Hi! I had a prenatal appointment this Tuesday (17 weeks). The doctor took blood to do a blood test to test for birth defects. Yesterday morning I found out from the doctor's office (just before I was scheduled for an exam in one of my classes!) that it appeared there was little chance for birth defects but there were abnormally high levels of something (not sure what - AFP? not sure they told me actually.) in the blood work that indicated that there was a possibility of:
1. A molar pregnancy - which would be REALLY BAD, but since there has already been a heartbeat detected this isn't very likely.
2. Pre-eclamsia (pregnancy induced high blood pressure), but my blood pressure levels have been normal - no problems.
3. That my due date was miscalculated and I am further along in the pregnancy than originally thought. However I'm not sure that I could be more than a week at most further along than estimated. I had a normal to heavy period on May 15th. It is currently estimated that conception occurred sometime around memorial day weekend at the end of May.
4. Otherwise it could indicate that there is more than one baby.

My little brother and sister are fraternal twins, but my mom was on fertility meds (I wasn't). I have identical cousins on my dad's side of the family. Both my husband and I have had dreams that it might be twins so I guess it's possible. I had been scheduled for my first ultrasound on Oct. 4, but my doctor wanted to do an ultrasound ASAP so now I am scheduled for Monday afternoon. I can't wait to get to see my baby (babies?!?). I'll keep you posted.

Kate

Well it turned out to be just one baby, and about the right size and development for the estimated stage. I'm not sure what was up with the blood tests. I felt both disappointed and relieved at the same time to find out it was not twins. The thought of twins was exciting but I wasn't sure how I would cope with double the time and especially double the expenses. It was exciting to get to see my baby moving around on the screen. I haven't really begun to feel movement yet, so this made the pregnancy seem more real. I found out what I'm having too but I think that we will keep the gender under wraps to be a surprise for everyone else.