In early October, we had our 8-week appointment and ultrasound at Kaiser. Once again, everything was textbook.
At our first appointment, they’d told us we should be able to hear the heartbeat at the 8- or 9-week mark, so we were excited to possibly hear little peanut’s ticker.
At this 8-week appointment, they said we’d get to hear it at the next appointment (12 weeks). Once again, we got to see the fast little heartbeat, but no sound yet. (Something that confounded my sister… and me, honestly.)
But, once again, we were able to leave with another picture of Baby Jackson.
In between the 8-week and 12-week ultrasounds, I started the “weaning protocol” to wean off all the IVF meds (hooray!). Our IVF nurse emailed me the protocol, and it was a little confusing.
So much so, I decided to write everything out–one note for each medicine–and post them on the bathroom mirrors. That was where we did all the medications, so it made the most sense to put them there as reminders.
Here’s what those notes looked like.
On October 27, I finally had my last PIO shot! That was a happy, happy day–for both Nick and me. I was tired of getting shots every morning, and he was just as tired of giving me shots every morning.
I have to say it went faster than I expected, though. And honestly, as I’ve mentioned before, those shots weren’t all that terrible. Don’t get me wrong, they weren’t great, and some really stung, but overall, it was absolutely worth it.
Soon after we were done with all the meds, it was time for our 12-week appointment. For this one, we were able to meet with my OBGYN, so it was good to see her. I told her how appreciative I was of all the referrals to Conceptions.
She gave me a fairly hefty packet that included all kinds of information – everything I could and couldn’t eat, hospitals to consider for delivery, what medications were safe, and much more.
And then it was time to try and hear the heartbeat (finally!).
She got out the doppler, and told us she’d tell us when she found it. I had my phone handy with the voice memos app open. I wanted to record this special moment!
And then we heard a heartbeat… but the doc said, no, it was too slow–that’s your heartbeat. And then she tried moving the doppler around. We heard some swishing noises, and then the doc thought she caught it and then another “swish.”
“Do you know what that swishing noise is,” she asked?
“No,” was our reply.
“It’s your baby running away from me!”
*Insert some “baby must be stubborn like you” jokes that both Nick and I said to each other…
Well, at least she tried… Once again, no heartbeat, but at least we got another picture.
This picture was especially exciting. Baby Jackson is starting to look more like a baby and less like a peanut!
IVF That 