Monthly Appointment

Today was my monthly appointment (I am 15 weeks + 3 days today).  I saw Dr. Kaufman for a routine check-up.  The nurse took my weight (122 pounds!), blood pressure (98/68) and asked a few questions.  Then Dr. Kaufman came in and listened to Muffin's heartbeat.  The heartbeat was in the 120s-130s today, which is slower than it has been thus far.  Dr. Kaufman said the heart rate can fluctuate with the baby's activity, and 120s-160s is within the normal range at this point.

After we were finished with Dr. Kaufman, I had blood drawn.  The lab will run a couple of tests.  First, a quad screen will measure the levels of four substances in my blood.  These levels indicate whether the pregnancy has an increased risk of being affected with Trismoy 21, Down Syndrome, or neural tube defects.  They will also re-check my immunity to Rubella since my last test result was "indeterminate."  I will have the results of those tests later this week.

My next appointment is scheduled for January 17, at which point I will be 19 weeks + 6 days.  I'm waiting to hear from the perinatal center downtown to schedule my anatomy scan (done around 20 weeks gestation).  

Overall, it was an uneventful, excellent appointment!