tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post1033342204865696078..comments2023-10-01T07:43:13.216-07:00Comments on bits and peaces: Little Black DotJustMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02493032821722724778noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-30736384897440764422013-03-14T00:54:47.754-07:002013-03-14T00:54:47.754-07:00Lauren is the best! And I am sure you will do grea...Lauren is the best! And I am sure you will do great, you already are! <br /><br />And you see, everything was fine with baby (it's just that at the beginning they are little balls of fluid (well it's a lot more complicated than that, but for echographists, that's all there is... it's only when they start to take form you see them).Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02424374017675047414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-31720745856387319462013-03-13T06:42:29.965-07:002013-03-13T06:42:29.965-07:00Congratulations on finding an awesome doctor. My f...Congratulations on finding an awesome doctor. My first OB always had me waiting at least an hour, and she <em>never</em> smiled at us or apologized for making us wait. <br /><br />I've already read your next post, so I know things turn out okay and you see the heartbeat, but it's true what they say about Google and early pregnancy. You'll really just drive yourself crazy Googling everything that could be wrong this early. There's pretty much zero that you can do to stop it if something does go wrong (assuming you're not smoking, getting hit in the stomach repeatedly, etc.), so there's not much point in worrying about it. <br /><br />Really happy for you that things are going so well!Proserpinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01905050625403590363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-54545849752377223562013-03-12T16:47:33.338-07:002013-03-12T16:47:33.338-07:00Oh thank you! That is all so helpful to know! I ...Oh thank you! That is all so helpful to know! I will read all of this to my husband so he can hear :) I'm still undecided, but I love how you described it. JustMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02493032821722724778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-51727158630342678352013-03-12T11:35:52.582-07:002013-03-12T11:35:52.582-07:00If it helps, if you do consider a doula, his/her j...If it helps, if you do consider a doula, his/her job will be to be an *extra* support person, definitely not at the exclusion of your husband! In fact, doulas should be encouraging the partner to help the laboring mama along, not the opposite. But there will be times when he wants a breather, needs to pee, gets something to eat, whatever... and that's when the doula will take over. S/He should also help advise your partner on pain management tips ("Here are some ways you can massage her that will feel great!") and be an advocate for the both of you.<br /><br />Just thought I'd mention that, as yeah, it might appear that a doula is going to be more intrusive than not! But nah, they're in the background and help when needed, not to replace a helpful and supportive partner. :)<br /><br />BUT... this is all your decision! If you don't feel comfortable with it, don't do it. We ended up going with it because, as supportive as my husband is, he can tire out quickly and can sometimes let his emotions take too much control. I need a bit more stability than that. ;) And he doesn't mind that there's someone to rub my back while he strokes my hair and whispers encouraging words!<br /><br />AAAAH, good luck, and congratulations again!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-68803071061861247142013-03-07T08:58:08.183-08:002013-03-07T08:58:08.183-08:00The whole doctor appointments thing makes pregnanc...The whole doctor appointments thing makes pregnancy feel anticlimactic... and that I do <b>not</b> like because this is a HUGE FREAKING DEAL, PPL!!! I'm having a BABY.<br />Unless it <i>is</i> a woman's appointment-only office there won't be many pretty things like floral photos in macro or upholstered seats in the room... which stinks. That dangly on the ceiling is for when you are... ahem, in stirrups and need to go to your happy place. LOL<br /><br />I am so glad you saw ANYTHING! That in itself is great! You just wait for the coming weeks. That baby grows fast. Next week you'll be all "OMG! The black dot looks like an alien already!!!" And then before you know it you'll be feeling little jabs and bubbles. It's great.<br />SO happy for you; I think this journey will quell your anxiety as you realize how things are "just so" and bombastically amazing all at once. :o)HiLLjOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339271743324886097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-39351523261325579222013-03-07T07:06:51.446-08:002013-03-07T07:06:51.446-08:00I'm glad that everything is "good" a...I'm glad that everything is "good" and can't wait to hear after your next ultrasound that everything is GREAT!<br /><br />Praying for you to have peace in the waiting!dspencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03028178955338687090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-77635593611933412632013-03-06T21:26:21.523-08:002013-03-06T21:26:21.523-08:00Thanks for all of the good advice! I definitely w...Thanks for all of the good advice! I definitely want to do a childbirth class. I think my husband would love it and would feel more involved. I think he will do amazing in the role of coach. I mean, he kinda already has that role in my life, anyhow ;) That's actually my only concern about getting a doula. He has expressed concern that our own connection and teamwork would be undermined by having someone else involved. I think we'll have to interview a doula and see. Also, I think we have some more talking to do.JustMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02493032821722724778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-72105675476365920162013-03-06T12:12:44.711-08:002013-03-06T12:12:44.711-08:00Oh yeah, duh, this is Stephanie from TCC is TTC. P...Oh yeah, duh, this is Stephanie from TCC is TTC. Posting under my main blog, sorry about that. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-76862825023350917822013-03-06T12:11:49.628-08:002013-03-06T12:11:49.628-08:00First, CONGRATULATIONS!! I somehow missed this and...First, CONGRATULATIONS!! I somehow missed this and am SO happy to hear you're pregnant and happily coming along! :D<br /><br />Matt and I had to go in for an emergency scan at 7 weeks (I wasn't initially scheduled for one until 13 weeks, I think, but I started bleeding -- so word to the wise, if you bleed, DON'T PANIC, just call your care provider; apparently, this happens much more often than we're led to believe), and we were able to see the heartbeat. It was uh-ma-zing, absolutely amazing. You're right in your research that you won't really see too much before 6.5 weeks, but once you're around 7, you can start to really see stuff. I hope they give you pictures! Kit looked like a gummy bear. ;) I can't wait to see what yours looks like!<br /><br />I'd definitely look into getting a doula, and into taking childbirth classes. We hired a doula for ours and took her classes, and while I thought I knew a lot from my own research and anecdotes from friends and family, we still learned a LOT in those classes. They were invaluable to Matt, too, as he's not a reader. ;) And the doula is just great!! It'll be awesome to have an extra advocate for you, especially since you'll be with doctors and so forth. (FWIW, though, I still feel the need for one, despite going to a birth center and having midwives.)<br /><br />And as for going natural, I hope you can and do, if that's what you want! Having the support will DEFINITELY help with that. And I'm exactly like you... my mom gave birth to three children, completely unmedicated, and SHE has said that if she can do it, I can, too. I totally believe in you and your body's ability to birth your baby. :)<br /><br />Congratulations again!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-74789967471347396232013-03-06T00:21:21.034-08:002013-03-06T00:21:21.034-08:00Thank you for the websites and info! Based on the...Thank you for the websites and info! Based on these pictures, all we saw was the gestational sac aka the absence of anything. Just the nice little home for a baby. Looking forward to seeing more next week (fingers crossed).<br /><br />I totally agree with you that we have no idea what we will do until we are faced with the pain in the moment. I could see myself crumpling and completely losing it and not even caring if they accidentally paralyze me with the epidural as long as they stop the pain. But, I can also see myself going to a quiet, strong place and just baring through it. I really don't know. I know my mom gave birth twice unmedicated and I always say, if she did it, I can do it. Ha. we'll see!<br /><br />Oh, and I wanted to thank you for the recommendation for Lauren's blog. I just finished reading through all of her entries during the pregnancy up to current date. Great writing and good reading. I'm waiting to see what happens next!JustMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02493032821722724778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-26220265872722645572013-03-06T00:14:19.643-08:002013-03-06T00:14:19.643-08:00I never really heard the term gestational sac (and...I never really heard the term gestational sac (and I don't know if they mean "amnios" by it. You should look into the 3rd diagram from the top on this website: <br /><br />http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/rburkett/human_development.htm<br /><br />You will see there are 2 fluid filled cavities supporting the embryo: the amnios, which really acts like a cushion, in blue, and the yolk sac (which nourishes the embryo in chicken for the whole development processs, but in mammals just during an early stage and then disappears, as the placenta takes over and continues to nourish the baby in yellow). As fluid, in echography is always seen as "black" (anechoic) and since both of this cavities are filled with fluid you would not be able to distinguish from each other. <br /><br />It's funny. I am in general opposed to using an excess of medications (hence I did not want / strongly fought against having to go through fertility treatments), and well open to alternative medicine, I am SO afraid of pain (after really bad period cramps) that regardless of the fact that needles through my spine also scare me, I just want the drugs. Anyhow who knows what will happen and what decisions we'll make at that moment.<br /><br />Oh actually I just found out this image in the wikipedia which clarifies it. A gestational sac is "the whole thing", it includes both the amnios and the yolk sac (which is real small). But since it's all fluid you don't really distinguish structures. <br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gestational_sac.svgAmandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02424374017675047414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-11929802098541019032013-03-05T23:36:08.053-08:002013-03-05T23:36:08.053-08:00Well, I don't really understand either, but I ...Well, I don't really understand either, but I know for sure it was "a sac," but is there a difference between a gestational sac and a yolk sac? (Now I feel like we're talking about eggs for breakfast...)<br /><br />I didn't mind her asking me about the epidural, but I just got the vibe from her in general that she is not gung-ho about natural or alternative medicine. It felt like, when she asked, that she was basically saying "You're not one of those crazy ladies who won't do an epidural, are you?" <br /><br />In answer to her question, I really don't want an epidural(partially because I think a natural birth would be ideal for a lot of reasons but also because I am terrified of a needle in my spine), but I am not opposed to one if it were necessary for some reason or I couldn't tolerate the pain at all. JustMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02493032821722724778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-40025940205388199722013-03-05T23:32:37.423-08:002013-03-05T23:32:37.423-08:00I don't think an OB and a Midwife is an option...I don't think an OB and a Midwife is an option. I looked and looked for that option, but couldn't find it. I was going to go with the hospital-based midwife program at UCLA, but they only see patients on certain days, and it didn't work for my schedule :( I AM thinking of going with a doula though.JustMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02493032821722724778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-77807323683551354582013-03-05T20:49:59.534-08:002013-03-05T20:49:59.534-08:00I am so so happy for you and glad to hear your doc...I am so so happy for you and glad to hear your doctor is nice!<br />I am not sure, but the yolk sac, which is rudimentary in us mammals, eventually regresses (totally normal) and is full of fluid anyway. This means : if there is fluid, you see it black. So we can assume it is there, you just can not distinguish from the rest. <br />I am curious... why didnt you like her asking you about the epidural? (Feel free not to answer if I am prying too much). Here medicine is very conservative, I believe we have the highest percentage of home births, and a priori they would not use it (unless the patient asks specifically for it).Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02424374017675047414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-89349213502187303362013-03-05T17:39:20.793-08:002013-03-05T17:39:20.793-08:00I'm glad you like your Dr. That is so importan...I'm glad you like your Dr. That is so important!! Especially for something as monumental as becoming a Mom. Are you considering a midwife too? I would totally have the same reaction as you... if my IVF works you've just inspired me to hold off on my ultrasound until I can see more!! if I could wait that long... hehe Gypsy Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13026496787029080243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914382632005868190.post-16958805443747860172013-03-05T15:37:43.128-08:002013-03-05T15:37:43.128-08:00Good is great! I have no doubt that it was a super...Good is great! I have no doubt that it was a super cool little black dot and that the heartbeat next week will be even cooler!Hattiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166768638822479118noreply@blogger.com