5 years ago
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Doctor's Appointment Update
Jason, Maddy, and I all went to my doctor's appointment this morning in hopes of good news...and we got it. No cervical changes from last week, which was the news we were hoping for. Maddy talked to her sister through the doppler and was very excited about that. It was pretty cute. Baby seems pretty content right now and the medication is working like it should so as long as nothing changes we are going to take it week by week in hopes I can still make it to my due date. Dr. Bayram said he has seen women in the same situation as I am still make it past their due date and need to be induced. He doesn't think that will happen but it's possible. Sounds fine to me as long as this baby doesn't end up over 9 lbs like Maddy did. We have an ultrasound next week to estimate the baby's size so that should be interesting. I'm measuring very far behind (30 cm - 5 1/2 weeks behind), but that is not surprising I would guess since the baby is so low. Based on my prior experience with Maddy, this does not mean the baby is small. Dr. Bayram extended my prescription to last through next Saturday now too which should put my co-workers at ease seeing that I asked to go back to work on Monday. So the plan going forward is to stay on bed rest until I return to work on Monday. Continue with my medication through the week and don't over do it at work. It's going to be tough I think because even today being up for a little bit was extremely difficult. I felt very tired and was having a lot of contractions. So we'll see...only time will tell.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Pre-term Pregnancy Update
I had a follow-up appointment yesterday afternoon with my doctor to see if there were any more cervical changes since being released on Tuesday. Dr. Bayram said no changes so that was really the best news possible. The Procardia medication is working like it should and with the bed rest not allowing gravity to work as it should on the baby we are buying some good needed time. My body definitely needs the medication though to stop the contractions. I can tell as soon as its time for more medication because my uterine activity picks up quite a bit. I'm being a good patient listening to the doctors instructions and just laying down all day working on my computer. Nancy is such a help here with Maddy and me. We are truly grateful. Thanks to everyone else too for all the support and prayers. We truly are blessed with the most amazing family and friends.
The plan going forward is to stay on bedrest now through the end of February (just one more week). I go back to the doctor next Thursday if things stay quiet until then...which I'm optimistic they will. Dr. Bayram then said I have the option to go back to work on March 2nd but only if I want... which I do...so the plan is to return to work then until the baby arrives. Now let's just hope we can stick to the plan.
Jason is working hard to get things ready for baby's arrival. The basement still isn't finished either but that has been put on hold temporarily. I feel bad that I can't help out with things around the house and that everything has been put on him, but I'll make up for it when I'm on maternity leave. ha, ha
The plan going forward is to stay on bedrest now through the end of February (just one more week). I go back to the doctor next Thursday if things stay quiet until then...which I'm optimistic they will. Dr. Bayram then said I have the option to go back to work on March 2nd but only if I want... which I do...so the plan is to return to work then until the baby arrives. Now let's just hope we can stick to the plan.
Jason is working hard to get things ready for baby's arrival. The basement still isn't finished either but that has been put on hold temporarily. I feel bad that I can't help out with things around the house and that everything has been put on him, but I'll make up for it when I'm on maternity leave. ha, ha
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Flu Invasion
Well, after a few weekends of great fun (which I'll get around to posting) we had a flu bug invade our household last week. Here's where I'll include my disclaimer: if you are not interested in hearing about diarrhea do not read any further.
It all started Sunday, Feb. 8th on our way home from Chicago. Maddy fell asleep as soon as we got in the car and slept until we woke her up in Battle Creek (3 hours later). Jason and I kept saying how sweet she looked and how exhausted she must have been from the fun weekend because she didn't move once. Little did we know that she was sick. When we woke her up in BC to eat dinner she immediately said she needed to throw up. I had never heard her say that before so I was a little skeptical but took her to the bathroom anyway. I told her she could throw up in the toilet so she spit in it but that was it. So we went and joined dad for dinner at the table. Soon afterwards she said she had to throw up again and this time the heaving started. I luckily had a bowl right at the table to catch it all. Poor thing! Before we left the restaurant she threw up again and had an episode of diarrhea along with a fever. Clearly she caught something. She stayed home with grandma Monday and Tuesday (thank goodness for Nancy's help so Jason and I could go to work) and really didn't start feeling better until Wednesday morning although her diarrhea stuck around until Thursday. Jason ended up with the same symptoms Tuesday and Wednesday but was back to work Thursday. I thought I was in the clear because I was still feeling good through the work day on Thursday. Little did I know...
Thursday night I felt exhausted (work has been crazy and a bit stressful) so I thought I'd better get some rest and go to bed early. I had some stomach discomfort and a little spell of diarrhea but I didn't feel like I was coming down with anything...just exhausted. Friday was a different story...I made about a dozen trips to the bathroom before noon. After that I was pretty much cleaned out. This intestinal flu was accompanied by a fever, nausea, abdominal cramping, chest pain, and back pain. I was trying to drink juice but wasn't eating much. Friday night I didn't sleep much because I was having contractions but nothing more regular than every 30 minutes. We called the doctor Saturday morning and she said to take some Tylenol and keep drinking but as long as the contractions aren't more regular to not worry. Saturday night was the same story as Friday night so I had a little meltdown Sunday morning but was able to finally get some rest during the day on Sunday after some Tylenol kicked in. I felt a little better after resting but ended back up on the toilet that evening. Monday morning I had a regular OB appointment, but surprisingly slept great and woke up feeling much better so I was very optimistic going into my appointment. Again little did I know the damage was done...
After having lost weight and not being able to provide much of a urine sample due to dehydration my doctor decided to do an internal exam. The verdict...baby's head was engaged into the birthing canal and my cervix was thinning. I was immediately sent to the hospital for observation and to get rehydrated. Jason met me at the hospital and little did we know that it was going to be a long 24 hours. We got to the hospital at 10 am and was hooked up to a uterine and fetal monitor after I provided a urine sample that looked like blood. (Sorry, but it was) I was quickly pumped with 2 liters of fluid of monitored for 3 hours. At about 1 pm, the doctor came in to check me and was surprised by how low the baby was and said that my cervix was very soft. He said my uterine monitor showed a lot of irritability, but the baby looked perfect. He decided to give me a shot to stop the uterine activity and pump me with more fluid and monitor me for another few hours. After another internal exam at 5 pm, which showed more cervical changes ( a very ripe cervix; 75 % effaced), he dediced to admit me to the hospital for the night for more observation and more fluids and I was put on an oral medication (Procardia) to stop contractions. After 5 liters of fluid and a long sleepless night I was finally released yesterday at noon. I am on strict bedrest with bathroom and shower privileges (yeah!) now and am on the procardia to stop uterine activity. I go back to my doctor tomorrow and should know more then. The doctors said my goal needs to be 36 weeks if I want to go home with my little girl in my arms, so I am shooting for that but am optimistic that I can still go full term knowing that my cervix feld up a 9 lb 8 oz baby last time and still needed to be induced. Nancy is here caring for Maddy and helping me if I need it but I am pretty much just stuck on the couch for at least the next week, possibly two. Please keep us in your prayers that we can keep this baby from an early arrival. We don't even have a name yet...we surely aren't ready!
It all started Sunday, Feb. 8th on our way home from Chicago. Maddy fell asleep as soon as we got in the car and slept until we woke her up in Battle Creek (3 hours later). Jason and I kept saying how sweet she looked and how exhausted she must have been from the fun weekend because she didn't move once. Little did we know that she was sick. When we woke her up in BC to eat dinner she immediately said she needed to throw up. I had never heard her say that before so I was a little skeptical but took her to the bathroom anyway. I told her she could throw up in the toilet so she spit in it but that was it. So we went and joined dad for dinner at the table. Soon afterwards she said she had to throw up again and this time the heaving started. I luckily had a bowl right at the table to catch it all. Poor thing! Before we left the restaurant she threw up again and had an episode of diarrhea along with a fever. Clearly she caught something. She stayed home with grandma Monday and Tuesday (thank goodness for Nancy's help so Jason and I could go to work) and really didn't start feeling better until Wednesday morning although her diarrhea stuck around until Thursday. Jason ended up with the same symptoms Tuesday and Wednesday but was back to work Thursday. I thought I was in the clear because I was still feeling good through the work day on Thursday. Little did I know...
Thursday night I felt exhausted (work has been crazy and a bit stressful) so I thought I'd better get some rest and go to bed early. I had some stomach discomfort and a little spell of diarrhea but I didn't feel like I was coming down with anything...just exhausted. Friday was a different story...I made about a dozen trips to the bathroom before noon. After that I was pretty much cleaned out. This intestinal flu was accompanied by a fever, nausea, abdominal cramping, chest pain, and back pain. I was trying to drink juice but wasn't eating much. Friday night I didn't sleep much because I was having contractions but nothing more regular than every 30 minutes. We called the doctor Saturday morning and she said to take some Tylenol and keep drinking but as long as the contractions aren't more regular to not worry. Saturday night was the same story as Friday night so I had a little meltdown Sunday morning but was able to finally get some rest during the day on Sunday after some Tylenol kicked in. I felt a little better after resting but ended back up on the toilet that evening. Monday morning I had a regular OB appointment, but surprisingly slept great and woke up feeling much better so I was very optimistic going into my appointment. Again little did I know the damage was done...
After having lost weight and not being able to provide much of a urine sample due to dehydration my doctor decided to do an internal exam. The verdict...baby's head was engaged into the birthing canal and my cervix was thinning. I was immediately sent to the hospital for observation and to get rehydrated. Jason met me at the hospital and little did we know that it was going to be a long 24 hours. We got to the hospital at 10 am and was hooked up to a uterine and fetal monitor after I provided a urine sample that looked like blood. (Sorry, but it was) I was quickly pumped with 2 liters of fluid of monitored for 3 hours. At about 1 pm, the doctor came in to check me and was surprised by how low the baby was and said that my cervix was very soft. He said my uterine monitor showed a lot of irritability, but the baby looked perfect. He decided to give me a shot to stop the uterine activity and pump me with more fluid and monitor me for another few hours. After another internal exam at 5 pm, which showed more cervical changes ( a very ripe cervix; 75 % effaced), he dediced to admit me to the hospital for the night for more observation and more fluids and I was put on an oral medication (Procardia) to stop contractions. After 5 liters of fluid and a long sleepless night I was finally released yesterday at noon. I am on strict bedrest with bathroom and shower privileges (yeah!) now and am on the procardia to stop uterine activity. I go back to my doctor tomorrow and should know more then. The doctors said my goal needs to be 36 weeks if I want to go home with my little girl in my arms, so I am shooting for that but am optimistic that I can still go full term knowing that my cervix feld up a 9 lb 8 oz baby last time and still needed to be induced. Nancy is here caring for Maddy and helping me if I need it but I am pretty much just stuck on the couch for at least the next week, possibly two. Please keep us in your prayers that we can keep this baby from an early arrival. We don't even have a name yet...we surely aren't ready!
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