I went in today for my 30 week appts. First we went to the place where they do ultrasounds and had that done. :) (I got reprimanded for not having a full bladder. I told her if I hadn't gone to the bathroom before I laid down there would have been an accident. :D )
He looks really good. We got to see all his parts and everything looks great. When she was measuring everything she measured his head and said "now don't tell your mama your head is THAT big, let's do that again". I laughed and said, "well, I wouldn't be surprised." She asked me if my daughter's head was big and I said "ohhhh yes". She said "well maybe it is that big then!" and yes, his head is huge! (greeeat)
We also got to see the heart beating and she was so happy with the perfect view of his little heart we watched it for a bit, and also saw him breathing (well, making breathing motions). She said that at 30 weeks is when you should start seeing breathing actions. It was really cool to see him 'breathing'. :) She said he's about 3lb 7oz (49%tile), perfectly average. (of course we know how those guesstimates are. Give or take a pound and a half)
Then we went over to the office for the NST. That was fine. They just hooked me up to the monitors and I relaxed for 20 minutes and he sounded great. Moving like crazy. As if I didn't know that. ;) Got to hear his heart beating. That is the most comforting sound in the world.
Then they drew blood to check my platelets. They want to make sure that my blood doesn't get too thin while I'm on the heparin, so we'll be keeping an eye on it.
Next appointment is next week and at that point I will have passed the date that we lost Margaret, so hopefully I will be feeling better (more comfortable) by then. I am also having a check-in with the Maternal Fetal Specialist that has been keeping an eye on my chart. Just to check in with her.
:)
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Win a CVS giftcard and enter to win a Couponizer!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Injection update
Yahoo! The heparin has been approved. :) So much cheaper than the lovenox! I am on day 5 of the injections and they're not too terribly bad. The bruises are no fun- I have a humongous one on my right leg, but I discovered yesterday that if I ice-down the injection site for about 30 minues after the injection, it prevents the majority of the bruising, so I will continue to do that.
I also found out some side issues regarding the disorder, which is technically a mutation in the human MTHFR gene A1298C, one allele, which is that I will have to continue to take mega-high doses of folic acid for the rest of my life b/c my body doesn't process folic acid properly, in addition, I will take one baby aspirin a day, and should I ever have to have surgery of ANY kind, I will probably have to do heparin injections after the surgery to prevent thromboembylism (a clot forming and making its way into lungs/heart or brain.) I also won't be able to take any kind of estrogen therapy, like oral contraceptives or medicines for menopause when I get older.
This particular mutation is known for causing third trimester stillbirth, rather than miscarriage early on in pregnancy. The likelihood that this caused M's loss? Very high.
I also found out some side issues regarding the disorder, which is technically a mutation in the human MTHFR gene A1298C, one allele, which is that I will have to continue to take mega-high doses of folic acid for the rest of my life b/c my body doesn't process folic acid properly, in addition, I will take one baby aspirin a day, and should I ever have to have surgery of ANY kind, I will probably have to do heparin injections after the surgery to prevent thromboembylism (a clot forming and making its way into lungs/heart or brain.) I also won't be able to take any kind of estrogen therapy, like oral contraceptives or medicines for menopause when I get older.
This particular mutation is known for causing third trimester stillbirth, rather than miscarriage early on in pregnancy. The likelihood that this caused M's loss? Very high.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Got a call from my midwife
whom I absolutely love, in case I haven't mentioned. ;)
She said she had the resident OB (the one who works with the midwives, mostly as a "name" for insurance purposes, since most ins. companies don't accept midwives) take a look at my file, along with the medical records, as well as a maternal fetal specialist. She said that originally, when they looked at my labs (that whole series of labwork they did back in the beginning, every blood test known to man), they didn't see anything that was abnormal, but when taken with all my medical history, there was some concern with a couple of things. One was an abnormal alleal. Normally, you would need two alleals to have this particular clotting disorder, and normal people have none. I have one. This means I am borderline for the disorder, which was the one the first midwife was concerned about to begin with. There was also another "borderline" factor that raised a red flag for the specialist when taken in consideration with everything else.
At any rate, she recommended I begin being treated for the clotting disorder to prevent any problems that could occur. She said there is no way to know if it would cause a problem, or to know if this is what caused M's death, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. I am to start taking a baby aspirin a day, an increased doseage of folic acid each day (a prescription) and also doing self injections to treat the clotting disorder. Of course, 25 doses of the injections is going to cost me $300 ($1800 before insurance ) but I'll figure out something b/c it's not something I am not going to do. I am hoping she will tell me they want me to do one injection a day, and not two, she is supposed to let me know tomorrow. (at two a day, 25 will not even last two weeks, and I've got about 9-10 weeks to go!)
Anyway, I am thrilled that she is being so proactive and I don't mind the injections at all. I am to go into the office in a couple of days to have them show me how to do them, either tomorrow or Friday.
Now to find an additional source of income...to pay for them!!
She said she had the resident OB (the one who works with the midwives, mostly as a "name" for insurance purposes, since most ins. companies don't accept midwives) take a look at my file, along with the medical records, as well as a maternal fetal specialist. She said that originally, when they looked at my labs (that whole series of labwork they did back in the beginning, every blood test known to man), they didn't see anything that was abnormal, but when taken with all my medical history, there was some concern with a couple of things. One was an abnormal alleal. Normally, you would need two alleals to have this particular clotting disorder, and normal people have none. I have one. This means I am borderline for the disorder, which was the one the first midwife was concerned about to begin with. There was also another "borderline" factor that raised a red flag for the specialist when taken in consideration with everything else.
At any rate, she recommended I begin being treated for the clotting disorder to prevent any problems that could occur. She said there is no way to know if it would cause a problem, or to know if this is what caused M's death, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. I am to start taking a baby aspirin a day, an increased doseage of folic acid each day (a prescription) and also doing self injections to treat the clotting disorder. Of course, 25 doses of the injections is going to cost me $300 ($1800 before insurance ) but I'll figure out something b/c it's not something I am not going to do. I am hoping she will tell me they want me to do one injection a day, and not two, she is supposed to let me know tomorrow. (at two a day, 25 will not even last two weeks, and I've got about 9-10 weeks to go!)
Anyway, I am thrilled that she is being so proactive and I don't mind the injections at all. I am to go into the office in a couple of days to have them show me how to do them, either tomorrow or Friday.
Now to find an additional source of income...to pay for them!!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
28-week appointment
Everything looks great! Natalya and my grandmother went with me. (Doug had to work) I am measuring 28.5 weeks and the hb was 145-148, so really good. I was 172 (so down a couple of pounds? but no one comented on it) and my blood pressure was great. I gave her my medical records from M's birth and she said, "so a little light reading before bed?" and laughed, I did too. It's like 100 pages, mostly handwritten and difficult to decipher. She said, "I don't think I'll read this right now" I said, "no, I didn't think so!" hehe.
She said she reviewed the plan and she thinks we are on track. She said she knows with the 31 week mark coming up I'll probably have some anxiety, so feel free to call for anything.
I go back in two weeks for my next visit. I will also have a Biophysical Profile (BPP a.k.a. ultrasound) and then to the office for a NST. I will then go weekly and continue to have the BPPs and NSTs until he is born.
The funny part was- after se wrote up the plan and I left, I went to the front to have the secretary-person make my appointments. She questioned having botht the BPP and the NSt on the same day. She said usually, they do them on alternate days, like you'd go have a BPP and then two days later come back for an NST. She called back to Mavis and Mavis apparently set her straight (ha!). She said, that's just weird, I've never seen that done before. Well, there's a first time for everything right? So then, the mw nurse comes up and says, "we don't do BPPs and NSTs on the same day" and the sec. said, "That's what I said, talk to Mavis about it".
[side note, Mavis is the HEAD of the midwifery department at Vanderbilt University, and teaches/does research four days a week and sees patients one day a week, this is why I was recommended to her and why I decided to continue as her patient. Plus I think she's awesome!]
Jeanette (the nurse) said, "well since she may as well be 'Dr.Schorn' whatever she says goes." and kind of laughed. LOL. Mavis is not a Dr, but I guess she is well-respected enough that her decisions are not questioned. And I love her to death.
So that's the plan. She said she also forwarded all my info to the OB they work with and he agreed with the plan she had set up 100%.
I feel really good about how everything is going, and since Zachary is kicking the daylights out of me constantly, that's good too.
I know that something could technically still happen, but at least we're keeping track of every nook and cranny, so if something out of the ordinary does show up, then we will be able to resolve it right away.
She said she reviewed the plan and she thinks we are on track. She said she knows with the 31 week mark coming up I'll probably have some anxiety, so feel free to call for anything.
I go back in two weeks for my next visit. I will also have a Biophysical Profile (BPP a.k.a. ultrasound) and then to the office for a NST. I will then go weekly and continue to have the BPPs and NSTs until he is born.
The funny part was- after se wrote up the plan and I left, I went to the front to have the secretary-person make my appointments. She questioned having botht the BPP and the NSt on the same day. She said usually, they do them on alternate days, like you'd go have a BPP and then two days later come back for an NST. She called back to Mavis and Mavis apparently set her straight (ha!). She said, that's just weird, I've never seen that done before. Well, there's a first time for everything right? So then, the mw nurse comes up and says, "we don't do BPPs and NSTs on the same day" and the sec. said, "That's what I said, talk to Mavis about it".
[side note, Mavis is the HEAD of the midwifery department at Vanderbilt University, and teaches/does research four days a week and sees patients one day a week, this is why I was recommended to her and why I decided to continue as her patient. Plus I think she's awesome!]
Jeanette (the nurse) said, "well since she may as well be 'Dr.Schorn' whatever she says goes." and kind of laughed. LOL. Mavis is not a Dr, but I guess she is well-respected enough that her decisions are not questioned. And I love her to death.
So that's the plan. She said she also forwarded all my info to the OB they work with and he agreed with the plan she had set up 100%.
I feel really good about how everything is going, and since Zachary is kicking the daylights out of me constantly, that's good too.
I know that something could technically still happen, but at least we're keeping track of every nook and cranny, so if something out of the ordinary does show up, then we will be able to resolve it right away.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
i it possible? could it be?
I was afraid to even say anything for fear of jinxng it, but I think N is ready to start going to sleep by herself!!! And it couldn't have happened soon enough as I'm going to have another one eating up my sleep time soon.
For years I had to lay down in bed with her so she would go to sleep. This was up from her nursing herself to sleep. We gradually shifted over to me sitting at the foot of her bed while she fell asleep, then I would sneak out. The other night, she woke up at 4:30am and came ot get me.Normally this would entail me sitting in her room for 20 minutes to one hour, but after a few minutes, I had to go to the bathroom (big surprise), so I got up and quietly opened the door. Instead of sitting bolt upright in bed and freaking out, she quietly said, "Mommy? Where are you going?" To which I whispered, I have to go to the bathroom, then I'm going to bed. She said, "ok"
Now, I have tried this before, and she would show up in my room about 10 minutes later crying and wanting me to come back, but this time...she didn't! She woke me up around 8:30am.
So... the past four-five nights, I have been sitting in her room for a few minutes then getting up, and if she says something, usually "mommy?" I would say, "Good night Natalya. I love you" to which she replies, "I love you too" and then I leave.
No crying.
No whining.
No yelling.
No in and out of the room for hours.
No showing up in my room just as I've gotten comfortable and waking me up.
Just...sleep!! Soon I will make the leap to kissing her goodnight then leaving the room right away, but for now, I'll take this. :D
YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For years I had to lay down in bed with her so she would go to sleep. This was up from her nursing herself to sleep. We gradually shifted over to me sitting at the foot of her bed while she fell asleep, then I would sneak out. The other night, she woke up at 4:30am and came ot get me.Normally this would entail me sitting in her room for 20 minutes to one hour, but after a few minutes, I had to go to the bathroom (big surprise), so I got up and quietly opened the door. Instead of sitting bolt upright in bed and freaking out, she quietly said, "Mommy? Where are you going?" To which I whispered, I have to go to the bathroom, then I'm going to bed. She said, "ok"
Now, I have tried this before, and she would show up in my room about 10 minutes later crying and wanting me to come back, but this time...she didn't! She woke me up around 8:30am.
So... the past four-five nights, I have been sitting in her room for a few minutes then getting up, and if she says something, usually "mommy?" I would say, "Good night Natalya. I love you" to which she replies, "I love you too" and then I leave.
No crying.
No whining.
No yelling.
No in and out of the room for hours.
No showing up in my room just as I've gotten comfortable and waking me up.
Just...sleep!! Soon I will make the leap to kissing her goodnight then leaving the room right away, but for now, I'll take this. :D
YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
We love free things to do!
Today we went to the museum here in Clarksville. When I was getting my teeth cleaned, the hygenist told me about free Sundays at the museum. Awesome.
The bottom floor is the "Explorer Room" and it's all kid oriented. A huge room of trains, the small scale and large scale trains, really really cool! Natalya loved the trains. There was also several tables of things like legos and blocks. They also have a Thomas train table and trains and she played with that for a long while until some other kids came and played and then she decided she was done.
There's also rooms that are set up like the late 19th century and early 10th century- a home, a mercantile (old-fashioned dresses and shoes), a printing press/newspaper, and old "cars", horse-drawn buggies, an old fire engine, even a horse-drawn hearse! Really neat!
They also have a room where you can make big huge bubbles and then a "grocery store". They had little kid-sized shopping carts and lots of "food" to buy, empty boxes and plastic produce. She spent at least thirty minutes shopping. She absolutely loved choosing groceries to put in her cart and then checking out at the checkout line. :)
I wonder if I can buy a kid-sized shopping cart? hmmm...must look into for Christmas. I will have to remember this as something to do with her when we need somewhere to go that is air-conditioned/heated in extreme weather. :)
We didn't make it into the real artwork part of the museum, since we got there kind of late, so that will be next time.
The bottom floor is the "Explorer Room" and it's all kid oriented. A huge room of trains, the small scale and large scale trains, really really cool! Natalya loved the trains. There was also several tables of things like legos and blocks. They also have a Thomas train table and trains and she played with that for a long while until some other kids came and played and then she decided she was done.
There's also rooms that are set up like the late 19th century and early 10th century- a home, a mercantile (old-fashioned dresses and shoes), a printing press/newspaper, and old "cars", horse-drawn buggies, an old fire engine, even a horse-drawn hearse! Really neat!
They also have a room where you can make big huge bubbles and then a "grocery store". They had little kid-sized shopping carts and lots of "food" to buy, empty boxes and plastic produce. She spent at least thirty minutes shopping. She absolutely loved choosing groceries to put in her cart and then checking out at the checkout line. :)
I wonder if I can buy a kid-sized shopping cart? hmmm...must look into for Christmas. I will have to remember this as something to do with her when we need somewhere to go that is air-conditioned/heated in extreme weather. :)
We didn't make it into the real artwork part of the museum, since we got there kind of late, so that will be next time.
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