18 week appointment

All is going well so far in babyland! I had my 18 wk appointment yesterday. Got to hear the heartbeat again (it had been a whole month since my last appointment!) and it was sweet music to my ears. 160 bpm. The midwife said he/she was really squirming around. I couldn't feel anything, so it was reassuring to hear that they are active even though the flutters I feel are few and far between. My blood pressure was a perfect 120/80. I have always been on the low blood pressure side of the scale, so this was actually higher than I had expected. Your blood pressure drops at this point in pregnancy and that can lead to dizziness. I am thankful that I haven't experienced that side effect.

I had lots of questions for the midwife and she had good answers to all of them. I am thankful for a practice with lots of caring women! One of the most encouraging things out of this visit was learning that the hospital where I will give birth supports a lot of "midwife philosophy" accomodations during L&D that aren't offered in a lot of mainstream hospitals. Two things that she mentioned are being able to move during labor and get out of bed (even with a pitocin drip) and also being able to eat and drink if that's something you feel that you need. Those were two things I was worried about being denied. I know that I won't be getting out of bed if I have an epidural and that many women throw up anything they eat or drink during labor. I guess it was just comforting to know that the options are there if I want them. They also have jacuzzi tubs that you can use during contractions if that is helpful! It's a good mix of birth center accomodations and hospital equipment/medicine availability.

2 weeks from today we go in for our 20 week ultrasound and hope to know boy or girl! I am starting a poll on the right side of the page...feel free to cast your vote! Compelling evidence so far: u/s tech guessed girl at 12 wk u/s, my grandmama and Greg's mom guess boy by how I am carrying...oh and because Granmama said the 12 wk pics showed big feet and "that has to be big boy feet". :-)