Mommy Mondays: 22 weeks

Today I have my 22 week appointment.  My first appointment seemed so long ago!  Right now, I have a squirmy, wiggly, little thing that resembles a baby living inside me.  But at that first appointment, there was no way of knowing if there was anything there at all.

First appointments are nerve-wracking.  30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. 10% occur within the first 4 weeks, often known as a "chemical pregnancy" and many women don't even know they were pregnant.  Which means 20% of "known" pregnancies end in miscarriage.  And before that first appointment, there's no way of knowing whether you're a statistic or not.  There's no movement to reassure you, "pregnancy symptoms" mean nothing because your body could still be producing the hormones which cause the symptoms even if they baby has stopped growing.

My doctor waits for the first appointment until somewhere between 8 and 10 weeks.  For both of my kids I've had mine during the 9 week mark.  She's explained to me that before this time period, it's very difficult to see anything, hard to identify structures, and the heartbeat may or may not be present.  But none of these factors indicate a healthy growing baby before 8 weeks, and often if an expectant mother doesn't see these things, it feeds into her anxiety leading to another later appointment anyway.

The first appointment is a breath holding experience.  There's small talk to begin with, a taking of vitals, a social and medical history.  I got the added bonus of a pap smear since I was due for one in January anyway.  But then comes the moment of truth.  The baby is too small to be picked up by an abdominal ultrasound which means the transvaginal ultrasound gets lubed up and ready to go.  If you're lucky, like me, you get to see a little blob.  Nothing quite human looking, but definitely animalistic structures, a head, a rear (maybe even a bit of a tail), and some little arms and legs.  There's a flicker - which is the heartbeat. A flick of the ultrasound machine and that reassuring buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-buh is heard.  Which makes it all worthwhile.

Total weight gain/loss: +10

Next Appointment: Today!
Maternity clothes? Same as always - maternity tops, pants with bella band, and regular dresses.
Stretch marks: nada.
Sleep:I'm having real issues with sleep because I'm just so uncomfortable - back pain, hip pain, sciatica.  I think I figured out the issue which might involve needing an extra pillow.

 Best moment this week: Nothing stands out really.   I definitely enjoyed spending the whole afternoon/evening on the couch yesterday!
Movement: All the time.
Food cravings: Nothing

Food aversions: I don't know if this counts, but I was eating a salad at lunch the other day and decided I was over the salami and pepperoni in it.
Gender: Not finding out

Belly Button in or out: In.  But it never popped last time, so I'm not expecting it to this time.
What I miss: Being able to bend over or move without being in pain.

What I am looking forward to: Appointment this afternoon.

Contractions: Nope.  Last time around I didn't get them until they were induced through medication.  Part of me is kind of hoping to actually have those moments this time.

 Milestones:

- Baby's inner ear is mature enough to hear low sound frequencies. 

- Baby can grasp (still reflexively if something touches the palm of the hand)

- Nervous and muscular systems are mature enough for baby to suck in amniotic fluid.

- Baby is starting to develop the ability to remember things