NT Scan Tomorrow

We have our "NT Scan" tomorrow to test for Down Syndrome. I'm slightly nervous, but trying to stay positive. I know my odds go up with each year but as far as I know, chromosomal abnormalities don't run on either side of the family. I'm sure everything will be fine.
Here is an overview of the procedure:

Nuchal scan is performed between the 11th and 13th week of gestation, because the accuracy is best in this period. The scan is obtained with the fetus in sagittal section and a neutral position of the fetal head (neither hyperflexed nor extended, either of which can influence the nuchal translucency thickness). The fetal image is enlarged to fill 75% of the screen, and the maximum thickness is measured, from leading edge to leading edge. It is important to distinguish the nuchal lucency from the underlying amnionic membrane.
Normal thickness depends on the crown-rump length (CRL) of the fetus. Among those fetuses whose nuchal translucency exceeds the normal values, there is a relatively high risk of significant abnormality.

From what I've read, we want to see a nuchal thickness of less than 2.5mm.

Here is a link to a good definition of the test. Wish us luck tomorrow. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuchal_scan

Babies at 12 Weeks!

Well, I had another ultrasound yesterday since it was my first appointment with my new Loma Linda doctor! Oh and she is WONDERFUL. Totally worth the travel to get to her. I think she was almost more excited than I was to see the babies!

Both babies looked great! Both heartbeats measured at 165 BPM, which is perfect!
Baby A measured at 12 weeks 1 day and Baby B measured at 12 weeks 5 days, but she said this was fine. It just means that Baby A needs to catch up a bit, but she's not worried at all. Alot can happen in the next 6 months.

I also communicated my desire to avoid a C-Section and she warned me that the odds were not in my favor for a vaginal delivery but she said as long as I could carry the babies until 37 weeks and as long as Baby B was smaller than Baby A and that Baby A wasn't breech, than I could try for a natural delivery.

Oh and just for reference, Baby A is the baby to arrive first and Baby B will come second.

I also had to have a flu shot. No fun. But... the flu is no fun either. :)

Here are two seperate pics of the babies. They now have all their limbs and facial features including eyes, ears and nose. They also have all their internal organs as well!

11 Weeks!

Two more weeks! That's all I have until I'm safely in my second trimester! Well, everyone knows that it's not like I'm waiting to tell people that we're pregnant anymore, but there is just something about hitting that milestone that is quite comforting. Luckily for me though, we've been able to see our babies heartbeats every two weeks since we found out we were expecting. That is extremely rare. Most women only get two ultrasounds in their pregnancy. I get at least one a month and then more if my doctor feels it necessary. Next doctor's appt is Thursday the 17th!

Oh and we switched OB practices. We initially had decided to see a doctor here in Palm Springs, but after that first visit didn't feel comfortable with the level of care for our "super precious" ones. We decided to truck it back up to Loma Linda for our Prenatal care and also to deliver at Loma Linda University Hospital. It's AMAZING.

http://http://lomalindahealth.org/childrens-hospital/our-services/total-care-birth-center/labor-and-delivery.html

First Maternity Purchases!

So I broke down this weekend and bought a Bella Band. Let me tell you, this thing is AWESOME! All my shorts just were not wanting to stay snapped and I was getting really worried about wearing any jeans in the near future. This thing is the greatest invention ever!

I just put on my regular pants and don't have to button them. I just slide this band around my waist and it hides the fact that I my pants are totally undone! Awesomely brilliant!



Then, today I got an email about 60% off Paige Premium Denim Maternity Jeans & I called Scott to see if I could get a pair for this fall. Want to know what his response was? "How many pairs do you want?"

I only bought one. Promise!

Second Ultrasound!!

Well folks! We had our second ultrasound yesterday and our LAST visit with the specialist. The visit was bittersweet. While I was so happy to finally stop driving an hour each way to Loma Linda I was so sad to leave that office that helped us achieve the miracles that we did.

That being said, I didn't let the door hit me on the way out :)

Lucky for us, we had our last specialist appt. yesterday with an ultrasound and our first OB appointment is tomorrow and we'll get another ultrasound at that one, too!

Two ultrasounds in one week is ultra-spoiled if you ask me, but hey, I'm not complaining.

Here's the picture from yesterday's scan. I'll be 10 weeks tomorrow and the babies both measured right at about 9 weeks 5 days and about 1 inch long from "crown to rump". Their heartbeats were both at about 135 BPM which is absolutely perfect. They were both VERY active and doing somersalts and baby B (on the bottom) had the hiccups. It was so awesome!