11 Weeks

I had a ten week appointment last week. It went well although they could not find the baby heartbeat this time. Apparently that is normal since it is a little early to hear it with the Doppler. We should definitely be able to hear it in December when we go for my fourteen week appointment.

We had to decide on some prenatal screening tests at this appointment as well. This turned out to be a stressful and very emotional event. Insert pregnancy hormones/emotions here. All I can say is poor Michael. We did decide to do a 1st trimester screening test that I have scheduled for next week. This eliminates some test later in the pregnancy (assuming the test give positive results). The screening is an integrated test that uses an ultrasound measurement of the thickness of the skin at the back of the baby's neck (nuchal translucency) and the blood levels of free beta-HCG and a protein called pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) to check for problems such as down syndrome and other abnormalities. I think this was a hard decision to make because who knows if you really want to know if something is wrong, right? It was difficult but we decided to just go ahead and do it. On a brighter note we will get to see the baby again so I can post those pictures next week.

Michael and I went to Florida to see my mom over the holiday. It was a big weather change from cold North Carolina! But it is good to be home with our puppies that we missed very much. We did come back to a dog with an itching problem. We have to take Cesna to the vet today to see if he has any skin disorders and to get some medicine for his EXTREME itchiness and flaking. The poor dog has snow coming off of his back. Hopefully he will get some relief after the appointment though.