16 Weeks

When I left on previously we were headed back to the doctor for our 9 week appointment. I was feeling nervous, but I didn’t have the same sinking feeling as before, so I was more hopeful. The OB understood our anxiety and tried the Doppler before he did the ultrasound. I was surprised because I’d heard of so many women whose OBs won’t even try the Doppler before 12 weeks because it’s not so reliable that early, but there it was. Bacon’s little heart was just beating away. We recorded it on my phone and can’t tell you how many times we listened to that sweet little sound. Everything looked great on the ultrasound and Bacon was measuring a day ahead looking strong and healthy. 

Baby Bacon at 9w

At that point I think we started to let ourselves believe a little more. Up to that point I was feeling very pregnant (morning sickness has a way of bringing that reality home), but I was having a hard time connecting that with actually bringing home a baby in September. I wasn’t over the hump yet, but I did start to look at baby websites here and there and let a few little dreams seep in.

Another two weeks later we went in for the first trimester screening—an ultrasound that takes some key measurements and is combined with blood work to provide a risk assessment for Down Syndrome and a few other chromosomal abnormalities. We drove about an hour to a perinatal  practice and the quality of the images was just amazing. Our little Bacon Bit was squirming all over the place, literally bouncing off the walls and showing off by letting us get a good look at 10 little fingers as well as arms and legs and feet. We even got a good look at the brain. It was ah-mazing. 

Isn't s/he the cutest? 11w3d in 3D

Walking out that day I decided it was time to believe for real. I had fallen in love with Baby Bacon from day 1, but now it was time to believe that this baby is healthy and strong and we’re going to get to hold him or her in our arms in a few short months. 

Now, I’m PgAL, so that’s a lot easier said than done. I am more than aware of all the things that could still go wrong and I still have moments of anxiety. But I have more moments of faith and hope for this sweet child. Even if, God forbid, something else does go wrong, I want to enjoy every day that I have with this baby—even if I’m nauseous and exhausted and have the myriad of uncomfortable and embarrassing symptoms that come along with pregnancy. 

So here we are. 16 weeks and going strong. Still taking it all one day at a time, but getting more and more excited about the day that we’ll get to meet this little one and bring him/her home for good.

16 week belly shot