8 Weeks and 4 Days

After our last dr's visit, I had prepared myself for the worst.  If I was to miscarry, I just hoped that it wouldn't be during our vacation in Louisville. As we headed to the USA Volleyball Adults Nationals in Louisville, KY, I prayed.  Lord, if it is your will, then so be it.. but please not while we are on vacation.  I wouldn't know where the hospitals were.. and I surely didn't want it to mess everything up for Jeremy's team.  I had already had such a wonderful experience being pregnant, so I would just be grateful for the time I was given.
During our trip, at the end of every day I thought, thank you for giving me an extra day.  When we got home I thought, okay, we are safe at home.. I know where the hospitals are and where we need to go.  Thank you Lord for allowing me that time to enjoy being pregnant!  This morning we headed to our scheduled ultrasound.  I had no idea if the baby was going to measure the size it should, if we'd hear a heartbeat.. or if we'd be told there was something else wrong!  I laid on the table as the ultrasound tech did her thing.  It was only a few brief minutes before she was assuring me everything looked good.  She turned the monitor towards us and we heard the most beautiful sound I have heard in my life.. our baby's heartbeat.  Very strong and very loud!  We even saw it do a little jerking move.  The tech says, did you see that?!  Yes I did! I was finally able to actually see our sweet baby! I asked, is it measuring okay?  Yes, she says, exactly as it should at 8 weeks and 4 days!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

We moved to the patient room and waited for the dr.  When he came in we talked about medication, measurements and chances of miscarriage (of course).  First he asked if I'd like to change the type of progesterone I was using.  Nah.. it's only a few more weeks.. I'll stick with the injections. Then he says I can lower my dose of estrogen.  Right now I do estrogen injections every three days.. so I ask.. can I do the same dosage just every 6 days??  No, he says, just half the amount every three days.  Seriously?!  That doesn't do me ANY favors!!  Then he says, you can move to the pill form.  Well why didn't you say that!  SOLD!  I'll take a daily pill.. sign me up!  One less injection for me, yay!  He then mentions that the gestational sac is still measuring small, only 6 weeks and 4 days.  He doesn't seem concerned though since we have a very strong heartbeat and the baby is measuring spot on.  He said that the kidneys will be forming this week so he thinks this might help increase the size.  He said that the sac might always be smaller than it should.  When he releases me at 10 1/2 weeks we'd just have to share that info with the OB.  And if we asked them why it was small.. they'd just say they weren't sure either.  I ask, does this still mean I have an increased risk of miscarriage?  He motions with his fingers, very, very small.  He says, once you reach 9 weeks your chance of miscarriage drops to 1% though.  9 weeks?!  3 more days?!  I can do this!!!  I mention my recent nausea to him.  Ever since I hit 8 weeks exactly, I've had nausea every night.  He says, Nausea is good.. we like nausea.  Well I'm glad you do.. but I'm not a big fan of it! lol.  He asks if I'd like a prescription for something that can help with it.  "It's completely safe for the baby".  No thanks.  It's nausea.  It's not painful.. just more of an annoyance.  I don't want to take anything more than I have to.  I just feel like you can never be too sure with medications and if I don't absolutely HAVE to take it..then I don't want to. So overall he seemed very positive (of course he usually always is, lol) and we scheduled our last appointment with him in two weeks.