First off, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you all took a moment to think of the things that you are truly thankful for in your lives. There are so many things that bring me joy and smiles and laughter and excitement every single day and most of all, I am thankful to be living a healthy and happy life. I'm truly grateful for all of my family and wonderful friends who have stuck with me over the years. I'm thankful for my boyfriend and all the love he shows me every day, and for our little peanut in my belly. I love you all! ♥


Ashton and I went to my mom's for Thanksgiving, which was a lot of fun, but I wish Deasha could have been there for dinner too. Everyone was of course wondering about the news of our little one and waited as patiently as they could. I waited until after dinner (I'm surprised my mom could wait that long!) to share the news. Before the big reveal, I had my family play a little trivia game with questions that were all about the baby (which I actually only just thought up on one of my many pee breaks prior to dinner!). I came up with eight questions and gave out little treat bags of chocolate truffles as prizes for the person who got the question right first. It was fun to have everyone participate and to see who reads my blog, haha. Desiree got three questions right first and three bags of truffles, and I believe everyone else at the table ended with one bag of truffles. I was surprised my mom didn't dominate the game! Even my little cousin got a bag of truffles for saying "pickles!" before I got a chance to ask the last question, lol. Lastly I got a quick poll of who thought baby was a boy or a girl (2 votes boy -- even though mom lied about her vote, and the rest voted girl) and then Ashton and I went in the other room to get our surprise dessert. Ashton tied a pink ribbon around my tummy and we came back in carrying a platter of red velvet cupcakes with white frosting and pink sugar sprinkles!

I decided to do two posts in one here, my OB appointment on Monday and my weekly update that should have been done on Tuesday, oops! (Thanksgiving kinda took my attention away from my blog!)

+++ OB APPOINTMENT +++
After our anatomy scan on Wednesday, I was super super happy and thought nothing could ruin my mood or bring me down, even the slightest. That changed, however, when I stopped feeling the baby move on Friday. I usually feel her move at least once a day. Saturday and Sunday came and went and still no movement. I told Ashton Saturday night that I hadn't felt her and I went to bed with a sinking feeling in my stomach. Sunday morning getting ready for work was terrible. I laid in bed pushing on my tummy and it felt like there was nothing in there. I was so sad that I couldn't help but cry and work was the last place I felt like going. I really tried taking my mind off of it at work, but I just couldn't lift myself up. I cried again in the bathroom before I left work and just couldn't wait to go home and lay down and be alone. I was glad to have an OB appt on Monday so I could hopefully hear her heartbeat.

I was so ready to go into my OB appointment crying and telling her the baby wasn't moving anymore, but to my surprise, baby starting tumbling around on the car ride to the appointment! I should have known, since she is always moving around on our way to appointments. I still told my midwife of my concern and she was surprised that no one told me that the placenta is actually at the front of my abdomen where movement is usually felt, so it won't be uncommon for me to not feel movement every day, at least for a few more weeks until the baby is bigger and stronger. I was so relieved! I think she wanted to reassure me, because she let us listen to baby's heartbeat for extra long this time. It was also really neat that we could hear both of our hearts beating at the same time. Hers was so loud and fast and mine was slower and faded in the background. I really liked hearing them together and was so glad that she is perfectly healthy. My midwife also briefly went over numbers from the anatomy scan and told us again that everything is in perfect ranges and she is growing and developing at a healthy rate. Once again, I couldn't have been happier! They can't officially change the expected due date this late, but I noticed on the paperwork that the anatomy scan suggested a due date of April 19th instead of April 22nd. It's not really important since the baby can be born plus or minus two weeks of a due date anyway and still be considered "on time", but it is interesting to take note of!

I was also asked for the sixth time, I think, if I wanted a flu shot. The nurse that takes my vitals before each appointment and my midwife and doctor all ask at every appointment. I know they are just doing their jobs, but it has to be in my file that I have declined so many times already! This prompted Ashton to voice his dislike for our OB doctor because of how she treated us in the appointment we had with her, and Elizabeth said it was totally fine to switch doctors or schedule more appointments with her, rather than the doctor. So we set up our next two appointments, one in December with Elizabeth again and one in January with a new OB doctor. :)



How far along? 19 weeks
Total weight gain? 7 pounds
Stretch marks? None!
Maternity clothes? Still in my regular jeans, but I have noticed a few shirts are getting too short to cover my tummy!
Best moment this week? Getting through the weekend and finally feeling baby move on Monday. I don't think I was terribly worried that something was wrong, I was sad more than anything. I actually cried about it twice. :(    --- Aww, she is trying to make me feel better by rolling around right now, hehehe. I love her.

I hope she doesn't mind me posting about this on here, but honestly everything is too cute not to! Susie sent me the most thoughtful little baby package down from New Hampshire this past week and I had such a fun time opening it. I actually packaged it all back up and brought it to Ashton's so we could open it again together, haha.

The box was full of parenting books and DVDs, the most adorable organic toys, a super soft blankie, little baby shoes!, and other essentials with a personal note on top. I knew one or two books were coming, but the whole package was quite the surprise!

 
Thank you so much Susie for putting your thoughts and care into that. It really is a wonderful gift and completely made my day. ♥

The tech went a little crazy during our anatomy scan yesterday, giving us ELEVEN pictures this time! These are the best angles we got! So adorable. :)

You can click on them to make them bigger too!

















Enjoy! ♥

I truly am in love with the Ultrasound Diagnostics Center in Brookline. Once again, it was so much fun, brightened up my day, provided wonderful (and surprising!) news about our little one, and we got another ELEVEN ultrasound pictures to take home!!!

Baby got all measured up, including leg bones, arm bones, spinal cord, and head measurements. We got to see the heart, kidneys, stomach, brain... am I forgetting something?! The 3D part was amazing too, being able to see the detail on the face and even peeking in on the brain on accident! lol The cutest part was seeing the bottoms of little feet kicking around in there. And my gosh, we had a little squirmer today! That made the leg measurements a little more difficult, but everything checked out normal and the tech kept saying how beautiful our baby is. :) We didn't get to hear the heartbeat, but we got to see it in action. I remember when it used to be a little flickering spot on the screen, but today it was definitely a little heart pumping in there! She checked out the valves and ventricles and other things that I couldn't really tell what they were, but baby has quite a healthy heart! The doctor came in next to look over the pictures and she peeked around a little herself. I was so happy just to watch baby moving around in there, I didn't care how many people had to come in and look. She also checked out my cervix, ovaries, and everything else around the baby. She could even tell that it was most likely my right ovary that carried the fertilized egg?! They are sending all the info over to my OB office in time for my appointment with my midwife on Monday. Even though I'm sure that it will be a non-eventful 15 minute appointment, I'm still excited about that one too (did I mention I love seeing my midwife?!).

Oh, and don't think the tech forgot to ask if we wanted to know whether we are having a girl or boy! To my delight, baby was in perfect position for us to peek between those little legs and reveal what lots of people keep asking about and what Grandma has been waiting 6 weeks to find out. Well, I'm sorry to rain on everyone's parade (lol), but we're not revealing just yet!! Thanksgiving is too close to not tell my family in person. (Don't be mad Grandma, it's only 8 days away and I'm sure that is something to be thankful for!!!) Everyone else will find out right after the reveal to my family, I promise!

One more week with a secret all to myself. I'm such a sneaky pregger. =P

How far along? 18 weeks
Total weight gain? 5 pounds
Stretch marks? None :)
Maternity clothes? Not necessary.
Best moment this week? Feeling baby move all over the place. No major kicks yet, but she is ridiculously active!

So I've come across about a million old wives' tales, all trying to tell me if my bump is a girl or a boy. I thought it would be fun to put some of these to the test. Here are my results!

Old Wives’ Tale #1 – Key to Pregnancy If you pick up a key by the round end, you're having a boy. If it's by the long end? A girl.
>>> Always the round end. My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #2 – Carrying High or Low?
If you are carrying low, it’s a boy, or if you’re carrying high it’s a girl.
>>> My belly isn't that big yet, but has definitely grown. It seems to be growing over my pants though, so maybe I will carry high? My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #3 – Is Your Skin Dry or Soft?
If your skin is dry, you’re said to be having a boy – and if it’s soft, then a girl is on the way.
>>> Soft as a baby's bottom! (lol) My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #4 – What’s Baby’s Heart rate?
First, to set the record straight, until it’s born, your baby’s heart rate will not be affected by it’s sex. But so they say, if you’re carrying a girl, then baby’s heart rate will be above 140bpm (beats per minute). A boy is said to have a heart rate under 140bpm
>>> Last I remember the heart rate was 167 I think? My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #5 – Mood changes.
If you're experiencing pregnant mood-swings, expect a baby girl to arrive soon.
>>> I've had mood swings since the very beginning. First I was being bratty, but now I'm more apt to burst out crying... My result: Girl 

Old Wives’ Tale #6 – Where Are You Carrying Extra Weight?
Even those extra pregnancy kilos are said to give us an insight into your baby’s sex! If you are carrying extra weight at the front, then you’re having a boy… but if you are carrying extra weight on your bum and hips, then you have been carrying a girl. What about dad-to-be? If he’s gaining weight with you, apparently you’re having a girl. If he’s put on no weight, a boy for you!
>>> Oh, shoot! I don't think my bum's gotten bigger.. But my boobs definitely have! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #7 – Numbers…
Because if you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd – then it’s a girl on the way. If the resulting number is even, then it’s a boy for you.
>>> 24 + 7 = 31. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #8 – Sweet, Salty or Sour?
Are you craving sweet foods like juice, fruits and chocolate? If so, old wives say that you could be having a girl. But if you’re craving sour or salty foods, then you could be having a boy.
>>> My first cravings were fruit and berries (strawberries, mostly!) but I didn't want chocolate at all. Then I really wanted hot chocolate, but also needed to add salt to my mashed potatoes? Haha, also, I recently snagged some free sour candies from the breakroom. However, my most prominent cravings have definitely been cake and ice cream. I have been saying for weeks that all I want is to mash vanilla ice cream into chocolate cake. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #9 – Wedding Ring Test
Get your wedding ring (or other ring/needle/pin) and attach it with a strand of your hair or some string. Lie down and dangle the ring over your belly. If it starts moving in circles, you are having a boy, or if it moves like a pendulum from side to side, then you are having a girl.
>>> Pendulum, no matter how many times.... My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #10 – Got Morning Sickness?
Did you experience morning sickness in early pregnancy? If you did, then you’re said to be carrying a girl, but if you didn’t have morning sickness, then it’s a boy.
>>> No sickness or nausea at all!! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #11 – How About Those Cold Feet?
If your feet get colder than they used to pre-pregnancy, it’s a sign you have a boy on the way. If your feet are the same, then it’s a girl!
>>> Same. My result: Girl
 
Old Wives’ Tale #12 – How Do You Look?
Do you look better than ever while pregnant? Or has the pregnancy done your looks no favors? As it goes, if you look great during pregnancy, then you are carrying a boy. If you don’t look too flash, you’re having a girl, because she’s stolen all your good looks!
>>> My acne has been acting up, but I don't think I look terrible.... My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #13 – The Breast Test!
If you look in the mirror at your breasts, which one is larger? If it’s the right one, you’re carrying a boy and for a larger left breast, then it’s a girl.
>>> Left. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #14 – Pimples, Schimiples…
If you get acne during pregnancy, apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a boy.
>>> Oh! :( Yes to acne. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #15 – Are You A Lefty or a Righty?
When you sleep, do you sleep on your left? Because if you do, then it’s a boy for you! On your right, a girl is in sight.
>>> Both? I like to fall asleep on my left. I usually wake up on my back. Then I roll over to my right. I will go with left since I choose that side first! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #16 – Check Out Your Wee!
Okay…. now apparently if you have bright yellow urine, then you’re carrying a boy, but if it’s dull / clear, then you’re carrying a girl.
>>> Lol, I guess dull. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #17 -What Does Your Belly Look Like?
A basketball or a watermelon? Because if it looks more like a basketball, then old wives say boy, but if it more resembles a watermelon then it’s a girl.
>>> So far, basketball. Definitely very round right now lol. My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #18 – Hairy Legs?
Has the hair on your legs grown faster than normal? Or has it grown just like normal? Because if it’s growing faster than it did pre-pregnancy, then you’re said to be having a boy.
>>> Not really. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #19 – Show Me Your Hands!
Palms up, it's a girl. Palms down, it's a boy.
>>> Palms up! My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #20 – Graceful or Clumsy?
If you feel as though you're gliding through the day, you'll have a girl. Stumbling? It's a boy.
>>> I don't know about gliding, but like I've said, I've barely felt pregnant for a couple of weeks now and I'm just merrily strolling along, haha. My result: Girl

Overall Results:
Boy: 6  
Girl: 14

There you have it! 70% chance of having a girl!!

Since the day I found out I was pregnant, I have wanted a girl and was expecting a girl. I still would really love a baby girl, but I have been getting weird feelings that it is a boy, and when I imagine telling people, I imagine saying "It's a boy!"

Our anatomy scan is on Wednesday so I hope we can peek at the goods if she is behaving. My next OB appointment is the following Monday so if baby doesn't behave for the anatomy scan, I may just ask my midwife to try on Monday! I'm very hopeful for Wednesday though because baby has been extremely well behaved for our last two ultrasounds. :) We'll see in just a few short days! Then I get to have cake to celebrate. OMG I can't wait!!

We actually got these results back last Friday (11/8), but I sort of forgot all about it after reading the e-mail from my midwife. I read it walking up to Ashton's apartment, showed him the results when I got inside, and said "I'll have to text my mom later" and then completely forgot about it! Pregnancy brain! lol

So anyway, back at our very first appointment (10/4) with Elizabeth she offered us seven options regarding Down Syndrome screening. Amniocentesis, CVS, First trimester screen (ERA), Serial/Sequential testing, Maternal Serum AFP-4, Genetic Ultrasound, or no Down Syndrome testing. Ashton and I talked about it, and decided that we did want to do some type of screening even though given my age, baby already had a low risk for DS. Right away I decided against Amniocentesis and CVS because they are invasive tests that require inserting a needle into the amniotic sac or placenta with risks (1/400 for Amnio and 1/100 for CVS) of miscarriage. (Other people may opt to have these done since they both have a 99% detection rate, which is the highest of any of the tests, and can be done the earliest in pregnancy--CVS can be done at 11 weeks!) We also decided that if we were going to take the time (and $$) to have a screening done, it should be one with a high accuracy rate. So we ruled out the First trimester screen (85% detection rate with 5% false positives) and the Maternal Serum (81% detection rate with 5% false positives).

In the end, we decided (also with Elizabeth's recommendation) to do both the Serial Sequential screening and the Genetic Ultrasound. Our reasoning: Serial/Sequential is a non-invasive test, requiring an ultrasound of the baby's neck (yay another chance to see our peanut!) and two maternal blood tests (I did mine at 12 & 16 weeks), it has the second highest detection rate (95%), and we were comfortable doing the two rounds of labs and waiting five weeks for the results. We also chose the Genetic Ultrasound (yay, yet ANOTHER chance to see our little one, hehe), because it also serves as an anatomy examination where all of the baby's limbs, organs, facial features.... EVERYTHING is measured and observed in detail and the tech can look for other abnormalities as well. They also do a quick check-up on my ovaries, the placenta, and amniotic fluid. :) Even though the Genetic Ultrasound only has a 70% detection rate and an 8-12% rate of false positives for DS, we really wanted the anatomy scan done since it is non-invasive, another opportunity for an ultrasound, and it is covered by all insurance companies!!


Our time table of appointments --> The Serial Sequential ultrasound and first blood test was on 10/10 @ 12 weeks and the second blood test was on 11/7 @ 16 weeks. I got my results from my midwife on the morning of 11/8 (very speedy!). Our Genetic Ultrasound is scheduled for 11/20 @ 18 weeks.

Mine and sprout's risk factors: my age (25), NT* measured during the ultrasound (1.8mm), and the two labs (I didn't see direct results, but were told they were in an excellent range).
*Nuchal translucency = measurement of the fluid developing behind the baby's neck during the first trimester


SPROUT'S RESULTS!::
Risks                          Pre-Test+                  Post-Test++
Down syndrome*            1 in 1,000                  <1 in 10,000
Trisomy 18**                   1 in 10,000                <1 in 10,000
Open NTD***                    1 in 1,000                  1 in 5,400

*Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, is caused by a chromosomal defect and often causes physical growth delays and intellectual disability
**Trisomy 18, or Edwards Syndrome, is caused by a chromosomal defect and has a high fatality rate in infancy
***Open NTD, or Open Neural Tube Defect, means the baby has an opening in the spine or head. The most common form is Spina Bifida, which means the spinal cord is exposed and can be easily damaged.
+Pre-test results are estimated results before the second trimester maternal blood test. If these results are in the positive range, the mother will be notified as soon as possible to discuss options for additional screenings.
++Post-test results are the final results of all risk factors combined (maternal age, NT measurement, first and second trimester maternal blood tests)


Lightly put, sprout has a less than 1 in 10,000 chance of having a chromosomal defect, which is really as good as it gets! Now we are patiently waiting for our Genetic Ultrasound next week. I am so excited, mostly because I want to see and hear my baby again, and because I am like 100% confident that they aren't going to find anything wrong with her. Oh yeah, and with the anatomy scan they just might be able to take a peek between baby's legs and give us some more good news! **Fingers crossed!**

How far along? 17 weeks
Total weight gain? 4 pounds
Stretch marks? None :)
Maternity clothes? Not necessary.
Best moment this week? Getting the Serial Sequential labs back. Baby got amazing results!

How far along? 16 weeks
Total weight gain? 4 pounds
Stretch marks? None :)
Maternity clothes? Not necessary.
Best moment this week? Halloween flutters!! Continuing our registry, and listening to the sound file below.  : )






Ps. A little treat from Ashton this week . . . . !!!!!