17 week appt update

Hey everyone! Hope you're all doing well! I went this morning for my 17 week check up. I gained 4lbs from my last appointment, for a grand total of 7lbs in 2 months so far. Dr did not seem unhappy and said I'm doing wonderfully. We listened to the heartbeat...which was much slower and not as quick sounding as it was last month. My labs all came back with really good numbers and baby and I are doing wonderfully. My bp was slightly elevated at 130/80, but she wasn't concerned considering my adventurous, nerve-wracking trip in the rain and my ever lasting anxiety over my blood draw..I'm petrified of needles...although I must say its gradually getting better.

So, I have a question...how come everyone seems to know their baby's heatbeats per minute? I've never been given a number thus far and I'm curious as to why this might be. I have, however, scheduled my 20 week anatomy ultrasound. Hopefully in just 3 short weeks we will know what the baby's gender is...provided he/she is cooperative.

I asked the dr for the hbpm, but she said it would be too hard to tell with the doppler and they'll determine that on the ultrasound in 3 weeks. Just curious if anyone else didn't know their baby's heartbeat.???

Thanks girls! Hugs!

When I used to go to my dr. appts, and asked for the heartbeats per minute-the dr. would look down at the screen on the doppler and tell me how many beats per minute.  There was a read out on the doppler that told her how many beat per minute it was. 

I don't know....maybe he/she is using a doppler that doesn't have a readout??? 

Just think-only 3 weeks to wait til you know what you are having proving he/she cooperates!  Plus, then you will actually get to see like a EKG line of the heart beating on the ultrasound, which is kindof cool too.

Debbie

I think they have to be using the older models then. I guess 3 weeks isn't that long, but its going to seem like an ETERNITY I'm sure LOL! I'm definitely super excited and praying we get to find out with this little baby is!! Fingers are still crossed for a boy, but either way I know I will be left in amazement!! :)

Grats on the great visit!

Sounds like your doc is using an older doppler model. The newer ones automatically calculate the heart rate and either have a printout or display screen. There is nothing wrong with not knowing the exact number as long as the heart beat sounds strong and fast (it's about twice as fast as an adult heart rate).  

Tysm! The heartbeat was so faint this time...she said the baby must have been positioned a little further away, but it was quite a bit slower than the first time we heard the heart beat at 12 weeks..she assured me this was normal tho, so I'm not necessarily worried I just think for my own sake I would like to know...and myabe I'm placing too much emphasis on the whole "wives' tales" with the hbpm deal LOL

CONGRATS on a great appointment and glad to hear everything went well. I'm sorry you didn't get to know what the bpm was. Doctors don't realize how important everything is to us moms to be. My doctor used an old one too and I didn't know until I was at the gender determination scan that she told me after she let me listen to it. They'll definitely let you know at the anatomy scan and if they don't ask them before they wrap things up :)

~~Gina

 

Thank you also! OMG yes I would just love to have a number thrown at me...she could have made it up to appease me LMBO! 3 more long awaited weeks and prayer that little Baby b will have his or herself positioned in the right place and cooperates. I will most definitely be asking for discrete numbers at the ultrasound...I think it's just the little tid bits of information that we mothers just seem to want to know...no matter how small and unimportant those numbers really are in the long run :)

Thanks ladies!

I'm glad you're continuing to do well!

When I would get my HR BPM, it was always 148-150. Everyone was like, "It's a boy, for sure." Well guess what? I'm having a girl! LOL. So I don't think that really has anything to do with the gender at all... it has more to do with how active your baby is when they take the HR.

3 weeks is going to seem like an ETERNITY! I hope your baby cooperates!

Thanks! I know you're right and it's more rational to think that way, but I couldn't help but want just a little bit of a twing right?? lol And yes it already seems like an ETERNITY!!! ahhh, but I guess it will be well worth the wait as long as the "little turd" cooperates!! :)

Glad to know all is well so far I hope baby shows off at the ultrasound!!