12 Week Doctor's Appointment

So I had my 12 week check up. Matt and Bailey both came because as you know they listen for the heartbeat at 12 weeks. So my Dr. comes in and is so excited about babies. He is really funny and sweet, i think i may request him all the time.(there are 8 Dr.'s in this office) Anyway, so I get up on the table and he dose the little sound monitor on my stomach and we couldn't hear the heartbeat. He said it was probably because my uterus tilts backwards. Needless to say thoughts of problems crept into my mind. He was just asking me questions and telling me when to set up my 16 week check up...and all i could think about was if the baby was ok. He was so kind and could tell that i was disappointed, so he asked if i wanted to have an ultrasound, if they could squeeze me in. Of course, i said yes. So we had to wait about 20 minutes, but they got us in. The technician was telling us she could only check for the fetal heart rate and that was it, but she couldn't find it either. She decided to do an internal ultrasound, yuck. I was so glad she did though, the baby was fine. The heart rate was great and i actually got to see it on the screen. It was kicking and moving so much. Weird that i can't even feel it. So i got a nice surprise, since i have never gotten to see a baby on an ultrasound at the 12 week stage. It was so awesome, even though Bailey did try to open the door while I was on the table. That could have been embarrassing. Anyway, all is well in baby land and I am so excited to find out what this little one is:)



Fetal Development

Your baby weighs about 14 grams and is about 2-1/2 inches in length. His or her reflexes are functioning, and the digestive tract is active and secreting bile - all to prepare your baby for life outside of your body. Stem cells, the "mother cells" that will become heart, brain, liver, bone, blood, nerve, and immune cells, continue to differentiate to form your baby's major organs. Although your baby's brain continues to grow, the components now have the same structure they will have at birth. If your OB or midwife uses a fetal Doppler, you may be able to listen to your baby's heartbeat - many moms-to-be are amazed by how fast it is. This may be the sweetest sound you have ever heard.