What a week this has been.
Monday I had to get counts repeated because they were 30 last Thursday. The OB nurse calls me about 3:30 and says, "Your counts were 9." I basically went into shock. I was not having symptoms, much less any dangerous pregnancy symptoms of cramping and bleeding. We talked for a few minutes, then she said she was going to consult Dr. Livingston (who I actually saw my last visit) and call me back. About 5 minutes later Dr. Livingston herself calls me back and tells me she's spoken with Dr. M's fill-in (he was on vacation) and they want me to come to the ER at Duke to be admitted. It took 45 minutes to get in touch with Jimmy. After about 20, I called my mother and cried hysterically. She calmed me down, and I tried Jimmy again. This time I got his 2nd level supervisor, who immediately got ahold of my husband and sent him on his way. During this time, I'm trying to pack a bag, wondering how long we'll be up there, and do a load of laundry, as well as text people what's going on. Jimmy calls me from about 2 miles away and says to fix him a cup of water and meet him in the driveway. I tell him I am still trying to pack and will need his help. He gets home, and he gets in touch with his mother to ask if she can meet us in Goldsboro to get the dogs. We finally get in the car and drive to Duke, stopping in Goldsboro to meet Jackie and Jen with the pets.
We get to Duke about 9 and there were several people complaining loudly about how long they'd been there. My first thought was, "We are going to be triaged to the bottom of the pile," and I tried to tell everyone we came into contact with that Dr. L had told them to expect me. About 45 minutes after checking in, we were called back. They put in an IV and did counts. Then began the parade of doctors: 1 4th year med student, 1 resident, 1 hematologist, Dr. Livingston, and 2 OB residents. Everyone except the hematologist was amazed at how I can have so few platelets and not be bleeding everywhere. I told everyone I was fine, but worried about the baby. I wasn't having any danger signs, but it was the first thing on my mind. The hematologist looked for a portable ultrasound but couldn't find it. The OB ladies tried checking with a doppler, but couldn't find a heartbeat, so they hijacked a portable ultrasound. I have never felt so relieved in my entire life. On the screen was a strong heartbeat inside of our tiny baby. We asked the hematologist what the plan was, and she said I would probably be there for 5 days getting IVIG and Decadron. I asked her if there was any way we could do it outpatient and she apologized, because of my counts being so low with the baby, I needed to stay in the hospital. I assured her I was willing to do whatever was needed to keep the baby safe and that I understood it was different from just me having low platelets. While in the ER, they gave me a shot of decadron through IV, which burns down your spine into your pelvic region. It was the most painful part of the entire hospital visit! I told her it was burning really badly. Thank goodness she stopped pushing it, mixed it with saline, and pushed it much more slowly. Jimmy said it was a good thing the nurse was a woman or else he would have had to get ugly. They finally moved us up to a room about 1.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
-27 Weeks
Only a few days to go and I'll be in the second trimester. Who knows though, because Little One measures big, I may be further along than calculated. I woke up this morning and thought I had so much energy. I was going to Wii Fit! Then the Hemo clinic called and asked me to come in early for my shot. This changed everything! We have to fix the air conditioning in the truck and Jeep!
I got my shot then went to get lunch at a new express Japanese place in Jacksonville (reasonable and delicious!). While I was in the restaurant, it started raining. I ran by the Credit Union, then had to go by Ross to pick up some shorts for Jimmy. I get parked (an ordeal) and the rain is just pouring! I had on Tevas and Tevas and rain DON'T mix. After trekking into Ross and exploring their men's section, I discover there are no suitable shorts for my husband to wear to work. They had some denim shorts with embroidered pockets which I can't imagine him ever wearing. I leave and go across the street to Marshall's. Thankfully, they had several pairs that worked and I got great deals!
When I got home I was exhausted. I think it was mostly the heat. I took a short nap, but it really hasn't helped and I haven't gotten anything done except cook and clean up supper. My poor husband.
I got my shot then went to get lunch at a new express Japanese place in Jacksonville (reasonable and delicious!). While I was in the restaurant, it started raining. I ran by the Credit Union, then had to go by Ross to pick up some shorts for Jimmy. I get parked (an ordeal) and the rain is just pouring! I had on Tevas and Tevas and rain DON'T mix. After trekking into Ross and exploring their men's section, I discover there are no suitable shorts for my husband to wear to work. They had some denim shorts with embroidered pockets which I can't imagine him ever wearing. I leave and go across the street to Marshall's. Thankfully, they had several pairs that worked and I got great deals!
When I got home I was exhausted. I think it was mostly the heat. I took a short nap, but it really hasn't helped and I haven't gotten anything done except cook and clean up supper. My poor husband.
To Non-Pregnant Persons
I stole this from BabyCenter.com and I'm putting it out there so you can't say you weren't warned. It's snarky, VERY snarky, but it covers all the bases of rude things people do when women are pregnant.
Dear Non-Pregnant Person,
I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women, as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, she surely doesn't mean me, then you should probably read this twice.
1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is, "Congratulations!" with enthusiasm. Any other response makes ou a jerk.
2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the parents, not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, never use the phrase "my baby."
3. ON the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth, and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it.
4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated as the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone's stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix, or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.
5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight, ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about to pop, must be having twins, looks swollen, or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is, "You look fabulous!"
6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don't need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer andhow glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer.
7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor and Delivery are not sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is not actually a public event. It may sound crazy, but women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL, or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren't invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won't be invited to be there when it comes out either.
8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are not invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital, and the parents' home. you do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to "help out." If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.
9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.
10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.
Sincerely,
All the Pregnant Women in the World
Dear Non-Pregnant Person,
I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women, as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, she surely doesn't mean me, then you should probably read this twice.
1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is, "Congratulations!" with enthusiasm. Any other response makes ou a jerk.
2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the parents, not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, never use the phrase "my baby."
3. ON the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth, and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it.
4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated as the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone's stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix, or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.
5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight, ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about to pop, must be having twins, looks swollen, or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is, "You look fabulous!"
6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don't need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer andhow glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer.
7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor and Delivery are not sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is not actually a public event. It may sound crazy, but women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL, or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren't invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won't be invited to be there when it comes out either.
8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are not invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital, and the parents' home. you do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to "help out." If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.
9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.
10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.
Sincerely,
All the Pregnant Women in the World
Sunday, July 17, 2011
-28 Weeks
IT LOOKS LIKE A BABY!
Friday we had our 12 week appointment. It seems like these first 3 months have been very long. Everything went pretty well. We had our ultrasound first and it was really awesome that my dad was able to come! He was coming to visit us for the weekend anyway and so we invited him to meet us at Duke that morning to see the baby. Jimmy and I opted to do the first trimester screening, which is why we got another ultrasound. I didn't realize the tech was going to do 3D pictures! She was so sweet and after getting several good shots with the 2D, said, "I think I'm going to do some 3D just in case." What a difference! Everything is going fine. They weren't able to pick up the heartbeat on the doppler yet, but we saw it on the ultrasound. And when I heard monthly growth scans I thought that meant every visit from here on out, but they actually come later. We have our next appointment in 4 weeks, but our next ultrasound in 6 for anatomy. We're still planning on not finding out the gender.
I think we either got some insight into this baby's personality or s/he was sleeping. The tech tried to get the little one to move by pushing on my stomach with the probe and the baby would wave an arm or a leg. When she switched over to the 3-d probe, the baby covered up his/her face! My brother Patrick was very proud of this. If you know him, you know he hates pictures.
I'm going to "borrow" a format from a friend's blog...I really like the layout and questions.
How Far Along: 12 weeks, 3 days
Size of Baby: About 2 inches, crown to rump
Movement: Not feeling any yet, but I'm hoping by the next visit at 16 weeks!
Cravings: Acidy things: orange juice, tomato juice, margaritas (non-alcoholic of course), SweetTarts
What I miss: I really can't think of anything...yet!
Sleep: Yes please! There are still a lot of days where I need a nap. Yesterday we were out in the Croatan National Forest. Dad and Jimmy were target shooting and I sat in the car and took a nap! I also started sleeping with a body pillow, which helps.
Symptoms: Occasional heartburn, some sciatica in my right thigh (tingles, not pain), tiredness, occasional nausea, and my arms go to sleep if I sleep with them above my heart. I'm also hungry a lot, mostly for small meals more often. I learned my lesson that if I eat too much or too fast I get heartburn.
Best Moment This Week: seeing the baby again on the ultrasound
What I'm Looking Forward To: Feeling the baby move for the first time, nesting, and having more energy!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Ramblings
Today has been pretty eh. I did enjoy tutoring my sweet student this morning, but had to battle some major nausea to get through it. I am so thankful for preggie pops! I made an amazing vegetable risotto last night, but it was the only thing I could consider eating for breakfast and it still didn't go down well. I put on a tshirt that I've never had an issue fitting, but it was so snug in the chest area. And I'm outgrowing one of my few good-fitting bras.
When I got home, Jimmy was in a grumpy mood and that's never fun. He told me the reason medieval people died was because they tried using vinegar to kill germs. After I picked my jaw up off the floor I had to laugh and tell him they DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT GERMS in the middle ages. And anyway, that bottle is clearly labeled "Degreaser," not "Antibacterial" and I have a separate antibacterial spray for killing germs. I fixed him breakfast anyway. After our meals and folding a load of clothes, I was exhausted and took a nap. I didn't sleep well, and my hips were sore when I woke up. I'm hoping it was just because I had on shorts with pretty thick seams. It is way too early for me to be uncomfortable! Again tonight everything sounded gross for dinner, except for some pizza. I've probably had more frozen pizza during this pregnancy than I normally do in a whole year.
All day today I've felt heavy in my mid section...well, maybe not heavy, but different. This has happened a few times. I don't know if it's my uterus pushing on everything else or the density of the uterus, but I can definitely tell it's there and something is different. It's a nice feeling. At first I didn't think I'd be interested in a fetal heart monitor at home, but now I'm wondering. I would freak out though if I couldn't find a heart beat due to Baby's positioning, so it's probably better not to get one. 11 weeks in about 30 minutes!
When I got home, Jimmy was in a grumpy mood and that's never fun. He told me the reason medieval people died was because they tried using vinegar to kill germs. After I picked my jaw up off the floor I had to laugh and tell him they DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT GERMS in the middle ages. And anyway, that bottle is clearly labeled "Degreaser," not "Antibacterial" and I have a separate antibacterial spray for killing germs. I fixed him breakfast anyway. After our meals and folding a load of clothes, I was exhausted and took a nap. I didn't sleep well, and my hips were sore when I woke up. I'm hoping it was just because I had on shorts with pretty thick seams. It is way too early for me to be uncomfortable! Again tonight everything sounded gross for dinner, except for some pizza. I've probably had more frozen pizza during this pregnancy than I normally do in a whole year.
All day today I've felt heavy in my mid section...well, maybe not heavy, but different. This has happened a few times. I don't know if it's my uterus pushing on everything else or the density of the uterus, but I can definitely tell it's there and something is different. It's a nice feeling. At first I didn't think I'd be interested in a fetal heart monitor at home, but now I'm wondering. I would freak out though if I couldn't find a heart beat due to Baby's positioning, so it's probably better not to get one. 11 weeks in about 30 minutes!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
-30 weeks
Today I am 10 weeks pregnant! I am praying that the next 30 weeks will go by as uneventfully as these. The baby updates I get weekly tell me he/she is the size of a kumquat, but I've never seen one, so I had to check another site that told me he/she is the size of a prune.
Things have been pretty quiet on the symptom front. I am not as tired as I was, and I think that's due to not working--I can sleep and rest when I want to, before I get ridiculously tired. My arms go to sleep at night if they are above my heart, like tucked under the pillow when I lay on my side. Weird, I know. I posted on BabyCenter.com and asked if anyone else had it. Several other women are going through it, and the experienced moms said it usually developed into pregnancy induced carpal tunnel. If that's the trade-off I have to make for not throwing up, I'll take it! I usually only get nauseous when I get hungry, but a few times over the past few days I've gotten nauseous for no reason. I picked up some "Preggie Pop Drops," hard candies that have a 'proprietary blend of essential oils' that help nausea. Many of the women on BabyCenter.com swear by them, so I thought I'd try them. Tuesday night I had an explained bout: the baby does not like movie theater popcorn. It tasted so good, and then a few hours later I felt so sick! I'm not sure if this is my child...
Jimmy and I spent last weekend at Jackie's, my wonderful mother-in-law, due to the smoke in the area. It was a welcome respite! Then Tuesday night, we received a phone call that his second cousin's husband had died in an accident. It is really important to Jimmy for us to go up there and be with the widow and Jackie, who went up yesterday. So Friday night and Saturday night we'll be in the mountains, where the highest temperature for the weekend is 85 degrees!
Friday, June 17, 2011
-32 weeks...speechless
On Tuesday Jimmy and I had our first ultrasound and doctor's appointment. After a 3 hour drive where Jimmy slept most of the way (remember, 7 AM is the middle of the night for him), we got to the clinic ON TIME for our appointments at 11 and 11:30. This is important to remember later.
I got checked in, which took forever, and we waited to be called back. I don't know when I've ever been so excited and nervous at the same time. They were doing both kind of ultrasounds, external and internal, so I had to get undressed. The lady finally came back and went to work. Oh my. I don't think anything could have prepared me for the shock and wonder to see OUR BABY on the screen. I remember reaching for Jimmy's hand, but I really can't remember what I was thinking. I asked her if we could hear the heartbeat, but she said they didn't like to try to do that this early, that it required a lot more energy from the sonogram than they wanted to exert. She was able to show us the heart beating (!) and measure it. It was so amazing. Jimmy immediately texts Deven to let him know he has created the first dragon baby. Even though it isn't in this picture, in some the yolk sac looks like a giant appendage on the baby.
We got out of ultrasound a little after 12. Obviously they were late calling us back. Around 12:20 we were called back to a room. We were in there for almost 2 hours. We finally asked the nurse if we could leave and get lunch. She checked and said we were the next to be seen, and she would bring us some menus for the restaurants downstairs. *Side note: the clinic is above a restaurant center--there are about 7 restaurants on the ground level. No shopping stores though. Very interesting.* I told her I realized her ultrasound appointment had gone over, and she assured me it was just the doctor, who likes to talk. Which I'm sure will be great on the days I have a million questions and we have things we need to plan, but that day was just irritating. Just as we were about to order food, the fellow (a full-fledged doctor working on his specialization) came in to talk. We went over the basic stuff, got a pap smear, and spoke with Dr. J. She said we would follow the normal course of visits, but would also do monthly growth scans. Monthly growth scans=monthly ultrasounds! It is still very early and so we didn't go a lot into further planning.
My next appointment is July 15th and we'll be doing the first trimester screening, which consists of blood drawing and ultrasounds. Even though we don't really have any risk factors for chromosomal defects, it will be good to know if the baby needs more testing later on in pregnancy than just doing an amnio or some of the other invasive tests.
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