Nothing exciting...

Well, I don't really have anything exciting to say, but I thought I'd update anyway. Just so that everyone knows we're okay.

My belly is starting to look a bit rounded, more like a pregnant belly than 'eaten too much' belly. So I guess LB is growing nicely. I had a few instances when I thought I felt a kick, but not that many. Apparently, the placenta is anterior, so I guess unless it moves I won't be feeling a whole lot of kicking until a bit later in the game when the bubs gets stronger. I haven't had a midwife appointment yet, as she is currently on holiday - she is not back until next Monday, so I assume I will see her sometime next week. Her name is Toni, I was told. And that's it. See, told you I had nothing exciting to say... Hang on, just thought I felt a little kick again! Sideways. So maybe it actually was? Who knows...

The only new development in my current life has nothing to do with the pregnancy at all. I was offered a job on Monday - it's a part-time job, teaching ESL at one of the local primary schools. I've been doing some relief teaching there, particularly for the ESL teacher whose job I am getting now (disclaimer: she left of her own volition and now has a full-time job in one of the other local schools), and I always really enjoyed it. I know all the kids, and the kids know me, so it should be fun! Starting this Friday! It's really good, as I have guaranteed work, but I will still have enough free days in the week to go to uni - which should be starting 20 Feb. And that's REALLY exciting, can't wait! I haven't been studying now for over half a year and I'm suffering serious withdrawals :D

And that's all, folks. Will check in next when I actually have something to say...

Triple test report

Got the report from the ultrasound/blood test yesterday. This is called the 'triple test', where the ultrasound results are put together with the values of hCG and 'pregnancy associated plasma protein A' (PAPP-A) in my blood (these values are converted into Multiples of Median - MoM), and a risk of Down's, other trisomies and some other possible problems is calculated. There is an initial risk given by the age of the mother - which in our case is of course Kylie - and this risk is then adjusted based on the ultrasound/lab work. So here's our report:


The patient's serum biochemistry results of a beta hCG value of 0.73 MoM and a PAPP-A value 1.71 MoM have been combined with the nuchal lucency measurement of 2mm obtained on 4/1/12. In combination these values decrease the foetus' risk of trisomy 21 from a maternal age derived risk of 1:188 to an adjusted risk of 1:3766. The background risk for trisomy 18 was 1:470, the biochemistry has decreased this risk to 1:9401. The background risk of trisomy 13 was 1:1472, the biochemistry has decreased this risk to 1:29434.


I think the risk is actually even lower, as the initial age-derived risk of 1:188 seems to me like it is for the age of 38, which is Kylie's current age - but the eggs were retrieved and the embryos were created when she was 36! So we're looking pretty good.


Other than that nothing much to report, except that I got my first belly rub yesterday. I have to say that I was probably asking for it, I was wearing a pregnancy dress that has extra fabric in the belly area (or course) and makes me look way more pregnant that I actually am... Oh well. This IS my third, so I am bound to be showing earlier anyway, right? RIGHT? :D

NT scan

We had our nuchal translucency ultrasound today - and LB is looking great! As soon as we could see her on the screen, we all breathed a big sigh of relief... she's a wiggler this one!

All the measurements were within the normal range, and the crown-rump length put her at 13w gestation (where I should be about 12w5d, so again, normal). Heart rate of 155bpm is also lovely. She kept putting her hands up to her face, so the sonographer had a bit of a hard time trying to view her nasal bone, but that was managed in the end too.

She is just too cute for words. And I am so, so relieved. She is actually there, and her heart is beating. Kylie and Adrian's baby is actually in my tummy. As in, for real. Wow...

And here, for your viewing pleasure, is a lovely picture of the little one - enjoy!

Graduation!

Yes, the time is here - we have graduated from the clinic! Had my last blood test today, and as everything appears to be looking great, I was let go this afternoon... Yaay! It is really happening!

Yes!

Another test today - a very important one as it turns out! Progesterone is at 114, which means that it went up even though they halved my progesterone supplementation last week.

And so, as of today, I am off medication!! Yaaay, yaaay, major yaaay! I have one last test with the clinic next Tuesday, and then I will be officially released into the wild and will have to fend for myself - I don't know how I'll manage!! :D

Meanwhile, expecting this turn of events to take place soonish, I exchanged a few e-mails with the midwife who delivered my Sophie, and managed to get myself a spot in the Birth Centre program at the Canberra Hospital. Unfortunately I won't have the same midwife as with Sophie, but that doesn't matter much. While it would have been lovely to have that prior connection, all the midwives there are pretty awesome.

Also have to book my first trimester screening ultrasound pretty soon. If I'm not working tomorrow, I'll be getting myself a doctor's appointment and a referral. Things are getting pretty exciting for sure! Little Bruiser, true to his/her name, is doing very well for him/herself... And just to avoid these cumbersome gender-undecided expressions, I shall be using only the female form of such pronouns henceforth - yeah, I think it's a girl :) I'm sure she'll love me one day for calling her Little Bruiser :D

Progress!

Bloods today - progesterone up to 107, and that means I can drop one of the pessaries. Yaaay! Otherwise nothing to report with regards to pregnancy.

In other news, had a horrible day yesterday suffering from some short-term gastro bug. Thankfully it is all over now - phew!

A rather boring update

Not much to tell really. Had a blood test today, but it wasn't very informative, beyond saying that everything's okay as it is. They don't measure the hCG any longer when you get to 8 weeks, so it was basically just a progesterone check. That seems to be around the same as the last time, and the time before, so I continue on the pessaries until Tuesday, when I have another blood test. I was a little worried for a moment as they wanted the next test so soon after this one, but it turns out there is a very prosaic reason for the timing - Tuesday is apparently the pregnant girls' check-up day.

I feel pretty ordinary these days. I've had a couple of pretty full-on dizzy spells about a week and a bit ago, but thankfully nothing as serious since - keeping my fingers crossed. I have not had a visit from the vomit-fairy yet, and I don't think I will. I have been nauseous with both of my kids, but never threw up once, and this experience seems to be very much the same. The biggest problem is the crippling exhaustion. I wake up tired, get progressively more tired during the day, and as the tiredness gets worse, the nausea creeps in. By the time I put the kids to bed, I just want to curl up and go to sleep to forget about it all. I have quite a few issues with food as well - there are only very few things that seem like something that I could possibly put anywhere near my mouth (and nose, aah, the smells!), but I'm sure that's temporary.

And that's about it. Boring, I know. But that's how we like it :)

Keep it up, LB!