Week 12

I've been thinking about the test that my doctor mentioned at our last visit that is available to all pregnant women during the 1st trimester. It is called First and is supposed to test for Down Syndrome and other genetic disorders. Apparently, if you take this test, you have to also be willing to have an amniocentesis, which is a more invasive test that carries a risk for miscarriage-- because if the results of the first test are unclear or positive, then they will use the second test to find out more.

Although I was uncertain (because if the doctor is recommending it and modern science has made it available, why not, right?), I think I have decided not to do it.Because even if I find out something is wrong with the baby, what would I do? Knowing would only make me more anxious about the birth. At this point, I'm not really anxious about that-- I've made it almost to the end of the first trimester, and as far as I know, everything is going right on schedule. There has been nothing abnormal to make me feel that my baby is at risk. And frankly, I'm not willing to PUT the baby at risk to find out if something is wrong with him/her. Because termination has NEVER been an option.

On a lighter note, I have to give props to the Life Care Pregnancy Center, where I have been volunteering over a year now on Thursday nights. I have learned so much from the girls who come in there and I know God has truly been using it to prepare me for my own pregnancy and parenting. I'm leading a Pregnancy Information Class right now, which has been fairly informative-- we've been watching a video from National Geographic called "In the Womb" which gives an amazing view of the baby inside the womb at all different stages. We also had a maternity clothes closet available and just recently had to stop that ministry for storage reasons, and I cam eout with about 5 shirts and 2 pairs of pants. Most are too big for now, but will soon fit. Mostly I enjoy the great support I get from my friends at the Center.

We had to sign up and pay for our childbirth class through the hospital this week, although the class won't happen until July. I did my research, though, and discovered my insurance will reimburse up to $90 of the cost. So I splurged and also signed up for a post-natal exercise class to which you're allowed to bring your newborn. Hopefully these classes will also be a great opportunity to meet other new moms.We also got our 1st bill. I'm pretty sure my insurance deductible is only $500 so I know it won't go much higher than that, but I guess I just didn't expect to have to pay this soon. And all for photos of hte preborn child in my womb. Worth it? I think so.