Eight weeks pregnant is the perfect time to go to your first prenatal appointment.
This may be your first prenatal visit or your second if, like me, your first prenatal appointment was at six weeks pregnant, which is considered too early to see the baby.
In my previous post, I discussed my experience at my first prenatal appointment at six weeks pregnant.
I share tips on how to prepare for your first prenatal visit, especially with a new healthcare provider.
I also go over what happens when you arrive at your prenatal visit, from filling out new patient paperwork to urine samples and important questions your doctors will ask you at the start of your visit.
Therefore, this post will pick up from the 8 weeks ultrasound!
So, if you want to know what happens from the moment you arrive at your prenatal appointment to the moment you are about to get your ultrasound done, then go back to my last post.
Now, let’s get into what happens at your 8 weeks prenatal appointment!
As a disclaimer, I am not a doctor or a trained professional in this field. I am simply a first-time mom who had so many questions during my pregnancy, and now I want to share everything I have learned with other first-time moms so that they have an idea of what to expect every step of the way.
8 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound
I was even more nervous this time than the last time for obvious reasons!
The sonographer asked me to lay back and informed me she would insert the transvaginal wand into my vagina to get a better view of the embryo (baby) and that I would feel some pressure.
After some uncomfortable moments with the transvaginal wand,
Guess what?!
The sonographer confirmed the embryo implanted in the uterus, and I heard my baby’s heartbeat for the first time!
(It was on Valentine’s Day!)
It was a very emotional moment! I couldn’t believe I was actually growing a baby inside of me!
What Does The Sonographer Look For In The Transvaginal Ultrasound?
- Size of the embryo(s) to determine expected Due date.
- The number of embryos seen.
- The embryo’s heartbeat
- The embryo’s positioning (to make sure it’s not an ectopic pregnancy. This is when the fetus grows in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
- Check your ovaries and uterus for any abnormalities.
OB/GYN Doctor Discusses Ultrasound Results With Us …
- The baby’s size (aka embryo) confirmed I was eight weeks pregnant, and the Expected Due Date was September 2019.
- The number of babies: One! Thanks God! (lol)
- Baby’s Heartbeat: Strong! About 160-something beats per minute. (The range from a strong heartbeat is from 140-170)
- Baby’s Positioning: In the uterus.
- My Ovaries: small cyst (goes away on its own)
- Check for abnormalities: on the top part of my uterus, they found a Fibroid!
What Happens When You Have A Fibroid While Pregnant?
During the transvaginal ultrasound, they found a fibroid on the top part of my uterus.
This is risky because it’s where pregnancy occurs. The increased hormone levels in pregnancy could cause the fibroid to grow, which increases the risk of the fibroid crushing the embryo (baby).
What Can Be Done To Prevent Fibroid From Affecting The Embryo?
My doctor said the only thing she could do right now is continue to watch the fibroid and hope it doesn’t increase too much in size throughout the pregnancy!
She also stated, to stay positive because most times the fibroid doesn’t grow too much in size, and once the baby is bigger, the baby will have a greater chance of survival.
I was so worried when I heard this news that I was ready for some helpful tips or treatment options!
But, what I wasn’t ready for was NO TIPS or Treatment options!
(The worry continued)
Next,
The OB Doctor Went Over Some Pregnancy Do’s and Don’ts!
–Do start drinking more water.
–Do start taking Prenatal Vitamins.
–Do walk more.
–Don’t drink or smoke
–Don’t eat raw fish
–Don’t eat for two. Eat as I usually would, and choose healthy options!
These are just a few she mentioned during my 8 weeks prenatal appointment but she also gave me a whole list of Do’s and Don’ts.
Two Things You Should Know About Your Healthcare Provider Before You Leave Your Visit:
1. You should get the name of the hospital your provider is affiliated with.
This is important because it’s the hospital you will give birth in. You want to be able to do research on that hospital and see if they are aligned with the birth experience you want.
2. You should also know If your OB will deliver your baby or if it’s the OB on-call.
My OB informed me that the doctors in that office rotate, meaning I will get the doctor on call the day of my baby’s birth.
She recommended I see different doctors at the office throughout my pregnancy so that I could get to know them all. This did help.
The doctors in this office were all women, and they were so sweet and very knowledgeable.
It’s essential to know from the beginning of your pregnancy if your doctor will be the one delivering your baby, or if it’s the doctor on call or maybe, your GYN doctor is not an OB, and you have to find a new doctor.
Check out these important questions you should be asking at your first prenatal appointment.
Last Thoughts
You will have a lot of new information thrown at you!
If you don’t understand something, ask your doctor to explain, and don’t feel stupid for not knowing.
This is your first time!
If your doctor explains something to you and you still find yourself confused, then write it down so you can research it later in the comfort of your home.
Don’t make any decisions without understanding what is being discussed.
Let me know in the comments below if this post was helpful or if you have any other questions on what to expect at your prenatal visit.
