It's been a bit crazy so I apologize for my lack of posts over the past 2 weeks (not like me). After my stint in L and D, things have improved. The Indocin medication seems to calm down the fibroid and my cervix has continued to lengthen. Who knew that could happen!
I have had weekly cervical checks since "the incident" and it has gone from 2.5 to 2.7,3.0, 5.0 and back to 3.3 at my most recent check. I am back on progesterone suppositiories nightly, which studies have shown increases cervical length. I have no problem with it and if it keeps me off bed rest...all the better.
At 19 weeks 4 days, I had my anatomy scan (was supposed to be this week but tech did it early). No complaints here. Baby Olive was looking great although not in the best position everything looked good. They had some trouble with getting good views of the chambers of her heart. Apparently, IVF babies get heart echoes at my clinic (wonder if this is standard?). So, we are scheduled for that on January 15th which will give us much better feedback on the chambers of the heart.
December 23rd, we hit the halfway mark. 20 weeks. What an amazing overwhelming feeling. I decided to tell the universe I was having a baby. It was time. One Facebook post and a picture of a footprint did just that. The love and support from everyone was just amazing. Although I am sure some had WTF responses internally. Lots of offers to babysit. Better believe I know those people and they will be on the "I need a shower" babysitter list.
Baby Oive must've been aware of the positive vibes and started to show herself. One evening just laying in bed, I felt the "flip" and then again. I immediately called my best friend T. I feel her, I feel her, I shouted. The feeling was overwelmimg and amazing. She did it several times during the call. I will mostly feel her when laying on my back. It's not all the time but it now happens at least once a day.
I am in love.
Sleeping has become more challenging. More due to the soreness of my hips and the most recent symptom of reflux/heartburn. Wonder if that means she has hair?? I ordered a pregnancy pillow but haven't figured out the best position on it yet. Small bumps in this fabulous journey to meet my rainbow baby.
Started making my list of things to do before baby olive arrives. It's a bit scary to plan this far ahead but I guess that's what I have to do. I am still trying to focus on each day. Each week. Each milestone. Savoring each flip, poke and movement. She is talking to me and telling me how happy she is in there.
I will meet you soon my rainbow baby. 19 weeks and counting.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
18 weeks and L and D
Sunday I turned 18 weeks and took my weekly photo of my growing belly (will have to post eventually)
I was busy this weekend but not anything too strenuous. Hanukkah at my parents and celebrating my 99 year old grandmothers Bday. Sunday I just didn't feel right. I was having a lot of abdominal pressure/aches and was generally uncomfortable. No bleeding just wasn't right. I emailed my OB as usual but didn't hear from him.
By Monday morning I was concerned as the pain was worse and kept me up most of the night. My OB had responded @ 5 am to let him know if it got worse. I delayed going into work but responded to OB and said I wanted to be seen. I didn't feel comfortable waiting till Thursday. He was off but got me seen by another OB.
1pm: seen at the center for advanced fetal medicine. Baby was fine with strong HB of 150. And cervix looked closed but had shortened in length to 25 mm (think it was 26 2 weeks ago) . To be cautious she sent s to L and D
3 pm I arrived at L and registration. This took 5 mins but I had to wait an hour to be moved to triage. The woman waiting to be taken back when I arrived had delivered and I was still sitting there waiting.
4 pm I am taken back to triage by "M" the most unenthusiastic nurse ever. Flat!! I was left for about 20 mins in a gown. No update. Keep in mind I hadn't eaten since 11 or had water. Over the next 3 hours the nurse and midwife wools come in and out. No major updates or plans. I was put on a monitor to check for contractions. This would've been ok if I would've been given an alert button AND water. Finally after ask the nurse twice for water she brought me some. I asked about food. I will look. Ummm....never got anything.
I did finally get informed that I wasn't having contractions. After an internal exam and some Gyn testing I was discharged and told to follow up with my OB. Nurse midwife who was actually pleasant said it could be just uterine growth.
730 pm discharged and finally got to stop listening to the poor woman vomitting for the past three hours in the adjacent room.
By the time I got home, my OB had emailed me to check on me, looked at all my results and felt that my issue could be from my fibroid. It has doubled in size from the time I got pregnant. He put me back on progesteone and prescribed an NSAID that helps with fibroid pain. Told me to take 800 mg of Motrin for tonight. After some food and more water, I was off to bed. Besides peeing three times, I slept we'll and the discomfort was lessened. My OB has continued to check in on me daily via email and is hoping this will do the trick.
It was definitely a scary experience being at Mercy alone (and my cell phone died half way through). It made me thankful for an OB that doesn't belittle my concerns as well as picking the doula that I did. E actually appeared with a patient as I was in registration and saw me waiting. Asked if I was ok and sent me an email later that night to see how things were going. Yup. Right choice.
So, it was an eventful 18th week. Hoping things calm down and he hopes to keep me on meds for a week. Back to follow up on Thursday for cervical check and HB check. And genetic counselor appt that I had forgotten about.
At first I felt silly but I am SO glad I listened to my motherly instincts and just went to be checked.
Lets hope 19 is less stressful.
Love you Olive!!
I was busy this weekend but not anything too strenuous. Hanukkah at my parents and celebrating my 99 year old grandmothers Bday. Sunday I just didn't feel right. I was having a lot of abdominal pressure/aches and was generally uncomfortable. No bleeding just wasn't right. I emailed my OB as usual but didn't hear from him.
By Monday morning I was concerned as the pain was worse and kept me up most of the night. My OB had responded @ 5 am to let him know if it got worse. I delayed going into work but responded to OB and said I wanted to be seen. I didn't feel comfortable waiting till Thursday. He was off but got me seen by another OB.
1pm: seen at the center for advanced fetal medicine. Baby was fine with strong HB of 150. And cervix looked closed but had shortened in length to 25 mm (think it was 26 2 weeks ago) . To be cautious she sent s to L and D
3 pm I arrived at L and registration. This took 5 mins but I had to wait an hour to be moved to triage. The woman waiting to be taken back when I arrived had delivered and I was still sitting there waiting.
4 pm I am taken back to triage by "M" the most unenthusiastic nurse ever. Flat!! I was left for about 20 mins in a gown. No update. Keep in mind I hadn't eaten since 11 or had water. Over the next 3 hours the nurse and midwife wools come in and out. No major updates or plans. I was put on a monitor to check for contractions. This would've been ok if I would've been given an alert button AND water. Finally after ask the nurse twice for water she brought me some. I asked about food. I will look. Ummm....never got anything.
I did finally get informed that I wasn't having contractions. After an internal exam and some Gyn testing I was discharged and told to follow up with my OB. Nurse midwife who was actually pleasant said it could be just uterine growth.
730 pm discharged and finally got to stop listening to the poor woman vomitting for the past three hours in the adjacent room.
By the time I got home, my OB had emailed me to check on me, looked at all my results and felt that my issue could be from my fibroid. It has doubled in size from the time I got pregnant. He put me back on progesteone and prescribed an NSAID that helps with fibroid pain. Told me to take 800 mg of Motrin for tonight. After some food and more water, I was off to bed. Besides peeing three times, I slept we'll and the discomfort was lessened. My OB has continued to check in on me daily via email and is hoping this will do the trick.
It was definitely a scary experience being at Mercy alone (and my cell phone died half way through). It made me thankful for an OB that doesn't belittle my concerns as well as picking the doula that I did. E actually appeared with a patient as I was in registration and saw me waiting. Asked if I was ok and sent me an email later that night to see how things were going. Yup. Right choice.
So, it was an eventful 18th week. Hoping things calm down and he hopes to keep me on meds for a week. Back to follow up on Thursday for cervical check and HB check. And genetic counselor appt that I had forgotten about.
At first I felt silly but I am SO glad I listened to my motherly instincts and just went to be checked.
Lets hope 19 is less stressful.
Love you Olive!!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
17 weeks
It's been a long work week so my posts keep getting delayed. Definitely feeling bigger by the end of the day! To the point where I am just uncomfortable by dinner and bedtime. Last night, I was SO full, I couldn't even get comfy in bed. I woke up several times to pee. Oh. It's just getting started.
By morning, I feel a bit more normal. I had acupuncture again this week and slept like a rock that night. It's always very calming. I have been singing to "Olive" every night and last night started reading to her. Thanks to a gift from a friend. Waiting for "THE KICK" Come on Baby....let me know you are okay in there!!
Things have been crazy at work and it will be nice to be off of work in a few weeks. Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and can't wait to celebrate my nephew.
Off to get done everything I don't have time to do during the week!! Groceries, Target and cleaning. Should be a real challenge once Olive is here! Still looking for a rental house and waiting for condo refinancing to go through. Watching my budget closely and make sure that spending is limited. Always fun to do at the holidays.
18 weeks tomorrow (told ya I was delayed) and quick ultrasound check on Thursday. Heartbeat and cervical check. Always creates some anxiety but glad I don't have to wait to the 20 week u/s.
Stay warm.
T and "olive"
By morning, I feel a bit more normal. I had acupuncture again this week and slept like a rock that night. It's always very calming. I have been singing to "Olive" every night and last night started reading to her. Thanks to a gift from a friend. Waiting for "THE KICK" Come on Baby....let me know you are okay in there!!
Things have been crazy at work and it will be nice to be off of work in a few weeks. Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and can't wait to celebrate my nephew.
Off to get done everything I don't have time to do during the week!! Groceries, Target and cleaning. Should be a real challenge once Olive is here! Still looking for a rental house and waiting for condo refinancing to go through. Watching my budget closely and make sure that spending is limited. Always fun to do at the holidays.
18 weeks tomorrow (told ya I was delayed) and quick ultrasound check on Thursday. Heartbeat and cervical check. Always creates some anxiety but glad I don't have to wait to the 20 week u/s.
Stay warm.
T and "olive"
Saturday, December 1, 2012
16 weeks
I am a bit late in posting (as tomorrow is 17 weeks) but wanted to make sure I was keeping things up to date. Officially 4 months!!
Last week I turned 16 weeks while my bestest friend was in town from Arizona. We shopped until we literally dropped and ate! What we normally do except this visit didn't include any adult beverages :) We decided to mark my belly with the number of weeks so I can track each photo. Will try to post that photo soon. Should be fun when I have to try to and write the numbers backwards!!
I also had my OB appt for 16 weeks and cervical check. My sweet "Olive" was all snuggled up in a ball most of the time but her heartbeat was strong at 155 bpm. The photo the tech printed for me had her whole arm/hand covering most of her face. It was either her way of show "black power" or "p,ease turn out the lights" LOL. My cervical check also looked great and was closed and not showing any signs of funneling.
A quick consult with my OB (and of course a medical student joined the conversation) said everything looked good so far. We discussed my biggest issue of constipation and ways to resolve. Not many choices outside of doing what I was doing. UGH. Also received referral for AFP blood work. This will not only detect neural tube defects but can be a good tool to look for preterm labor. Who knew!! He asked in true Rob style, when I wanted to come back in. I told him I have learned that 2 weeks is probably better for me. I will have a cervical check in 2 weeks and then my full anatomy scan the end of December when I am 20 weeks. We also discussed my two options for a doula. I was stuck. I loved them both and Rob had worked with both of them. I just need to decide who I will feel most comfortable with when the time comes.
Rob also started talking about making sure I had support after my sweet baby was born. Whoa. That's far away and I listened but had trouble going there in my mind. Have that chat with me again in 3 or 4 months.
More soon.....
Last week I turned 16 weeks while my bestest friend was in town from Arizona. We shopped until we literally dropped and ate! What we normally do except this visit didn't include any adult beverages :) We decided to mark my belly with the number of weeks so I can track each photo. Will try to post that photo soon. Should be fun when I have to try to and write the numbers backwards!!
I also had my OB appt for 16 weeks and cervical check. My sweet "Olive" was all snuggled up in a ball most of the time but her heartbeat was strong at 155 bpm. The photo the tech printed for me had her whole arm/hand covering most of her face. It was either her way of show "black power" or "p,ease turn out the lights" LOL. My cervical check also looked great and was closed and not showing any signs of funneling.
A quick consult with my OB (and of course a medical student joined the conversation) said everything looked good so far. We discussed my biggest issue of constipation and ways to resolve. Not many choices outside of doing what I was doing. UGH. Also received referral for AFP blood work. This will not only detect neural tube defects but can be a good tool to look for preterm labor. Who knew!! He asked in true Rob style, when I wanted to come back in. I told him I have learned that 2 weeks is probably better for me. I will have a cervical check in 2 weeks and then my full anatomy scan the end of December when I am 20 weeks. We also discussed my two options for a doula. I was stuck. I loved them both and Rob had worked with both of them. I just need to decide who I will feel most comfortable with when the time comes.
Rob also started talking about making sure I had support after my sweet baby was born. Whoa. That's far away and I listened but had trouble going there in my mind. Have that chat with me again in 3 or 4 months.
More soon.....
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