The placenta is an evolutionary marvel, in my opinion. These beautiful organs have likely been around since just after the (non-avian) dinos got evicted by a very large space rock and 95% of the 5500 living mammal species have them (the other 300 species comprise the likes of kangas, roos and platypus superheros that provide lovely pouches or eggs for their wee ones). 

This fantastic sandwich of maternal tissue (the decidua) and embryonic tissue (the chorion) finds its etymology in the Latin word for flat cake. (Placenta-replica cake for my next birthday, please?! The more vascularised, the better!)  >>warning, if you like cake, probs not a great idea to click on that last link! 

At 11:13am (MST) I turned 39. Kay and I are celebrating by doing things we won't get to do again once StormyD shows up! That is: sleeping in, going to a fabulous dinner (last night at Corso 32) and a movie tonight (Ender's Game). 

>>Small but important aside here: Ender's Game is Kay's favourite book. Unfortunately the author, Orson Scott Card, believes that "laws against homosexuality should remain on the books...to send a clear message that those who flagrantly violate society's regulation of sexual behavior cannot be permitted to remain as acceptable, equal citizens within that society". I believe he is referring to the laws and members

Kay and I have decided to bring a doula into our fold. She has actually been a member of our team for quite some time already, providing acupuncture support to Kay throughout our fertility journey and she is so good that we are making our relationship official. There was a date and everything! 

Apparently, neck folds are wonderful diagnostic tools. Between 11weeks and 13weeks 6days, the fluid between the folds in the foetus' neck can be measured in a Nuchal Translucency Scan. These measurements are correlated with maternal blood to give a probability ratio for the risk of Trisomy (a third copy of) in chromosome 13, 18 or 21.

Who knows what criteria we should be using to pick an OB? I sure don't! I read some reviews online but I'm pretty certain that most people on Rate MDs are disgruntled so the bias might be a little skewed (in general, the gruntled are not too motivated to post).

In the end we chose based on which hospital looked like a winner from its online tour (cuz it is very likely that some other doc will be on call when we deliver, anyway) and on a recommendation from K's co-worker's-sister-who-is-an-OB-on-mat-leave.

We got to meet our new doc today and she is friendly and efficient! Most importantly, we got to see Darwintoo again (although she is tough to make out in that wee pic)!