Wednesday's come with much anticipation, excitement and fear. For the past few weeks I'm either seeing my regular OB or my high risk doctor every Wednesday. My OB appointments are very easy, just the normal routine that consists of weight, blood pressure check, fetal heart rate, etc. We also go over the notes from the previous week with my high risk doctor.
Clint and I were actually told that we ask more questions than their med students last week, we google all our questions all week and have a TON every week for either doctor. My OB is so sweet and we never feel rushed and she answers every question and tries to explain it in the best way possible to us. We obviously had a lot of questions after last week and we left in good spirits today.
Neither doctor really knows the number one factor as to why the baby is measuring small. However, she did say that I need to be prepared that any time I go see the high risk doctor and the baby isn't growing/thriving then we would have an immediate delivery. It would be determined that the baby would thrive more outside of the womb than me staying pregnant. Hopefully this is MANY weeks away!!!
I asked my doctor what our "goal" was. I'm a person who lives by my calendar and is a bit controlling in that sense, so this whole situation makes me feel very much out of control. She said, our next goal is 28 weeks. Well, I'm 26 weeks tomorrow so that's just a mere 2 weeks away. I hope I surpass this goal with flying colors.
As usual, if you have any extra thoughts or prayers to send my way please do. I need them!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Appointment Update
I had my high risk appointment this week. These appointments come with a lot of anxiety and emotions for me. On one hand I'm excited to see the baby again during an ultrasound...but then on the other hand I'm terrified of receiving any bad news.
Last week I finally got the blood results from my 16 vials of blood. Comes to find out that I have a MTHFR gene mutation. It's a bit confusing so here is a link if you wish to read up on it.
I received this news from a nurse on a Friday afternoon and both of my doctors were already gone for the day. Google wasn't my friend. MTHFR gene mutation is linked a lot to spina bifida, anencephaly, and a bunch of other birth defects. I then spent the whole weekend freaking out over the possibilities this gene mutation has on my baby.
I felt reassured once I spoke to my OB on Monday and then followed up with my high risk doctor on Wednesday. It's a blood clotting disorder that I've had since birth. My body doesn't break down folic acid like it should, so I am taking some extra meds to help this. My doctor did say this may have been a factor in my miscarriages.
Well fast forward till Wednesday at my high risk appointment. The appointment started off with having another ultrasound done by the tech. I swear the ultrasounds feel as if they are 30 minutes...and when the tech isn't saying anything you are thinking the worst! She did tell us that the baby has gained 3oz in 2 weeks! YAY! That's great but the baby is still measuring behind.
My doctor then came in and did another ultrasound for what seemed like an eternity. She then asked again if we were certain on our due dates, which we are since we had early dating ultrasounds. She then begin to tell us that all the measurements are a few weeks behind except for the brain which is exactly where it should be. She is pretty convinced that my blood pressure problems have been the culprit for the baby not growing as it should.
She then made note that my fluid levels were low...which I was shocked by because I swear I drink water non stop! Next, she was looking at the blood flow to the baby and seemed concerned which is when I got scared. I'm sure there is a specific term for this but I don't know what it is. On a chart it should have constant peaks and the blood flow to the baby was a peak and then a pause, then a peak and then a pause, etc.
Once my doctor went over the blood flow with me she put me on bed rest. Ugh. Yes, bed rest already. I couldn't believe it. I knew due to my high blood pressure it was a possibility but I thought I would be put on bed rest much later like I was with Noah...not before 30 weeks.
Before I left the appointment I was given a steroid shot to help mature the baby's lungs. I then had to go back for another shot the next day. It's scary to be given this shot because I really don't want to deliver a baby soon, I want the baby's lungs to be developed on his own.
If you have any extra thoughts or prayers you can spare, I'd greatly appreciate them. I go to one of my doctors every week, I either see my regular doctor or my high risk.
Last week I finally got the blood results from my 16 vials of blood. Comes to find out that I have a MTHFR gene mutation. It's a bit confusing so here is a link if you wish to read up on it.
I received this news from a nurse on a Friday afternoon and both of my doctors were already gone for the day. Google wasn't my friend. MTHFR gene mutation is linked a lot to spina bifida, anencephaly, and a bunch of other birth defects. I then spent the whole weekend freaking out over the possibilities this gene mutation has on my baby.
I felt reassured once I spoke to my OB on Monday and then followed up with my high risk doctor on Wednesday. It's a blood clotting disorder that I've had since birth. My body doesn't break down folic acid like it should, so I am taking some extra meds to help this. My doctor did say this may have been a factor in my miscarriages.
Well fast forward till Wednesday at my high risk appointment. The appointment started off with having another ultrasound done by the tech. I swear the ultrasounds feel as if they are 30 minutes...and when the tech isn't saying anything you are thinking the worst! She did tell us that the baby has gained 3oz in 2 weeks! YAY! That's great but the baby is still measuring behind.
My doctor then came in and did another ultrasound for what seemed like an eternity. She then asked again if we were certain on our due dates, which we are since we had early dating ultrasounds. She then begin to tell us that all the measurements are a few weeks behind except for the brain which is exactly where it should be. She is pretty convinced that my blood pressure problems have been the culprit for the baby not growing as it should.
She then made note that my fluid levels were low...which I was shocked by because I swear I drink water non stop! Next, she was looking at the blood flow to the baby and seemed concerned which is when I got scared. I'm sure there is a specific term for this but I don't know what it is. On a chart it should have constant peaks and the blood flow to the baby was a peak and then a pause, then a peak and then a pause, etc.
Once my doctor went over the blood flow with me she put me on bed rest. Ugh. Yes, bed rest already. I couldn't believe it. I knew due to my high blood pressure it was a possibility but I thought I would be put on bed rest much later like I was with Noah...not before 30 weeks.
Before I left the appointment I was given a steroid shot to help mature the baby's lungs. I then had to go back for another shot the next day. It's scary to be given this shot because I really don't want to deliver a baby soon, I want the baby's lungs to be developed on his own.
If you have any extra thoughts or prayers you can spare, I'd greatly appreciate them. I go to one of my doctors every week, I either see my regular doctor or my high risk.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Uncertain
I guess that's the best word to describe my current pregnancy, uncertain.
At our 20 week ultrasound, the baby was measuring small. A few weeks before we had an ultrasound because of my blood pressure and the baby was measuring small and by the 20 week appointment the baby hasn't grown significantly like it should have. At 20 weeks the baby should have weighed around 13 or so oz and the baby measured 9oz. Because of this and my pregnancy induced hypertension, I was referred to a high risk doctor.
I was pretty upset that the baby was measuring small and I asked her what this could mean and she told me that maybe the baby would just have a big growth spurt, or maybe there is a placenta problem....or maybe some chromosomal abnormalities. During the appointment I was upset but by the time the elevator doors closed, I started to cry.
Chromosomal abnormalities? Like Downs? I didn't know what to think or how to handle this situation. She said that they didn't notice any marks for this during the ultrasound but since the baby is so small they may just not be seeing it yet.
I left the appointment a ball a nerves and had to wait for 2 weeks to meet with my high risk doctor. I felt like the day was never going to come.
The appointment finally came. I was so nervous. The tech did an ultrasound for at least 20 minutes taking all sorts of measurements. I asked how much the baby weighed and she responded "10 oz". In my heart, I felt it sink. 10 ounces? The baby has only gained an OUNCE in 2 weeks? Dear God.
I remember at one point just not even looking at the monitor, just drifting away in thoughts. The high risk doctor came in shortly after and asked if I was certain of my conception date and I am. We had many early dating ultrasounds as well. She then did an ultrasound for probably 20 minutes, at this point I felt like my stomach was getting sorer by the second.
Once she finished the ultrasound, she began to talk about my blood pressure. My blood pressure has been high for the majority of this pregnancy. She decided to up my current dosage on one med and add in another medication as well. She isn't 100% sure that the baby isn't thriving just b/c of the high blood pressure. She brought up the possibility of chromosomal abnormalities again and said she is ordering some blood work.
We left the appointment again...with very little answers, just a whole bunch of uncertainty. I went the following day to give my lab work and it was 16 vials of blood, 16! Eeek! Once I spoke to my OB she said that some of the lab work may take up to 20 days. My high risk doctor said I may have to have an amniocentesis done at my next appointment which is next week.
If you have any prayers you can spare, I'll gladly take them! I just want this pregnancy to just be easy for a while and feel a sense of ease so much to where I can breathe.
At our 20 week ultrasound, the baby was measuring small. A few weeks before we had an ultrasound because of my blood pressure and the baby was measuring small and by the 20 week appointment the baby hasn't grown significantly like it should have. At 20 weeks the baby should have weighed around 13 or so oz and the baby measured 9oz. Because of this and my pregnancy induced hypertension, I was referred to a high risk doctor.
I was pretty upset that the baby was measuring small and I asked her what this could mean and she told me that maybe the baby would just have a big growth spurt, or maybe there is a placenta problem....or maybe some chromosomal abnormalities. During the appointment I was upset but by the time the elevator doors closed, I started to cry.
Chromosomal abnormalities? Like Downs? I didn't know what to think or how to handle this situation. She said that they didn't notice any marks for this during the ultrasound but since the baby is so small they may just not be seeing it yet.
I left the appointment a ball a nerves and had to wait for 2 weeks to meet with my high risk doctor. I felt like the day was never going to come.
The appointment finally came. I was so nervous. The tech did an ultrasound for at least 20 minutes taking all sorts of measurements. I asked how much the baby weighed and she responded "10 oz". In my heart, I felt it sink. 10 ounces? The baby has only gained an OUNCE in 2 weeks? Dear God.
I remember at one point just not even looking at the monitor, just drifting away in thoughts. The high risk doctor came in shortly after and asked if I was certain of my conception date and I am. We had many early dating ultrasounds as well. She then did an ultrasound for probably 20 minutes, at this point I felt like my stomach was getting sorer by the second.
Once she finished the ultrasound, she began to talk about my blood pressure. My blood pressure has been high for the majority of this pregnancy. She decided to up my current dosage on one med and add in another medication as well. She isn't 100% sure that the baby isn't thriving just b/c of the high blood pressure. She brought up the possibility of chromosomal abnormalities again and said she is ordering some blood work.
We left the appointment again...with very little answers, just a whole bunch of uncertainty. I went the following day to give my lab work and it was 16 vials of blood, 16! Eeek! Once I spoke to my OB she said that some of the lab work may take up to 20 days. My high risk doctor said I may have to have an amniocentesis done at my next appointment which is next week.
If you have any prayers you can spare, I'll gladly take them! I just want this pregnancy to just be easy for a while and feel a sense of ease so much to where I can breathe.
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