12 weeks seems like a big milestone. Getting so close to the second trimester! Some people would say I’m already there. In any case, I’m just so close, and it makes me so happy! My day started with a dentist appointment. My dad actually picked me up because my car was finally in for repairs since the accident. I was worried I’d have to refuse the x-rays, but as soon as they knew I was pregnant, they said they’d skip them. I got a great report in spite of admitting I’d been slightly lax lately, comparatively speaking, since all too often, I just brush my teeth and collapse in bed. Afterward we picked up lunch and went back to my parents’ house, where S was also.
We ate lunch, relaxed for a bit, then it was time for S’s nap. Truthfully, I wanted a nap too. Last week, I was actually worried that I’d been sleeping so well and having so much energy. Then that changed. Last night was a particularly crappy night’s sleep, ugh. I’m happy to “feel pregnant,” but as I get closer to the second trimester, I’m ready to have that stage over with! I have reached a point where I desperately need at least one good night of rest. It’s actually been a long time since I’ve slept poorly for this many nights consecutively. A bad headache a few nights ago and a wicked sore throat last night haven’t helped matters. My hope was to get S to nap, then go home for a few to start dishes and maybe tackle a few other household tasks before my ob appointment…or take a nap in my bed perhaps. 🙂 But S was feeling awfully clingy, and I was pretty comfy in bed with her, so I just stayed until I really had to go. I guess it didn’t take a whole lot of convincing. Unfortunately, I think I dozed more than she did. I don’t think she actually slept at all.
Finally it was time to go to my next Dr’s appointment. The one I had been eagerly–and somewhat nervously–awaiting for at least a couple of weeks if I just count from my last ER visit. First I had to run home (or rather, Dad had to run me home since my car was still in the shop) to get my pee out of the refrigerator. Yup, this office is different in a few ways, one of which is they have me bring in FMU instead of just peeing in a cup when I get there. But when I have an afternoon appointment, it’s kind of like…what do I do with this all day?
So anyway, I got there, and I somehow had extra time even accounting for checking in early. So I went to the bathroom (I did a lot of that today) and went in. I was surprised to see that the waiting room was basically empty!?!? Here I’d been trying to get morning appointments (I didn’t this time because of the dentist appointment), but maybe afternoon is where it’s at. Hmm. Anyway, I sat down, sent Pete a text. And then I got a call from the body shop saying my car was ready. As I was wrapping up that call, they were already calling me back! I couldn’t believe it–10 minutes early. Awesome, but I was a little worried that Pete, who was supposed to meet me there, might not make it in time since I never dreamed I’d go back early.
First, she weighed me. I kinda eyed the scale, and I didn’t think it had budged, which did surprise me. I certainly feel like my weight has redistributed some if nothing else! In my tummy and in my *ahem* bra…which still isn’t saying much, but anyway. So I hope I’m getting enough calories, but really right now I’m just eating as much as I feel able. Which I think is enough. My meals are often smaller, but I’m getting a lot more snacks. If I’m supposed to be gaining more weight in baby and placenta, blood volume, and MAYBE boobage, then maybe it’s canceled out by less in my thighs. HAHA I can dream.
Anyway, the assistant took my blood pressure, which was something pretty good like 120/66 (I can’t remember the diastolic for sure; it was 60-something but realistic). She took my urine sample, which I had stowed VERY CAREFULLY in a plastic baggie in my purse (I know it’s just pee, but does anyone really like just walking around with one of those?). Then when she left, I sent Pete another text to let him know what room I was in so he could hopefully just come straight back to me.
Within a few minutes, Pete had caught up with me, and then the Dr came in. There was some chit chat, like about how the last couple of weeks have finally been totally uneventful after the previous two weekends. But the main thing was listening to the heart beat on the Doppler for the first time. <3 We have an audio clip:
I’m pretty sure he said 156 bpm. We are just over the moon that things are finally moving along smoothly.
The Dr mentioned that I hadn’t really gained any weight yet, but he wasn’t worried about it at this point. I mentioned I thought that happened later the last time, too. He said I didn’t have to weigh that much more at this stage when baby hardly weighs anything. He asked if we had any questions, and we didn’t, so we went on our way. Well, we started on our way, I remembered I needed a specimen container for next month’s urine sample, so I backtracked. THEN we were on our way. I scheduled my next appointment, which isn’t exactly 4 weeks away because that Monday they’re closed for Memorial Day. And who knows, maybe by some crazy twist of fate we’ll have plans too. So it’s the following Tuesday afternoon. (Gotta remember to block off work for that.) I imagine that’ll be another quick and straightforward one, but we’ll also talk about scheduling THE ultrasound then too. Wow! We were totally done with everything and back outside by 2:34–4 minutes after my actual appointment time.
As for my weekly stuff, baby is roughly the size of a plum??? I have to think they mean CRL is like the diameter of a plum?? Because I don’t think the baby is actually that plump yet. 🙂 Still fun to imagine.
Here’s our 12 week cartoon baby:
That says baby is about 2.5 inches long and weighs about half an ounce. That does make me feel a little better about not gaining weight yet. 🙂
Not to end on a negative note, but I’m still slowly working on my post about miscarriage. It’s going to take a while. In part because I’m exhausted, but mostly because it’s just so daunting.
Right now though, we are very, very happy. 🙂