My amnio is the day after tomorrow. I won’t get the actual results until two weeks later, but since they’re going to be doing the anatomy survey at the same time, I’ll at least get an indication as to whether or not there is any obvious, visible problem. I’m looking forward to it because I really want the data, but I’m not exactly looking forward to the procedure itself.

I think it’s fair to say that I have extensive experience when it comes to medical procedures relating to the female reproductive system. (That would be one hsg, one laproscopy to remove endo, two hystasonograms, 5 egg retrivals, one prior amnio, and a D&E.) From a physical point of view, the amnio is the procedure I find the most difficult. Yes, strangely enough, just sticking a needle into me and grabbing a bit of amniotic fluid was more uncomfortable than having my dead baby vacuumed out through my cervix. Keep in mind here that I do not have any issues about being stuck with needles, which is good considering all the progesterone in oil I’ve been injected with. Last time around I figured it would be no big deal, and then I had enough Braxton-hicks contractions afterwards to make me really nervous. This time around I’m taking the day off with the plan of coming home and downing a gallon of water and going to bed. I’ll have to go fetch Margaret from preschool, but other than that I should get plenty of rest, which is the best thing I can think of to ward off contractions. I kind of like to have this iron-woman self-image when it comes to all the medical stuff, and I generally don’t take time off unless it’s essentially mandatory because of sedation, but this is one time when I am overriding that inclination because I know that keeping this baby safely inside me is more important than my ego. I just hope everything goes well and the results show a healthy fetus.