28 weeks, 2 days

My bp today was 122/72, awesome! I was showing trace protein, as I have for two weeks at home too. My labs were back from the glucose last week. Glucose was great and he ordered some other blood work as well. Everything is good, and my platelets are holding awesome at 281,000. Baby’s heart rate was good at 142bpm. It took my OB a bit to find the heartbeat again. This kid sure is a stinker! I have my next appointment in 2 weeks, and then I should be going weekly. I also have a biophysicial profile (BPP) scheduled for that day.

26 weeks, 3 days

My 26 week check up brought some anxiety. My blood pressure was up slightly and I am showing +1 protein. After 10 minutes, my bp was back to normal, so we are hoping this is a fluke and not a sign of things to come. Baby looks good, heart rate was 144bpm. I am measuring 1cm ahead on the fundal height. I have to take the glucose lab this upcoming week and come back to the OB in two weeks for my next appointment.

March 6th: 26 weeks Baby Fact -- There's an important development in baby's lungs this week: They begin to secrete surfactant, a fatty substance that covers the inner lining of the air sacs and allows the lungs to expand normally so breathing can occur. Although it will be approximately 10 more weeks before the lungs are fully operational, the production of surfactant is an essential step in making the fetus viable outside the womb. Baby weighs almost 2 pounds; measures around 9.2 inches from crown to rump; and hears noises, responds to light, and is generally more aware of its surroundings.

24 weeks

I came in to see the OB for a quick visit. Things are looking great! I am coming up on the glucose testing--apparently they have fruit punch flavor now and they say it's quite good. My next appt is beginning of March, I'll be 26 weeks that week. Can't believe how fast time is flying!!

22 weeks

Had an OB check today and my bp was great. Phoenix is being a little stinker already as he likes to hide when the OB tries to listen for the heartbeat. It took just a bit today, and there it was beating strong at 153 bpm. I asked what he thinks my chances of going term will be, realistically. He said he'll be happy for me to reach 34 weeks, but hopefully can go to 36 weeks. He said he won't let me get a day past 38 weeks. So we will be having another May baby for sure. ;-) My next appt is in 3 weeks. After that it looks like I'll have an appt every two weeks, and then at 32ish weeks I'll be seen weekly. He wants to keep an eye on how I'm doing and be on top of any issues that may develop. We're hoping for the best, so please keep us in your thoughts.

Baby's Development at 22 weeks..... Baby’s sense of touch is developing. He is beginning to reach out to stroke his body, and is stretching and pushing against your uterus in newfound freedom. Baby weighs almost a pound. This week nerve endings become functional enough so that Baby can feel! He may experiment with this new sense of touch by stroking his face or feeling other body parts to see how they move. You may feel Baby stretching his muscles by pushing against the muscular wall of your uterus with his feet or head. Although he's filling out, his body still appears wrinkled because he lacks a significant layer of fat beneath his skin. If Baby is a boy, testes, which have been tucked up inside the pelvis, will begin to descend into the scrotum this week and immature sperm will form in the seminal vesicles; Baby's eyes will complete formation, although the iris (the colored part of the eye) will still lack pigment; The pancreas, essential to hormone production, will continue to develop steadily.

19 weeks

I saw the doctor today for an OB check. I am looking good, so he says. He looked at the measurements from the U/S last week and he says baby looks great; no growth restriction. Baby was laying transverse so he had a fun time trying to pick up the heartbeat on the doppler. Baby’s heart rate was 148, I believe. We talked about my visit with the peri. We also discussed my weight loss and how much he wants me to gain with this pregnancy. He chatted with us about having a boy and what his life is like with 1 boy and 3 girls. He was sharing fun stories about his son. I return for my next appointment in 3 weeks.

I suppose I could share baby's name with you all. ;-) I forgot to in the last update. This babe will be named......Phoenix Alexander.

18 weeks, 4 days

I had an appointment with the peri today. My blood pressure was awesome, 100/65. The peri did a 2D/4D ultrasound. Baby looks great. He couldn't see anything wrong with the spine. Most of the U/S was in 2D and he would focus in a body part and switch it to 4D, it was pretty neat. We discovered what sex "Spud" is......we're having a boy! You could have knocked me over with a feather, I was in shock. I thought for sure this babe was a girl. We were both in shock and just kept repeating all day, "We're having a boy." I did purchase some blue onesies, I just couldn't resist. We started spreading the news right away that the fourth person to join our family will be a male. Jason is happy as now the numbers will be even again.

The peri spoke with us about the risk of developing HELLP Syndrome with this baby. He's optimistic that I can get to 36 weeks before I start to have problems. He gave the same care plan as my OB for frequent monitoring as I enter the third trimester. The visit went well and I see the OB for a check on Monday.

17 weeks, 1 day

The OB called today to let me know that our results from the AFP4 are back. They are showing an abnormal result for the spina bifada screening. The risk of having a baby with this is 1 in 290. I am no worried in the least at the moment. I have my ultrasound next week and we will get to have a peek at "Spud." He's going to have the peri take a close look at the spine for us. Ultimately, I was expecting an abnormal result and know that this is a screening, not a definitive test.

In the last week or so, I think I've felt baby move a couple times. There is a slight fluttering once in a while. I also think I've been having braxton hicks as my uterus has been tightening up off and on as well. I am starting to show just a bit, not a whole lot yet. I need to move to maternity pants soon, but the tops still seem too big to wear yet. My morning sickness is all but gone. The only thing that remains is this awful gag reflex in the morning. So far, I've been craving Sweet Tarts. Chips & dip were a another frequent eat during the first trimester. Spagetti is not my friend, just like with Ariana. My one staple of each day is my morning Mt Dew.

I really think Spud is a girl. Most everyone thinks it's a girl, but a few are saying boy (like my mom). If it's a boy, I think I'll fall over (good thing I'll be laying on a table when we find out, huh). The Chinese lunar calendar says girl too with my age at baby's birth and month of conception. We'll see....

16 weeks, 5 days

I had a quick visit with the OB today. My blood pressure was great and things are looking good. I am scheduled to see the perinatalogist in two weeks and will be getting an ultrasound at the visit. I had the lab work for the AFP-4 screening today. We’re not all that concerned with the AFP results and if something could be wrong. I had the test when pregnant with Ariana and it showed a false positive. I’ve since learned that there is a correlation between a false positive AFP and preeclampsia. That is why I want to have the test with this baby. If it’s negative, I feel like I could perhaps relax a bit more. If it’s positive, I know not to go insane with worry, but to keep on the lookout for placenta issues. Since the MTHFR blood disorder I have impacts how I metabolize folic acid, it is a slight concern for us.

17 week Baby Factoids --
At 4 to 5 inches long and about 7 ounces, your baby is roughly the size of a large pear. And she's ripening--the brain, muscles, nervous and circulatory systems, and urinary tract are all functioning. Amniotic fluid is pumping through her lungs. Her skeleton, composed of rubbery cartilage, will harden later.

12 weeks

My blood pressure is low today, 100/65. I am showing protein in my urine, but we believe it to be due to dehydration. We were able to hear the heartbeat today, 168bpm. I got my flu shot. I asked when I should be concerned about the bleeding and he stated to worry if I’m having clots. We briefly went over the plan of care again. I scheduled for 4 weeks at the end of December. I’ll be 16 weeks along.

11 weeks

Last evening I had some minor cramping and spotting, and this morning the spotting became heavier. The cramping had become more pronounced as well. I called to speak with the OB on call, which happened to be the new OB. He had me come in to take a quick look via ultrasound. Jason was in the woods hunting, so I had to make arrangements for someone to watch Ariana while I went to the hospital. I called Jason to inform him what was happening and he informed me he had just shot two deer. Yikes! I told him to finish what he needed to and I’d be okay. I’d let him know what was happening when I knew something. My mother-in-law came over to watch Ariana for me, and I left for the hospital. I was trying to stay calm, but since the bleeding and the cramping were a bit worse than ever before I was quaking inside. Jason did meet me at the ER and came dressed in full hunting gear.

The OB came in and spoke with us. He did an ultrasound where we could see baby doing just fine! Jason thought “Spud” looked like a little turtle. “Spud” was moving both arms and legs. Doc also took a quick peek inside to see where the bleeding was coming from and apparently my cervix is super irritable. The bleeding is coming from the cervix itself, and not through the cervix from the uterus. He said I could possibly have the bleeding continue off and on for another 4-6 weeks.

My new OB was fantastic with his care and concern. Awesome bedside manner and he takes the time to listen to his patients. He did discuss what his plan of care would be for me, which he did not have to do. I have an appointment with him the next Wednesday, but he was more than happy to spend time with us. He thinks my chances for recurrence of HELLP is around 15%. He seemed impressed with my knowledge of what had happened to me. Since the hospital is adding a level III NICU this year, a perinatalogist will be seeing patients as well. A peri is a high risk OB who handles only high-risk pregnancies. The OB will have me see the peri in addition to him. My ultrasound for 18/20 weeks will be a level II ultrasound automatically. At 28 or so weeks, I will have baseline labs run to watch my labs for HELLP indicators. I will also have scans every 4 weeks at that time too, to keep an eye on my placenta. The minute I get a blip in this pregnancy, my OB wants to administer steroids for the baby’s lungs in case we do have to deliver early. I will also be seen for an OB check every two weeks, and if I want to come in for a urine/bp check anytime I can. That kind of care offers relief, and knowledge that I will be closely monitored.

10 weeks

Here we are at 10 1/2 weeks! I'm feeling okay. Much better now that I'm off that yucky medicine. I still have morning sickness and the scale number is moving down, but it's livable. I'm very tired which people tell me is normal. At this point, I feel almost the same as I did with Ariana. My OB's office has a new OB start this month, and I made my next appt with him. I'm still coming to terms with being pregnant and not having Robin there. I think some of the grieving process recycled again as after I found out I was pg, I became sad then angry with him for not being here. When you have such implicit trust in someone and that person saves your life and is now gone, it's a difficult thing to handle. Many people do not understand that, and have shared so with me. But most of them do not have that close of a relationship with their physicians. We owe Robin so much and his loss is felt by so many. He was such a special person. I'm at the point where I am freaking out about being pregnant and what are we going to do with two kiddos. At times, I still can't believe I'm pregnant. I know everything will work out, but I still worry.

Drama

October 2005
The progesterone stinks!! It’s messy, and starting to cause me problems. I have to wear a pad because of leakage issues, and since I don’t wear them normally, I’m not really happy to wear them now. I’m pregnant and I’m not supposed to worry about pads & tampons. The progesterone is making me incredibly nauseous. I feel like puking all day long, but holy cow is it awful in the evenings! Yuck! I keep telling Jason that this is our last baby, for sure! I cannot do this yuckiness again. He keeps telling me to suck it up, I’m growing a baby.

On Oct 25, I had a nurse appointment. She ordered basic labs and did a urine test. I am 7 weeks pregnant. My first appointment with the OB should be next week, she said, and that I’d probably have an early ultrasound to help date the pregnancy. She was telling me about the new OB that was starting in a few weeks.

Eventually I start having bleeding issues this month. Apparently the progesterone can irritate the cervix and cause bleeding. Joy. How nice is that? The medicine I need to maintain this pregnancy is causing me to bleed and freak out that I’m miscarrying. I bled a bit with Ariana, so I knew that things could be okay. However, Thursday Oct 27th, I had heavier bleeding that did worry me. I woke up and had quite a bit of blood. I hadn’t felt ill the night before and that morning, so I believed I was losing this pregnancy. Jason was trying to remain positive, but I felt in my heart that things were ending. I called the office and Tara got me in for an ultrasound that day. Thankfully, the tech was able to find a heartbeat. Everything I was holding inside rushed through me. Jason and I were both in tears at the sight of our little one.

Ewww....

My labs come back, and my HCG is tripled. However my progesterone is a tad low, so the OB would like me to be on progesterone supplements. They order the prescription and the only place in town that stocks it is WalMart. I am so not thrilled about having to take these suppositories twice a day. When I go to pick up the prescription that evening, the pharmacist informs me that I can use these vaginally and anally. How exciting! I tell you, you’ve never seen a person so happy to be able to use the suppository vaginally rather than in the butt. Thus begins my fun time with progesterone…

BFP!!!

I am one day away from getting my period, I think. All week I’ve been feeling cruddy in the evenings and Thursday Jason suggest, jokingly, that maybe I’m pregnant. I can’t say that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but I’ve been through this before. Because of this conversation, I decide to take a home pregnancy test Friday morning. And oh my! I’M PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!! The line is so faint, but it’s there. I am standing in the bathroom in absolute disbelief and shock. Am I seeing things? Tears are streaming down my face. I just couldn’t believe it. I had Ariana take the test into the bedroom to her daddy. She climbed up on the bed and gave it to him. Jason is just waking up and he kind of looks at the test with this “what’s this” expression. Then he looks at me. I said we’ll have to turn on the light for you to see. As I’m turning on the light, Jason gets out of bed to have a good look at the test. “Can you see it?” I ask. “Yes,” was his reply. I started crying again and we hugged. I told Jason that I know in my heart that this baby is a gift from grandpa. I believe he had a hand in creating this miracle for us. I was in a daze all day and thankfully it was a busy day at work. After looking at the calendar I realized that three years ago on Sept 29, 2002I discovered I was pregnant with Ariana. How cool is that?!

I was going out of town to MN with my mom over the weekend. I am so proud that I was able to keep our secret. We even visited baby stores, but I refrained from buying anything. It was a long weekend, but a fun one.

I called the OB office Monday morning to schedule a blood test. Courtney called me back and was ecstatic to hear our news. She had me come in for a quant that afternoon. As soon as she got the results, she called to let me know. My HCG is at 65, which is normal. She wants me to come back in for another quant in a couple days, and to run a progesterone level. Sometimes progesterone levels can be low in females who have fertility issues. My next lab is for Thursday.

I’ve been feeling full and crampy in my uterine area, so that is making me a bit nervous. No bleeding yet, so that is a good thing. I’m not sure on a due date since my last cycle was a tad long, but it looks like mid June 2006. I’m hoping we can make it that far with this pregnancy.

I have mixed emotions about being pregnant. Happiness, elation, relief, fear, sadness are some. Happiness and elation because we are pregnant. Relief from infertility. Fear of miscarrying, something being wrong with the baby, and that HELLP will strike again. And sadness that my old OB is not here to help me on this journey.

BFN

Well, I’m still not pregnant.

I had the HSG on Aug 10. I was pretty nervous, as I wasn’t sure how much cramping I would have, plus, what if they found something? I didn’t think the procedure was all that bad really. I was able to watch the entire procedure on the monitor. They found a mild plugging on the right tube and the radiologist was able tot flush it with the contrast fluid.

We’re hoping things will happen soon. My fertile time for September is looking to be the same as when I got pregnant with Ariana. The due dates would be days apart. Plus, we’ll be in a hotel in MN during ovulation just like we were with Ariana. How could September not be our month? I wasn’t really expecting to become pregnant in August, but this morning when I took a home pregnancy test it was negative. I really feel shitty. Why can’t we get pregnant? What is wrong with us? I still don’t have my period and it doesn’t come for many days. My cycles are so out of whack. They are not regular like they used to be. This month gave us a 35-day cycle. And that puts off my ovulation dates for September. Argh!

My grandfather’s birthday is September 1, and I went to the cemetery to visit him that day. I asked him to please bless us with another baby. I just let it all out and had a good cry. I miss him terribly, and know he’d love my husband and my kids.