16 Week Check-Up

We had our 16 week check-up yesterday, and everything seems copacetic so far. The only unfortunate thing about the appointment is that the midwife was late, again, so Denny had to leave before he could hear the baby’s heartbeat, again! That little heartbeat was more audible and defined this time around, and the midwife seemed pleased with what she heard—she estimated it was beating at around 150-160 beats per minute, and she explained that babies’ hearts beat at an average of 120-160bpm at this stage. Once again, I breathed such a sigh of relief when I heard that little rascal’s heart beating in there, and definitely felt much more connected to him/her this time around.

The midwife said everything is progressing as it should. I gained 4 lbs since my last check-up, and although watching the numbers on the scale go up makes me cringe, the way she praised me for gaining just the right amount of weight totally made me kinda’ beam with pride and accomplishment. I’m gaining just the right amount of weight like a good little pregnant momma should (issues, much!?). She did mention that I showed a +1 for blood in my urine, and asked if that is something that has been normal in the past for me. I explained to her, through horrified eyes, that I have never anything wrong with me and started to panic when she mentioned that it’s nothing to be alarmed over. They are sending it out for culture, and we should know by tomorrow if it’s an infection, a fluke, or something that needs to be monitored and treated post-partum.

Our next appointment is our 20 week check-up, and you know what that means…? Sonogram time!! That also means that I have 4… count them, FOUR, weeks to decide whether or not I want to know my baby’s gender before he/she is born in March. Denny and I always agreed that we would like to wait and be surprised at delivery, but now that this is a reality, the planner that my husband is, he wants to be surprised sooner rather than later (I mean, it will be a surprise either way). I on the other hand, would really like to wait. It seems to me that these days there is so little about pregnancy that remains natural and organic… I just wish for at least this one aspect to remain as God intended it to be.

Baby’s Stats—Avocado

• Baby is about 4.6 in long and weighs about 3.5 oz.
• He/She is big enough that the doctor may be able to hear a heartbeat.
• Tiny bones are forming in his/her ears.
• He/She is growing hair, eyelashes and eyebrows, and taste buds are forming!

Cravings: Still want to eat salty and savory. I have, however, reintroduced some fruits and veggies into my diet. Hooray! I am loving anything acidic; green apples, green grapes, and berries. I have also been snacking on green peppers. Yumm!

Baby Bump: I’m showing! I do have an unmistakable little baby bump. My midwife says it is exactly as big as it should be right now; and depending what I wear, there is no hiding it anymore. I went ahead and bought a few more maternity pieces to complement what others have loaned me, so I should be set and ready for this thing to take off!



16 weeks, 1 day. On our way to church!

Other changes: I finally found a shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t leave my hair dry and scraggly, and I still don’t have to wash it every day. That has been one of the weirdest things about pregnancy for me, dry hair. I’ve also had people tell me I have “the glow” which apparently comes around this time in the second trimester.

Sweet Daddy Moment: I got this e-mail from my husband last week. Yes, it did bring tears to my eyes.

"We are having a baby.  Just hit me.  How cool!  Hit me a while ago but just thought about all the fun ahead!!!"

Baby Stuff: I think we are going to register on October 1 : ). We’ll only be 18 weeks by then, but I would rather get it done (or at least started) earlier rather than waiting until life starts to get super hectic with the holidays. October already looks to be a somewhat busy month, and once Denny’s birthday rolls around at the end of the month, there will be no turning back! Plus, I think it’ll help me feel like I am getting something accomplished. I can’t tell you how hard it is to just sit around waiting for something to happen, except it won’t happen for another 23-24 weeks and there is absolutely nothing you can do to make it happen faster. I know there is a baby in there, I know he/she will join us eventually… why can’t we just fast forward to March and get it over with?! I’m sure there is a lesson for me to learn in there somewhere… stay tuned!