4/10/2008

You Know That Really Needy Friend? Always Demanding Support and Advice?

I am now her. Feel free to let the machine pick up.

For those of you givers still here, this is today's issue:

When did you first hear the baby's heartbeat?

Because I didn't hear it today. I will be ten weeks tomorrow and I heard Ironflower at nine weeks. I don't think this doctor was all that good with the doppler and she seemed to think it was too early but I am unnerved. She thought everything felt fine. But still.

Because I am old this time around (36! Call the gerontologists!), I get to have an ultrasound next Tuesday. So I have to wait until Tuesday to make sure everything is okay. Patience is not one of my virtues.

So please, please, tell me that you didn't hear heartbeats this early either and that everything was fine. Because I believe in you, internets. And I'm very, very, needy.

(Also, this time I get to have genetic testing. Wahoo. Anyone got any opinions on amnio? I don't know whether to risk the test or not. There's no history or anything. But now I'm over 35, that magic age when your eggs go crazy.)

17 comments:

wordvixen said...

Having never been pregnant (still crossing fingers- but not the legs!), I've never had the tests. However, a friend of mine had to have the tests with her last pregnancy. She said it really wasn't that bad, and she was so excited after getting the report that she promptly forgot all the discomfort that she did have.

Lindy said...

With both my (very healthy!) babies, I didn't hear the heartbeat until 13 weeks (1st baby) and 12 weeks (2nd baby). Haven't had an amnio, but my cousin did and she said that it was worth it to find out if there were any risks to the baby. Hang in there, don't stress, try to distract yourself. Heck, you have two kids running around -- I'm sure they'll do something in no time that will be a good distraction!

anglophilefootballfanatic said...

Don't worry. These things are all normal. And, 36 is NOT old for a 3rd child. These doctors just like to scare us. Keep your chin up. You are gestating and growing a person.

matteroffactmommy said...

36 is SO NOT OLD, just 'old' by the insanely advanced standards of today.

if you can't hear the heartbeat at 9wks, you are still TOTALLY FINE. check back at ~12wks OR SO and see what the dr. says... no worries, honestly. you are good to go, mama! ;)

Cass said...

We didn't hear the heartbeat at the 8 week appointment - I was concerned but the doctor said it has a lot to do with where the baby is and if you ate and blah blah blah. We heard it crystal clear at 12 weeks though and it was a big relief.

mkate said...

I'm sorry to hear you didn't hear a heartbeat. That would definitely make me nervous. If the doctor was concerned, he would have sent you for a sono (this has happened to me before).

As for the amnio, I had one and it wasn't bad at all. The worry about it was much worse then the actual amnio (which took 2 minutes tops). I also got a 20 minute sono before and after the amnio to see Becca moving around. It ended up being a 3-d sono which was really cool.

If you decide to do it, lay low for that day and the next two days (as much as you can with a preschooler and toddler :) )

feener said...

i can't recall when, but i do recall having to go get the ultrasound b/c the doppler didn't pick it up. sounds like a common thing. and i had more first kid at 36, second at 38....not sure of having a third but if i do it will be at 41....you are a spring chicken.

Kathy said...

We couldn't get my first baby's heartbeat at either 9 or 13 weeks w/the Doppler. The little guy just didn't like the soundwaves shooting at him and/or bubbling the amniotic fluid! Even at 15 weeks (and possibly 19 weeks too--I can't quite remember now), we only heard his heartbeat too briefly to actually count it. Until your baby is too big to swim away, you might not get his/her heartbeat very long either!

silken said...

lady, you are NOT old! especially for a third...it has been so long since I've been pregnant that I don't really remember when I first heard the heart beat, but it seems like 12 weeks or so...

hang in there!

Scarlet O'Kara said...

It took a rather long time for me to hear the heart beat with my first daughter. So try not to worry too much.

Jen said...

I didn't have an amnio but I did have a cvs last time I was pregnant and I found it so painful that I hope to never have anything like that done again. I think Imight be unusual though because a lot of women don't seem to have the pain with them that I did.

Leslie said...

I heard Julia's heartbeat with the Doppler at 12 weeks and Lucy's at 13 weeks. Don't worry! It's early. You'll see that heartbeat at your ultrasound.

byrnedoutmom said...

I had my two at 33 & 36 and they marked my chart "advanced maternal age" both times! I certainly didn't feel "advanced" in any way but someone thought I was. Had an amnio with #1 b/c the AFP and Triple Screen tests came back wonky. The test itself was no worse than having a blood draw but the size of the needle is unnerving. Everything turned out fine and the peace of mind the amnio gave me was worth the risk. With #2 all the tests were normal so I didn't opt for the amnio even though I was older.

Thalia's Child said...

Heh. The nightmare that was my pregnancy with Punkin... I *saw* it on the ultrasound at 7 weeks. Then I never heard it again until 16 weeks at another ultrasound (a 'fetal viability' ultrasound because I had been so sick). No one seemed to be able to track her down with the Doppler. They're very fickle.

outsidetheblue said...

We didn't hear H's heartbeat with the Doppler until I was at least 12 weeks. Midwife said it has a lot to do with where the baby implants and how much "padding" you have around your middle section. I have plenty...

Leslie said...

I heard Julia's heartbeat with the Doppler at 12 weeks and Lucy's at 13 weeks. Don't worry! It's early. You'll see that heartbeat at your ultrasound.

Thalia's Child said...

Heh. The nightmare that was my pregnancy with Punkin... I *saw* it on the ultrasound at 7 weeks. Then I never heard it again until 16 weeks at another ultrasound (a 'fetal viability' ultrasound because I had been so sick). No one seemed to be able to track her down with the Doppler. They're very fickle.