Yesterday, we went back to the Birth Center for our second appointment and this time I brought Gary along. Everything went fine. I happen to have a tall, narrower uterus than average, so that’s why my fundal height is a bit bigger than standard charts would suggest for 16 1/2 weeks. In comparison to what websites tend to say for the top of a 17 week uterus being an inch or so below the belly button, mine is just above. But just because my uterus is “narrow”, doesn’t mean it isn’t wide enough for Remy to crowd over to my right side. The other day, I noticed from my own investigations that the right side of the uterus felt fuller than the left, and then, lo and behold, that’s exactly where we found the heartbeat yesterday. Not sure why he’s cozying up on that side, but that is what’s happening.
This was Gary’s first time hearing the heartbeat through the doppler and he agrees that the first time makes you catch your breath. There’s something awe inspiring about hearing the sound of life fill the room that you played a big part in creating. He confirmed that it was worth getting up a little earlier than usual to hear. That, and carrying my purse from where I got my blood pressure checked to the exam room while I took one of my zillion bathroom breaks wasn’t so horrifyingly emasculating as he feared.
Speaking of BP, mine was exceptionally low, even lower than usual. I can’t remember the actual numbers, but I remember thinking, wow, that’s lower than it usually is even when not pregnant. This may be in part because I forgot to eat breakfast before I went (sorry Remy, I remedied with a big smoothie later). Or, the fact that I don’t carry the kind of training fatigue I used to. At any rate, both Remy’s and my hearts are doing great.
Oh, what a great moment! Jerome and I will never forget hearing the heartbeat (s) and how special that moment was – it was “real.”
