OB Appointment

I had my fourth month OB appointment today. Weigh in was a new experience for me, as the nurse had to push the bottom weight up to the next rung. After months of fertility treatments and 17 weeks of pregnancy, I am now heavier than I have ever been in my life, although she declared my weight gain to this point to be "perfect." She also said that I haven't even hit my growth spurt as far as weight gain yet and that should be either the next appointment or the one after that. After all we've been through, I honestly didn't think that the weight gain would really phase me, but I am still a woman at heart. When you've spent your whole life avoiding the climbing numbers on the scale, it is a change of mindset, to be sure. Ultimately, so long as the baby is healthy, I will be fine.

I had also not had a pelvic exam or pap smear to this point - I had asked that it not happen during the first trimester. With the pressure that I have been feeling lately, I actually requested one today. It was more uncomfortable than I was expecting, though not painful. Dr. S said that my cervix seemed nice and tight - completely normal, but that he would put a note on my chart to have them specifically look at it during next week's anatomy scan, since I am worried about it (he is not). He also warned me that the exam and pap smear would cause spotting and not to let it concern me.

In spite of his warning, I am still a little unnerved by the spotting. It was light pink this morning and has turned to brown, and logically, I know it is normal. But after so many miscarriages that started with brown sludge, it is hard to emotionally not freak out when I see it on the TP or my liner.

Of course, they always save the best for last, so we concluded with a listen to our baby's heartbeat. It was at a rousing 144 BPM. My husband asked how they could tell the difference between my heartbeat and the baby's, and he let us listen to the subtle sound variations between the two. Once he pointed it out, it was actually easy for us to differentiate. Of course, if my heart rate was that high, it would be cause for concern, but I am pretty darn nervous for these appointments, so you never know.

What is so neat is how fast he is now able to find that beautiful beat. It used to take a few minutes of probing, but now, you can hear it almost immediately after the doppler makes contact.

So, I have a clean bill of health until next month's appointment. Our anatomy scan is next Monday, when we will know whether this little one is a boy or a girl. I can't wait!