Just paperwork.

I had my appointment at the mid-wives clinic this afternoon.

Mid-wife: "Who is your GP (General Practitioner/Doctor)"
Me: "I don't have one."
Mid-wife: "Who is your Obstetrician?"
Me: "I don't have one."
Mid-wife: Blank stare.

Yes, at some moments I felt unprepared for my situation. I know it's understandable considering we've only been in Ballarat since December, but maybe I should've sorted these things out sooner. The reason I'm going through the Primary Mid-Wife Program is because I want as natural a birth as possible and I figure they are the safest way to do that. They agree with that and are fine that I don't already have a GP/Obstetrician, they were just suprised.

The big hang-up came when I found out that this program is solely a public program, and to be in it you have to be eligible for public healthcare. I wish I was... it's FREE, but I'm not and I won't be until I'm a permanent resident. Pray this happens soon! In the meantime they're sort of letting me in it as a private patient (PTL) which Kate and I were praying they'd do. The rest of the appointment was just paperwork.

I now have another appointment this coming Wednesday. It's an 'anti-natal' appointment with a doctor where they assess my pregnancy, and if it's low risk I can (hopefully) be in the program. I should have more baby news for you then.

This past week I've finally started feeling bigger in the stomach. I don't necessarily look it, but I feel it and that makes a difference to me. I'll take a new belly shot in the next few days. I'm noticing I feel great when I go to bed nice and early, and I feel just sick when I don't (and that's happened too many nights this week). Also, please pray that I don't get sick... a few of my colleagues have had chest infections/coughing colds and I started feeling like I was coming down with something yesterday. It actually started really worrying me because I know I can't have medicine when I'm pregnant. Strangely I drempt about it and in my dream a mid-wife told me I'd be fine and that did and has made me feel better.

11 weeks, and we heard the heartbeat!

I am 11 weeks already! My how time flies when... you're pregnant. It seems like only yesterday I was 6 weeks along. So far I have to say it hasn't been too bad for me. Week 9 was probably the worst with feeling nauseous (I have a little dictionary right beside my computer for words like that!), and I've definitely been very tired the past few weeks, going to bed at ridiculously early hours and napping when I can. That's about it though.

So... Mark brought his stethoscope home last week and we decided to try to hear the baby's heartbeat, and we could! We first listened to my heartbeat and the sounds of my gurgling stomach, so as not to confuse the noises, and then we heard the fast beating of our baby's heart. It was strange and unreal, but good. I then read today that it is a very good sign if you can hear the baby's heartbeat at 10 weeks, as we did, and that we now only have a 2% chance of miscarraige. So that's a relief. I'm looking forward to hearing it again this week at my appointment with the midwife.

My baby is just over 1 1/2 inches long and is now almost fully formed. It is about the size of a fig. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden. She's already busy kicking and stretching, although I can't feel her yet, but I'll let you know when I do!

This is what she looks like...
And this is what I look like!



Oooo, and isn't this exciting... we've bought our first baby furniture items! I found them at a garage sale, $50 for the pair. We just have to find some cute drawer knobs for the dresser. The top is a changing table. We'll have to buy the pad thing from a baby store.




Since we don't know if it's a boy or girl, I've just been collecting items for both. I figure I can just give away what I don't need, as I have lots of pregnant friends right now.

This was the very first baby gift we received from our friends Kim and Paul. The lamb is so soft and cuddley and cute. Thanks guys!

And this little bunny is another favorite of mine, from my mom.

Thanks for all your comments and prayers and support. They mean a lot!

Belly Shot #2

My cousin Melissa asked for another belly shot, so here it is! This was taken at 9 weeks and 5 days. Yep, still not looking pregnant. What's your guess as to when I'll start showing??



So... last night, while Mark was away in Horsham, I had my first vomiting experience. I didn't throw up very much at all, but it was as yucky and uncomfortable as vomiting always is. It strangely happened after I went to bed. I decided to stay up very late besides being very tired since I have the day off today. I think that made my body feel all the worse and before I had drifted off to a sound sleep I was visiting the toilet. I feel much better this morning.

My first visit to the midwife is on Thursday, April 24. Mark will actually be away that day, but thankfully a friend from church, Kate, will be joining me at my appointment! I am very happy about that as I am the sort of person that wants to share every experience with someone else. She came over last night. We baked rasberry scones and started making 'affirmation cards' for myself. I still haven't finished any, but I hope to today. When I'm feeling rotten, or tired, I try to remember some of the positive phrases.

My baby this week-- 9 weeks!

How my baby's growing:

My new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's (?) starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: my baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. My baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that my baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain. Hooray!

I've been pretty tired, and have felt nauseous a bit, and have wreched/dry heaved some BUT overall I've been OK. I've cut my work back by about 10 hours a week for the next 3 weeks to see how I go with that. I just haven't had the time or energy to do anything around the house or cook or make lunch, so hopefully I can play a bit of catch up. I'm still not showing at all. My stomach probably even looks smaller than that first photo! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers...