Ramblings of a Nervous Pregnant Woman

Our anomaly scan is 36 hours away and I am nervous. Let me disclaim that IVF itself does not heighten the risk for fetal deformity or abnormalities. There was a study recently published out of Australia in which the researchers concluded fetal abnormalities were 20% more likely in IVF conceptions vs natural. However, that study's subjects included IVF conceptions with ICSI in which the egg is injected with the sperm to aid in fertilization. Our IVF cycle did not require this added procedure. Also, the determining factor of whether IVF with ICSI vs abnormalities in egg quality, a rampant issue for women who experience infertility, contributes to fetal abnormalties remains questionable and inconclusive. So there's your IVF PSA for the day. So I'll admit my fear is not based on any of the factors that say our baby should be at risk for abnormalities, but that doesn't make me feel much better. I have a friend (who conceived naturally), who found at her anomaly scan during her third pregnancy that her baby had anencephaly. I can't stop thinking of her and the words in her blog from her experince, even though a few years have passed, haunt me. I have imagined the worst. I know none of us are immune to the chance that we could be that one out of 1,000. It has to be someoine, after all. I also especially appreciate the pictures people post to Facebook of severely deformed newborns (all for the noble cause of raising 10 thousand 'likes'). My point is that these fear factors are every where. I find myself praying now for a healthy baby practically every hour. I will say I'm feeling just fine physically. A little more tired lately but my pregnancy journal says this was a growth spurt week for baby (and me) . I've had some indigestion the past couple days from who knows what and I am anxiously waiting to feel the baby's movement now. I've been feeling what's either gas bubbles or the baby pretty consistently since Saturday. I can't tell which it is yet. My friends say my worries just mean I'm becoming a mother. They say these are just the perils of motherhood. I may as well just sit back and hang on for the ride. I just hope this ride is more carausel, less Texas Giant...