12 weeks-I just jumped a huge hurdle.

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed.

I jumped a HUGE hurdle today. I turned 12 weeks on Sunday. Last night I had some spotting. I was so scared today. I had my scheduled appointment this morning. I was preparing myself for the worst, but hoping for the best.

My husband came with me this morning. We first had the ultrasound. The baby looked perfect. He/she was so much bigger than the last time we saw the baby 2 weeks ago. The baby was moving all around. The ultrasound tech said I am measuring a week ahead and everything looks great. The hematoma is gone!

The doctor wanted to check my cervical length just because of my history of miscarriages. He said it was a 33. They like to see it 35-45 so its a little low but he will watch that too. So ultrasounds every 2 weeks. If it goes to 25 they will do a cervical cerclage.

He then checked my uterus and its measuring at 14 weeks. He said what can we do to help you get through this easier. I said see you every week? He said, well we will see you every 2 weeks. I feel good they are watching me and my fears that I have a valid.

I feel like I just did a huge jump over this hurdle this week. I am starting to feel excited, happy, and positive. I have a good feeling all will turn out ok.

Week 11

Average size: 1.6 in, .25 oz

The baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a lime, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden. She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two, nor will you notice the hiccuping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

I am feeling very good. Still very tired. They say I should start to get more energy. I did notice that at night I am in bed a little later than I have been. Only a half and hour.
This week I have a little anxiety. I feel like this is another hurdle I need to get over. I see my OB/GYN next Monday for another ultrasound. I just think if I can make it to next Monday, with a great ultrasound, I will feel a little better.
Right now I am scared. I cant help but think of my second pregnancy. This was the week that I found out I had a missed miscarriage. Its very fresh in my mind. Going along thinking all is fine, when in reality things were very wrong. I still have that fear that I will go to the doctor next Monday and they will tell me that the baby is gone. I know I need to stay positive but it is so hard. I think of this week as a huge hurdle. I pray I jump over it no problem and all will be ok.

Well, I am officially in the BellaBand.
http://www.ingridandisabel.com/

I can leave my pants unbuttoned and this band goes over the zipper and unbuttoned buttons. Its great. I don't feel squished as I did when I had them buttoned. I don't have a baby bump yet, Um... I guess you can I am pudgy. My stomach is no longer flat. Its very bloated.
My husband and I joke all the time and saying this baby takes after his daddy. He/she needs to eat all the time! The fact is I feel very sick if I don't eat every two hours.

I hope this week goes by fast and Monday comes with good news. I think I will be able to relax a little more if all is great then.

10 weeks

Baby's now the size of a prune!With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will start working too.)

I can't believe I am 10 weeks! I am feeling great. I am still tired but I feel more confident about this pregnancy. I even told a few people at work. I did have a little scare this weekend but today I had an awesome appointment with my ob/gyn today.

So Saturday night when I went to the bathroom I felt something come out. I looked in the toilet and it was a small whitish and red clot. I had some brown spotting and that was it.I was so scared I went to the emergency room yesterday. I was just so scared that something was wrong. I cant help but he petrified that something will go wrong. I thought for sure I lost my mucus plug and I was going to miscarry. I was so upset my heart rate was 130. I had an ultrasound and the baby looked awesome. We waited for 5 hours and never saw a doctor. I said I am happy with knowing all is ok I will see my doctor tomorrow.
So today was my first appointment. My doctor just sat with me for a good 20 minutes just talking about what I have been through, what is not safe to eat, how I will get scared because of my history, which is understands. We need to watch the subchorionic hematoma,but he is confident that all will turn out ok. I am still on pelvic rest and no exercise. He just wants me to take it easy. My HCG was 129,000 for last night, so my numbers are great! He also said I will spot alot because of the hematoma. It was probably just mucus that came out and maybe a little blood. I then heard the heartbeat on the Doppler. What an amazing sound! It was very strong at 171. Then I had an exam. He said all looked perfect. He wants to see me in two weeks for another ultrasound and then I will see him again. He also gave me a due date of October 12, 2010.

I said it will be a long 30 weeks with me. He said, we will be seeing alot of each other.

I then has some bloodwork, about 7 vials!

I am more at ease and feel more confident that all is going to ok. I will never stop worrying, welcome to motherhood, right? But I think this baby is a fighter and strong. I cant wait to meet my sweet baby in 30 weeks!

Week 9

My little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby!

I have been feeling good. Just very tired. I have had a hard few days. Very emotional and my fear has come back into play. Thursday night I woke up with these sharp pains. I called my doctor on Friday morning. The nurse sent me for an ultrasound. My doctor is not there on Fridays so the nurse said that we will write on the order that the ultrasound tech call the covering doctor and then the doctor can talk to you.
My husband and I went to the ultrasound. The baby looked great. He/she was moving its little arm. I would like to think he/she was saying "Hi mom, I'm OK and I'm here". I will just picture that image in my mind.
When I was released by the fertility clinic they did tell me I had a subchorionic hematoma. My RE didn't think it was a big deal. He said we see these all the time. They will just watch it. Its so small. When we had the ultrasound on Friday they still saw it. The covering doctor told me that she wasn't sure if it got bigger because she didn't have anything to compare it to. I asked her what happens if it get bigger. She said I could lose the pregnancy. She said take it easy this weekend and no lifting. I was in shock and just said "oh OK."
All weekend I took it easy. Saturday morning I had some brown discharge. I assume it was from the trans vaginal ultrasound.
This morning I called my doctor. They didn't have anything from the fertility clinic yet. I told them I would call them and have them fax over my last ultrasound. They said my doctor would call me.
Well... he did. He didn't want to tell me it got bigger. He said what good would it do to know that. I cant tell you to do something to fix it. There is nothing we can do to fix it. I said, So it got bigger. He said yes. I just was so upset. They are going to watch it and most times it does go away. I am on pelvic rest. No lifting, no exercise, nothing.
I see him next Monday. I just got off the phone and bawled. I just cant catch a break. My beautiful baby is in there and all I can picture is this hematoma getting bigger and just killing my baby. Something that wasn't a big deal is now threatening my babies safety.
I just feel like I cant get a break. There is always something. I need to just try to think positive and just picture that my baby will be strong and will fight.
I heard this is very common and usually takes care of itself by 20 weeks. But there is that risk of miscarriage.
I thought I was safe once I get out of the first trimester, but the reality is, I'm not. As my doctor said, you aren't safe until you deliver that baby.
So I am here, where I feel like I have been many times before. Scared, petrified, and
very fearful. I am trying to be hopeful, but its so hard. I am trying to keep it in my mind that alot of people have had this and it worked out. A woman here at work said she had one with her second pregnancy. Also, another friend had one too and she had her daughter. I feel a little better hearing that but I just feel like I just cant get a break. I cant have a doctor say, "It all looks perfect." My fear is I just am not meant to be a mom. But that isn't a fact. I have to just think of the facts.
These things fixes themselves out by 20 weeks.
I saw my baby and his/her heartbeat was healthy and strong at 171.
He/she was moving around and waving his arm.
He/she is healthy and protected in there.

8 weeks

Baby's now the size of a raspberry!Baby is growing like mad, putting on about a millimeter every day and continuing to straighten out in the trunk. Though you can't feel it yet, baby is moving those little arms, legs, and (now only slightly) webbed fingers and toes like crazy.

I have been getting migraines and more tired. I am in bed my 7:30pm. Its crazy. I come home from work eat, watch very little tv and then go to bed. I just cant my eyes open. I sometimes also have bouts of nausea. I don't get sick but if I don't eat I feel sick to my stomach and driving home from work.

I have been really watching what I eat. Not dieting but making sure I have enough calories, protein, calcium, etc. I always try to have a protein, a veggie and whole grain at every meal. My snacks are fruit, which I cant seem to get enough of, fiber one bars, whole grain crackers, V8 juice, and Stonyfield fat free yogurts, nuts, or cheese.

Speaking of yogurts, you have to really read your labels. Alot of yogurts have aspartame in them, which are not good for pregnant woman. I love Stonyfield yogurts because they are all natural.

Today I met with my nutritionist. She said I am eating great and doing all the right things. She also gave me a name of a book. Its called Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, and After Pregnancy by Elizabeth M. Ward. She is a dietitian. She is actually a college friend to my nutritionist. She also has a website. www.expectthebestpregnancy.com

Here is what the book is about:

Are you thinking of having a baby? Perhaps you're pregnant or nursing a newborn. Whatever the case, Expect the Best shows you how a healthy lifestyle from preconception to post delivery will help you to have the brightest, healthiest child possible. You'll find dozens of useful, easy-to-follow tips for healthy eating and physical activity, including:
Why you (and your partner) should achieve a healthy weight before trying for a baby, and how good nutrition helps maximize fertility in women and men
Trimester-by-trimester advice about nutrition and exercise during pregnancy
Safe post pregnancy weight loss, and the best eating plan for nursing moms
How diet can help you handle conditions such as gestational diabetes and morning sickness
50 delicious, nutritious, and easy recipes your entire family will love.