Boy or Girl!?

Everything is going well. I am nearly to 5 months, which is very difficult to believe.


Mr.A was able to feel baby kick on Sunday for the first time which was very exciting. I cannot wait for the movements to be more pronounced so there is no mistaking it.


We go on Monday to the MFM for my anatomy scan. I am so excited to see baby again and see how much he/she has grown and changed.


The anatomy scan will consist of the MFM measuring the arms, legs, checking the organ functions and finding out the sex.


There are quite a few old wives tales out there that predict baby's sex, here are my results:


Old Wives Tale #1: Heart Rate
If the baby’s heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl. If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy. Prediction outcome: GIRL, baby's heartrate has been consistently of 140bpm (8w - 175, 10w - 156, 12w - 162, 14w - 164, 18w - 148).

Old Wives Tale #2: Shape of Belly
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy. Prediction outcome: BOY, I seem to be carrying low and straight out.


Old Wives Tale #3: Ring Test
Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly. You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth and it’s a boy if it swings in a circle. Prediction outcome: INCONCLUSIVE, I never did this...

Old Wives Tale #4: Acne
If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl. It’s thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones. Prediction outcome: GIRL, I have had some raging awful pimples but for the most part my skin has been fairly clear. Though I attribute my nice skin to my new Yes to Carrots organic face wash.

Old Wives Tale #5: Cravings
People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy. If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl. Prediction outcome: GIRL, I have really been craving and loving sweets, but salty foods have been satisfying.

Old Wives Tale #6: Skin under Left Eye
The eye test is when a “V” or “branches” appear when you pull down the skin under your left eye. If you see a “V” or “branches” in the white part, you’re having a girl. Prediction outcome: GIRL (what a weird one....)

Old Wives Tale #7: Legs
If your legs get really big, you’re having a boy. If your legs stay in shape and lean, it’s a girl. Prediction outcome: BOY, I've given up on pre-pregnancy clothes all together I highly doubt I could fit into the legs of my old jeans right now.


Old Wives Tale #8: Moodiness
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you. Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy Prediction outcome: GIRL,  I've been moody and have gotten irrationally upset very easily during my pregnancy.

Old Wives Tale #9: Chinese Gender Chart
The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%. It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived. Prediction outcome: BOY, based on date of conception. If the next day, it would be girl.

Old Wives Tale #10: Mom’s Beauty
Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy. It is said that the girl “steals” the mother’s beauty. If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, a little boy it is. Prediction outcome: BOY, I feel prettier and sexier than I ever have and often don't even wear make-up.


Old Wives Tale #11: Dream of Sex of Baby
If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy. Dreams show the opposite of what you are having. Prediction outcome: GIRL, I've felt girl but have dreamt of boy.

Old Wives Tale #12: Clumsy vs. Graceful
If the pregnant mother is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she’s having a girl. If she becomes clumsy, she’s having a boy. Prediction outcome: GIRL, I am usually clumsy and have been doing very well this pregnancy.

Old Wives Tale #13: Side You Most Rest On
If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she’s having a boy. If she prefers resting on her right side, she’s having a girl. Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #14: Dad’s Weight Gain
If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, it’s a girl. If he doesn’t gain weight, you’re having a boy. Prediction outcome: BOY
Old Wives Tale #15: Breast Test
If a pregnant woman’s left breast is larger than the right breast, she’s having a girl. If the right breast is larger, it’s a boy. Prediction outcome: INCONCLUSIVE

Old Wives Tale #16: What Do You Think?
71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having. Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #17: Morning Sickness
If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it’s a boy. If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl. Prediction outcome: BOY, I have only been queasy and nauseous and have actually been sick one time.

Old Wives Tale #18: Areolae
If your areolae (the part around your nips) have darkened, it’s a boy. If they haven't, its a girl. Prediction outcome: GIRL


Old Wives Tale #19: Protein
When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy. Prediction outcome: GIRL, all I have wanted since the first tri is carbs. Occasionally I will crave a burger, but carbs are always apealling.


Old Wives Tale #20: Feet
Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant? If so, you just might be having a boy. If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, you’re having a little girl. Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #21: Headaches
If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy. Prediction outcome: BOY

Old Wives Tale #22: Baby Names
It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particularly baby.  Prediction outcome: BOY, we have agreed on two possibilities for boys whereas we haven't agreed on girls.


Old Wives Tale #23: Urine
What color is your pee? If it is bright yellow, you will have a little boy. If your urine is a dull yellow, plan on a girl. Prediction outcome: GIRL


The results are ...... 13 to 7, GIRL. I guess we will find out for sure on Monday!

Happy and Healthy

A lot of women say they do not care about the sex of their child, just that the baby is healthy. I guess since the phrase is so commonplace, it is considered cliché. But honest to goodness, I’ve been praying for this child for such a long time, I couldn’t care less about the sex, as long as baby is healthy.

I’ve loved my Sonaline B Fetal Doppler a friend let me borrow and have used it once (or twice) a week since week 10 when I was first able to find the heartbeat. After two losses, It has been priceless reassurance that baby’s heart is still beating away especially between appointments.  However, I have a feeling that I won’t need to use it as frequently anymore.

I can feel baby moving, and have even felt a couple of kicks here and there!! A few people have told me that it is too early, but honestly I’ve felt the “pops” and “flutters” for weeks. On Friday, I was lying quietly on the couch with my hand on my lower belly and felt the oddest sensation from the inside and out; my little baby kicking.

Only 13 more days until our appointment with our MFM and our anatomy scan.

*Pop*

I’ve officially “popped” as they say. My photos week to week show a significant difference between my 16^th and 17^th week. Although I had not planned on sharing the photos until I had finished the second trimester, I think I will make an exception.

4 Months (16 weeks)

4 Month + 1 Week (17 Weeks)

If you cannot tell from the above photos, I am 100% in maternity clothes now and decided yesterday that I won’t be even attempting to try on pre-pregnancy clothes for a very long time.

I went in today for my 18w appointment with my OB. Everything was perfect. Baby's heart is beating away at 148bpm, I am officially up 10lbs and my belly is measuring right on track.

One down, two to go

Trimesters that is.

I went in for my 14w appointment yesterday and met a new doctor in the practice. She congratulated me on “making it to the big leagues” and beginning the second trimester. She really doesn’t have any idea what an amazing accomplishment this milestone is for me.

We did my second blood glucose test, since they lost the first one. Took my weight and blood pressure, and listened to baby on the Doppler. She said all of my blood work looks great, but that they want to continue to monitor my thyroid every 4 weeks to make sure it remains stable.

She let me know that the office is at my beck and call, and if I ever have any problems, issues, concerns, to call day-or-night. It is nice to know I won’t be left in the dark. The only negative about my OB’s practice is that they have 5 or 6 doctors that rotate being on-call; therefore, I have no idea who I will be delivering with. That said I am rotating appointments with all of the OBs as I progress so I can at least have a comfort level with each of them.

My next OB appointment is scheduled for 18 weeks and hopefully it is as quick and easy as this one.

So far, all is well. I continue to pray daily for a safe and healthy baby.

Progression of d'Bump

I really do not have much of a "bump" to show, but would like to share my monthly "progression" pictures form the first trimester. 


There isn't much of a difference so far, but I've noticed my clothes fitting tighter and my belly being a little harder to hide these days.

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

Letting myself get excited; finally!

As little BB has met each milestone, I’ve let myself get a little more optimistic, but after yesterday’s appointment, I am flat out excited.

After my morning fiascos, Mr.A and I went to the Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM), Perinatal Specialist yesterday afternoon. It was more than an hour away, and the waiting room was jam packed.

Mr.A and I had originally decided to opt out of the First Trimester (NT Scan) Screening. The scan looks for markers that indicate a higher risk for Downs Syndrome and Trisomy 13 and 18. We knew that even with a positive result, it wouldn’t change our minds about the pregnancy or our baby.

When we entered the room, to our surprise it wasn’t a “consult” room at all, but an ultrasound room. The tech entered, and said merely that the doctor highly recommended the test, but that it was our choice if we wanted to forego it. The possibility of seeing BB again outweighed our concerns of a false positive, so we decided to give it a go.

This ultrasound was my first “on top of the belly”, and it was really nice not to have to show the world my goods.

She immediately found little BB kicking and squirming away. He/she was so active; moving arms, legs, flipping around, scrunching up and stretching out. It was incredible!  The little blob turned gummy bear, actually looks and acts like a little, tiny baby.  Their equipment was phenomenal, and they could see the blood flow through BB’s major organs, see the heart and brain, and even down to his/her tiny little fingers.

They printed a couple of photos, but they were slightly bent up in my purse so the scanned images aren’t great. See for yourself:

The doctor joined us, and completed my NT Scan. Little BB’s measurement was 1.3mm, completely normal. The doctor was sweet and told me several times that I have a perfect little baby, and that it is time to let myself get excited; so I am.

Edited to Add: The MFM called me to give me the results from our scan. Our odds of having a child with Downs Syndrome based solely on age, was 1 in 906; after the scan, those odds are now 1 in over 10,000. The odds of having a child with Trisomy 13 or 18 were 1:1,666, and are now 1 in over 10,000. She said these are the best possible results we could get, so we are beyond thrilled.

Mondays are Rough

Yesterday started out rough. Early in the day, I called my OB’s office to see if they had received my records from my RE. I was furious when they said they did not. While I was talking with the nurse, I decided to ask her for my results from my 1Hr Glucose test I took May 25^th. After being put through to a couple of different people’s voicemail, I finally got a call back that they had either “lost or mishandled” my blood specimen, and I would need to repeat the test.

::insert nearly hysterical breakdown here::

First, I was already upset with my RE’s office for their complete incompetence when it comes to transferring records; I mean 5 weeks, really!?  Then, I was upset that not only did they lose or mishandle  my blood, and  I would have to repeat the test, but worse than that, they didn’t even know it until I asked. Before I left the day of the 1Hr test, the phlebotomist specifically said, “You don’t need to call for the results, if you don’t receive a call, everything is good to go.”

I’ve always made an effort to be my own advocate in my healthcare, and always ask others to do the same for themselves, but now, I am afraid our healthcare system is even more messed up than I originally thought. It is funny though, all of this happened and I guarantee my insurance will still get the bill for the blood work – because that is how everything works. 

Maybe my hormones are out of whack – well never mind, I know they are – but goodness gracious people, I shouldn’t have to do my job and yours too.