A Chip Off the Old...Yolk

Yesterday we had our second doctor’s appointment. Once again we met with the nurse practitioner since Tiffany’s doc is still on vacation. Marline is her name, she’s very nice and conducted our second ultra sound (again not ON the belly) in as many weeks. 

After some searching, it was easy to see the yolk sac. The yolk sac eventually turns into the placenta which helps nourish baby Pirone. There is even a bright spot at the bottom of the yolk sac which could be the embryo. Since that is not clear yet, an estimate on due date is still out of the question and Marline estimated Tiffany to be 5 weeks a long. To review, she’s been 5 weeks into this pregnancy for the last 3, weeks, or so we thought. She wanted us to come back next week or in two weeks so she could measure the embryo. I voted for two weeks so we didn’t go there next week only to find out we would need to come back again a week later. Even if you are to take the time spent in the office, we’ve already spent upwards of 20 bucks in parking so I’m ready for the once a month visits to start.

In two weeks we should have a measurable embryo and be able to tell “officially” how far along we are and consequently, get a due date, which I’m guessing will be around Jan. 14 at this point. But we’ll know more in two weeks. I also had blood drawn to see if I am RH negative like Tiffany. We’re waiting on those results. 

I would like to know who came up with the term “yolk sac”. It makes sense when talking about baby chicks, but baby humans? Can’t we revise this term? I realize this is the same term given for pretty much everything that has the ability to give birth, but we’re humans, we’re special, you know, we speak words. Instead of yolk sac, maybe birthing bag, something besides something that sounds like it can be scrambled.

On another note, TIffany has been pretty psyched that she hadn’t had any nausea or morning sickness....before yesterday. Soon after she told Marline she hadn’t had nausea and that her mom hadn’t during two of her three pregnancies, she got a little queasy and is queasy again today. Hopefully that won’t continue, but considering how early we still are, it certainly could and I'm sure she won't mind sharing if it does :).

We’re Pregnant!.....Maybe.

It was an ordinary Friday (4/23) or so I thought. When Tiffany and I decided to try to have our first child just weeks (okay 8 or so) before this particular Friday, we thought it would take at least a few months. Anyway, on this particular day Tiffany found herself about two days late, not anything to celebrate, but since she was headed to the dentist and was scheduled to take x-rays, she thought it wise to take a pregnancy test to check prior to the appointment. Otherwise, we probably would have waited a few days to test.

Tiffany chose First Response, a test that advertises that you can take it up to 5 days before your “cycle” is to begin and get a positive test. So clearly two days AFTER was well within the First Response window....or so we thought. The test Friday morning showed one line, negative. Not a big deal. It’s not like we had been trying for months on end so we left that morning, each to our respective jobs, no worse for wear.

However, Tiffany did tell the dental hygienist the situation and she advised to wait and come back the following week after she knew for sure. After hearing this, my only thought was, “Stinks she has to go back just for an x-ray”....and we went about our weekend...and Monday....still no news from “the front”. Plus, and this of course is second hand knowledge, Tiffany was not suffering any symptoms that she usually gets before her monthly visit from Aunt Flo.

As most people know, pregnancy tests come in three...which should tell you how reliable/confusing they can be. So when Tuesday morning (4/27) rolled around, Tiffany took another test. I went to the gym and when I came back and walked into the bathroom I said, “What’s the verdict?”....expecting a smile or a simple “nothing.”....Instead i got this response, “I don’t know”....

Now I was confused. How hard was this? One line negative, two lines positive and my wife is pretty sharp so all I could muster in response was “huh?”...Tiffany told me that there was two lines , only one was very faint.

She handed me the stick that had been doused with her “first morning’s urine” (very important BTW to do these tests in the morning) and I looked at it. There were two lines, one more faint than the first. I thought it was clear she was pregnant especially after looking at the instructions which basically said any second line meant positive. The first verifies you hit your mark and the test has been conducted, the second line is an indication of a specific hormone making it very possible to get a false NEGATIVE, but almost impossible to get a false POSITIVE.

Tiffany was not as convinced as I was . She called her doctor and took a blood test that same day. When she called me Wednesday morning with the results she almost sounded more relieved than happy...”Well I’m pregnant.” There was a hint of a giggle in there of course and when she took the third and final First Response test on Friday, a day before a planned trip to Florida, there were two solid lines....Thanks THIRD Response.