First off, I happily updated my previous "Milestones" blog below, scroll down and review for details.
Secondly, I am sooo overjoyed to be able to write that I have successfully made it to 24 weeks, the point at which the medical field considers a baby "viable" meaning they would do all things necessary to try to help a baby born this early. Prior to this time, usually not much is offered as the survival rate is so low. Of course we are hoping for a solid 16 more weeks, but I am still somehow reassured by this medical tidbit. Also, things are looking very much downhill from my perspective at this point - my bedrest will be halfway over next week (at 25 weeks), and every week from here on out holds a milestone or something else to look forward to greatly, in addition to the knowledge that this little baby is safe and secure in my belly and getting closer every day to the healthy transition to my arms.
Third, I am ecstatic that I received news from some family members that, God willing and all things working out well, I will be getting some visitors sometime in the next three months! My older sister, Angela and her baby boy Waylon are planning a visit sometime this spring; and there is a chance they may be joined by my younger sister, Tenae and/or my sister in law Tera!! Congratulations to me and our baby, I have a wonderful family!
Fourth, speaking of family, ours is growing in more ways than just our little one. Jason's brother Brian and his wife, Naoko, gave us news of their pregnancy just this past weekend. We are delighted that after nine months of working with some stubborn ovaries they can finally look forward to new things beyond the "getting pregnant" part of making a family. In addition, I am excited that our baby will have a cousin so close in age and proximity. Being near cousins was a huge part of my childhood, and I am beyond glad our children will have that as well. They are due in October, 2011.
Finally, the pregnancy updates. As I've written before, contractions started for me around the 16 week mark, came and went, then came and stayed since around the 19 week mark. There have never been more than four per hour, but recently some have been more intense. In the past few weeks, there also has developed what I call "uterine background noise" like little mini contractions that feel more like pressure without lasting for too long or without my uterus getting too hard. Up until now, I haven't really counted them. Well, after the more intense ones started this past weekend I called the doc (they know me by my first name by now) and they wanted to have me come in for monitoring. I was at the hospital for several hours, and my uterus did it's thing. An ultrasound done the next day demonstrated no change in my cervical length (whew!!).
Apparently my "background noise" is actually uterine irritability. Most of these "mini" contractions don't last longer than 30 seconds or so, but after reviewing with my doctor, he wants for me to count ALL of them when I have them. He agrees it's a bit on the aggressive side, but given that I only have half the usual amount of cervix to work with (2cm instead of 4cm), he wants to know right away if there is any chance that it could be decreasing even more. It sounds more stressful, and admittedly has led to more clock-watching on my part, but I am reassured that he takes it so seriously. I find it very helpful to know he has now "seen" what my uterus does instead of just trying to deduce what's going on from my descriptions. All that said, he did not want to start any tocolytics (medications that would stop contractions) at this point - he strongly conveyed that he thinks all will be well. He did add that this incessant contraction counting should only have to last up until 32 weeks - after that, if I went into labor and it were to late for medications to stop it, the baby would be ready enough to be born. (After some reading I found that many OBs don't start anti-contractions medications after 32 or 34 weeks, because the baby is so close to being term.) So it's only about 8 more weeks of counting and clock-watching. I find that "do-able". But I guess whether I find it "do-able" or not, that's just how it is.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Walk and Roll
After a whirlwind weekend back in Orange County to help our good friends move before they give birth, Jason, Bosley, and I returned home on Sunday evening feeling quite under the weather. Jason called in sick Monday and took me to my latest OB appt. Things look good, the baby is about 1pound and 1 ounce now and growing along perfectly. She measures just a few days bigger than dates, very healthy. I also have officially passed the 10 pound weight gain mark, yay for me! No stretch marks yet, and my belly button is flattening, but you can see we are both busy growing...
While I am very happy with our growth, after visiting Jordan and Arati, who are due at the end of this month, I realized how very far I have to grow. Arati is a petite little lady with a very pregnant belly, and when I consider that I need to get that much more belly into my body, I honestly get a little curious how it will all fit!!
My contractions continue. I had been having better days - seemingly fewer or anyway less noticeable contractions, until I got ill. On Tuesday of this week Jason again called in sick, partially because he was still not 100% feeling well but also because I woke up with a throat so sore I couldn't swallow my own saliva. I hadn't had one that bad in a super long time, and I was worried so we went to the primary care doctor. They tested us for strep which was negative and although I was in worse shape, Jason made the haul of antibiotics. Go figure. I went home and read the "ok in pregnancy" medication list my OB provided and decided to get some Robitussin and Hall's lozenges. MISTAKE. BIG MISTAKE!! Within an hour, I felt like I was going to throw up. I gagged down half a yogurt cup for dinner and was just plain miserable! I was in bed by 9:30, but around 1am I woke up to use the restroom and couldn't get back to sleep because I was having 3 or 4 contractions an hour for the next three hours! Misery!! I don't know if it was some mild dehydration, the illness, the robitussin, the fatigue, or just a bad night, but I will not take robitussin while pregnant ever again!! Fortunately, yesterday and today have so far been much better, but the contractions do continue - in fact, there's one now....
On the brighter side, February has brought with it more visitors. It has helped the month go by so much faster! I am very blessed! The weather has also been better this month, and Jason has taken to pushing me around the block in the wheelchair on nice evenings when he gets home early enough. We are making it, one day at a time, and we are grateful for each and every one of them!
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| 22 Weeks |
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| 22weeks |
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| 22 weeks |
My contractions continue. I had been having better days - seemingly fewer or anyway less noticeable contractions, until I got ill. On Tuesday of this week Jason again called in sick, partially because he was still not 100% feeling well but also because I woke up with a throat so sore I couldn't swallow my own saliva. I hadn't had one that bad in a super long time, and I was worried so we went to the primary care doctor. They tested us for strep which was negative and although I was in worse shape, Jason made the haul of antibiotics. Go figure. I went home and read the "ok in pregnancy" medication list my OB provided and decided to get some Robitussin and Hall's lozenges. MISTAKE. BIG MISTAKE!! Within an hour, I felt like I was going to throw up. I gagged down half a yogurt cup for dinner and was just plain miserable! I was in bed by 9:30, but around 1am I woke up to use the restroom and couldn't get back to sleep because I was having 3 or 4 contractions an hour for the next three hours! Misery!! I don't know if it was some mild dehydration, the illness, the robitussin, the fatigue, or just a bad night, but I will not take robitussin while pregnant ever again!! Fortunately, yesterday and today have so far been much better, but the contractions do continue - in fact, there's one now....
On the brighter side, February has brought with it more visitors. It has helped the month go by so much faster! I am very blessed! The weather has also been better this month, and Jason has taken to pushing me around the block in the wheelchair on nice evenings when he gets home early enough. We are making it, one day at a time, and we are grateful for each and every one of them!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Milestones
Achieved:
Pregnant: we like to think on our 2nd anniversary, 9/27/2010. :)
4 weeks: started progesterone supplements, beginning of October
8 weeks: heart beat seen, so beautiful. around the middle of November
12 weeks: stop progesterone supplements, chance of miscarriage less than 5%. beginning of December
14 weeks/2nd trimester: middle of December. Cerclage placed Dec. 23.
16 weeks: ugh, contractions started, but as a plus we felt first movements!
18.5 weeks: Halfway mark to term/cerclage removal. Jan. 20
20 weeks: halfway mark for 40 week pregnancy. January 31.
26 weeks/3rd trimester:odds of survival improve 2-4% each day after this point! Plus, I got to have another full ultrasound! - March 14
27 weeks +5 days: Started Indocin
Well on my way/What I'm looking forward to:
34 weeks: greater than 90% chance of survival without disability - May 9; May 13 my siblings arrive!
36 weeks: lungs likely mature enough to breath on her own
37 weeks: TERM, cerclage removal, no more bedrest! - May 30th (hasn't actually been scheduled yet, though)
38 +5 weeks: MY birthday :)- - June 11
40 weeks: Due Date - June 18- 20th
Pregnant: we like to think on our 2nd anniversary, 9/27/2010. :)
4 weeks: started progesterone supplements, beginning of October
8 weeks: heart beat seen, so beautiful. around the middle of November
12 weeks: stop progesterone supplements, chance of miscarriage less than 5%. beginning of December
14 weeks/2nd trimester: middle of December. Cerclage placed Dec. 23.
16 weeks: ugh, contractions started, but as a plus we felt first movements!
18.5 weeks: Halfway mark to term/cerclage removal. Jan. 20
20 weeks: halfway mark for 40 week pregnancy. January 31.
22 weeks: anecdotal stories of survival, however rare. Passed the 1 pound mark! - Feb 14
23 weeks: went in for monitoring due to contractions, but reassured by no cervical changes by ultrasound and no need for any medications at this point! Yay! - Feb. 22
24 weeks: viability achieved, greater than 50% chance of survival. Also, we started our weekly childbirth classes this week. Started medication to help decrease contractions. - Feb. 28
25 weeks: halfway point of bed rest - after 37 weeks I'm home free!! - March 726 weeks/3rd trimester:odds of survival improve 2-4% each day after this point! Plus, I got to have another full ultrasound! - March 14
27 weeks +5 days: Started Indocin
28 weeks: greater than 80% chance of survival - March 28
28 weeks +1 day: Daddy's Birthday - March 29
29 weeks + 5 days: Work Shower day - April 8
30 weeks +6 days: Baby Shower day! - April 16
32 weeks: Easter 2011, my most meaningful holiday. Plus, according to my doc, this is the next big goal! AND, this is the point at which he is willing to do a 4D ultrasound. Exciting!! BIG WEEK!- April 25
32 weeks: Easter 2011, my most meaningful holiday. Plus, according to my doc, this is the next big goal! AND, this is the point at which he is willing to do a 4D ultrasound. Exciting!! BIG WEEK!- April 25
Well on my way/What I'm looking forward to:
34 weeks: greater than 90% chance of survival without disability - May 9; May 13 my siblings arrive!
36 weeks: lungs likely mature enough to breath on her own
37 weeks: TERM, cerclage removal, no more bedrest! - May 30th (hasn't actually been scheduled yet, though)
38 +5 weeks: MY birthday :)- - June 11
40 weeks: Due Date - June 18- 20th
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Jason got Punched in the Face
So as I mentioned in my last entry, we recently were able to establish our registry. Unfortunately, the dresser that matched the crib we wanted was unreasonably priced - over $400!!! Crazy!! So we registered for the crib (which Jason's loving parents already purchased for us - we anxiously await its arrival in March) and figured we would find a used dresser on craigslist or something. I've been watching the site for a couple of weeks to get a good idea what's out there and yesterday, vooalah!! There it was. Not the exact thing that matches our crib, but the thing that would be the closest to it, and for only $120!! So now there is a piece of furniture in the nursery that makes it look like a nursery, and all of the sudden our little home is transformed! So exciting.
It is actually off white and the crib is true white, so we may end up painting it, or we may end up leaving it as is. The bottom rim is curved as you can see in the picture, which will match the style of the crib 'headboard'. Ah, I was so happy - what a great find!! And it's very sturdy.
Over the weekend we went to visit Jason's parents; tried to keep them company after they had to put the family dog of 17 years to sleep last week. It was great to see them - no matter what our intentions they always end up spoiling us silly. We got home Sunday evening and the baby was kicking like crazy, so I had Jason put his face to my belly and PUNCH KICK he got it right in the smacker!! He was very proud of his little girl...
The last update is that we had a doc appt yesterday (switched to Mondays from Thursdays). Again had to wait for 3 hours to see the doc, he works like crazy. No real new concerns. I continue to have contractions but still not at more than 4 an hour. I do still struggle when I have three in one hour - it makes me nervous and anxious and worried like crazy, but they have never progressed. I gained 2.25 pounds since my last visit 11 days prior, which is good for me and baby especially considering I spent the whole weekend fighting diarrhea. Doc says to watch the diarrhea, I can take immodium if I need it. Apparently diarrhea can cause contractions too. Everything can cause contractions, it seems. Mostly he said not to complain about loose stools because normally everyone has constipation from hell, but if it's like water, take the immodium so I don't get dehydrated. Everything else was good, heartbeat was heard (not seen - no new ultrasounds) and sounded amazing and miraculous as usual. At 20 weeks they start measuring your uterus to make sure it's as big as it should be - the distance in centimeters from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus should equal the number of weeks you are. My uterus is exactly where it should be - it hits the belly button right at 20 weeks. So we are growing like little weeds. I feel it, too - the stretching and pulling comes and goes like the ebb and tide.
Today is the first day of February - officially done with one and a half months of bedrest. In months, four more to go. In weeks, about 17. I only count to the cerclage removal, because that will be term and after that, I don't think bedrest will be quite so strict. I am looking forward to it immensely, but not nearly as much as having pregnancy behind me and a baby in front!
Over the weekend we went to visit Jason's parents; tried to keep them company after they had to put the family dog of 17 years to sleep last week. It was great to see them - no matter what our intentions they always end up spoiling us silly. We got home Sunday evening and the baby was kicking like crazy, so I had Jason put his face to my belly and PUNCH KICK he got it right in the smacker!! He was very proud of his little girl...
The last update is that we had a doc appt yesterday (switched to Mondays from Thursdays). Again had to wait for 3 hours to see the doc, he works like crazy. No real new concerns. I continue to have contractions but still not at more than 4 an hour. I do still struggle when I have three in one hour - it makes me nervous and anxious and worried like crazy, but they have never progressed. I gained 2.25 pounds since my last visit 11 days prior, which is good for me and baby especially considering I spent the whole weekend fighting diarrhea. Doc says to watch the diarrhea, I can take immodium if I need it. Apparently diarrhea can cause contractions too. Everything can cause contractions, it seems. Mostly he said not to complain about loose stools because normally everyone has constipation from hell, but if it's like water, take the immodium so I don't get dehydrated. Everything else was good, heartbeat was heard (not seen - no new ultrasounds) and sounded amazing and miraculous as usual. At 20 weeks they start measuring your uterus to make sure it's as big as it should be - the distance in centimeters from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus should equal the number of weeks you are. My uterus is exactly where it should be - it hits the belly button right at 20 weeks. So we are growing like little weeds. I feel it, too - the stretching and pulling comes and goes like the ebb and tide.
Today is the first day of February - officially done with one and a half months of bedrest. In months, four more to go. In weeks, about 17. I only count to the cerclage removal, because that will be term and after that, I don't think bedrest will be quite so strict. I am looking forward to it immensely, but not nearly as much as having pregnancy behind me and a baby in front!
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