12 Week Prenatal Visit

This morning Chris and I went to our second prenatal appointment.  It seemed so soon to me to come back after only 2 weeks, but they are doing a new test to look for abnormalities, and it needed to be completed before 13 weeks.  The test is done by looking at the baby through ultrasound.  They look for the presence of the nasal bone and also at the nuchal translucency. 
This time I brought in with me a sewing project that I am working on so that I had something to do in the waiting room besides playing Mahjong on my phone.  Plus, we made an 8:00 appointment to try to avoid being held up. 
We got to do the ultrasound first thing.  Chris and I were overjoyed to get to see our baby again this month!  Baby Taylor was wide awake and moving all about.  The baby is actually starting to look like a baby too.  We were able to see legs, knees, feet, hands, elbows, abdomen, and head.  One thing that we were not able to see was the baby's sex organs.  The sonographer said that the baby was hiding those today.  So, we will have to wait until another ultrasound is performed to find out if we will welcome a boy or girl in July.  The next ultrasound will probably not be until March.  What a long wait!
I also had to see the obstetrician, who indicted that the ultrasound looked great.  The nurse also pricked my finger to collect blood for another test to go along with the ultrasound.  I thought that I was clear of having my blood drawn today until the doctor said to go down to the lab. 
I hate, hate, hate having my blood taken.  I worry that I will get sick or pass out, especially since I am under the weather today with a cold and an ear infection.  I almost got up out of the lab and left, but I remembered that I am an adult and need to do what is best for the baby and me. 
Thank goodness the lab technician was an expert blood taker.  I barely felt the needle go in.  Afterwards (when I could speak) I mentioned that the blood removal was unremarkable, just the way I like it.  The technician looked pleased to hear that.  It's always good to be nice to people who stick you with needles, as they can make you suffer!
I will go back to the doctor in a month in order to be measured and weighed, and the doctor mentioned doing the next screening.  Since there will be no ultrasound, Chris is going to miss this appointment so he will not miss any more work.  I look forward to going back, sitting in that waiting room, and working on my sewing!