Taking the Long Way: It's good!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

It's good!

This will be brief because it's been a long day (with no naps on the part of our three year old - so I'm tired).

It's all good. Everything looks exactly as it should. The baby was moving and having a great time and the placenta was in good shape and very solid. It was in a position for placenta previa (covering the cervix), but since it's very early in the pregnancy and we're already planning a c-section, that's no big deal at all.

Katie loved it. She said the baby waved at her. The ultrasound tech gave her her own picture of the baby to take home and Katie put it in a frame by her bed. I don't know if she understands that this is a "new" baby and not a picture of her (she loves looking at her ultrasound photos in her baby book), but either way, it was neat.

No more progesterone. No more restrictions. I am now NORMAL! Isn't it funny how something as simple as that can make your day :)

4 comments:

fancy spatulaMay 24, 2011 at 7:24 PM
YAAAAYY!!! It has been SO HARD to not comment on your Facebook. And now I can. Since this is really all about me, anyway...
ReplyDelete
Replies
D KindhartMay 24, 2011 at 8:04 PM
This is so insanely awesome! I am so happy for you!!!
ReplyDelete
Replies
St ElsewhereMay 26, 2011 at 4:18 AM
Oh, it is so adorable that Katie is loving the little one so well.

You take care and be good.
ReplyDelete
Replies
CaseyMay 26, 2011 at 1:45 PM
*Doin' a little dance*

So very pleased to hear of your wonderful, wonderful news! I'll be thinking of you and hoping that all continues to go well. :)

Looking forward to following your journey until Jellybean's out in the big wide world!

Best wishes, and ICLW hugs,

Casey
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

About Me

My husband and I married in 2001 after dating since 1998. After going through the very very long process of graduate school (Masters for him and PhD for me) and finding jobs, we finally were able to focus on family. What came so easily to others proved to be a bit more challenging for us. After trying for a few years with no success, we finally welcomed our daughter, Katie, in 2008. It was a difficult pregnancy and she came early, but overall it seemed to be a "normal" experience. Then came the last years. We desperately wanted to add to our family and had the following problems:

Prior to October of 2009 - Numerous Miscarriages and "Chemical Pregnancies" - approximate number: 5

October 2009 - Chemical Pregnancy. Miscarriage #1.

May 2010 - Miscarriage #2. Needed D &C

December 2010 - Ectopic. 2 doses of Methotrexate to dissolve pregnancy. Hospitalized for complications. Miscarriage #3.

After switching doctors and undergoing a thorough battery of tests, we think we have identified the problem, an MTHFR mutation, so I am currently on daily injections of Lovenox as well as 2x daily progesterone.

March 2011 - Positive pregnancy test

4 wks: HCG rising and doubling. Begin Lovenox.

6 wks: Heartbeat visible by ultrasound. Added progesterone 2x daily.

8 wks: Heartbeat and fetal growth visible by ultrasound

10 wks: Heartbeat, fetal growth, and fetal movement visible by ultrasound.

12 wks: Heartbeat, fetal growth, and fetal movement visible by ultrasound. Placenta visible but in placenta previa position. No more progesterone. Declared "normal" pregnancy for second trimester.

14 wks: Heartbeat heard by doppler for first time (after much searching by doctor :). Growing and doing well.

16 wks: Can feel fetal movement several times a day.

18 wks: Heartbeat good: 145-150. Obvious fetal movement daily. Opted not to do quad screening. Started daily Keflex to avoid any more kidney infections.

19 wks: Sonogram: It's a girl! Weighing in at 10oz. Heart, brain, and spine all look good. Uncooperative baby means we couldn't see smaller things; another sonogram in four weeks.

21 wks: Baby kicks can now be felt on the outside of my belly :)

23 wks: Sonogram #6 - everything looks exactly as it should. Lots of movement from the baby and good heartbeat. Measurements are right on track.

28 wks: Preterm labor issue #1. Spent hours in Labor and Delivery and was given shot to stop contractions. Sent home.

30 wks: Preterm labor issue #2. Four days in the hospital. Given magnesium sulfate to stop contractions, corticosteroids for lung development, and antibiotics in case of delivery. Monitoring all weekend indicated strong fetal heartbeat until Monday. Biophysical profile showed baby was still good. Released and put on strict bed rest with instructions to take Procardia every six hours to stop preterm labor. Found out JB is measuring 16in and is 3lbs 3oz.

31 wks: Preterm labor issue #3. Contractions continue. Leaking fluid regularly. Exam shows that cervix is still tight and closed and fluid tests come back negative. Ultrasound shows fluid levels on the low side of normal. Hospital overnight stay due to another possible PROM, which was inconclusive. Fluid level increased slightly. Released from the hospital and another ultrasound the next day reveals "stable" fluid level.

33wks: Preterm labor issue #4. Contractions continue and become much more intense. Jellybean shows very high heart rates on monitors at doctor's office and on sonogram. Fluid level has dropped again to very low normal. Back to L&D for more monitoring, testing, and waiting. Released as "stable," but dilation has started.

34wks: Active contractions every five minutes several days a week.

36wks: Active contractions every five minutes daily.

37wks: Active contractions every 2-3 minutes daily. Dilate to 3cm. Hope is delivered by C-section on November 17, 2011 at 1:23pm.