Ultrasound at 6 weeks 4 days

A week passed by so quickly it seems. I met with the midwife the day after my first ultrasound and things went well. She explained the entire process to me and made sure I understood that they were about informed decisions regarding every stage of pregnancy. From testing to pain management to home or hospital birth. I was particularly impressed with their post partum care. The team of 3 midwives are with you on the day of your birth and stay with you for 4 hours following to make sure you are comfortable being with and feeding the baby. Then they return within 24 hours to check in with you. Then over the next 10 days, they visit you and the baby at home 4 times. Then at the 2 week, 4 week and 6 week mark, you and the baby travel to the office for weigh-ins and to make sure everything is fine. Overall I was blown away by how easy it was to talk to them and how friendly and involved they were. She gave me a huge packet of brochures with things to read on pregnancy care, and some of the testing I could elect to have done.

The one thing she did mention to have done, was to call my family doctor and have him perform a blood test to check my progesterone levels, as a low level is a concern for miscarriages, but can be corrected if caught. I called and scheduled for the next day. I got the results returned to me this Monday and my level was 35. A normal level for a pregnant woman at 6 weeks is anywhere between 16 and 130. So I was fine. As long as its over 16, you really don't have to worry.

The midwife called me Monday afternoon and informed me that she received the ultrasound report from my first scan, and that because it was so early, they wanted to have another one done tomorrow. She mentioned that they couldn't see a heartbeat and that's really something you want to see to know your pregnancy is more viable.

After hanging up with her, my mind went to the worst places. "What if I go tomorrow and there still isn't a heart beat?" "What if its just an empty sac?" It was going to be a long 24 hour wait.

Having a horrible nights sleep, and waking up with an uneasy stomach due to nerves, 230pm finally rolled around. We new Rob wouldn't be allowed in because it was going to be another internal ultrasound, he patiently waited at work while I went to the appointment.

I check in and am ushered to a room where I lay on the table waiting for the tech. This time the screen was more angled towards me and the second she inserted the scanner, I saw a lump in the sac. I excitedly cried "That's a baby!" She turned the screen further towards me and said yes, it indeed was a baby and then pointed at the screen, and said "that little flicker there is that heartbeat"..... I couldn't help myself. I wave of relief washed over me and the tears started to flow. I had worked myself up for nothing. The baby was there and the heart was beating...at 125 beats per minute to be exact!

She continued with the exam and took all kinds of measurements and in the end said everything looked perfect and healthy at this point in the pregnancy. She printed off 3 pictures so that I could show them to Rob.

When I got out, I called him and he quite blatantly told me "I told you so!" He never wavered for a second when the midwife called. He didn't spend the night sleepless, or have his stomach in knots all day, he knew this baby was perfectly fine.

Needless to say, I'm so happy. Now that a heartbeat has been confirmed the risk of miscarriage drops significantly and now we just have to make it to 12 weeks to really spread the news.

Its finally sinking in, We're having a baby! There's a heartbeat! Its a little person in side me. I can't wait to meet him/her! Hurry up February!