New Picture & Heartbeat!

Hello Everyone! 

Well Thursday was a very eventful day! We had a doctor's appointment with Dr. Johansen, and what I thought was just going to be a normal check up with no frills, ended up being another photo-op for us to see Baby Milne! 

So far, I'm looking great as my doctor says, and blood pressure is normal, labs are all normal, and I actually lost some weight, so right now doctor says its OK, however going forward not something that I should continue with. Believe me when I say I'm not trying to loose weight, but this morning sickness is throwing me for a loop! So as long as the prenatal vitamins are staying down and I drink fluids that is fine. If the froth continues we will look into something in the future for that issue.

Now for the really cool stuff...we got to have another ultrasound, and now my little one has decided to have a growth spurt, and we are now measuring in a week ahead, at 10 weeks 2 days. So the embryo has graduated to an actual fetus, and looks like a baby with a very big head! (Insert groan here) 

But while the doctor was going through and showing us all of the different features of the baby, the heart, the brain, the arms, the legs, all of a sudden he focused in on one area and then there was sound, it was the HEARTBEAT! It was the sweetest sound and so soothing to hear, and instantly there was a bond there for me! The heart rate was 158bpm. So that is good as well, shows a healthy rate! We couldn't be more excited to hear about that, I wasn't expecting to hear it already, but I'm not complaining! 

We have the First Trimester Screening for Downs Syndrome coming up on June 8th. That is another ultrasound of the neck area, and a blood draw, followed by another doctors appointment with Dr Johansen. Based off of the information then there might be an amniocentesis but it depends on the numbers that come back from those test results. So that is the latest and greatest!

Due Date Confusion (updated)

Hello Everyone! So here I am again with the latest development on our "Christmas Cookie." Some people have asked us, "So, when are you due," (actually a lot of people have asked) the first answer is based off of the LMP which would indicate Dec 10, 2011. However when we went in for the Ultrasound we were told that we were only at 6 weeks 5 days, which changed the due date to Dec 17, 2011. I know what this is all just an estimate of where we are at, but it's confusing when trying to figure out when to have things ready to go, I think John and I have decided that by Thanksgiving everything will be ready and in place, so that when GO time happens, we won't be caught off guard!

My next appointment is scheduled for May 19th, with my OB doctor. His name is Dr. Keith Johansen, he works for Mayo, he went to Medical School at University of Minnesota, his residency was in the OBGYN Mayo Medical Graduate School, and he is currently the Assistant Professor of OBGYN at Mayo, so I feel covered!

He has to be an "old school" doctor, in the sense that his bedside manner and professional skills, really make the patient feel like they are the only patient he has. Seeing as I have lots of "special" issues, he takes the time with each patient to make sure everything asked (no matter how stupid) is answered! I would call him a farmers doctor, just really down to earth!

The next major test will be the First Trimester Screening for Downs Syndrome. It's a simple test, just a blood draw and ultrasound to check and see what the neck looks like. It's not a definitive test, but it shows if there is an indicator of a higher risk. Since both, John, and I are adopted neither of us know what is in our family genes and while we've agreed that if something were wrong we wouldn't end the pregnancy, we just feel that this would be a great way to be prepared if something showed up. Plus it's an extra ultrasound, so that is a perk! We also will be having an amniocentesis in the second trimester. So keep fingers crossed, and prayers going  that neither will show anything wrong, and if for some reason it did, that John and I would be strong enough to handle it!

Other questions that family members are asking me specifically is how is my iron levels and the polyneuropathy or CIDP going to interfere with this. Answer is so far so good. Anemia or iron levels are holding their own at 38. Which is a good sign, so no iron infusions needed in the future, I will be tested again in 3 to 6 months to make sure.

CIDP is going to be another story. Since I take so many medications to help with the nerve pain, and the meds are relativity new, I've stopped them since the day I found out I was pregnant. So far I've been doing OK, and I've got an appointment with a neurologist in June as a precaution to make sure if I needed something, I'd have assurance that it wouldn't interfere with the baby. Right now, I'm feeling good, and just annoyed when it comes to the nerve pain, as I like to say, the bugs are back!  Only time will tell....

That is it for this weeks addition, we will let you know more next week! Oh, and the picture is of my Doctor!

Due Date Confusion!

Hello Everyone! So here I am again with the latest development on our "Christmas Cookie." Some people have asked us, "So, when are you due," (actually a lot of people have asked) the first answer is based off of the LMP which would indicate Dec 10, 2011. However when we went in for the Ultrasound we were told that we were only at 6 weeks 5 days, which changed the due date to Dec 17, 2011. I know what this is all just an estimate of where we are at, but it's confusing when trying to figure out when to have things ready to go, I think John and I have decided that by Thanksgiving everything will be ready and in place, so that when GO time happens, we won't be caught off guard!

My next appointment is scheduled for May 19th, with my OB doctor. His name is Dr. Keith Johansen, he works for Mayo, he went to Medical School at University of Minnesota, his residency was in the OBGYN Mayo Medical Graduate School, and he is currently the Assistant Professor of OBGYN at Mayo, so I feel covered!

He has to be an "old school" doctor, in the sense that his bedside manner and professional skills, really make the patient feel like they are the only patient he has. Seeing as I have lots of "special" issues, he takes the time with each patient to make sure everything asked (no matter how stupid) is answered! I would call him a farmers doctor, just really down to earth!

The next major test will be the First Trimester Screening for Downs Syndrome. It's a simple test, just a blood draw and ultrasound to check and see what the neck looks like. It's not a definitive test, but it shows if there is an indicator of a higher risk. Since both, John, and I are adopted neither of us know what is in our family genes and while we've agreed that if something were wrong we wouldn't end the pregnancy, we just feel that this would be a great way to be prepared if something showed up. Plus it's an extra ultrasound, so that is a perk! We also will be having an amniocentesis in the second trimester. So keep fingers crossed, and prayers going  that neither will show anything wrong, and if for some reason it did, that John and I would be strong enough to handle it!

Other questions that family members are asking me specifically is how is my iron levels and the polyneuropathy or CIDP going to interfere with this. Answer is so far so good. Anemia or iron levels are holding their own at 38. Which is a good sign, so no iron infusions needed in the future, I will be tested again in 3 to 6 months to make sure.

CIDP is going to be another story. Since I take so many medications to help with the nerve pain, and the meds are relativity new, I've stopped them since the day I found out I was pregnant. So far I've been doing OK, and I've got an appointment with a neurologist in June as a precaution to make sure if I needed something, I'd have assurance that it wouldn't interfere with the baby. Right now, I'm feeling good, and just annoyed when it comes to the nerve pain, as I like to say, the bugs are back!  Only time will tell....

That is it for this weeks addition, we will let you know more next week! Oh, and the picture is of my Doctor!