Just call me u/s queen.

For any infertile seeking treatment, you know you become one with the monkey wand. U/S are nothing new and you know if given the chance, you can do the thing yourself, don't you?

I had my first OB appointment today.

I guess it ended up being a little early, as my RE hasn't released me yet, but I was under the wrong impression when I first made the appointment. See, my OB is a busy guy and that first appointment takes some time to get in. Plus, I know the first appointment is made around 8weeks and ~everything~ after that revolves around the "every 4 weeks" from appointment #1. With my first, I had my first appointment at 8 weeks, so my BIG u/s appointment fell on my 20 week appointment (as they do the big u/s on whatever appointment falls around 18-22). With Allie, my first appointment was at 7weeks, so my big u/s was at 19 weeks. Great. I definitely wanted to get in before 8 weeks this time! When I first got the bfp, I asked the nurse at RE's what the schedule was. It seemed that I'd be released after the hb appointment, which was at 7weeks exactly. Therefore, I went ahead and made my "8week" appointment. But at my hb appt, RE said he was keeping me for longer, so I just preemptively saw my OB. Oh well, more appointments can't hurt, right?

Anywho, today's appointment was the big boring first appointment. Pee in a cup, weight, medical history, hand up the hoohaa to feel cervix, swipe for STDs, give me big bag of presents and tells me to make an appointment in 4 weeks. BUT this time, I had a few surprises!

~ The first was she asked me if I wanted to take a peek at my little peapod. Crazy, since they don't do early u/s here, but she said she liked to and she wouldn't charge my insurance. Sweet. I'll never give up an opportunity to see the baby. Little peapod has graduated to looking like a gummy bear. Big head and little arm and leg buds. Aww. I have a picture, but the u/s machine was a crappy one, as when it froze for a picture, it was way fuzzy. Just trust me, it was the first u/s that the blob was cute.

~ The second was the fact of my age. I am over 35 so I am now considered "Advanced Maternal Age". Yipee. Which means I am immediately referred to the Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist. Which, they already called me to make the appointment. It needs to be done between 12 and 13 weeks, so it's imperative to get the appointment done on the right date. My appointment is for July 15th and I'll be 12w4d. I have to get the first trimester ultrasound, genetic counseling and the nuchal translucency test. Scary.

I just can't believe how many u/s I get this pregnancy. I had about a bajillion u/s during the IVF/FET cycle, then the u/s during ET. Then the sac u/s when beta hit 1,000. Then the hb appointment. Then the "peek" at first OB appointment. Then another u/s on friday with RE. Then the "you are an old mom" u/s appointment. Then finally, the "big" u/s at 20 weeks.

But, no matter how much I love seeing the baby, I hope the big u/s is my last. U/S later on tend to be for scary reasons and I just don't want any more rides on the roller coaster. Really.