Friday, February 4, 2011

Doppler

I'm 9 weeks and 5 days. With Aidan I had my first 'big' bleed at 9 weeks and 4 days (as opposed to the 'minor' bleeding I'd been having since week 3). Both Brian and I huff a *teeny weeny* sigh of relief when yesterday passed without rushing to Emerg.

During Aidan's pregnancy Brian rented a doppler, which I used every couple of days as the pregnancy progressed just to make sure Aidan was still alive. After the bad news, I was sure one day I'd put that wand on my belly and hear...silence. It never happened (which I'm SO grateful for), but because he didn't move much (because he had no fluid...so so so sorry Aidan), being able to use that doppler to hear his heartbeat every time I passed more blood or fluid...well, it kept me sane. If he had died inside me I wanted to know it. And if he was alive, I wanted to know that too. It was the not knowing that would have done me in.

So, this time, Brian planned ahead and bought a doppler. He got it in the mail a few weeks ago and hid it from me so I wouldn't be tempted to try it out. Initially he said "let's wait until at least 11 or so weeks to try it". We heard Aidan's heartbeat at 9 weeks 4 days. Honestly, I think he had to hide it from himself more than me, because I knew he wouldn't be able to wait that long. So I wasn't surprised when I got home from work tonight and Brian almost immediately says "Do you want to try the doppler tonight!!"

Of course I want to...but I'm a little afraid that we won't hear anything. Will that make the anxiety worse? I mean, I know it's early...but still...what if we don't hear anything?

So of course, we try it anyway.


Pull it out.

Squirt the goo on and

....silence....silence....silence....

Then I say "try a little higher...I think my bladder's full"


and....sure enough...

Swish/swish/swish/swish/swish...


YEAH!!!!!

So I'm feeling happy tonight. I can confidently say as of 8:30pm on Thursday Acorn was alive with a heart rate somewhere in the 170s range.


*Whew*

9 comments:

  1. Great news! My doppler was my best (and sometimes worst!) friend in Angus' pregnancy. I'm not sure I could have got through without it and I know it saved me many trips in to emerg.
    xo

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  2. Yea! I just my doppler with Bailey about once a week. It made me feel better too. It's in our box of "reusables" in the nursery right and I hope to be able to use it soon.

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  3. Whew is right! I'm so relieved that you were able to pass this hurdle and get some reassurance.

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  4. That's great! I am so scared of trying to hear it early on next time. My OB couldn't find Jacob's heartbeat at 12 weeks, but had told us ahead of time that might happen. I was disappointed, but not overly worried at that time. I was just saying to Ted last night that unless I can have an ultrasound immediately after to confirm the baby is still alive.

    I'm so glad that you have passed 9 weeks and 4 days and that you heard Acorn's heartbeat!

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  5. Awesome news! I got a doppler with our first pregnancy too, but have been avoiding using it for the same reason, too afraid I wouldn't hear anything. My OB used a doppler on Tuesday when I saw her and it took her quite a while to find the heartbeat herself, but she eventually did, although this again scared me into trying myself for a little while at least. I'm thinking in a couple more weeks I might give it a go.

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  6. I went back and forth about getting a doppler, but I am happy that I did. It offered me reassurance. Towards the end, before I went into the hospital, I was using it several times a day. (It was kind of freakish). But it really helped me, and if I ever get pregnant again, I will rent the same doppler again.

    I am just so happy for you!

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  7. Yay for acorn!! How awesome that you have that much more reassurance!!

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  8. Beautiful. : ) <3 We still have our doppler in a box. Praying I can use it soon. : )

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