13+4 (Routine check-up)

[oloriel]

My gynaecologist now shares her practice with her partner, which in theory should mean more time and a lessened workload for her, but in reality means a tighter schedule, because everybody wants to see her, not him. (Which I can sort of understand, because while I'm sure he's a competent doctor and everything, it's just nicer to talk about ~woman~ things with a woman. Or so I feel, and it seems I'm not the only one. Besides, I know her partner from when he used to work in the local hospital, and he's a rather old-school kind of doctor, not overly forthcoming, perfectly happy to use only technical terms (the German language has a lot of its own medical terms, unlike English, which has taken most of them from Latin. Only doctors use the Latin terms in Germany, so nobody understands them and it's their secret elite code.) and not very happy to actually explain things or volunteer information. So it's not even just a gender thing.)

Anyway, due to this issue, my first-trimester routine ultrasound, which is supposed to happen between weeks 8 and 12, happened... in the second trimester. Oh well.
Unlike Felix, who on this occasion refused to show us anything but his back, Baby II lay in a comfy chill-out position (seriously, with its head resting leisurably on its arms and everything) aside from some occasional bouncing. However, the basic information I got out of this session was pretty much the same that it was with Felix: The fetus has two arms, two hands, two legs and two feet, but only one heart. (This is good.) Nuchal fold is inconspicuous. (Also good.) We could see part of its braaaaaiinnnzzz, and also the stomach (because apparently the fetus had swallowed some amniotic fluid, which they are wont to do) and bladder (because some of the swallowed amniotic fluid had already been turned into pee). Accordingly, at least one kidney is already working. This is also good. Size (from crown to rump) is 7.5 cm, exactly what's in the textbook.

I got a couple of print-outs to take home. On the 3D shot, Baby II quite honestly looks a bit like an alien with its proto-face and unclosed brainpan, so I'm sticking to the 2D, which shows the Babester in its relaxed hammock posture and the suddenly very small uterus. (My normal pants are already too tight.)





Felix, by the way, claims that this picture shows a smileyface. With mouth! And eyes! ^^

My gynaecologist was almost too enthusiastic - that is, more enthusiastic than I normally know her - probably because she noticed how much the illgone pregnancy earlier this year shook me and she now wants to reassure me. Unfortunately, my hyperactive brain immediately jumped to the conclusion that if her enthusiasm feels slightly over-the-top, it isn't genuine, therefore she's hiding something from me; but I am telling my hyperactive brain to shut up and stop making up problems that don't exist.

Still more tired than I have any reason to be, but the constant exhaustion from the weekend before last has disappeared again, and I can move again without feeling breathless all the time. I do occasionally feel that nasty stinging pain on the symphysis, but that is, alas, normal when all the tissue is no longer as nice and tight as it used to be before a first pregnancy...

Comments

[satismagic.livejournal.com]

*waves at baby* Amazing how you get a whole new human out of such a tiny thing at the end of it all.

Glad to hear everything's fine so far, and keeping all fingers and toes crossed for you!

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

And amazing how that tiny thing has grown out of something even tinier! Seriously, I mean, I know how it technically works, and yet I can't properly wrap my mind around it - it's like the theory and the reality are just too far apart. If you ask me, it's nothing short of a miracle! XD

Thank you :)

[chili-das-schaf.livejournal.com]

Same here, seriously. I sometimes just go HOW DOES IT ALL HAPPEN IT IS SO AMAZING

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that everything is going well.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Thank you, so am I!

[independence1776]

Glad everything's going well!

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Me too - thank you!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

That's great news!What a cute baby!

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

I agree :)! Well, not sure about the cute, at this point it's too small for individual features yet... but in the sense that tiny humans are always kinda cute, that works! ;)

[hhimring]

I'm glad that Baby Stony II is doing well and you are feeling better also!

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[chili-das-schaf.livejournal.com]

I also thought I'd never feel comfortable with a male doctor but was positively surprised with my recent gyn. And he's the more popular in his practice which he shares with a woman. I guess it's, as you said, also a character thing.

Yay, baby :) good to hear everything is textbook. Textbook is good, yay textbook.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really suppose it depends on whether you get along with the person - not on a "I want to invite you to my birthday party" level, but on a "I feel comfortable dicussing potentially scary medical stuff with you" level. Not so with that doc. I dunno, maybe some patients like a doctor who is all aloof, speaks in technical terms and monosyllabics, and doesn't volunteer any information you didn't ask for at least twice? I don't! >_>

Exactly! Stick to the textbook, that's a dear.