Still extremely nauseas around the clock... check!
Eating for 3... check!
Switch to maternity pants... check!
Nuchal Translucency Scan... check!!
Nuchal what now? Yep, you know, the NT scan where they measure the back of the baby's neck to assess their risk of having Down Syndrome. It's offered to all pregnant women between 11-13 weeks. Apparently during this period the back of the baby's neck is still translucent so they can measure the amount of fluid back there. Baby's with Down's have more fluid, and also lack a nasal bone at this point (you can see Kenzo's scan here, which was done at 13 weeks). Just before heading off to my high risk sonogram clinic today, I read a post from a mom in my Multiples group who went for her NT scan only to discover both of her babies' hearts had stopped beating, which kind of brought back the reality of that risk still being very real even this far along! Agh. I was a bit nervous during my 45 minute walk to the clinic!!
But... everything is GOOD!! Both babies' necks and noses were absolutely perfect. They were both measuring a few days ahead (Baby A was 12w3d and Baby B was 12w5d), which is fine, always good when they're the same size and measuring close to their gestational age (which today is 11w6d)!
Eating for 3... check!
Switch to maternity pants... check!
Nuchal Translucency Scan... check!!
Nuchal what now? Yep, you know, the NT scan where they measure the back of the baby's neck to assess their risk of having Down Syndrome. It's offered to all pregnant women between 11-13 weeks. Apparently during this period the back of the baby's neck is still translucent so they can measure the amount of fluid back there. Baby's with Down's have more fluid, and also lack a nasal bone at this point (you can see Kenzo's scan here, which was done at 13 weeks). Just before heading off to my high risk sonogram clinic today, I read a post from a mom in my Multiples group who went for her NT scan only to discover both of her babies' hearts had stopped beating, which kind of brought back the reality of that risk still being very real even this far along! Agh. I was a bit nervous during my 45 minute walk to the clinic!!
But... everything is GOOD!! Both babies' necks and noses were absolutely perfect. They were both measuring a few days ahead (Baby A was 12w3d and Baby B was 12w5d), which is fine, always good when they're the same size and measuring close to their gestational age (which today is 11w6d)!
I wasn't prepared for how active they were on the screen. Last time I saw them they still resembled little jelly beans, but this time they've definitely taken human form and were just scissor kicking and karate chopping up a storm!! In my keepsake photos, you can't see much in the way of limbs, but in the live video you could see arms and legs and profiles. I was giggling like a school girl it was just really really cool to see them dancing around in me, especially since I can't feel them doing so yet.
They also did a blood test, which combined with the scans and another blood test at 16 weeks will give a better assessment of the risk of Down's along with some other chromosomal disorders. I guess if something comes back high risk, you have the option of doing a more invasive test such as an Amnio, but I'm pretty sure we'd pass on that since it comes with a 1% risk of miscarriage!! No thanks!! Some people don't even do the Nuchal scan because they don't want to have pointless worry, but for me, I like to have my mind put at ease when they tell me everything looks good, which they did this time and also with Kenzo last time, phew!
I also wasn't prepared for the schedule the doctor set forth for me. My next visit will be at 16 weeks (hopefully we can determine genders!!) and from there I'll have to get scanned every other week til 28 weeks, and from there every week!!! And that's just the high risk clinic, my OB/Midwives have their own schedule, so pretty much it's like weekly or bi-weekly visits starting in a month. UGH!! Very annoying, but at the same time it's nice to be able to see and hear the babies that often and just be reassured that all looks good!
I haven't had a chance to take a belly shot recently, it's not a cute bump anyway but rather a bloated pooch, so here's an idea of what's going on via babycenter.com :)
They also did a blood test, which combined with the scans and another blood test at 16 weeks will give a better assessment of the risk of Down's along with some other chromosomal disorders. I guess if something comes back high risk, you have the option of doing a more invasive test such as an Amnio, but I'm pretty sure we'd pass on that since it comes with a 1% risk of miscarriage!! No thanks!! Some people don't even do the Nuchal scan because they don't want to have pointless worry, but for me, I like to have my mind put at ease when they tell me everything looks good, which they did this time and also with Kenzo last time, phew!
I also wasn't prepared for the schedule the doctor set forth for me. My next visit will be at 16 weeks (hopefully we can determine genders!!) and from there I'll have to get scanned every other week til 28 weeks, and from there every week!!! And that's just the high risk clinic, my OB/Midwives have their own schedule, so pretty much it's like weekly or bi-weekly visits starting in a month. UGH!! Very annoying, but at the same time it's nice to be able to see and hear the babies that often and just be reassured that all looks good!
I haven't had a chance to take a belly shot recently, it's not a cute bump anyway but rather a bloated pooch, so here's an idea of what's going on via babycenter.com :)
Photo credit: Baby Center
One more week til I'm officially out of the first trimester, not that it's a magical point where the nausea will stop, but here's hoping!!!
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