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We had a doctor's appointment on Monday and everything went ok.
The baby was a bit more co-operative this time and let us hear it's heartbeat.
We went to get the results of the blood tests they did last week but the results aren't in yet. The lab are backed up so we should hear something in the next few days.
They said they'd phone us when the results are in so we don't have to go back in.
It was a good chance to talk to the doctor again though and ask questions. Dr Hold seems really nice and will put us at ease when the baby is ready to make an entrance. The thing I like about him is he makes eye contact with me and knows that I need to know stuff and have questions of my own.
Once he confirms the baby is ok at the beginning of the appointment, my wife probably switches off and starts thinking about how we're (I'm) going to decorate the nursery etc. Dr Hold realises this and tells me everything so I can fill her in later when she tries to tell friends and family what the doctor said.
Our next appointment is in three weeks when they will be able to determine the sex, although we don't plan on finding out.
By that point we'll also be half way though. Time flies eh?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Maternity shop
The other day, my wife decided we needed to visit the Maternity store. Both of us.
"It's something we can enjoy together" she says.
I'll be perfectly honest love, if you drag me somewhere like that, I can tell you now I will not enjoy it.
So, no, it's not something we can enjoy together. It's something you enjoy while I stand around awkwardly, feeling really uncomfortable among all the jumbo bras and breast pumps.
So thanks for that.
Luckily we were the only people in there at the time but it's not something I feel I have to experience again.
"It's something we can enjoy together" she says.
I'll be perfectly honest love, if you drag me somewhere like that, I can tell you now I will not enjoy it.
So, no, it's not something we can enjoy together. It's something you enjoy while I stand around awkwardly, feeling really uncomfortable among all the jumbo bras and breast pumps.
So thanks for that.
Luckily we were the only people in there at the time but it's not something I feel I have to experience again.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Like Father like Son/Daughter
I've just noticed that the baby looks a lot like me.
Scroll down a bit and look to the left.
Lucky thing.
Scroll down a bit and look to the left.
Lucky thing.
Born a red..
After reviewing our latest ultrasound picture, I have decided that the baby actually looks more like a devil than an alien. A red devil (if it wasn't a black and white picture). Manchester United through and through.
See for yourself:
The baby is towards the left about half way up.
You can see it's eye sockets, chin, arms and rib cage.
This might be a better view:
United!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Coming up...possibly
I am trying to get my wife to scan the latest scan of the baby but because it looks like an alien she's bit reluctant to show it to people but I will keep trying.
Monday, February 15, 2010
A few more grey hairs..but a happy ending
Today, I found out what it is like to be a parent worried about the well being of their child.
We had a doctor's appointment today and although everything turned out ok in the end, it was very worrying at one point.
Today was supposed to be an easy appointment to meet for the first time the doctor who would be delivering the baby, Dr Michael Hold.
Once my wife's name was called we were taken through to the back where they did the usual checks before taking us into one of the rooms. The idea is for a nurse (or whatever they're called) to do all of the routine stuff and then check the baby's heartbeat before the doctor sees you.
Only today, the nurse couldn't find the baby's heart beat. She tried for a long time, possibly about 10 minutes, although it seemed a lot longer at the time before attempting to reassure us that sometimes the person doing the scan can't locate the baby but another nurse usually can.
She did say she heard the heartbeat but only for a short time and she wanted to hear it for longer to make sure everything was ok.
So she leaves the room and another nurse comes in, introduces herself and gets straight down to the business of locating the baby's heartbeat. This nurse was a little more forceful and pressed the doplar thingy a bit harder into my wife's stomach. She moved it around and heard lots of various sounds but nothing like a heartbeat.
She eventually did find something with a heart rate of 133 and said though it was low for a baby, it was probably too high for a normal person so that was probably it.
We were starting to get a little bit worried by this point and that wasn't helped when the nurse took my wife's pulse and her face changed dramatically. She mumbled something to herself and ran out of the room.
We were both left wondering what was going on and were now very worried something was wrong.
Luckily, a few minutes later Dr Hold came to the room with an ultrasound machine. It was much briefer introduction than we probably expected but by now we just wanted to know the baby was ok.
Dr Hold did the ultrasound and after a few minutes located the baby who was moving around a lot. He showed us the blood flowing through the baby's body and legs and arms moving around but he still struggled to detect a heartbeat.
When he eventually did we were very relieved. Even when we could see the baby moving, it wasn't until we could actually hear a strong heartbeat we were sure the baby was ok. He took various measurements of the baby, the circumference of the head, length of the arms, legs etc.
When he put all the figures into the computer it said the size was that of a baby 16 weeks and 4 days old. My wife is actually 15 weeks 5 days so the doctor said this is a sign that the baby is healthy and growing. He then tried to find a good picture for us to take home but I think he got our baby's picture mixed up with something from Area 51. If it is our baby then it seems to have got it's looks from my wife's side of the family!
After that, we just asked the doctor a few questions we had and he asked us if we wanted the triple screen blood tests to check for Down's Syndrome etc. We agreed and we went over to the lab for them to take some blood.
My wife had previously suggested we get a dokpar thing for home so we could hear the baby's heartbeat whenever we wanted. After today, I think she now agrees it wouldn't be a good idea. Everytime we couldn't find it there would be a mass panic.
I suppose this is how it will be for the rest of our lives now, worrying about our children's well being so we better get used to it.
The results of the triple screen, which actually became a quin screen aill be in this week so our next appointment is next Monday to discuss the results.
Hopefully next time the baby will be a bit more co-operative!
We had a doctor's appointment today and although everything turned out ok in the end, it was very worrying at one point.
Today was supposed to be an easy appointment to meet for the first time the doctor who would be delivering the baby, Dr Michael Hold.
Once my wife's name was called we were taken through to the back where they did the usual checks before taking us into one of the rooms. The idea is for a nurse (or whatever they're called) to do all of the routine stuff and then check the baby's heartbeat before the doctor sees you.
Only today, the nurse couldn't find the baby's heart beat. She tried for a long time, possibly about 10 minutes, although it seemed a lot longer at the time before attempting to reassure us that sometimes the person doing the scan can't locate the baby but another nurse usually can.
She did say she heard the heartbeat but only for a short time and she wanted to hear it for longer to make sure everything was ok.
So she leaves the room and another nurse comes in, introduces herself and gets straight down to the business of locating the baby's heartbeat. This nurse was a little more forceful and pressed the doplar thingy a bit harder into my wife's stomach. She moved it around and heard lots of various sounds but nothing like a heartbeat.
She eventually did find something with a heart rate of 133 and said though it was low for a baby, it was probably too high for a normal person so that was probably it.
We were starting to get a little bit worried by this point and that wasn't helped when the nurse took my wife's pulse and her face changed dramatically. She mumbled something to herself and ran out of the room.
We were both left wondering what was going on and were now very worried something was wrong.
Luckily, a few minutes later Dr Hold came to the room with an ultrasound machine. It was much briefer introduction than we probably expected but by now we just wanted to know the baby was ok.
Dr Hold did the ultrasound and after a few minutes located the baby who was moving around a lot. He showed us the blood flowing through the baby's body and legs and arms moving around but he still struggled to detect a heartbeat.
When he eventually did we were very relieved. Even when we could see the baby moving, it wasn't until we could actually hear a strong heartbeat we were sure the baby was ok. He took various measurements of the baby, the circumference of the head, length of the arms, legs etc.
When he put all the figures into the computer it said the size was that of a baby 16 weeks and 4 days old. My wife is actually 15 weeks 5 days so the doctor said this is a sign that the baby is healthy and growing. He then tried to find a good picture for us to take home but I think he got our baby's picture mixed up with something from Area 51. If it is our baby then it seems to have got it's looks from my wife's side of the family!
After that, we just asked the doctor a few questions we had and he asked us if we wanted the triple screen blood tests to check for Down's Syndrome etc. We agreed and we went over to the lab for them to take some blood.
My wife had previously suggested we get a dokpar thing for home so we could hear the baby's heartbeat whenever we wanted. After today, I think she now agrees it wouldn't be a good idea. Everytime we couldn't find it there would be a mass panic.
I suppose this is how it will be for the rest of our lives now, worrying about our children's well being so we better get used to it.
The results of the triple screen, which actually became a quin screen aill be in this week so our next appointment is next Monday to discuss the results.
Hopefully next time the baby will be a bit more co-operative!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
There'll be no letting down your hair young lady
After yesterday's bombshell that contained the words 'womb' and 'eggs' I've been thinking about what I would do if the baby is a girl.
My family is all boys so it would be a bit of a culture shock for all of us and knowing how blokes are I have decided she will be named Rapunzel, locked in a tower until she's 30 when she will become a Nun.
Sorted.
My family is all boys so it would be a bit of a culture shock for all of us and knowing how blokes are I have decided she will be named Rapunzel, locked in a tower until she's 30 when she will become a Nun.
Sorted.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Now then young lady..
Did you know that if the baby is a girl, she already has over 2 million eggs in her womb?
I know they grow up quick but I think it's a bit early to be thinking about that kind of thing!
I know they grow up quick but I think it's a bit early to be thinking about that kind of thing!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Baby Center
My brother very kindly sent me a book called "The bloke's guide to pregnancy" by Jon Smith.
The book tells blokes what is happening and what is going to happen in the language they understand. It doesn't go into too much detail because we don't really need to know everything.
For example in the early stages of pregnancy, the book tells you that your wife (or partner) is going to very emotional and completely irrational but it is important to show sympathy and do whatever it is she needs you to do. It explains that it's not really her fault but is a result of her hormones going wild like it's the Hacienda in the late 80's.
Anyway, the book mentioned a useful website called Babycenter. It recommended that blokes sign up to the weekly updates that gives a brief explanation of how the baby is developing, any changes from the previous week and lets you know how big it is. My wife is now 14 weeks pregnant and in the last week the baby has gone from the size of a medium shrimp, to the size of a lemon. He or she can now squint, suck their thumb and pee, which is nice.
So if you're a pregnant man (it happens apparently) or your wife or girlfriend is pregnant, I would recommend checking out the resources aimed at helping blokes understand the things they need to know without scaring them with explicit details.
The book tells blokes what is happening and what is going to happen in the language they understand. It doesn't go into too much detail because we don't really need to know everything.
For example in the early stages of pregnancy, the book tells you that your wife (or partner) is going to very emotional and completely irrational but it is important to show sympathy and do whatever it is she needs you to do. It explains that it's not really her fault but is a result of her hormones going wild like it's the Hacienda in the late 80's.
Anyway, the book mentioned a useful website called Babycenter. It recommended that blokes sign up to the weekly updates that gives a brief explanation of how the baby is developing, any changes from the previous week and lets you know how big it is. My wife is now 14 weeks pregnant and in the last week the baby has gone from the size of a medium shrimp, to the size of a lemon. He or she can now squint, suck their thumb and pee, which is nice.
So if you're a pregnant man (it happens apparently) or your wife or girlfriend is pregnant, I would recommend checking out the resources aimed at helping blokes understand the things they need to know without scaring them with explicit details.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
MOT results are in (or not)
You may remember that my wife had a doctor's appointment on January 14th which was just to check that everything was ok with her and there was nothing out of the ordinary.
As usual, the hospital told us that if we didn't hear from them everything is ok. You can read my thoughts on this policy here.
So it's now been 3 weeks so I think everything was ok. They did send my wife a postcard telling her that one of the tests came back ok and I know she really appreciated that information being shared with everyone who handled the mail that day as using an envelope would be too much trouble!
I was ill on the day of the appointment, well, actually I was ill all that week with a fever of 102 but my wife decided I should sit in a waiting room full of pregnant women.
When we went through for the actual inspection they left us sat in a tiny room for 45 minutes until the nurse decided to show her face. You can imagine how much fun that was with my fever and my wife shivering in the lovely paper vest they gave her to wear.
Anyway, we did get to hear the baby's heartbeat again and it was still strong so everything looks good.
The next appointment is the 15th February. This is when we can find out the sex of the baby if we want so I need to make sure I'm there to tell the nurse we don't want to find out. If my wife goes to this one on her own I'll probably come home to a spare room full of pink or blue baby stuff.
As usual, the hospital told us that if we didn't hear from them everything is ok. You can read my thoughts on this policy here.
So it's now been 3 weeks so I think everything was ok. They did send my wife a postcard telling her that one of the tests came back ok and I know she really appreciated that information being shared with everyone who handled the mail that day as using an envelope would be too much trouble!
I was ill on the day of the appointment, well, actually I was ill all that week with a fever of 102 but my wife decided I should sit in a waiting room full of pregnant women.
When we went through for the actual inspection they left us sat in a tiny room for 45 minutes until the nurse decided to show her face. You can imagine how much fun that was with my fever and my wife shivering in the lovely paper vest they gave her to wear.
Anyway, we did get to hear the baby's heartbeat again and it was still strong so everything looks good.
The next appointment is the 15th February. This is when we can find out the sex of the baby if we want so I need to make sure I'm there to tell the nurse we don't want to find out. If my wife goes to this one on her own I'll probably come home to a spare room full of pink or blue baby stuff.
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