January 20, 2013
Ok, so I have really gotten lax on keeping this blog updated. For several months, I was really busy with decorating the nursery, work, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holiday festivities. Now that I am on bed rest (more about that in a minute), I have some spare time to keep the blog updated.
What's Been Happening Since My Last Post:
1. Olivia's room is all put together. All that is left is just a few wall decorations that need to be hung.
2. I was tested for gestational diabetes a few months ago and failed the 1 hour glucose test. I had to then take the 3 hour glucose test, and I passed it. No gestational diabetes for me!
3. My heart began to get worse in late November and early December. I called my cardiologist back and explained that I was having shortness of breath, a fast heart rate, and fatigue. He set me up for a 2 week heart monitor that I wore during the Christmas/New Year holidays. He also ordered that I begin bed rest at that time until he got the results from the monitor back.
4. I was unable to follow my doctor's orders for bed rest very closely because Justin's father was admitted to the hospital on Christmas Eve. Christmas day we found out that his lung cancer had spread to his brain, and it was at Stage IV---the very last stage. He was able to come back home for a few days with hospice coming to their house to help, but it was short-lived. He was getting very sick, so they had to place him in the hospice hospital in Wichita Falls. I was over there pretty frequently to spend some time with him in his last days. He lost his battle with cancer on January 6, 2013. We were all so very sad to lose such a great man and that he didn't get to meet Olivia. He had wanted grandchildren for such a long time, and he was so excited about her.
5. Justin, my mom, and I all attended childbirth classes with my doula recently. We learned a lot about what to expect during labor and delivery and how to cope with several different techniques. I am still trying to go for a natural and unmedicated childbirth if my body is able. Our doula also made a visit to our house to help us establish a birth plan. I am getting so excited (and a little nervous) about the arrival of Miss Olivia.
6. I have made registries at Target, Wal-Mart, and Storkland for my upcoming baby shower. The shower will be February 2, 2013. I am getting so excited! I can't wait to have everything we need for Olivia so that I can begin "nesting" and getting it all together. I won't actually get to do a whole lot of the work since I am on bed rest, but I have lots of help from my mom, Kayla, and Justin. I know it will all get done somehow.
7. We had a growth scan on Olivia in early January when I was 30 weeks pregnant to make sure she is growing properly. We were pretty shocked to learn that not only is she growing properly, but she's growing a LOT more than average. She already weighed 4 lbs 9 oz at the 30 week ultrasound, which made her actually measure about 33 weeks. She is in the 98th percentile. I'm thinking I might have a big baby on my hands.
8. On January 17, I had a cardiologist appointment to meet with my physician about the results from the heart monitor that I wore for 2 weeks. It revealed that my heart rate was too high (over 100 bpm almost the whole time I wore it, and reaching the 140s at times). He really got on to me about following his orders more closely because my blood pressure drops really low when I have some of these episodes. He said it is not good for Olivia, and I really needed to do better. He ordered bed rest until I deliver her and recommended wearing compression stockings (yuck!) to improve my circulation. I am doing my best to stay lying down since the appointment.
9. I am now seeing my OB every two weeks. I can't believe I am getting so close to having this baby! I will see her every two weeks for 2 more visits, then it will be weekly appointments. I am now 32 weeks pregnant, and we all think she might be coming a bit early since she is measuring ahead. I hope so...I'm ready to meet her!
10. This upcoming week, I have an appointment with a chiropractor. My doula highly recommended seeing one because it is known to make labor and delivery more smooth when everything is in alignment beforehand. Here's to hoping it works!
How's that for a semi-quick update on the last several months? I am hoping to do better now that I have some time. I will be posting again soon!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Sunday, September 30, 2012
IT'S A GIRL!
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.
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.
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.
Friday, August 31, 2012
My Week at a Glance
August 31, 2012
This week marked the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year. Even though I was super busy with the start of school, I LOVE teaching at the high school level. I am really enjoying what and who I'm teaching this year. It makes it pretty easy to get up and want to go to work.
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I was forced to take off work today for an appointment with a cardiologist. My appointment was this morning at 10, so I took off a full day because I had no idea how long it would take. Justin went with me since he is finally working back in town!
The first thing the nurses did when I arrived was take my vitals and asked a million questions. After being interrogated, they hooked me up for an EKG. I was shocked that the test only took about 2 minutes. After the test was complete, the nurse didn't tell me anything. Shortly after, a nurse practitioner came into the room to ask even more questions and to tell me that my EKG showed that my heart got out of rhythm in one place. She discussed that my doctor would likely want to perform an echocardiogram and make me wear a monitor for a week or two to find out more information. She also discussed a few medications that would be safe to take during pregnancy if we have to go that route.
Next we finally got to meet our doctor. His name is Dr. Ganeshram. He asked if I have ever had any fainting spells before, and I have-but they were long before my pregnancy. He asked if I had ever seen a cardiologist about it, and when I said no, he looked at me like I was a complete moron. We had gone to a doctor about it, but they always thought it was neurological and related to migraines. He also asked if I've had any blood clots....ummm, yeah I have one right now as a matter of fact. It's a subchorionic hemorrhage in the placenta. Anyway, he proceeded to explain that he saw a spot in the EKG that had a short interval that gets the rhythm a bit off. He also explained that pregnancy is a huge strain on the heart because it has to pump blood to both me and the baby now. That is why my symptoms have most likely been more noticeable. He scheduled another appointment for next week (the same day as my next ultrasound) to do the echocardiogram and to give me my monitor. I will then have to return the following week to get some results. That's about all we know for now...I'll keep everyone updated as we find out more.
After the appointment, we came back home. I planned to take a nap this afternoon, but my life decided to get even more dramatic instead. I will warn readers that this might be TMI for some people, so proceed with caution! When I arrived home from our appointment, I had to go to the bathroom. While in there, I noticed a tiny bit of bleeding. Of course I freaked out a little, but tried to reassure myself that it was just the subchorionic hemorrhage that they had previously warned me about. I called my doctor, and they told me it was probably just the hemorrhage and was nothing to be concerned about unless it got worse. That was not an acceptable answer for me, so I requested that they see me since it is Friday and I sure don't want something major to happen on the weekend. They didn't have any spots open for a sonogram but agreed to see me and find the baby's heartbeat on a Doppler. I rushed back to Wichita to have the baby checked out. I had to see a different doctor because mine was unavailable, but I didn't care. She began trying to find the heartbeat using the Doppler, and it was taking her forever! She searched for about 5 minutes with no avail. Finally about 8-10 minutes into it, she found it. She couldn't even get the reading because it quickly disappeared. She began searching again and spotted it pretty quickly this time. She said he/she must have been very active and that is why it was so difficult to keep it on the heartbeat. She got a reading in the 160's, which is perfect. Thank you God!
Next week I have my OB and cardiologist appointments. I'm very excited about seeing our baby again, and I'm ready to find out more about the heart issue. I'm praying that it is just the strain of the pregnancy and that we don't have to do anything about it. Any prayers you could send our way will be much appreciated!
This week marked the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year. Even though I was super busy with the start of school, I LOVE teaching at the high school level. I am really enjoying what and who I'm teaching this year. It makes it pretty easy to get up and want to go to work.
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I was forced to take off work today for an appointment with a cardiologist. My appointment was this morning at 10, so I took off a full day because I had no idea how long it would take. Justin went with me since he is finally working back in town!
The first thing the nurses did when I arrived was take my vitals and asked a million questions. After being interrogated, they hooked me up for an EKG. I was shocked that the test only took about 2 minutes. After the test was complete, the nurse didn't tell me anything. Shortly after, a nurse practitioner came into the room to ask even more questions and to tell me that my EKG showed that my heart got out of rhythm in one place. She discussed that my doctor would likely want to perform an echocardiogram and make me wear a monitor for a week or two to find out more information. She also discussed a few medications that would be safe to take during pregnancy if we have to go that route.
Next we finally got to meet our doctor. His name is Dr. Ganeshram. He asked if I have ever had any fainting spells before, and I have-but they were long before my pregnancy. He asked if I had ever seen a cardiologist about it, and when I said no, he looked at me like I was a complete moron. We had gone to a doctor about it, but they always thought it was neurological and related to migraines. He also asked if I've had any blood clots....ummm, yeah I have one right now as a matter of fact. It's a subchorionic hemorrhage in the placenta. Anyway, he proceeded to explain that he saw a spot in the EKG that had a short interval that gets the rhythm a bit off. He also explained that pregnancy is a huge strain on the heart because it has to pump blood to both me and the baby now. That is why my symptoms have most likely been more noticeable. He scheduled another appointment for next week (the same day as my next ultrasound) to do the echocardiogram and to give me my monitor. I will then have to return the following week to get some results. That's about all we know for now...I'll keep everyone updated as we find out more.
After the appointment, we came back home. I planned to take a nap this afternoon, but my life decided to get even more dramatic instead. I will warn readers that this might be TMI for some people, so proceed with caution! When I arrived home from our appointment, I had to go to the bathroom. While in there, I noticed a tiny bit of bleeding. Of course I freaked out a little, but tried to reassure myself that it was just the subchorionic hemorrhage that they had previously warned me about. I called my doctor, and they told me it was probably just the hemorrhage and was nothing to be concerned about unless it got worse. That was not an acceptable answer for me, so I requested that they see me since it is Friday and I sure don't want something major to happen on the weekend. They didn't have any spots open for a sonogram but agreed to see me and find the baby's heartbeat on a Doppler. I rushed back to Wichita to have the baby checked out. I had to see a different doctor because mine was unavailable, but I didn't care. She began trying to find the heartbeat using the Doppler, and it was taking her forever! She searched for about 5 minutes with no avail. Finally about 8-10 minutes into it, she found it. She couldn't even get the reading because it quickly disappeared. She began searching again and spotted it pretty quickly this time. She said he/she must have been very active and that is why it was so difficult to keep it on the heartbeat. She got a reading in the 160's, which is perfect. Thank you God!
Next week I have my OB and cardiologist appointments. I'm very excited about seeing our baby again, and I'm ready to find out more about the heart issue. I'm praying that it is just the strain of the pregnancy and that we don't have to do anything about it. Any prayers you could send our way will be much appreciated!
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Doula, Doctors, & Back to Work
August 25, 2012
I started back to work this week, and it was tough! I had several trainings to attend, and I also had to prepare my classroom and lessons for next week. I can't believe summer is over and school is here already! I have my classroom prepared, but I am still working on lesson plans through the weekend. It's a lot of work to prepare power points and notes for each lesson, but I know that's one of the best ways to get and keep my students' attention since I can add in graphics and videos.
Even while the chaos of "back to school" is going on, I am also still dealing with all the planning that goes into a pregnancy. All of this combined makes for one tired momma-to-be. Lately I've been having some very strange sensations happening in my body. It's difficult to describe, but I will do my best. First, every once in awhile, my heart will start racing for no apparent reason. When it does this, I can actually feel my heartbeat up in my throat. It also makes me become out of breath very quickly and easily. In addition to the increases in my heart rate, I also have periodic spells of dizziness. I can't describe how funny it makes my head feel. I've monitored my blood pressure at home on a digital blood pressure machine, and it has ran quite low throughout my whole pregnancy. Many times it is not surprising to see it run 85/58 or something in that neighborhood. I'm sure this contributes to my tiredness and dizziness. I've also caught my heart rate on the same machine when it was racing-it was a little over 100 bpm. I called my doctor about these symptoms, and they referred me to a cardiologist. I'm sure they are just doing it for precautionary reasons, but my logic is that these symptoms are likely a side-effect of hormones. I rarely have anything go as "normal". They scheduled my appointment for August 31 (next Friday). I was pretty embarrassed to have to ask for a sub on the first week of school, but my health and this pregnancy trumps just about anything else right now. I also have to take off work the following week (September 6) for an OB appointment. Oh well.
On Thursday of last week, mom and I drove to Wichita Falls to meet with a doula. Justin was supposed to attend the meeting, but he had to go out of town again for work. For those of you who are curious, a doula is a woman who is certified and trained in childbirth. She supports the mother and father emotionally and physically. She provides information and support to the parents before, during, and after birth. I decided to hire a doula because I am planning to have an unmedicated birth in a hospital. I made this decision based on a lot of research about epidurals and pain medication. Basically I've found that an epidural can slow your labor or even stop it because you become so relaxed. This often prompts a doctor to then give pitocin (more medicine to make contractions stronger). The pitocin may or may not help with starting your labor again and can often lead to a C-Section if the doctor feels that you aren't making enough progress. Also, epidurals are known for dropping your heart rate as well as the baby's. This almost always leads to a C-Section because the baby becomes distressed. I'd rather avoid a C-Section at all costs. It increases your recovery time, and many doctors then refuse to do a VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) because it can be dangerous. In addition to leading to C-Sections, epidurals and pain medication also affect the baby. It can make them loopy/drowsy and less likely to latch on for breastfeeding. They can be dangerous to both mom and baby. My philosophy and belief is that a woman's body is intended to give birth and knows how to do it. God designed our bodies to do this. I don't need or want intervention unless my baby is in danger. At that time, I would obviously do anything to make sure he/she is healthy. Yes, I know that it will be painful. And I'm sure there will be points in my labor that I question my decision; but with the help of my doula and family, I know I can do it.
Anyway, we met with my doula, and my mom and I both really liked her. She seems very educated on the subject, and our personalities went very well together. She will be on call from two weeks before my due date until I give birth. Basically when I go into labor, I will call her to describe what I'm experiencing. She will be able to tell how far along I am in the process and give advice over the phone. When she believes I'm in active labor, she will drive to Seymour to meet with us in our home. She will allow me to labor at home as long as I feel comfortable (I've decided I will probably only labor at home until about 4-5 centimeters). We will then drive to Wichita Falls to be admitted into the hospital. There I only intend to monitor the baby's heartbeat to ensure their health. I don't wish to be hooked up to any IV's so that I can move around more easily. (Laboring in bed is one of the worst ways to labor.) My doula will be there to help Justin know how to help me alleviate pain. She will also give me advice about what doctors and nurses are telling me. She will be there to encourage me when I become weak, and she will do her best to help me avoid deviating from my birth plan. She does NOT tell me I can't have an epidural or a C-Section. She will support me if that is something I decide I need to do.
After we make it through birth, my doula will stay long enough to help get my baby latched on for breastfeeding, make sure Justin & I are taken care of (food, drinks, etc...), and to make sure we are all comfortable. She will then leave and allow us to have our family bonding time. She will make one post-partum visit at my house to check on baby and me. She will give resources for additional breastfeeding support if needed. She also gives us a copy of our birth story that she puts together for us.
I'm excited about the weeks and months to come. I'm ready to get past the next few doctor's appointments and to see that everything is still going OK. I'm hoping the first few weeks of school will fly by and I will get used to being back in a routine!
I started back to work this week, and it was tough! I had several trainings to attend, and I also had to prepare my classroom and lessons for next week. I can't believe summer is over and school is here already! I have my classroom prepared, but I am still working on lesson plans through the weekend. It's a lot of work to prepare power points and notes for each lesson, but I know that's one of the best ways to get and keep my students' attention since I can add in graphics and videos.
Even while the chaos of "back to school" is going on, I am also still dealing with all the planning that goes into a pregnancy. All of this combined makes for one tired momma-to-be. Lately I've been having some very strange sensations happening in my body. It's difficult to describe, but I will do my best. First, every once in awhile, my heart will start racing for no apparent reason. When it does this, I can actually feel my heartbeat up in my throat. It also makes me become out of breath very quickly and easily. In addition to the increases in my heart rate, I also have periodic spells of dizziness. I can't describe how funny it makes my head feel. I've monitored my blood pressure at home on a digital blood pressure machine, and it has ran quite low throughout my whole pregnancy. Many times it is not surprising to see it run 85/58 or something in that neighborhood. I'm sure this contributes to my tiredness and dizziness. I've also caught my heart rate on the same machine when it was racing-it was a little over 100 bpm. I called my doctor about these symptoms, and they referred me to a cardiologist. I'm sure they are just doing it for precautionary reasons, but my logic is that these symptoms are likely a side-effect of hormones. I rarely have anything go as "normal". They scheduled my appointment for August 31 (next Friday). I was pretty embarrassed to have to ask for a sub on the first week of school, but my health and this pregnancy trumps just about anything else right now. I also have to take off work the following week (September 6) for an OB appointment. Oh well.
On Thursday of last week, mom and I drove to Wichita Falls to meet with a doula. Justin was supposed to attend the meeting, but he had to go out of town again for work. For those of you who are curious, a doula is a woman who is certified and trained in childbirth. She supports the mother and father emotionally and physically. She provides information and support to the parents before, during, and after birth. I decided to hire a doula because I am planning to have an unmedicated birth in a hospital. I made this decision based on a lot of research about epidurals and pain medication. Basically I've found that an epidural can slow your labor or even stop it because you become so relaxed. This often prompts a doctor to then give pitocin (more medicine to make contractions stronger). The pitocin may or may not help with starting your labor again and can often lead to a C-Section if the doctor feels that you aren't making enough progress. Also, epidurals are known for dropping your heart rate as well as the baby's. This almost always leads to a C-Section because the baby becomes distressed. I'd rather avoid a C-Section at all costs. It increases your recovery time, and many doctors then refuse to do a VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) because it can be dangerous. In addition to leading to C-Sections, epidurals and pain medication also affect the baby. It can make them loopy/drowsy and less likely to latch on for breastfeeding. They can be dangerous to both mom and baby. My philosophy and belief is that a woman's body is intended to give birth and knows how to do it. God designed our bodies to do this. I don't need or want intervention unless my baby is in danger. At that time, I would obviously do anything to make sure he/she is healthy. Yes, I know that it will be painful. And I'm sure there will be points in my labor that I question my decision; but with the help of my doula and family, I know I can do it.
Anyway, we met with my doula, and my mom and I both really liked her. She seems very educated on the subject, and our personalities went very well together. She will be on call from two weeks before my due date until I give birth. Basically when I go into labor, I will call her to describe what I'm experiencing. She will be able to tell how far along I am in the process and give advice over the phone. When she believes I'm in active labor, she will drive to Seymour to meet with us in our home. She will allow me to labor at home as long as I feel comfortable (I've decided I will probably only labor at home until about 4-5 centimeters). We will then drive to Wichita Falls to be admitted into the hospital. There I only intend to monitor the baby's heartbeat to ensure their health. I don't wish to be hooked up to any IV's so that I can move around more easily. (Laboring in bed is one of the worst ways to labor.) My doula will be there to help Justin know how to help me alleviate pain. She will also give me advice about what doctors and nurses are telling me. She will be there to encourage me when I become weak, and she will do her best to help me avoid deviating from my birth plan. She does NOT tell me I can't have an epidural or a C-Section. She will support me if that is something I decide I need to do.
After we make it through birth, my doula will stay long enough to help get my baby latched on for breastfeeding, make sure Justin & I are taken care of (food, drinks, etc...), and to make sure we are all comfortable. She will then leave and allow us to have our family bonding time. She will make one post-partum visit at my house to check on baby and me. She will give resources for additional breastfeeding support if needed. She also gives us a copy of our birth story that she puts together for us.
I'm excited about the weeks and months to come. I'm ready to get past the next few doctor's appointments and to see that everything is still going OK. I'm hoping the first few weeks of school will fly by and I will get used to being back in a routine!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
First OB Appointment/Prayer Request
August 15, 2012
This morning I had my very first OB appointment in Wichita Falls. I am using Dr. Winfrey at The Women's Clinic, but she is out on maternity leave until the end of this month, so I saw the nurse practitioner.
The first thing they did was take me back for another ultrasound (Yay, I never get tired of seeing our baby). The little one has grown quite a lot in just one week. Today I was able to see tiny little arms and legs. Also, baby Ermis was squirming and wiggling around all over the place. It was absolutely precious! I've never seen that until today. The sonogram technician measured the CRL (crown to rump length), and baby was measuring exactly on track at 9 weeks 6 days. Next she spotted the heartbeat and it was beating at 165 bpm, perfect!
Next the technician looked for my ovaries so that she could measure the cysts that have formed from the IVF medications. While looking around, she spotted one thing that is kind of scary. She found a subchorionic hemorrhage, which is basically a buildup of blood between the placenta and uterine wall. She warned me that the hemorrhage may cause bleeding and wanted me to be aware so I didn't totally freak out thinking it is a miscarriage. In most cases, the hemorrhage will resolve on its own by either bleeding out or reabsorbing into my body. I'm definitely praying for the latter. In some cases the hemorrhage can actually cause miscarriage (from what I've researched), but my caregivers did not seem concerned about that at all. They told me if I began to bleed that they will do another sonogram to ease my worries. The hemorrhage also increases chances of preterm labor and placental abruption, but that is rare. Even so, I ask anyone who follows my blog to be in prayer that this hemorrhage will reabsorb and be gone by my next appointment so I don't have to worry about it anymore.
After the ultrasound, I met with the nurse practitioner to go over all the do's and don'ts of pregnancy. I already knew the majority of this information since I've been seeing a specialist, but I know it's routine. They performed all the routine lab work, pap, and breast exam. I've had almost all of the lab testing done before now also, but I know they want to do it for their own records.
All in all, my first appointment was great. I love how detailed my caregivers were to set my mind at ease. They really did their best to keep me from being scared. I go back in a few weeks (September 6) for the nuchal translucency test for Down's Syndrome, Trisomy 18, etc... I will have another sonogram, so I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the baby again and seeing that my hemorrhage has healed. I will be in prayer that everything continues progressing normally and we have no issues come up. Here's a picture of baby Ermis from today:
This morning I had my very first OB appointment in Wichita Falls. I am using Dr. Winfrey at The Women's Clinic, but she is out on maternity leave until the end of this month, so I saw the nurse practitioner.
The first thing they did was take me back for another ultrasound (Yay, I never get tired of seeing our baby). The little one has grown quite a lot in just one week. Today I was able to see tiny little arms and legs. Also, baby Ermis was squirming and wiggling around all over the place. It was absolutely precious! I've never seen that until today. The sonogram technician measured the CRL (crown to rump length), and baby was measuring exactly on track at 9 weeks 6 days. Next she spotted the heartbeat and it was beating at 165 bpm, perfect!
Next the technician looked for my ovaries so that she could measure the cysts that have formed from the IVF medications. While looking around, she spotted one thing that is kind of scary. She found a subchorionic hemorrhage, which is basically a buildup of blood between the placenta and uterine wall. She warned me that the hemorrhage may cause bleeding and wanted me to be aware so I didn't totally freak out thinking it is a miscarriage. In most cases, the hemorrhage will resolve on its own by either bleeding out or reabsorbing into my body. I'm definitely praying for the latter. In some cases the hemorrhage can actually cause miscarriage (from what I've researched), but my caregivers did not seem concerned about that at all. They told me if I began to bleed that they will do another sonogram to ease my worries. The hemorrhage also increases chances of preterm labor and placental abruption, but that is rare. Even so, I ask anyone who follows my blog to be in prayer that this hemorrhage will reabsorb and be gone by my next appointment so I don't have to worry about it anymore.
After the ultrasound, I met with the nurse practitioner to go over all the do's and don'ts of pregnancy. I already knew the majority of this information since I've been seeing a specialist, but I know it's routine. They performed all the routine lab work, pap, and breast exam. I've had almost all of the lab testing done before now also, but I know they want to do it for their own records.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)