and birth defects, things like down syndrome and spina bifida. These tests aren't diagnostic, they just tell you risk factors. If they come back negative, chances are very good your baby will be healthy and normal, if they come back positive, you get to do lots more testing. Pretty nervewracking but I'm hoping that I'll get a big old negative and be able to relax a little about my baby's well-being.
Tomorrow I go in for my first blood work - checking that my old vaccines are still active and that I'm not anemic, that sort of thing. Since we did all of it several months ago as part of my preconception check up, this one should come back just fine.
In the meantime, while I continue to be fortunate enough to evade morning sickness, first trimester fatigue is starting to hit. Between 1-3 pm, usually my best time of day, I am dead tired. Early evening, also often one of my better times, is also getting dicey. Just walking home from the subway is starting to seem difficult after a long day. Plus I'm getting pregnancy nose - heightened sense of smell. My honey scented shampoo is suddenly sickeningly sweet and strong. But hey, as long as I'm not vomiting or having pregnancy migraines, I'm not going to complain!
posted by Erin @ 3:35 PM
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