Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have just announced that they are expecting their 19th child.  The reality TV show family just welcomed their 18th child into the world a short 8 months ago and are expecting the birth of their first grandchild in in October.

Michelle, who is 42, says that she is tired and nauseous, but mentioned that tired an nauseous was pretty normal for the first trimester of pregnancy.  Michelle also homeschools all of the school aged children and has taught each child to play the violin.  Jim Bob, along with help from the rest of the family, built their new home.

For those of you who were wondering, along with me, the family figures that they have changed an estimated 90,000 diapers and that they do approximately 200 loads of laundry per month.  Michelle has not been pregnant for 147 months of her life which is only about 12 years.

The newest addition is expected to be born around March 18th.  The Duggar’s first grandchild, a baby girl, is due October 18th.

I can not believe that I am already 28 weeks pregnant! It won’t be too much longer until our little one arrives.

For today’s visit, I had to have testing to see if I have gestational diabetes.  For this test, you will be asked to drink an incredibly sweet drink.  You’ll have to wait an hour, and then blood will be drawn to see how well your body is processing the sugar.

This is my 6th test as this is my 6th child.  I have discovered that the fruit punch flavor actually tastes the best.  My least favorite flavor was the orange flavor.  I’ve also discovered that the liquid tastes better if it is chilled.

It’s important to follow all of your doctor’s instructions to the letter when preparing for this test.  My doctor had told me to only drink water this morning and to eat only protein for breakfast.  I did as I was told to do, but another woman didn’t follow the instructions.  They actually refused to do the test on her and told her she had to re-schedule.

While I was waiting for time to pass, the nurse handed me a hospital pre-admission paper which he was going to have the hospital process.  That way, he explained, I wouldn’t have to worry about paperwork when I was in labor.  As I was filling out the paperwork, I got a little bit scared when I realized that I am REALLY having a baby.Â

I had to call my husband and cry.  My husband is very practical and was clearly dumbfounded: hadn’t I known for 6 months that I was having a kid?  Why was I so frantic at this moment?  Maybe it was all the sugar in that drink I said.

After taking several vials of blood to run the diabetes test, the midwife measured my stomach and listened for our son’s heartbeat. She asked about any complications I might be experiencing and weighed me.  My next appointment is in 3 weeks.

I’m curious to find out what other moms to be think about the diabetes test.  What was your favorite drink flavor?  Did you like your drink chilled or room temperature?

Keeping “kick counts” is recommended by most doctors late in the second trimester.  To do a kick count, you count the number of movements or kicks.  After you get to 10 squiggles, rolls, kicks or flutters, you note how long it took from the beginning to the end of the session.

Research done in th 1970’s and 1980’s determined that kick counts were a pretty accurate indicator of a baby’s health.  Therefore, if your kick count session become longer as your pregnancy advances, or your baby just isn’t moving, you should call your health care provider.

With my last pregnancy, I felt that something wasn’t right.  My child wasn’t moving as he had previously, and I mentioned that to my doctor who wasn’t very concerned.  I continued to monitor my child’s movements and they continued to decrease over the following few days which prompted me to again contact the doctor.  After that, I had to go for bi-weekly tests to more thoroughly monitor my son.  While the child was becoming more lethargic, no one seemed to know why.  Some of the staff told me to not even bother worrying.

When my son was born, we found that he had 2 knots in his umbilical cord.   That was the reason for the kick count decline: if he moved or laid in a certain position, it most certainly would have reduced the amount of oxygen and nutrients he was getting.

The thing that frustrated me was that I felt that the health care providers were more or less complacent about the whole thing.  It took some advocating on my part to even get additional monitoring for my child.  Several doctors tried to tell me that my records were inaccurate or that I was worrying about nothing.

I saw a new product called the KickTrak which electronically monitors your baby’s kicks and movements.  I am seriously considering buying the product, which costs about $30, mostly because I’ve had issues with all of my children towards the end of my pregnancies.  Several of my deliveries were induced and my children were delivered early.

Would you purchase an electronic kick count monitor?  Do you prefer to keep track of your baby’s movements in a journal?

Have you heard of this new trend?  It’s possible to deliver your child in a beautifully designed hospital style gown or outfit!

The company I checked out had gowns with a print or a checked pattern.  Gowns made from organic cotton were also available.  You can even have your gown monogrammed if you desire!  These gowns would be perfect for the delivery room or even if you have an extended hospital stay pre-birth. I remember having an extended hospital stay with my first child pre-birth due to complications.  It was so depressing to be there in the first place, especially since I had to stay on the maternity ward.  I think something as simple as a cute hospital gown could have certainly helped my mood.

I have mixed emotions about using a purchased gown for the birthing experience.  I suppose it’s because during one labor, the hospital actually misplaced all of my belongings on the way from the labor room to the birthing room.  While they found my baby items and toiletries, all of my clothing was gone.  I never did get my “coming home” outfit back.  Because of this, I feel you should not bring anything to a hospital that you aren’t willing to “lose”.

Another reason why I preferred using hospital gowns at least for those few days postpartum was because those gowns got very messy!  It was easy to just get a fresh gown when the one I was wearing got stained.  It was also nice to not have to worry about laundering those stains either!

I’m undecided I guess you could say!  I love the idea, but being a practical kind of gal, I’m not sure that I could justify purchasing a special gown which would probably get stained or ruined during or shortly after labor.

What do you think? Would you buy a special gown for your baby’s delivery?

For many mothers, Mother’s Day is a day to be endured and survived, not celebrated.  I learned this on Mother’s Day 2006.  Our first born son had been stillborn and we’d buried him less than a month before.  I remember going to church that day and noticing that a baby baptism ceremony had been planned for that day.  I actually had to leave the service because I just wasn’t able to handle it.

Mother’s Day can be a difficult day for moms.  I think of the older mother who buried her child and is helping to raise her grandchildren.  I am reminded of my step mother, who loved and raised us after our mother’s untimely death.  She never made a distinction between her biological children and her step-children.  That’s a mom alright!

I also think of the many mothers with children in the military.  Some of these mothers will spend their day worrying about their children.  Perhaps some have gotten the call that no parent ever wants to get: they have been told that their child has made the ultimate sacrifice and given their life in service to their country.

For many years, I was a single mother of young children.  Being alone on Mother’s Day was always depressing for me.  One year, my friend from college called and invited me to spend the day with her family.  Every year after that, my children and I would spend the day with her family.  I remember those holiday celebrations with great fondness.

As you are planning your Mother’s Day activities this year,  remember the “forgotten” mothers.   Whether you send a card, give flowers, or thank them for their sacrifice, your efforts will be appreciated.

Today, I went for my 6th month check up at the baby doctor.  The visit is pretty much similar to the last one: they weight you, check your urine for protein and sugar, listen to the baby’s heartbeat, measure your growth, and listen to you complain!

At each visit, your doctor should ask you if you have symptoms like bleeding, spotting, swelling, contractions or pain.  The list is usually longer, but those are the major players they seem to be looking at because these symptoms can denote that something serious is going on.  Today, the doctor asked if I am eating well, and if I’m able to sleep.

I’ve never had a doctor ask me about my eating, and so I asked why they were asking.  Apparently, I haven’t gained any weight since my last visit!  That’s a first for me.  They claim that my growth is still good, and so they aren’t concerned.

Up until this point, I have to admit I was feeling pretty good with this pregnancy.  I am now starting to feel uncomfortable.  I’m having contractions quite a bit–mostly because it’s been so hot and humid in our area and I guess I am not drinking enough fluids.  The doctor told me to cut out anything with caffeine because this can make dehydration worse.  I shall miss my tea!  The doctor also claims that “practice contractions” are stronger in women who have had multiple pregnancies.  Since this is my 8th pregnancy, I guess I qualify.

My next appointment is on June 1st.   August is quickly approaching and soon we’ll get to meet our baby.  Part of me is still in disbelief that I am actually having a baby!  I guess I’ll begin to accept that we are having a baby when that first REAL contraction hits.  Maybe…..

We live in a large city near the beach in the southern US.  Crime isn’t rampant, but it does happen.  I have to admit that as my pregnancy progresses, I worry a little bit about my personal safety, especially since my husband is away with business a lot.

I am very aware of the fact that I move a little bit slower than usual, and that I waddle.  My large midsection screams to the world that I am with child. I feel very vulnerable I have to admit.

Today, I was coming out of Walmart and a lady approached me and told me she didn’t want to hurt me.  I immediately put my toddler in the van, got in and shut the door.  She came to the window and told me she was a recovering drug addict and wanted a ride to the clinic where she could get some methadone.  It was just a few blocks away she said.

On the chance that her story was really for real, and also so she knew I could call for help,  I got out my cell phone.  I told her that I’d call someone to take her or I’d pay for her to get a cab.  She said no, she wanted me to give her a ride.  With that, I drove off, leaving her standing there.  I also called the manager at the Walmart too.  Better safe than sorry.

I don’t really like to fixate on the negative, but today’s experience jolted me a little bit.  Do you worry about personal safety more when you are pregnant, or when you are out with your infant? What steps do you take to make sure that you and your family are safe during outings?

My husband retired from the military after 22 years recently. I was thrilled for many reasons, but mostly because I thought he’d be home! No more lengthy separations due to work responsibilities. I never thought he’d land a civilian job which required him to travel extensively!

I am almost 24 weeks pregnant at this point and I feel myself slowing down. I suppose it’s because of a variety of things–my advanced maternal age, and the fact that I am a mother to 5 other children. It seems that my energy runs out faster than the daylight does. There are days when I really wish I could go sleep for a little bit and ask my husband to handle the parenting duties for a while, but I can’t. If you are in a similar situation, here are some things I’ve found that are helpful.

Pace Yourself
If I know that I have to be somewhere during the evening hours with the older children, this means that I have to somehow minimize morning activities and meetings. Otherwise, I just won’t be able to do it all.

Learn To Say No
This past weekend, I had to drive 1600 miles so my older children could see their father as per our court order. I couldn’t say no to that, but on Monday, when I was brutally tired, I had to re-schedule several meetings and other commitments. I had to say no.

Ask For Help
If you need help, ask! Of course, you may not have a support network to go to when you need help. I am thinking about my experiences as a military wife where you’ve just moved into a new community and your husband goes away. You may not know anyone to ask for help!

Expect The Children To Help
Even younger children are able to handle some tasks. The older children can handle other tasks. Even so, it may be necessary to lower your standards or to let some things go.

When I become discouraged as of late, I remind myself that pregnancy lasts for only 40 weeks. Until then, I keep doing the best I can do.

I have often heard stories about pregnant women who get the “nesting” urge.  The urge is supposed to hit before birth.  Pregnant women who get the nesting urge have an uncontrollable urge to fix up the house and get things ready for the baby.

I am not sure why, but I have officially begun to get the nesting urge at 5 months along.  Perhaps it is because our house is under construction, or perhaps it is because we already have a large family and all the mess that goes along with a large family.  At any rate, I believe I am driving my dear husband slightly crazy; and I know for a fact that the neighbors regard my recent obsession with mulch and flowers as amusing.

In addition to gardening–which I wanted to do before it gets too hot here in the south–and I painted the baseboard trim in the house.  Today, I’m sore and tired.

In discussing nesting urges with my girlfriends, I found that most of us felt the urge to begin and finish seemingly meaningless tasks.  One of my friends had her husband replace the kitchen linoleum several times before finding just the “right” one.  Years later, she and her husband laugh about this.  “It’s not like the baby came home from the hospital and thanked me for choosing just the right shade of flooring!  I don’t know what I was thinking!”

Did you get any nesting urges when you were expecting?

I have heard from lots of women that they have trouble sleeping during their pregnancy.  Usually, the “condition” gets worse as the pregnancy progresses.

Between my racing thoughts, my enlarging belly, and my need to use the bathroom at frequent intervals, night time is not such a restful time.  It seems that when I lay down, the child I am carrying becomes VERY active and this makes it hard to relax.  When the baby calms down, and I do get to sleep, I am wakened by my toddler’s cries!

People joke that having a baby is nature’s way of telling you that you are getting too much sleep.  That may be true, but I don’t agree with nature’s definition of  “too much”.

I’ve heard a bunch of remedies to the sleep issue.  Some folks advocate drinking hot tea or hot milk before bed.  Others swear that a warm bath helps.  I remember being very large at the end of my pregnancy with my son and having trouble getting in and out of the tub.  The stress of those memories, and the fact that my husband is away quite a bit on business keep me from trying that remedy!  A warm shower will have to do I guess.

I have found that I get very tired(and crabby) in the early evening.  I’ve also discovered that if I can just lay down and relax for about 20 minutes at that time, it really helps.  This means that I put my son in the playpen with a few toys and let him watch one of his favorite videos.  If I doze off, I know he’ll be safe.

When you are working and have children, it’s hard to find time to rest during pregnancy.  If you aren’t sleeping so well at night, that can make life very difficult. If you are dealing with this issue, I’d encourage you to listen to your body and catch some “rest breaks” when you can.  It will really help!

My great-grandmother was a lay midwife and delivered many babies. She said she could “tell” if a baby was a boy or a girl and claimed that her methods were incredibly accurate. Since I’ve had an ultrasound which made it very clear that our child is a boy, I thought I’d evaluate some of the tales I’ve heard to see how true they are.

Chinese Gender Chart
I found that there are actually several variations circulating. Most of the variations accurately predicted that our child was a boy.

Morning Sickness Method
Supposedly, you have more intense morning sickness if you are carrying a girl. My morning sickness is not as intense as it was with my girls, but yet, it is there and is more intense than it was with my first son. I don’t know what this means actually, except that I have morning sickness which still affects me 5 months into my pregnancy.

Heartbeat Method
According to this tale, if a child has a slow heartbeat, it’s a boy. If it has a fast heartbeat, it is a girl. The cut off is supposedly around 140. This child has a heartbeat of 150 consistently, so this myth didn’t accurately predict the gender of our child this pregnancy.

Out In Front Or All Around?
According to this myth, you can tell the gender of your child based upon how you are “carrying” the child. If you gain weight all over, your child is a girl. If your weight gain is all “out in front”, it’s a boy. For me, this has been true.

For this pregnancy, half of the myths of listed accurately predicted the gender of our child; half did not. This tells me that I had a 50/50 chance of guessing the gender of our child correctly! While the myths may not be of any real help in enlightening you as to your child’s gender, they are a fun way to pass time while waiting for your bundle of joy to show up.

Today was my 5 month “baby doctor” appointment.  I was wondering what the doctor’s office would say about my recent appointment with the high risk clinic and the “soft marker” they found for  Down’s Syndrome.

During an ultrasound at the clinic about 3 weeks ago, the technician told me that my child had an echogenic bowel.  Supposedly, this is considered a marker for Down’s Syndrome.  Since I am already of advanced maternal age, my risk factor for the syndrome is pretty high–about 10%.

I talked with the doctor today about the internet searches I’d done to research the condition.  I also talked with her about the abruptness of the doctor who’d come to discuss the ultrasound results with me.   Not only was the doctor abrupt, but he advised that I terminate the pregnancy as I have a 10% risk of having a child with Down’s Syndrome supposedly.  I was shocked, and I told her so.

The doctor I saw today explained to me that many things can cause a “marker” to show up during an ultrasound.  She also explained to me that the whole ultrasound thing is still an inexact science.  As we discussed things further, she admitted to me that she’d had a similar experience at the same clinic.  Her child had a marker show up during an ultrasound and they also advised her to terminate the pregnancy.  Her child is now 3 months old and is fine.

I am curious to find out–have any other women out there ever had a specialist  who advised terminating a pregnancy due to an ultrasound finding?

Because I am of  “advanced maternal age“, I went today for genetic counseling and a level 2 ultrasound at the local medical college.

Our baby is a boy!  My husband was thrilled and our older children were thrilled too.  How wonderful!

The ultrasound technician told me (my husband is away on the other side of the country on business) that our baby has echogenic bowels.  This means that the bowel shows up brighter on the ultrasound than it should.  However, it is “borderline echogenic”.  I don’t really understand other than they say echogenic bowels are a “marker” for Down’s Syndrome.   They can also mean absolutely nothing.

The doctor advised that I consider an amniocentisis to determine if the marker was a true indicator for Down’s Syndrome.  I refused.

I have to say that the doctor didn’t spend but 5 minutes with me and then left.  I wasn’t really impressed.  I mean, if it REALLY is a serious thing, then shouldn’t you spend a little more time with a patient? The genetic counselor told me that echogenic bowels could mean: nothing at all, that the baby has swallowed some blood or excess amniotic fluid, that the baby has cystic fibrosis, or that the baby has Down’s.

Since I have had some spotting, I am leaning more toward the logical conclusion that our baby has swallowed some blood.  I am hoping that all will be well, and I’m trying to concentrate on the good things about this baby and how he appears otherwise healthy.

Have you ever been told that your baby has echogenic bowels? I’m curious to find out what happened in your case.  Please post!

I was shopping at my local Walgreen’s pharmacy where I spied a prenatal gender test for about $35.   No, I didn’t purchase the test, but I thought about it.  I still am thinking about the test.

The test is called the Intelligender. Supposedly, it’s available at different pharmacies, but it can also be ordered online if you can’t find the product in your local area.

Chemicals in the test react with your urine to identify the gender of the child you are carrying.  An orange color means your child is a girl. A green color means your child is a boy.  The test manufacturers claim that the results are 80% accurate if the directions are followed.

I am having an ultrasound next Monday, where I hope to find out my child’s gender minus the $35 dollar expense.  I know, $35 doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but yet it is.

Have you heard of this product? Would you try it for $35?

My husband and I are having fun “guessing” the gender of our child that is due in August.  We’ve checked the Chinese Birth Chart, and we’ve pondered our child’s heart rate. We’ve looked at the way I’m “carrying”–which is all out in the front.  Does that mean it’s a boy?

I’ve also looked at my diet and my cravings to see if I could ascertain our child’s gender that way.  I’ve considered a few other “old wives’ tales” that my great grandmother told me about in an effort to discover the gender of our child.  My great grandmother was a lay midwife and had 6 of her own children, so she should have known a thing or two about babies!  I think anyway….

Yet, I am still uncertain as to the gender of our child.  I know–all that effort for what? I suppose it makes the pregnancy go faster?

Last night, my aunt asked me how active our child is in utero.  At this stage, I mostly feel flutters, so I can’t quite gauge it’s activity.  My aunt claims that her male children were more active in utero than her female children.  I suppose this held true for my pregnancies too; my son was more active than my daughters.

Have you noticed a difference in the activity level during your pregnancy between your male and female children? Do you think you can use this to determine gender?

I just got back from my “baby doctor” appointment.

The fourth month is a pretty routine visit.  They screen your urine for protein and sugar and take your vitals.  During the appointment, your doctor or midwife will go over your “symptoms” and ask if you have any concerns.  They will ask to make sure that you have no swelling in your face, hands, or feet.  They will also make sure that you aren’t having contractions, cramping or bleeding.  These symptoms can signal a serious complication.

Some  symptoms that have shown up for me in the past few weeks: nosebleeds and a stuffy nose.  I dislike the stuffy nose thing, but I’ve found that if I use nasal strips, it helps me to sleep better at night.  I also find that I get winded more easily than usual.

The midwife measured me and announced that I am large for my date. I am consistently measuring two weeks larger than I should measure she tells me.  They feel that perhaps my dates are off.  Wouldn’t that be nice to deliver earlier than expected?  Maybe….can I get everything done that I need to do two weeks earlier than planned?  We are remodeling to make a room for the baby.  I’m not sure if it will be done by August!

This baby does not like the doppler and flutters around to get away from it.  They had a hard time finding the heartbeat because of that.  The midwife finally found the heartbeat at the very top of my uterus near my belly button!

My next appointment is at the Maternal Fetal Medicine center locally because of my–ahem–advanced maternal age. They’ll be discussing risk factors and doing a level 2 ultrasound to check on the baby. I’m hoping that we might be able to see if our child is a boy or a girl!  My next regular appointment is two weeks after that.

I am astounded at the things I am learning about pregnancy, even though this is not my first.  Today, I learned that I had angered a distant relative when I named my now 11 year old child Rebekkah.  Apparently, the distant relative wanted to name her child Rebekkah and felt I’d “stolen” her name.

This situation put me in a quandary because I felt slightly embarrassed by my lack of courtesy.  First of all, this woman has not dated in decades, so I guess I was surprised that she had even “picked” out a name.  I was even more surprised that she still remembered 11 years later that I’d offended her and felt compelled to share that with me at this point in time.

Another thing that surprised me was the notion that one must check with friends and relatives to get their approval and to make sure that no names are “stolen”.  This is my 6th child, and I honestly never knew that I’d offended people by “stealing” names.  In fact, I honestly never even knew that it was considered polite to actually check with people before naming a child.  I never even guessed that I should check with people who weren’t even considering having children…just in case.  What do I know? Not too much it appears.

I discussed this with a friend across the street.  She said that yes, she had checked with friends and relatives before naming her children.  One friend had liked a certain name that she also liked and she did ask permission to name her child that name!

Another friend, who is having trouble conceiving, has picked out names for the children she hopes will one day join their family.  She confided to me that she was quite upset when another mutual friend got pregnant “by accident” and then named her child the name that she’d picked for her son.

What do you think?  When choosing a name for your child, do you check with extended family and friends to make sure that you don’t take “their” names?  Have you ever been offended when a friend “takes” a name that you wanted for her own child?

As I was pondering all things pregnant this morning while gazing at my rapidly growing waistline, I wondered what my food cravings mean.  Do cravings tell you something, or is there no real reason for them other than to annoy your husband when you demand that he get you fried chicken take out at 11pm?

When I was pregnant with my older children, I craved carbohydrates.  All of my older children happen to be girls too.  I wonder if it was all the ice cream, pretzels, and cookies I ate during those pregnancies? Doesn’t that nursery rhyme say that little girls are made of  sugar and spice?

When I was pregnant with my son, I craved vegetables and meat.  With the child I am carrying now, I crave spinach souffle and sardines!  I don’t get it either, but it makes my husband laugh.  He tells me that he can’t wait until this child gets old enough to hear Popeye jokes.

My most embarrassing craving moment happened with my first child.  I had a craving for a sundae with whipped cream.  We lived in a very rural area and I stopped at both of the ice cream shops in town asking for a sundae with whipped cream.  Both of the shops had run out of whipped cream!  I actually refused to take the sundaes because of that and instead drove to the grocery store about a half and hour away to get ice cream and whipped cream.  By that time, I decided to just buy the whipped cream to eat.

I was eating a bowlful of whipped cream in my car when a neighbor spotted me!  She promptly gave me a long lecture on nutrition and scolded me for being so irresponsible.  I  patiently listened, waited until she left, and then resumed eating.  I felt so guilty afterwards though!

What food did you crave when you were pregnant?

When I was expecting my first child, I worked in a nursing home.  I really didn’t have to worry about my work clothes because it was pretty basic stuff and not too much room for individuality.

I really never showed until I was around 6 months pregnant.  At that time, I began to search for maternity clothes but our budget was so strained, I simply couldn’t afford to buy too many clothes.  A friend of mine decided to pass along the clothes she had sitting in her attic.  I was thrilled for the clothes!

When my pregnancy ended, my friend told me to just keep the clothes.  I was thrilled and stored them in the attic until my next pregnancy.  The one thing I didn’t consider though was the reality of  the timing of my pregnancies and how that would affect my wardrobe.

For example, I conceived my son a few summers ago.  I didn’t wear maternity clothes until fall, and then I could fit into small or medium outfits.  By the time he was born in spring, I had progressed to large maternity outfits mostly because I had a lot of excess fluid I was carrying.  This year, I began my pregnancy in early December and our child will be born in August.  I have NO summer maternity clothes because I was didn’t need them with my last pregnancy!

Sadly, at my “advanced maternal age”, I am the only one of my friends still bearing babies.  Sharing maternity clothes is not an option.  Oh well…looks like I just may have to go out and buy some NEW maternity clothes.  Part of me feels guilty splurging to buy new clothes when I know this is my last pregnancy.  What a waste of money!  Another part of me tells myself that I am worth that splurge.

What do you think? Did you buy new maternity clothes for yourself during your pregnancy? Did you wear second hand clothes?

I am now halfway into my 14th week of pregnancy.  This week, my doctor’s office called to inform me of my visit to “Maternal and Fetal Medicine Clinic (MAFMC)” at the local teaching hospital.

Visits to the MAFMC are reserved for women who are 35 and over and pregnant; women who have a history of stillbirth or miscarriage; or those who have children with genetically inherited diseases.  I am not happy to say that I fit into all of the above categories.

My appointment at the clinic is March 30th.  At that time, they will offer genetic counseling to my husband and I (I’m not too worried about this as the genetic issues my older children have were inherited from their father’s side), and perform a level 2 ultrasound. During the ultrasound, they will be looking for birth defects, and also physical markers for Down’s Syndrome.

Since I am 39, I am well aware of my risks and that worries me.  My sister-in-law and brother discovered recently that the child they were expecting had Down’s.  She is my age.

Another factor that concerns me is that my husband travels frequently.  I am hoping that he will be home for this visit and able to attend with me.  I am sure I’ll want the emotional support on that day.

The exciting news is that I shall be 19 weeks pregnant at the time of this visit.  I am praying that all is well with our baby, and I am also hoping that we might be able to find out the gender of our baby during this visit.  I’ve found that not all of my children were willing to share that secret with us during the ultrasound visit! This does happen occasionally.

I finally found a brand of pre-natal vitamins that I can tolerate! The doctor I have was kind enough to give out samples so I could try the different kinds without purchasing a whole lot of vitamins.

Have you ever been scheduled for a “high risk pregnancy appointment”?