Second Ultrasound at 8 weeks 5 days

My second and last US with my RE at 8.5 weeks was Monday.  A heartbeat of 165 bpm was heard and a fetus was actually visualised that looked somewhat like a baby!  I got to see the flickering heart, spine, legs, arms, umbilical cord and even fingers!

I have flipped the US picture upside so you can see the baby right side up.  At top is the head and bottom are the legs, an arm is to the left and the umbilical cord is going off to the right towards the yolk sac.

Here is a video of the heartbeat!  My RE said that there is now less than a 3% chance of SAB/miscarriage after hearing the heartbeat for a second time.  Yay!

Honestly, I am still in shock.  Overjoyed and excited, but still in a bit of disbelief.  I just cannot believe it worked on the first round.  I really thought we were going to be like many couples who have to go through heaps of rounds before we met with success.  What faith, hey?  My RE was thrilled though for us, and I am happy for them as well as my data will help their success rate go up in the women over 35 category.

Sadly, I am graduating from my RE office.  I am 9 weeks today and will stop daily progesterone at 10 weeks.  I will then see my midwife (also my preceptor) on 4 January for a new OB appointment where I will be scheduling first trimester screenings at that point due to my age.

I am excited about going forward and am trying to have loads of faith that all will work out fine.  I am thankful for all my friends' and family's support and prayers.  It really means the world to me (and us!).

We Have a Heartbeat!

I am still a bit shocked, to say the least.  I was well prepared to hear the news that there had been an early loss.  I have seen 4 patients in the last 2 weeks with SABs (spontaneous abortions) at the 6 week mark.  I did not even look at the monitor initially and was hoping I would not cry.

Then... there was a heartbeat!

Loud and clear at 135 bpm.  I then looked at the monitor in shock and disbelief!  I still cannot believe that I am actually carrying a baby.  That I am really, truly pregnant.  That our IVF worked on the very first round!  I really thought we would be going through round after round before success would find us.  It is still all very surreal, but I am excited, overwhelmed and elated.  I know there is still a chance for a SAB, but I am holding out hope that each week goes by successfully and healthfully.

I have another 9 week appointment on 26 December.  It will be my last appointment with my RE if all is well.  I will then follow up with a midwifery new OB appointment on 4 January.  I want to do 1st trimester screening as close to 10 weeks as possible as there is a decreased likelihood of false positives at this point.  My biggest fear right now is Down's Syndrome or a fetal anomaly.  I am praying daily for a healthy baby that makes it to term with no complications!

Currently, I am looking into hiring a doula.  They book up fast around here, so I am hoping I can find a good fit and one that is free for my EDD.  My due date is 1 August 2012!

Finally, I will leave you with a picture of our little bean.  Hard to see a fetus here, but the yolk sac is to the left and the fetus is to the right.  This is a great website that shows week to week how a fetus grows as seen via US:  http://www.baby2see.com/development/ultrasound_sonogram/first_trimester_scans.html#week6.

As you can see by the website above, our little bean is right on track for turning into an adorable little baby.