Catching up from the beginning

Well, here I go again...
I once again realized that I was at a time of life when I was having to re-write the same information to multiple people again and again...
and I thought, maybe it's time to start blogging again.
So, maybe it won't be daily, and with quite the same frequency as Mauri's updates were, but I'll definitely share any new information as soon as I get it.

So, let's catch up from the beginning:
I found myself at the happy age of 35- the age at which people begin to look at pregnancy in a new and different way- and Mauri and I came to the conclusion that if we were ever going to have a baby, now was the time.
So, no, we didn't start right away. We were a bit indecisive, and finally, after several months of trying to make up our minds, we decided to let fate make the decision for us.

Of course, things seemed pretty normal for a month or two. I didn't feel any differently, and I happily celebrated the coming of the new year, just like any other. Despite all of the distractions from all of the fiestas, after a couple of days I realized that something was a little off.
Luckily I was prepared. I had a ordered a two-pack of ClearBlue pregnancy tests from England off ebay. Having already used one, though, I had also decided I might need more of them. So, I bought a set of 30 ovulation predictors and 10 pregnancy test strips for $1 plus $4.69 international shipping from an ebay seller in China. Yes, I know what you're thinking. Why not just go to a pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test here? Well, it's not so easy here. You can't just buy one at the supermarket or the dollar store. You have to go to a pharmacy, where they are hidden behind the counter, and ask someone for it. What's wrong with that? You can't see the price until they've brought it out for you, and they announce that you owe them the upwards of 30 euros for just one little strip!! (Yes, I know from experience).
So, on January 3, I wasn't going to make the same mistake again. I used one of my cheap China strips, and my first impression was that it was negative. After a couple of minutes, though, I looked back at it and thought I noticed a line. OK, so you had to squint a little bit, but I thought that there was definitely something. Mauri, of course, didn't agree, and had to remind me about the last time that I thought I might have a faint line (That was the fate of the first ClearBlue test a couple of months ago). But I didn't think I had to squint quite so much to see this line...
Mauri thought I was crazy.
So, another day goes by. Still no period. Well, I have 9 of these strips left. Why not try again- first thing in the morning?
I know the line looks darker today. That has to be a line. But it's Monday- Mauri went off to work!!
So, I call-
Mauri, the line looks darker today...
but I know what your "lines" look like...
No, really, I'm pretty sure this is a line...
I proceed to try to take a camera phone picture of it to send to him.

Well, I guess that does look a bit more like a line...

Anyways, I had plans to go to the mall today, and a friend came over to go with me, and I just couldn't help myself:

I think I might be pregnant-
at least that's what the strips from China seem to be saying.

Walking around the mall was a bit of a different experience. Should I buy clothes for my size? Should I look at pregnancy clothes? Should I look at baby clothes?!?!?

Slow down, slow down.
Tomorrow- new day, new test...

January 5
I decided to let the second ClearBlue test confirm the results for me.
This time the results weren't quite so ambiguous.

I guess the cheap China test strips did work after all.

So, it was time to make appointments with the public midwife and a private obstetrician...

January 12
At 6pm I had my first appointment with the obstetrician.
I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I was surprised to have an ultrasound already, and was more surprised by the results.
I was told that according to my last period, I was 6 weeks+2 days pregnant. Just as I had calculated on the internet, the baby was given a due date of Sept. 5, 2010.



The ultrasound, though, found only a gestational sac (the round black circle in the middle) whose size was respresentative of a baby of 4 weeks+6days.


Is something wrong!?!?!?!


Not necessarily-
It could just be that the dates are off since they are based on the last period for everyone, regardless of the length of their cycle and other factors.



On the second picture you can see the size of the gestational sac (SG), and the respective age based on that size. It also shows the size that the sac should be based on the age that it should be based on the date of my last period. Does that make sense?




OK, so I wasn't really nervous about the whole thing yet, but I wasn't completely confident that everything was fine either.





On the 3rd picture, you can see the "4D" ultrasound image of the sac.





and, finally, on the last picture, you can see the graft of how the actual size compares to the size that the sac should be at 6 weeks+2 days.



Anyways, meanwhile, I was told that I should take progesterone supplements, and take things as easy as possible over the next week.
A week of reposo wasn't too bad, but it wasn't exactly fun either- especially since, as the week went by, I was growing progressively more nervous.



Of course, in these situations, it never helps to be reading forums on the internet where people are telling their stories about having an "empty sac" (blighted ovum), and how common that can actually be. During a week of "reposo," though, what else are you supposed to be doing?