I keep forgetting that I haven't written about our last OB appointment which was exactly 2 weeks ago. Luckily, I had a little reminder yesterday, so I thought I'd better hurry and write about it before it's time for our next appointment.
Our last appointment was April 4th and since I was at 17 1/2 weeks, it was feasible that we'd be able to find out our baby's gender during this appointment. I was looking forward to finding out, but Steve had a gut feeling that Baby wouldn't be accommodating. I knew it was a possibility but had my fingers crossed that we'd find out.
On my way to the doctor's office, I discovered that an accident in the middle of the road was severely slowing down traffic. Fortunately, I found an alternate route but called Steve just to be on the safe side and asked him to let the desk know that I may be a little late. Turns out, I arrived one minute before the appointment. Whew! I hate being late! Steve had already checked in and was told that we could go right on back as soon as I arrived.
We went into the back where a nurse showed Steve immediately into a room while I gave a urine sample in the ladies room. Our doctor, Dr. J, arrived in the room within a minute of me sitting down. It's one of the things I love most about this clinic - very little wait time! They are either extremely organized or we've been extremely lucky both times we've been there. Either way, it's been very nice.
Dr. J asked right away if we wanted to know Baby's gender. We said we did and she had me hop up on the table. The three times I've had ultrasounds, I've been warned that the gel was going to be wet and cold but I can't feel it at all thanks to last summer's tummy tuck. It always makes Steve and I chuckle just a bit...because we're easily amused. It's pretty cool to hear Baby's heartbeat and to try to figure out what we're seeing on the screen. I can make out the head and heart easily but that's about it. Sometimes I can't wrap my head around the fact that there is a living human being (thankfully a small one) inside of me. I honestly never planned on having a kid, so it's still kind of freaking me out.
Anyhoo, Baby wasn't cooperative; its legs were crossed and "we" couldn't see anything that indicated whether it's a girl or a boy. I'm not sure Steve and I could have figured out what we were seeing even if its legs had been spread wide open. I'm glad that there are people who are trained and gifted enough to know what they're seeing and can then tell us. Dr. J rubbed the wand up and down and around my belly fairly rigorously to try to get the baby to move around. When it finally did, the cord was in the way, so she tried again. Baby ended up on its back with its toes almost touching its head. Still couldn't see what its gender was. We told Dr. J that we were fine with waiting until next time, so she stopped trying to get it to move around and started taking a couple measurements. Baby seems healthy and growing normally, which is what really matters.
Our next appointment was supposed to be 4 weeks later but that is right during our vacation to Canada, so we're going back the following week, May 9th. They also scheduled the Target Ultrasound appointment for the following week. I guess during this appointment they take all sorts of measurements to make sure everything is progressing according to schedule. That's for the 16th, the day after my birthday! So, if we're unable to learn the baby's gender on the 9th, we'll only have to wait one week for another go. Fortunately, our insurance pays for an ultrasound at every appointment.
I think my mom, dad, and stepmom were more disappointed that we didn't find out than we were. Steve was prepared to not find out and that had tempered my excitement just a bit, so although I was disappointed, it wasn't too big of a deal. I still have no feeling one way or the other as to whether we're having a girl or boy. We think about names but haven't chosen one and won't until we know the gender...if then. We'll probably be unsure until right before, or maybe not until right after, the baby is born. Naming a baby is much more serious than naming a dog. *smile*
Our last appointment was April 4th and since I was at 17 1/2 weeks, it was feasible that we'd be able to find out our baby's gender during this appointment. I was looking forward to finding out, but Steve had a gut feeling that Baby wouldn't be accommodating. I knew it was a possibility but had my fingers crossed that we'd find out.
On my way to the doctor's office, I discovered that an accident in the middle of the road was severely slowing down traffic. Fortunately, I found an alternate route but called Steve just to be on the safe side and asked him to let the desk know that I may be a little late. Turns out, I arrived one minute before the appointment. Whew! I hate being late! Steve had already checked in and was told that we could go right on back as soon as I arrived.
We went into the back where a nurse showed Steve immediately into a room while I gave a urine sample in the ladies room. Our doctor, Dr. J, arrived in the room within a minute of me sitting down. It's one of the things I love most about this clinic - very little wait time! They are either extremely organized or we've been extremely lucky both times we've been there. Either way, it's been very nice.
Dr. J asked right away if we wanted to know Baby's gender. We said we did and she had me hop up on the table. The three times I've had ultrasounds, I've been warned that the gel was going to be wet and cold but I can't feel it at all thanks to last summer's tummy tuck. It always makes Steve and I chuckle just a bit...because we're easily amused. It's pretty cool to hear Baby's heartbeat and to try to figure out what we're seeing on the screen. I can make out the head and heart easily but that's about it. Sometimes I can't wrap my head around the fact that there is a living human being (thankfully a small one) inside of me. I honestly never planned on having a kid, so it's still kind of freaking me out.
Anyhoo, Baby wasn't cooperative; its legs were crossed and "we" couldn't see anything that indicated whether it's a girl or a boy. I'm not sure Steve and I could have figured out what we were seeing even if its legs had been spread wide open. I'm glad that there are people who are trained and gifted enough to know what they're seeing and can then tell us. Dr. J rubbed the wand up and down and around my belly fairly rigorously to try to get the baby to move around. When it finally did, the cord was in the way, so she tried again. Baby ended up on its back with its toes almost touching its head. Still couldn't see what its gender was. We told Dr. J that we were fine with waiting until next time, so she stopped trying to get it to move around and started taking a couple measurements. Baby seems healthy and growing normally, which is what really matters.
Our next appointment was supposed to be 4 weeks later but that is right during our vacation to Canada, so we're going back the following week, May 9th. They also scheduled the Target Ultrasound appointment for the following week. I guess during this appointment they take all sorts of measurements to make sure everything is progressing according to schedule. That's for the 16th, the day after my birthday! So, if we're unable to learn the baby's gender on the 9th, we'll only have to wait one week for another go. Fortunately, our insurance pays for an ultrasound at every appointment.
I think my mom, dad, and stepmom were more disappointed that we didn't find out than we were. Steve was prepared to not find out and that had tempered my excitement just a bit, so although I was disappointed, it wasn't too big of a deal. I still have no feeling one way or the other as to whether we're having a girl or boy. We think about names but haven't chosen one and won't until we know the gender...if then. We'll probably be unsure until right before, or maybe not until right after, the baby is born. Naming a baby is much more serious than naming a dog. *smile*