September 30, 2012
I have not updated my blog in quite some time, but I do have a lot of great things to share from the past few weeks.
Almost two weeks ago, I had an unscheduled doctor's appointment due to a few complications I was having, and my doctor ordered an ultrasound to check on the baby. Everything was going great, and while performing the ultrasound, the technician informed us that we are "most likely" going to have a little girl! Justin was sure shocked at the news, as he has been calling the baby a boy from the very beginning. He wasn't going to believe the news until we got another ultrasound for confirmation. I was super excited when they told us that she was going to be a girl, but I would have been excited no matter what the sex turned out to be.
The weekend following that ultrasound, mom and I went to Wichita to do grocery shopping. While there, we couldn't help ourselves from looking around at baby items. We first went to a few fabric stores because I was wanting to find fabric to make the bedding out of. We didn't have much luck. We then made a trip to Storkland where I fell in love with some furniture and bedding for a little girl. I didn't purchase anything that day because we wanted to be certain that she was in fact a she.
On Friday of last week (September 28), I had a scheduled ultrasound at Storkvision to find out for sure about the sex of the baby. We invited my parents and Justin's mom to come with us. At the ultrasound, it was confirmed that we are definitely having a baby girl! I couldn't be more excited! The news is sinking in with Justin as well. He is now referring to her as Olivia rather than Jack. Haha! At the ultrasound, the technician was trying to show us a 3D picture of Olivia's face, but she simply would NOT cooperate. She was snuggled in behind the placenta and refused to show that sweet little face. We could see her move her arms to behind her head like she was just relaxing. I guess it was her nap time. The technician jiggled her around and had me move into all sorts of positions-all with no avail. She simply wanted to be left alone! Since Miss Priss did not cooperate, we will be returning to Storkvision on October 8 to see if we can get some better shots of her. After the ultrasound, Justin, my parents, and I went to eat at Olive Garden. Grammy and Papa Richie (my parents) already had a little gift for Miss Olivia. She received an adorable headband and hat (beanie) from her grandparents. I believe she just might be a little loved and spoiled already.
Saturday after the ultrasound, I drove back to Wichita to purchase the furniture and bedding that mom and I had picked out the weekend before. Justin has left all the nursery decorating up to me. He says that he figures he doesn't have much say anyway (and he's probably right). Plus, he has no idea what to do for a little girl. He is leaving that all up to me. All he wants to know is how much it costs---such a man! Anyway, so we got all of that ordered. I also picked out some paint at Lowe's so we can get her room painted before her furniture arrives. (This is where Justin will be useful. I have no intention of picking up a paint brush when doing the primer since the fumes are horrendous.) My mom and Kayla have both volunteered to help do the actual painting. I will probably be taking them up on that offer!
This week I have an appointment with Dr. Winfrey for a regular OB checkup. There is no ultrasound this week, but they will be using a doppler to detect her heart rate and will be doing blood work on me. Thankfully, nothing else is really happening this week. I feel like everything is going really well with the pregnancy, and each week I get a little more confident that everything is going to be OK with Olivia. I still have moments of panic every now and then, but they are getting less and less. I know I will probably never completely get rid of the worry that I have, but I thank God that He is building my faith and trust each and every day. In the next few weeks, I look forward to finally feeling movement from Olivia. It will be a daily reminder that she is doing well and thriving. I think that will give me even more reassurance than what I have now. But until then, I rely heavily on God's reassurance and promises that He is with us.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Heart Test Results & Lab Work from NT Scan
September 13, 2012
Earlier this week I got an email from our OB's office that said our lab results had been posted to the patient portal online. I logged on and read all the results. Everything turned out great. Our chances of having a child with trisomy 18 is less than 1 in 10,000. Our odds of having a child with Down's Syndrome was less than 1 in 5000 something. Great results!
Today I returned to the cardiologist for my echocardiogram & heart monitor results. He told me that my heart monitor didn't catch anything that has him very worried. My heart rate did get on the high end of normal, but nothing he is concerned with. However, my echocardiogram revealed that I have two heart valves that are leaking. The pregnancy will likely make this issue worse, but he is going to continue monitoring me as it progresses. There is nothing we can do about it right now while I'm pregnant, so I'm going back in January to see what it looks like about 2 months before delivery. We will see what we need to do about the issue after the birth. He also said my lab results show that I'm slightly anemic, but I can take iron supplements to help with that.
That's about all we know for now. I do have something exciting to look forward to...we get to find out the gender of the baby in 2 weeks (September 28). I cannot wait to see what this little one is going to be so I can start all the decorating for the nursery! I'm praising God that the baby is still doing so great. I can go through anything so long as I have a healthy child!
Earlier this week I got an email from our OB's office that said our lab results had been posted to the patient portal online. I logged on and read all the results. Everything turned out great. Our chances of having a child with trisomy 18 is less than 1 in 10,000. Our odds of having a child with Down's Syndrome was less than 1 in 5000 something. Great results!
Today I returned to the cardiologist for my echocardiogram & heart monitor results. He told me that my heart monitor didn't catch anything that has him very worried. My heart rate did get on the high end of normal, but nothing he is concerned with. However, my echocardiogram revealed that I have two heart valves that are leaking. The pregnancy will likely make this issue worse, but he is going to continue monitoring me as it progresses. There is nothing we can do about it right now while I'm pregnant, so I'm going back in January to see what it looks like about 2 months before delivery. We will see what we need to do about the issue after the birth. He also said my lab results show that I'm slightly anemic, but I can take iron supplements to help with that.
That's about all we know for now. I do have something exciting to look forward to...we get to find out the gender of the baby in 2 weeks (September 28). I cannot wait to see what this little one is going to be so I can start all the decorating for the nursery! I'm praising God that the baby is still doing so great. I can go through anything so long as I have a healthy child!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
NT Scan Results
September 9, 2012
I'm finally taking a few minutes to give an update on this week's doctor's appointments. I had an OB appointment as well as another cardiologist appointment on Thursday. I will begin with the cardiologist.
When I went to the cardiologist on Thursday, I was expecting to get more information than what we did. They did an echocardiogram, but the technician did not tell me anything about what she saw. My appointment was at 4:45 that afternoon, and everyone was in a rush to get out of there. After the echo, I met with a nurse who hooked me up to a heart monitor. They informed me that I would only have to wear it for 24 hours and that it must be returned by 5 the next day (Friday). They quickly got me out the door and gave me no other information at all. I will be returning to this doctor on Thursday this week to get some answers. I really feel that most of the issues I am having just stem from the added stress on my heart due to the pregnancy. I am not losing much sleep over it.
Last Thursday, we also had another OB appointment for a NT (Nuchal Translucency) Scan. This ultrasound is performed between weeks 11 and 14 to measure the nuchal fold on the back of the baby's neck to check for Down's Syndrome and other similar chromosomal issues. The nuchal fold should measure smaller than 3 mm--our baby's measured 1.7, so they are pretty positive that there are no abnormalities. They also took blood work to go along with NT scan. They checked my blood for PAPP-A and HCG levels. The combination of the blood work and the NT scan will give them a more definite answer about chromosomal issues. I feel that everything is fine after the NT scan, so I'm not concerned about the lab results (which we will receive in about a week).
While performing the ultrasound, I asked the technician about the subchorionic hemorrhage that they had found a few weeks ago. She said it was still there but very, very small. However, she then began to explain that the placenta has formed over the top of my cervix (which is not at all where it should be). The placenta is supposed to form at the top of your uterus completely away from the cervix.
When we finally got the chance to meet with our doctor, I asked her about the issue with the placenta. My main concern was that the baby will be OK. She said the issue with the placenta will not harm the baby. She said it is called placenta previa when the placenta forms over the cervix. I happen to have complete placenta previa right now, and she is hoping that as my uterus expands, the placenta will move away from my cervix. They will check the location of the placenta again at my 20 week ultrasound. If it has not moved, they will likely have me on bed rest until labor. She also told us that there is no way to have a vaginal birth with placenta previa because it causes severe bleeding and is life-threatening for both mother and baby. I would be forced to have a C-Section if the placenta does not change positions.
I emailed my doula about this information, and she agrees with my doctor. She explained the condition a lot better by comparing my uterus to a balloon. She said that the placenta cannot actually pick up and "move" to another location because it is attached to the uterus. However, as my uterus expands, hopefully the placenta will move away from the cervix. For example, if you draw a dot on a balloon before it is inflated, and then you blow it up, the dot will appear to "move". The same can happen to the placenta as my uterus expands during the pregnancy. She said if the placenta does not "move", then this was definitely a case where medical intervention is necessary and used for a good reason.
I did some research about this condition, and I found that with complete placenta previa, the likelihood of the placenta moving far enough away from the cervix might not be favorable. Even with the discouraging news, I still have a LOT to be thankful for. My baby is doing so well. He/she is very healthy and free of any abnormalities that we know of. He/she had a perfect heart rate and we saw that their organs and limbs were forming as they should. The condition that I have right now is not a threat to the baby as long as I follow the directions of my doctors. I am going to be in constant prayer that God will be with us through the remainder of the pregnancy and that He will protect both the baby and me. I know He is going to take care of us, and even if things aren't "perfect", it is just another opportunity for Him to be glorified when He changes that situation into something good. I am specifically praying that my uterus expands in such a way that the placenta will move to the location it is supposed to be. I know He alone has the power to do that. I'm leaving it all in His hands and refuse to waste energy on the negatives about this pregnancy. I am so eternally grateful to Him for blessing me with this precious child that nothing can steal that joy. No matter how I have to bring this baby into the world, all that matters in the end is that we are both healthy. I am so ready to see my beautiful child and have them in my arms. I want to kiss those sweet cheeks and nurture and raise this child to know that he/she is not only loved by me, but they are also so loved by God.
Here are some pictures of Baby Ermis at 13 weeks. The ultrasound picture is of his/her profile with a fist up to his/her mouth.
I'm finally taking a few minutes to give an update on this week's doctor's appointments. I had an OB appointment as well as another cardiologist appointment on Thursday. I will begin with the cardiologist.
When I went to the cardiologist on Thursday, I was expecting to get more information than what we did. They did an echocardiogram, but the technician did not tell me anything about what she saw. My appointment was at 4:45 that afternoon, and everyone was in a rush to get out of there. After the echo, I met with a nurse who hooked me up to a heart monitor. They informed me that I would only have to wear it for 24 hours and that it must be returned by 5 the next day (Friday). They quickly got me out the door and gave me no other information at all. I will be returning to this doctor on Thursday this week to get some answers. I really feel that most of the issues I am having just stem from the added stress on my heart due to the pregnancy. I am not losing much sleep over it.
Last Thursday, we also had another OB appointment for a NT (Nuchal Translucency) Scan. This ultrasound is performed between weeks 11 and 14 to measure the nuchal fold on the back of the baby's neck to check for Down's Syndrome and other similar chromosomal issues. The nuchal fold should measure smaller than 3 mm--our baby's measured 1.7, so they are pretty positive that there are no abnormalities. They also took blood work to go along with NT scan. They checked my blood for PAPP-A and HCG levels. The combination of the blood work and the NT scan will give them a more definite answer about chromosomal issues. I feel that everything is fine after the NT scan, so I'm not concerned about the lab results (which we will receive in about a week).
While performing the ultrasound, I asked the technician about the subchorionic hemorrhage that they had found a few weeks ago. She said it was still there but very, very small. However, she then began to explain that the placenta has formed over the top of my cervix (which is not at all where it should be). The placenta is supposed to form at the top of your uterus completely away from the cervix.
When we finally got the chance to meet with our doctor, I asked her about the issue with the placenta. My main concern was that the baby will be OK. She said the issue with the placenta will not harm the baby. She said it is called placenta previa when the placenta forms over the cervix. I happen to have complete placenta previa right now, and she is hoping that as my uterus expands, the placenta will move away from my cervix. They will check the location of the placenta again at my 20 week ultrasound. If it has not moved, they will likely have me on bed rest until labor. She also told us that there is no way to have a vaginal birth with placenta previa because it causes severe bleeding and is life-threatening for both mother and baby. I would be forced to have a C-Section if the placenta does not change positions.
I emailed my doula about this information, and she agrees with my doctor. She explained the condition a lot better by comparing my uterus to a balloon. She said that the placenta cannot actually pick up and "move" to another location because it is attached to the uterus. However, as my uterus expands, hopefully the placenta will move away from the cervix. For example, if you draw a dot on a balloon before it is inflated, and then you blow it up, the dot will appear to "move". The same can happen to the placenta as my uterus expands during the pregnancy. She said if the placenta does not "move", then this was definitely a case where medical intervention is necessary and used for a good reason.
I did some research about this condition, and I found that with complete placenta previa, the likelihood of the placenta moving far enough away from the cervix might not be favorable. Even with the discouraging news, I still have a LOT to be thankful for. My baby is doing so well. He/she is very healthy and free of any abnormalities that we know of. He/she had a perfect heart rate and we saw that their organs and limbs were forming as they should. The condition that I have right now is not a threat to the baby as long as I follow the directions of my doctors. I am going to be in constant prayer that God will be with us through the remainder of the pregnancy and that He will protect both the baby and me. I know He is going to take care of us, and even if things aren't "perfect", it is just another opportunity for Him to be glorified when He changes that situation into something good. I am specifically praying that my uterus expands in such a way that the placenta will move to the location it is supposed to be. I know He alone has the power to do that. I'm leaving it all in His hands and refuse to waste energy on the negatives about this pregnancy. I am so eternally grateful to Him for blessing me with this precious child that nothing can steal that joy. No matter how I have to bring this baby into the world, all that matters in the end is that we are both healthy. I am so ready to see my beautiful child and have them in my arms. I want to kiss those sweet cheeks and nurture and raise this child to know that he/she is not only loved by me, but they are also so loved by God.
Here are some pictures of Baby Ermis at 13 weeks. The ultrasound picture is of his/her profile with a fist up to his/her mouth.
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