Awesome... Her doc said the appointment coming up (11-12 weeks) is basically a routine gynecologist exam (pelvic) and listen to the heartbeat.

When will we have another ultrasound? 15-16 weeks to determine gender?

9/22/2012 3:37:37 PM

There is an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy (You're past that.) Then the ultrasound for the heart beat. Sometimes the first trimester screen with the nuchal scan is done at that time or for another appointment around that same time frame 11ish weeks. Then there is the ultrasound (around 20 wks) where you'll discover the sex of the baby, placenta location, etc. Late in pregnancy, if the doctor cannot confirm the baby's position, they may do an ultrasound to make sure the baby is head down. Other than that, I cannot think of any other routine ultrasounds unless there are pregnancy difficulties or abnormalities.

[Edited on September 22, 2012 at 3:54 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2012 3:53:46 PM

I think they said the nuchal scan is up to us and has to be scheduled and completed at another location.. or maybe I'm thinking about something else?

9/22/2012 4:00:16 PM

The nuchal scan is something that you choose to do. I think that where it is done just depends on your office. With my last baby, I was able to do it at my regular OB/GYNs office. But with the first one, I think I had to go to their main office because they didn't have the same equipment at their second location.

9/22/2012 4:28:10 PM

Yep, we only did the nuchal scan because my insurance pays for it as a routine test. I think that's highly unusual for insurance companies to pay for it when you're under the age of 34 or whatever it is.

So far we've had five ultrasounds, which again is unusual here I think. We had one at 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 13 weeks (nuchal), 22 weeks (anatomy scan), and 26 weeks (placenta check). I can't imagine we'll need another one before this pregnancy is done but who knows

9/24/2012 8:48:11 AM

i had one US at 8 weeks to make sure everything was okay bc i had some slight bleeding, another one at 12(?) weeks which was standard, and another at 20(?) weeks for the anatomy scan. that was it. they only did additional ultrasounds if something was wrong. i opted out of the nuchal scan.

[Edited on September 24, 2012 at 10:40 AM. Reason : i'm a little fuzzy on the exact week #]

9/24/2012 10:39:35 AM

I had an ultrasound at 8w6d (dating scan to confirm gestational age and due date). Then I had another at 12w4d (first trimester genetic screening). Our next ultrasound is next week, which will be at 18w6d (anatomy scan and hopefully gender determination).

We opted to do the first trimester genetic screening (blood test + ultrasound) since (a) our insurance pays for it even though I'm not 35+, and (b) it has a higher rate of detection than the routine second trimester screening. You'd think the farther along, the higher the detection rate, but I guess the specialized bloodwork combined with ultrasound is better.

9/24/2012 8:06:34 PM

My insurance covered the first trimester screen and I was definitely not over 35. The screening is nice because it helps you prepare. With my second, we didn't even make it past the nuchal scan to do the blood work. Everything stopped right there because she had a cystic hygroma. We were sent to a perinatologist that day to discuss our options. We obviosly chose to continue the pregnancy, but did a CVS for a chromosome count and referred to pediatric cardiology for a prenatal cardiogram later in the pregnancy. And so no one was surprised when she was tiny and blue at birth and needed to go to the NICU.

Yes, the anatomy screen would have done the sane thing later in the pregnancy, but I'm an information whore.

9/24/2012 10:59:52 PM

Did anybody else get a flu shot while pregnant?

9/25/2012 11:53:18 AM

I'm getting mine when the shot-mobile comes to my office. I think that's next week.

9/25/2012 12:05:20 PM

ok

I was asked if I wanted to get one this morning at my OBGYN appointment. They said that if I decided that I wanted to get one and didnt want to wait for my next OBGYN appointment, I can just go to CVS and get one.

The stuff the doctor said about what could happen if you get the flu while pregnant was pretty scary.

[Edited on September 25, 2012 at 12:13 PM. Reason : r]

9/25/2012 12:12:36 PM

Yeah I'd definitely just rather deal with my arm feeling like crap for a couple days than getting the flu while pregnant. They offered it for me at my last OB appointment but I figured I'd just wait until work gives them out since it gives me an excuse to leave my desk.

9/25/2012 12:23:57 PM

My parents are going out of town this weekend so my mom wants me to wait until Friday or Saturday to get the flu shot in case it makes me feel icky. We both can't be out of the office at the same time so if I get the flu shot Friday afternoon then it gives me the weekend to recover.

9/25/2012 1:13:06 PM

i got one while pregnant. i've never felt bad after getting the flu shot & didn't while pregnant either, and i have a fucked up immune system.

9/25/2012 5:04:03 PM

Yeah my wife's doctor told her to get the flu shot and that she strongly recommended it for pregnant women.

Also, on the topic of ultrasounds, we had the first one at 8 weeks and were told we wouldn't have another one until probably 20 weeks.

I can't get a solid answer from my insurance whether the nuchal scan thing is covered or not... our doctor gave us a code to use with the insurance but when I gave it to them, they said it was for an office visit?

we have State Health Plan of NC.

9/25/2012 6:17:57 PM

Today is Day #1 of Clomid. Fingers crossed this works. Side effects are not too bad (maybe because I'm on a half dosage). Only difference I can feel is dizziness. But nothing else so far.

9/25/2012 6:48:17 PM

So I went ahead and got my flu shot yesterday at Walgreens

They have one that is "preservative free" that they reccomend for children under 36 months and pregnant women. Arm feels fine today.

So if you are going to get a flu shot, ask if they have the preservative free one

9/26/2012 7:17:41 AM

Good luck Beethoven!

9/26/2012 8:44:50 AM

Quote :

"Also, on the topic of ultrasounds, we had the first one at 8 weeks and were told we wouldn't have another one until probably 20 weeks. I can't get a solid answer from my insurance whether the nuchal scan thing is covered or not... our doctor gave us a code to use with the insurance but when I gave it to them, they said it was for an office visit? we have State Health Plan of NC."

You could try calling the specialist that does the scan and ask to talk to their billing department. I'm sure you're not the first person to go in there using that insurance so they may know if it has been covered in the past. Of course that's not a guarantee that it'll be covered but at least gives you an idea. Also maybe try calling back your insurance company and ask to speak to someone else if the first person is unsure. I had to talk to four different people at my insurance company to figure out if lactation consultation is covered by my plan.

9/26/2012 8:56:32 AM

Quote :

"I can't get a solid answer from my insurance whether the nuchal scan thing is covered or not... our doctor gave us a code to use with the insurance but when I gave it to them, they said it was for an office visit? "

My doctor gave me codes for the nuchal scan so that I could check with our insurance company. There were 3 codes I had to give to the insurance company. The office visit, the specialized bloodwork, and the ultrasound each had their own code. Those were the procedure codes, and I think there might have also been a "reason" code as well, but I can't remember without looking at the paper (which I don't have with me right now).

9/26/2012 12:15:37 PM

Wow. Didn't realize some people get that many ultrasounds.

We have three kids and my wife got two ultrasounds for each one. 8 wks and 20 wks

9/26/2012 12:37:22 PM

In some countries monthly ultrasounds are standard practice.

9/26/2012 1:36:34 PM

I had one at 8 weeks

Another at 12 weeks--They were just going to listen to the heartbeat but they couldn't find it. So they wheeled in a portable ultrasound machine to make sure that everything was okay. Scariest few minutes of my life.

One at 22 weeks

4D ultrasound at 28 weeks--done at "My Womb With A View" in Chapel Hill

I'd like to see my baby more but I can live with just hearing his heartbeat at every appointment

9/26/2012 2:14:54 PM

Good luck, Beethoven!

For the NT scan, everyone should be covered. It is recommended by ACOG and that usually guarantees an insurance company to cover it. But like someone else mentioned, call the specialist office and just explain you need the codes for insurance. Even people like me have to do that it's not a bother.

And I am saying this now because someone else had mentioned it before (I believe Beethoven) - if anyone is offered noninvasive prenatal testing in the future, I would recommend Harmony. We currently have to offer MaterniT21 and you might have that one brought up, but honestly Harmony (from Integrated Genetics/LabCorp/Ariosa) is done is a more efficient and accurate way. And it's cheaper.

9/26/2012 6:29:20 PM

We had an appointment today (she is 11.5 weeks) and they did a pelvic exam and we got to listen to the heartbeat... it was really cool, wish i could have listened longer.

we had an ultrasound back at 8 weeks and will have another one at 19 weeks.

I talked to someone with my insurance and they said that the NT scan is usually covered but the doctor would need to call and get it "approved" first......

Bottom line, after talking to the doctor about it we opted not to do it or the quad screen later.

9/26/2012 10:24:24 PM

we opted out of all the testing also

9/27/2012 9:39:36 AM

only 1 week until our anatomy ultrasound and finding out if baby is a boy or a girl! can't wait!

9/27/2012 11:28:52 AM

Quote :

"Oral sex as a cure for morning sickness? Psychologist says dad’s sperm could help nauseated pregnant moms Gordon Gallup, a a psychologist at SUNY-Albany has a theory that pregnant women who are continually exposed to the father’s semen are less like to suffer from AM nausea. "

lol

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/oral-sex-a-cure-morning-sickness-psychologist-dad-sperm-nauseated-pregnant-moms-article-1.1133829#ixzz27nDEeJ4Z

9/28/2012 3:03:14 PM

No surprise that a man is behind this

9/28/2012 11:23:06 PM

cord blood banking....yea or nay?

10/1/2012 3:43:45 PM

Nay. I think I've mentioned why earlier in the thread. Commercial blood banking is preying on parents IMO. Your child will likely be unable to use his or her own cord blood in the event that they have an illness treated by a stem cell transplant because of the problem also being present in the cord blood. (We encountered a similar issue with my son.) Now you may be able to use the cord blood for a sibling, but don't bank it thinking the child his or herself may use it. I vote for donating.

10/1/2012 4:30:14 PM

^

10/1/2012 8:06:04 PM

Look into the donation cord bank at Duke if you are interested in donating. Since they're local it's super easy to do the donation. I tried to donate with them but apparently I can't because my grandfather had skin cancer.

10/2/2012 7:59:23 AM

Had our ultrasound this morning. We're having a GIRL!

She wasn't in the right position for them to get a good look at her face or heart chambers, so we have to go back in 2 weeks for another ultrasound. At least we'll have another opportunity to see her!

We got good views of the spine, left hand (could make out the thumb and all four fingers), and left foot (from the bottom). She was wiggling around a lot and at one point it looked like she was waving.

10/4/2012 1:30:15 PM

Congrats!

10/5/2012 8:27:32 AM

So before I got pregnant, I was lactose-intolerant....since getting pregant, I am eating/drinking dairy products like it's nothing.

Hope this continues after I have the kid

10/8/2012 2:03:50 PM

I've been craving dairy like crazy! Which is weird because normally I'm pretty ambivalent, especially milk. Which reminds me I need to pick up some milk on my way home from work lol.

10/8/2012 2:12:09 PM

I put sour cream on everything when I was pregnant.

10/8/2012 2:18:59 PM

Water was my thing while pregnant. Lots and lots of cold water.

10/8/2012 5:33:12 PM

Ice cold water is awesome. I've been craving dairy too, mostly greek yogurt and cheese.

I also can't get enough oatmeal. And not the nasty Quaker stuff, but the McCain's Irish, plain with a little butter and sugar. I eat it almost every day. On the weekends I make the stovetop version, and add nuts, dried fruits, and a touch of wheat germ. Yummy!!!

Unfortunately, my other food craving has been cheeseburgers (primarily Five Guys). So bad for me and baby, but they taste so good! Maybe I'm needing iron or something? I never used to want cheeseburgers this often.

10/9/2012 1:20:20 PM

I see nothing wrong with craving five guys cheeseburgers.

10/9/2012 2:14:27 PM

craving them isn't wrong, but giving into said cravings once, sometimes twice, a week is probably wrong

Changing topics...I wish I could feel baby girl move already! Every once in awhile I feel a little "spasm" or "flutter", but it's not often (once a day or sometimes only once every couple of days). I can't help but worry whether she's ok. It will be such a relief when I can finally feel all her movements and kicks.

10/9/2012 2:50:19 PM

Re cravings...I'd say giving in to them is a good thing bc it is probably something that your body needs more of--like you said, probably iron. I don't think it's a coincidence that the lactose intolerant and dairy avoiders (i too have little dairy in my diet normally) craved dairy. bottombaby craved water probably bc her body needed the extra hydration. So...five guys it up! I also find their cheeseburgers delicious so I think it's a fine craving to have

I felt flutters early, but kicks and rolls came later. I remember being relieved when I'd feel one after hours or even what seemed like days of non-movement once I began feeling them wth frequency. Until he kicked or punch my in my bladder or vagina which happened often. he was never a rib guy. Then came the hiccups and that's just annoying.

10/9/2012 4:31:18 PM

parker tried to pry my bottom couple of ribs on the right side off. she tried really hard. i, too, disliked the hiccups.

i felt the first movements during the 15th week. when she was big enough, i could pin down her little ankle & push on her foot. lol

give into the cravings. i didn't really have any, but i was so miserable for most of my pregnancy that i just ate whatever the hell i wanted (as long as it wasn't lunch meat, soft cheese, etc etc). parker turned out just fine. that girl is mostly made of big zax snack meals

10/9/2012 5:05:22 PM

Many of my friends have recently had kids or are pregnant now, but I feel like I will never be in that baby frame of mind. When did you know you were ready to have kid(s)? Was it something that you always wanted/planned for or did you suddenly have this epiphany that you were ready?

10/9/2012 5:06:42 PM

i REALLY didn't want them for a long time. i kinda started to change my mind after i'd been with chris for like 4-5 years maybe. after we got married, and after his sister had a kid, i really wanted kids. i just had my first on aug 7. i've been with chris for 11 years total, married for 3. i'm still amazed that they let just anybody have this responsibility, but a lot of instincts i never thought i had have come out.

and we're done, btw. we only want 1.

[Edited on October 9, 2012 at 5:11 PM. Reason : ]

10/9/2012 5:10:30 PM

I never babysat children or babies when i was younger, and as such swore i would have my tubes tied. Then I had a baby craze kick in during my early 20s...so I got a dog.

After that I knew I wanted children in my future. Luckily my now husband did too. Our son was an accident, but we did plan on trying to conceive...just further down the road. We were both thrown in to parenthood and would like to have one more child. Though the idea of loving another child as much as I love my son is worrisome. Is there room in this heart for two? My mom says yes...

10/9/2012 6:06:33 PM

I've wanted kids since i was in high school (but not WHEN i was is hs)
Had our first of hopefully a few in may

10/9/2012 10:43:11 PM

I babysat children growing up...never babies or toddlers

I've never changed a diaper before. Guess I'll have to learn as I go

10/12/2012 1:31:51 PM

haha the first time I changed a diaper I was terrified but you quickly become a pro at it, even when you're not doing it on a regular basis

10/12/2012 2:25:10 PM