Tuesday, June 19, 2007

NT Scan

I'm 12w4d today and I went in for my nuchal fold translucency test (NT Scan). My dr. likes to see the fluid at the back of the baby's neck to be 3 mm or less. My baby's NT measurement was 1.5 mm!! He/she was jumping all over the place and would hardly sit still. It took a while to take all of the measurements, but everything looked ok in the end.

I was really nervous going to the apt. today because I had to meet with a genetics counselor before the u/s. The woman was really nice but it took her about 30 minutes to talk to me about all of the different problems that *could* be found by having the testing done. Eddie wasn't able to go with me, so it was a little nerve-wracking, but it all ended up being fine in the end!

After my 30 minute talk with the genetics counselor, she pricked my finger and took five drops of blood. Then, I was escorted back to the waiting room, where I sat for the next 40 minutes for my u/s. The u/s tech, Debbie, was really nice. She took a bunch of time and showed me lots of different things on my baby. I got to see the stomach, bladder, spine, heart, blood flow, and I even got to see the baby flip over a few times! Debbie left the room to get Dr. Webb, but then she came back in because she forgot to get the heartbeat. She had a heck of a time trying to get it because the baby had gotten the hiccups and couldn't stay still. This child hiccups VERY violently (just like me)! She was eventually able to get the heartbeat and it was right at 160. Debbie then switched on the doppler and I got to hear the heart, which is absolutely the best sound I have ever heard.

So, I see Dr. Webb again tomorrow for just an office visit, but he confirmed that the preliminary findings of todays test looked normal. The bloodwork should be back in about a week, so we'll have more definitive results then. Phwew...One more hurdle has been crossed! I just keep thanking God every day for my little miracle. :)

Monday, June 18, 2007

Heartburn?

I'm not exactly sure what heartburn feels like, but something weird happened last night. I went to bed and as soon as I rolled over on my left side, I had a burning/pulling feeling behind my sternum. It lasted for about five minutes and then it went away. It was really strange, so the only thing I could come up with was heartburn. I'll be sure to ask my dr. tomorrow.

We had a very busy weekend. After work on Friday, Eddie and I had to attend a firm dinner at a partner's house from Eddie's firm. It started at 7:00, but dinner wasn't served until 8:30! I wish someone would have told me that dinner was going to be so late because I was STARVING by the time we did actually eat. We graciously bowed out at 9:30 by telling two of the partners that I was 12 weeks pregnant. We didn't want to announce my pregnancy to everyone, as we're not really close with any of Eddie's coworkers. So, after 9 hours of work (no lunch break) and then a late dinner, we called it an early night on Friday.

Saturday, I was really excited because I made it to the second trimester! I was really happy to hit 12 weeks, but I just wanted to make it to 12w1d, and I did! I listened to the heartbeat on the doppler and I was able to pretty much find it right away. Eddie played tennis Saturday morning and then we went to the Galleria and ate at the food court. We were going to see a movie, but we missed all of the early afternoon times, so we just relaxed at home...I worked on the stocking and Eddie read a book. Around 3:45, Eddie decided that his car is falling apart, so we went out to test drive cars. Eddie drove the Infiniti G35 and the Lexus ES350. I'm pretty sure he's going to get the Lexus, but we'll see.

Saturday night, we went out to Annie Gunn's with Jeff, Julie, and Chris for Julie's 27th birthday party. It was a good time, but again, I was really tired. Fortunately, we were back home by a little after 10:00 and I headed staight for bed!

Sunday was a really laid back day, too. Eddie played golf with his buddies and I met two friends (with their kids) at the pool. We hung out there, swam, and I worked on my stocking (of course) for about two hours. We then met the guys for lunch, which was nice. While we were there, two of my friends offered to throw me a baby shower!! I was soooooo excited! It's started to feel like I'm really pregnant a little bit more each day!

After lunch, Eddie and I saw Knocked Up at the movie theater. It was hilarious!! I now feel like I have justification for all of my crazy hormonal "outbreaks." After the movie, we watched the end of the US Open and had a frozen pizza for dinner. I'm wondering if the pizza caused my "heartburn" when I went to bed?!?!?

So, that's the update from the weekend over here. I'm really excited to be in the second trimester! I still haven't gained any weight, but I'm sure it's right around the corner!

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Going public again!

Ok, I've decided to make my blog public again. Several of you have had problems trying to access it, so I thought I would give it a shot in the public arena again.

I started to post last weekend, but my computer froze and then I never reposted....Sorry. So, here's the recap of the last week. I saw DeRosa one week ago today (10w6d). I was scared to death that he was going to do a full exam, which would probably cause spotting. Fortunately, I got away without it! We listened to the heartbeat for just a few seconds on the doppler and I asked him a TON of questions, but I'm so glad that I did! All of my restrictions have been lifted!! I'm now allowed to go on walks, play golf, play tennis (in moderation), and resume a sex life with poor Eddie. I have been on "pelivc rest" since I found out I was pregnant, so it's been a VERY LONG first trimester. ;)

I also get to stop my progesterone supplements tonight, which is excellent news! I don't know if I told all of you or not, but about one hour after I take the progesterone, it makes me feel incredibly dizzy. I don't just mean dizzy...It makes me feel flat out drunk. It's a weird feeling to be at work and then realize that I feel like I've had about 3-4 glasses of wine. I guess the upside is that I was getting a buzz without all of the ill-effects of alcohol. Anyway, I'll be glad to stop those tonight!

I also get to stop my Metformin in about 3 weeks. The Metformin is the medicine that I have been taking 3 times a day to help with my PCOS. It's also supposed to help people with PCOS from having a miscarriage. The Metformin is also the drug that has been suppressing my appetite and keeping me from eating any amount of food larger than the size of my palm, so here comes the weight gain!

Unfortunately, I will have to continue the Lovenox for the rest of the pregnancy. I'm really not fond of the shots because they hurt so badly. Eddie doesn't even like to be in the same room with me when I take them because they make me cry. I don't ever complain about taking them because I know that I am absolutely blessed to even be pregnant right now. It's just one of those things that I have to just suck it up and deal with the pain. In case some of you are curious, the Lovenox feels like a bee sting that continues to sting you over and over in the same spot for about 5 minutes. Yes, it's THAT bad.

I'm also allowed to start playing my horn again. I haven't played in 3 months and I'm a little nervous to start, but I have to pick it back up because I'm playing with the Alabama Symphony in September. Granted, that's a long way away, but I'd like to be in tip top shape. For you classical guru's out there, I'm getting to play Mahler #1....WOO-HOOOOOO!!!!

So, that's my story in a nutshell of the past week. My next appointment is June 19 with Dr. Webb. He's going to do an NT Scan and a Quad Screen. Hopefully, we'll have good results!

Friday, June 08, 2007

Perinatal Center u/s on 6/6/07

I went to the Perinatal Center on Wednesday (10w5d) and had an u/s to make sure the placental looked ok. Fortunately, everything looked great! As soon as we started the u/s, I saw my baby jump....It was the coolest thing! All I could say was, "Oh, wow!" The u/s tech. didn't say much while she was taking measurements. I kept asking questions, but she didn't really want to answer me. It made me a little nervous that something might be wrong, but the dr. came in and said that everything looked great! I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief!! I was also given a picture of the baby, and he/she looks like a baby now, and not just a gummy bear! I'm starting to get excited about the pregnancy now, which is a nice change from constant worry.

Saturday, June 02, 2007

The most beautiful sound in the world!

My dad surprised me by sending one of his extra dopplers up to me. I got it in the mail last Saturday (9w1d), and needless to say, I was pretty excited! I had read that I could use aloe vera gel on my tummy instead of KY jelly, so that's what I did. I was able to find the heartbeat almost right away. At first, I was in total shock, and then I just started crying because I was so happy to be hearing a fetal heartbeat for the first time! It truly was the most beautiful sound in the world!!

I have been playing with the doppler off and on. I did listen to the heartbeat for just a few seconds yesterday, as that is when I was 10 weeks! My dr. told me that if you can hear a heartbeat at 10 weeks, then the risk for miscarriage drops down to 1-2%. I honestly thank God every day for my little one and I hope he/she continues to grow strong. Pretty soon, I'll be counting down the days to finding out the sex of the baby. How exciting!!

Friday, June 01, 2007

Dr. Webb

Again, sorry for not posting. I know that some of you have been worried about me, and I appreciate the thoughts. I met with Dr. Webb, my high-risk OB on Wednesday, May 23rd. He did a quick u/s, which was my first transabdominal one, and he immediately saw the baby!! It was so cool to see it moving around and it actually looked like a baby!! He then used the u/s machine to look around and he found the cause for my bleeding. When I lost Baby B, the placenta of Baby A tried tried to move over and "fill in" the space where Baby B used to be. When it moved, it caused a partial placental abruption.

The good news is that the bleeding has not returned since it stopped almost 3 weeks ago. I go in for another u/s with Dr. Webb this Wednesday, June 6, to see if the placenta is reattatching on it's own. If it is, then everything should be ok. If the placenta does not reattatch by 20 weeks, I will more than likely lose Baby A. So, it's a long waiting game, but things are looking good for now.