Update from Appointment...

So as you may have noticed it's 6:06am on Saturday morning. I couldn't sleep. I guess too anxious for the party. I really don't know why I didn't go into Party Planning - I live for this stuff. Anyway, I digress.

Thursday we had our doctor's appointment and everything went VERY well. First off - I love (love love love) our doctor (I'll call her Dr. E) . She's very nice, laid back, informative, and comforting. Weight & blood pressure are on target. Once Dr. E came in (she had laryngitis), she whispered that we can do this in stages - listen to the heartbeat, the entire exam, and then questions. But she likes to do the fun stuff first so we listen to the baby's heartbeat. She said that sometimes it takes a while to find so to just lie back & relax. However, our little overachiever peanut popped up immediately. Dr. E smiled and said "well that didn't take long at all - sounds good, sounds strong - 160 bps". Then we did the exam were she checked everything. She asked how I felt and how different areas of my body felt and explained what was normal. Then she did the internal exam and said that everything feels good and feels like it's growing normally and that overally things look great.

Then she asked if I had questions. And she did it so naturally & comfortably that I didn't feel at all that I was putting her off. I told her I had a bunch and if that was okay. She said if my doctor said no, then I should find a different Obstretician. It made me feel relaxed. We got out the questions - she did more so, because I had a flimsy gown on. I opened my book and her first comment was "well, aren't you organized". To which I just replied "almost to a fault..."

I went thru my questions - I thought I had a lot and she was very good about answering them. Most of my questions were just basic ones but the main ones were about testing & frequency. She said that I will only have 1 more ultrasound (around 18-19wks) unless something happens. I can't wait for that and I just hope the little peanut is cooperating that day so we're able to find out what he/she is. She said at my next appointment, we'll have an AFP test (description below) and that will determine what risk group I fall into and if additional tests (amniocentesis, CVS, etc) will be necessary. There was one question I forgot to ask and I can't believe I forgot because it's been my biggest question - is sleeping on my back harmful??

I had more blood drawn, again I'm a pro. But this time it was because they wanted to screen for Tay-Sachs Disease. I have never heard of this before but they screen if you have French-Canadian or Jewish backgrounds and since I have family in Newfoundland, I thought it be on the safe side to be screened. And I walked away with the biggest bruise in my arm - good thing I don't have to worry about hiding them anymore. Our next appointment is scheduled during Week 17 & then the ultrasound will be scheduled for the following week or two. But overall, things went very well and this appointment really help put me in a state of mind where it truly feels real now. Since the beginning I always knew it would be this appointment that would help me feel more relaxed & excited - and it did just that!

Descriptions for your reading...
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)
This is a plasma protein normally produced by the fetus' liver. AFP eventually finds its way into the mother's blood and the amniotic fluid. When too much or too little AFP enters the mother's blood stream it can be a sign of fetal problems, such as birth defects. High AFP levels in the mother's blood indicates an increased risk of fetal spina bifida, anencephaly, or other malformations. Low AFP levels are associated with an increased risk of Down Syndrome (trisomy 21) and other chromosomal problems. AFP testing is offered to almost all pregnant women in the U.S., ideally between 16 and 18 weeks gestation. Measuring the AFP level is not sufficiently accurate in screening for Downs- AFP testing should be combined with other tests. Don't assume your child has Down syndrome or spina bifida just because you had an abnormal AFP test result. The AFP test assesses risk, it does not diagnose disease. Unfortunately, many abnormal test results are falsely abnormal and do not reflect a problem with the fetus or mother. If the AFP test is abnormal, additional testing should be performed.

Amniocentesis
Sometimes called an "amnio", is usually given to mothers between 15--20 weeks to women 35+, or to those with a family history of birth defects, as well as those with abnormal results in other prenatal tests. This minor surgical diagnostic test allows the doctor to obtain a sample of the amniotic fluid. The amniotic fluid is then analyzed to look for genetic characteristics of the baby or to check on the maturity of the baby’s lungs. The amniocentesis is a common way to obtain material for genetic and other testing of the baby. The doctor inserts a long, thin, hollow needle through the mother's abdomen into the uterus and amniotic fluid. Usually the doctor uses ultrasound imaging to guide the needle. The small amount of fluid removed should not affect the baby. The risk of complications from the procedure is low, but, as with any procedure, complications can occur. Be sure to consult with your doctor before the procedure is performed. Amniocentesis helps the doctor estimate the baby's lung maturity. Because babies often "breathe" amniotic fluid in and out of their lungs inside the womb, the amniotic fluid is chemically similar to the fluid within their lungs. As their lungs mature, the chemical composition changes. These changes can be measured from the amniotic fluid and used to estimate the maturity of the lungs.

Tay Sachs Disease: http://www.ygyh.org/tay/whatisit.htm or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay-Sachs_disease