Evan, Aidan, Bella & Sophia » April 2008 Journal Entries » AboutMyBaby - online baby scrapbooks, photo albums, videos, birth and pregnancy announcements

< > April 2008

Wed, Apr 30, 2008 10:23 PM
The surgery went ok. Baby is ok and that is most important. Dr. Brady said I was allowed to leave late after the surgery if I wanted to, but he left and the Resident said I was an overnighter - so it took me until about 8 pm for them to let me leave. Ridiculous, for some reason I just wanted out of there. And also, they wouldn't let me leave until I could pee on my own. I could NOT pee. It wouldn't come. They had to drain my bladder (catheter). It was so frustrating. They gave me a spinal this time, instead of the epidural, and it seemed to take longer to wear off. I thought I would get up and try to go potty around 6 pm. I stood up and Slawek and the nurse had to catch me because I was going down. Ugh.

First of all, let me say that one of nurses (Shirley) looked just like a dear friend of mine, Aimee. OMG, and she was the sweetest thing ever. She could be Aimee's sister (same height, EXACT same hair, same eyes, same face shape, same everything). It actually made me feel relieved, and that sounds hokey - but for some reason I imagined Aimee being there at my surgery. I immediately took to her and felt a sense of relief/closeness to Shirley.

The pre-op stuff wasn't fun. I have always had small veins. They ALWAYS have trouble getting blood and IVs started on me. And to top it all off, I was slightly dehydrated because they told me NOT to drink for 13 1/2 hours before the surgery. I did cheat and have a few sips of water and some ice chips, but still, my veins weren't exactly plump and full of fluids. They blew 6 veins trying to get an IV started. It was MOST painful. Here I was worried about the epi/spinal, which was cake this time... it was the IVs that almost sent me over the edge. They blew my veins in my left hand and left a HUGE ole bruise from her digging around trying to "catch" the vein as she said. Then she (nurse Candy) blew the veins in my right hand. I said, "Please try something else other than a hand, they are already so sore I can't bend or flex my fingers now." She went down to a child size IV and said, "Well, I believe 2 and out, so I'm gonna let someone else try." Another nurse did try.... twice (in my arms). It didn't work either. On a third attempt, she yelled, "I've got flash back!" or something like that, indicating she had a good stick. Thank God. But she couldn't get any blood from it (needed 3 vials) so she had to stick me elsewhere for the blood vials and just left that IV in. She drew barely 1/4 of a vial of blood, which turned out not to be enough for a CBC and they definitely didn't have enough for the other tubes (full panel and blood typing or something). They gave up on the bloodwork. My IV lasted through the surgery but immediately blew when I was transported to my room. Long story, I know.

Dr. Brady did the same Shirodkar cerclage that he did with Izabella. He said there isn't enough cervix of mine to do a McDonald (less invasive, faster recovery) cerclage. He made the 4 incisions 2 cm long each and after tying me off, sutured up those 2 cm incisions. I am bleeding a lot and in a lot of cramping-type discomfort. He said those sutures will come out and not to be surprised because they will look like "little worms." Ewwwwwwww.

They did an ultrasound immediately after the ultrasound to look at the baby and the sac/amniotic fluid. They wanted to make sure it wasn't pinched or anything. Everything looked good and I could breathe a huge sign of relief. Our baby's heartrate was 164-168 BPM.

I was given painkillers for the pain ~ Perocet (won't fill it) and 800mg Ibuprofen (which I will fill). I am taking the Ibuprofen around the clock because the pain is painful enough already while taking it. I don't want to imagine it without the Ibuprofen. Dr. Brady said Ibuprofen is fine, but not in the 3rd trimester. I refuse to take Perocet since I am pregnant and the drugs can't be good for the baby.

Slawek and my dad stayed with me in my room the entire time. My mom was sweet, she made a huge dinner for me (that I ate a little of when I came home). They had had me eat a tray of hospital dinner to see if I could keep it down, so I wasn't that hungry, but it was really nice of her.

And now, I am to stay down until Monday. No working and no walking around for me.

Hopefully by Monday I will feel better and the bleeding will have stopped. At least I have my doppler so I can listen to the baby's heartbeat and make sure he/she is ok. :)

Thank you for all the prayers!

Comments:
Ticker: Soooo relieved to hear that all is well! Very sorry about the blown IV's and pain though! Big hugs!!!!

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Tue, Apr 29, 2008 9:55 AM
Please say a prayer for me and our baby. Tomorrow at 1:30 pm I am having my shirodkar cerclage surgically stitched by Dr. Brady. I'm nervous. The pain and bleeding aren't any fun, but I am more worried about the baby and the risk of rupturing the amniotic sac. Please say a prayer that our baby is ok.

Thanks!

Comments:
Veon: I am praying now and also setting a pop up calendar reminder to pray at 130. :-)

ashlee s: your in my thoughts and prayers..

jen73: My prayers are with you and your baby!I had the surgery done April 1,by Dr. Brady also and everything went well!you`re in great hands!

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Thu, Apr 24, 2008 2:42 PM
My repeat Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan went well today! The baby cooperated this time and I was on there for 45 min!

* Nuchal Fold measurement = 1.4mm (should be <3mm) ~ awesome!
* Nasal bone detected, Yayyy!
* Length = 7.08cm (about 3 inches long)
* Heartrate 165 BPM

The NT sonographer told me everything looks great. We have a 97% chance of this baby being chromosomally normal (not having Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13 or 18). So, all good news!

Next, cerclage surgery on the 30th. :(

Comments:
Angela: Congrats on the great appt news. I don't know where people are posting but I wanted to sign in and see what happened. Love the pics of this little pumpkin.
:)

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Thu, Apr 24, 2008 8:47 AM
SECOND TRIMESTER! 13 WEEKS

Your baby measures about 3.2 to 3.5 inches (7.6 to 8.9cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 0.9 ounces (25g). Your baby is now nourished by the placenta.

His face is developing and his cheeks and the bridge of his nose are appearing. His ears are moving from the sides of his neck to higher on his head and his eyes are moving closer together. Your baby's external genitals are now distinct and may be recognized on an ultrasound. Your baby will move away from stimuli near your tummy, such as noise and light.

Your baby's eyebrows have formed and a small amount of hair, called lanugo, has appeared all over his body. Lanugo, which will be shed before birth and replaced with the hairs with which your baby will be born, is thought to have a protective function.

Insulin is present in your baby's pancreas. Some bones may be well outlined. Your baby's thyroid gland, already developed by this week, begins to make hormones.

Baby boys begin to develop the prostate gland at this time and the ovaries of baby girls descend from the abdomen into the pelvis. A girl now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries.

By now your uterus is about the size of a large grapefruit. If your due date has not already been predicted, an ultrasound measurement of your baby's head can be used to make one.

Your pre-pregnancy clothes are probably too tight by now. If you haven't already got some maternity clothes, now is probably the time to get some. You'll be most comfortable in loose-fitting clothes. Make sure you really like your maternity clothes- you'll be wearing them a lot. Friends, family and thrift shops can be a great source of maternity clothes.

You may feel less exhausted than you did earlier in your pregnancy. Some women even start to experience a rejuvenating surge of energy at around this time. Many women report that the second trimester is the best time of pregnancy as the morning sickness of the first trimester has usually passed, and the discomforts and weariness of the third trimester have yet to begin. If you would like to take a last holiday before your baby arrives, the second trimester, with your doctor's approval, is probably the best time to do so. This could be a good opportunity for you and your partner to connect and share some couple-time before the baby arrives.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Wed, Apr 23, 2008 5:00 PM
Slawek and I just spent 3 1/2 hours at Good Samaritan Hospital attempting to get our Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound. I spent those 3 1/2 hours jumping up and down, drinking cold fluids, drinking caffeine, rolling on my left side, rolling on my right side, and having an NT sonographer push my stomach to the point where I was worried about the baby because he/she looked to be in distress. Ugh. And the worst part, they DID NOT GET THE NUCHAL FOLD MEASUREMENT. I have to go through all this again tomorrow at 11 am. :(

This is what I know about the baby:

* The baby measures 7 cm long.
* His/her heartbeat was 164 BMP.
* It "looks" like a girl, but we all know it's really early at this point.
* This baby loves to suck his/her thumb - and it was incredibly adorable to see the thumb in the mouth and watch the chin move up and down while he/she was sucking.
* And this baby likes a reclining/relaxed position that isn't good for taking NF measurements. GRRRRRRR.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's NT Scan - hopefully WITH results!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Wed, Apr 23, 2008 8:08 AM
Today is our Nuchal Translucency testing at Good Samaritan Hospital. This ultrasound will be a detailed look at the baby. We are looking for a Nuchal Fold measurement of <3mm and a nasal bone.

This test is to rule out the possibility of our baby having a chromosomal abnormality like Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), or Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18.

Please sent prayers and good luck our way for 1 pm today!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Wed, Apr 23, 2008 4:11 AM
Happy Birthday Slawek!!!!!!!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Tue, Apr 22, 2008 11:00 AM
We are cloth diapering!

I decided I wanted to cloth diaper Bella and the baby on the way. Bella will probably be potty trained by then, I hope, but until then, I am cloth diapering her. So far, she loves her colorful pink, soft diapers!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Thu, Apr 17, 2008 8:28 AM
12 WEEKS - WOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!

Your Baby This Week:
Your baby is about the size of a peach and is growing rapidly. Crown to rump, your baby measures 2.6 to 3.1 inches (6.5 to 7.8cm) and weighs 0.5 to 0.7 ounces (14 to 20g).

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Your baby's legs are longer than her arms and her skin is red and transparent. Her eyelids are fused together and won't open for about four more months. Her arms are long enough to reach her mouth and she may begin to place her thumb in her mouth. Her sucking reflex, however, is not yet developed.

The tissue that will become your baby's bones is being laid out, especially around her head and her arms and legs. Some ribs may be distinguished at this time. The nose and chin are more prominent now.

Your baby will begin to practice breathing in the next few weeks as her chest rises and falls in mock breathing motions. She will also swallow small amounts of amniotic fluid which will be passed as urine.

Your placenta is providing all of your baby's needs for nutrition, oxygen and waste disposal, though the amniotic fluid will become more important later on.

All major components of the body are formed and now must grow and mature. From now on, your baby's development will consist primarily of organ maturity and growth and body refinement.

My Pregnant Body This Week:
You are beginning your second trimester of pregnancy.

Your uterus is growing rapidly and is filling the pelvis and moving up into the abdomen. If you are still having morning sickness, it may stop around this point.

Some women will get stretch marks on the breasts, hips and buttocks that may show up this early. They will later fade but will probably not disappear altogether. Some women experience itching around this time but it is more common later in pregnancy.

You probably have noticed changes in your breasts. They are becoming larger and heavier and the areola is probably darkening. They are preparing to secrete milk for your baby!

Your placenta is now well developed and is responsible for hormone production which was previously manufactured by your ovaries. Estrogen and progesterone are the primary hormones which are now being produced. These hormones are necessary for maintaining your pregnancy and inducing the changes necessary for it to progress.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Fri, Apr 11, 2008 6:51 AM
I'm not feeling well today. After a night of painful cramping, I am calling my Dr. today.

Edit: Dr. Brady said I am probably dehydrated again, and to drink 64 oz. of water immediately and rest as much as I can. If it keeps up, to come on in.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Thu, Apr 10, 2008 3:49 PM
11 Weeks! - Baby, your heartrate is still around 180 BPM! The sound is so reassuring on my home doppler!

The end of the twelfth week of pregnancy marks the end of the first trimester. Your baby is now almost 2.5 inches long (6.1cm) when measured from crown to rump, and weighs between 0.3 and 0.5 ounces (9 to 13g).

Your baby's fingers and toes have separated and are getting longer. Your baby can open and close its mouth and drinks amniotic fluid which it passes out as urine. Its head is becoming more rounded, though it is still large in proportion to its body. It has eyelids.

You can now hear your baby's heartbeat with a Doppler Ultrasound device!

Your baby continues to grow rapidly and has doubled in size in the last three weeks alone.

The face is beginning to look more human, and all body structures are present with a few refinements still in progress. Fingernails and toenails begin to develop this week.

Your baby's muscles are sufficiently developed to allow for involuntary movements at this time. The messages which control your baby's movements are sent from the spine, rather than the brain, which is not yet sufficiently developed.

Your uterus has now enlarged so that it protrudes above your pelvic bone. You may have begun to "show". It may be time to buy some maternity clothes! (this is VERY true. I am just now starting to show and have a round bump going on!)

Your doctor or midwife can feel the baby by external examination around this time.

Your heart is working harder to pump the increased volume of blood around your body and as a result your body temperature has risen. Your heart rate may have increased by a few beats per minute to cope with the increased blood volume circulating throughout your body.

Morning sickness may decrease and you may not need to urinate as much as in early pregnancy. You may become constipated, however, as bowel movements slow down in pregnancy.

You may notice a dark line, called the linea nigra, running along your abdomen from your navel to your genital area. The linea nigra shows where your abdominal muscles are stretching to allow for your uterus to grow. The linea nigra may remain for a little while after the birth of your baby, but over time it will fade.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Sun, Apr 6, 2008 9:00 PM
10w3d ~ LAST PIO SHOT!

Tonight was my very last Progesterone In Oil injection! I can't believe I am finally done with those shots. My poor bum looks and feels like a war zone. The muscles are so sore from all those intra-muscular injections. I'm glad to be done with them.

I will continue taking 600mg of Prometrium daily for a while - until about week 12. I will then reduce to 400mg of Prometrium and will eventually wean entirely by the time I am 13/14 weeks.

I am so happy!!!!!!!!!!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Fri, Apr 4, 2008 7:47 AM
Madame Zaritska's reading

What she senses for you
The day you deliver, outside will be cloudy. Your baby will arrive in the evening.

After a labor lasting approximately 2 hours, your child, a girl, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and will be 18-1/2 inches long. This child will have green eyes and a little patch of brown hair.

But there is more. I sense that you feel somewhat alone. Have faith; you are not alone. Why don't you visit the message boards and talk to other expectant mothers? I'm sure you will find you have much in common.

Comments:
Emily: Congradulations on your pregnancy! I have been reading your site for a while now, you have a beautiful family! It would be lovely if Madame Zaritska's reading was correct and you and Slawek are blessed with a second daughter.

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Thu, Apr 3, 2008 2:37 PM
Happy 10 weeks to me!!!!!!!!!!

Your baby is growing incredibly rapidly right now. She is approximately 1.75 to 2.4 inches (4.4 to 6cm) when measured from crown to rump. She will double her length in the next three weeks. Your growing baby weighs about 0.3 ounces (8g).

The neck is developing and the chin lifts up from the chest. Fingernails are also present. While your baby's sex was already determined at the time of fertilization, male or female genitalia are now visible. Essential organs are formed and most have begun to function. The blood vessels in the placenta are increasing in number to meet your baby's increasing nutritional needs. Her ears are moving towards the sides of her head, away from the neck. Your baby's head is still not in proportion with her body. Your baby's head accounts for about half of her body length.

Although he/she's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby now has completed the most critical portion of his/her development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his/her body rapidly grow and mature. If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

Many women who have suffered from morning sickness find that their nausea begins decrease from this week on. (Unfortunately, for some it may continue).

You may have noticed you have more (or less) hair than usual, which is thought to be linked to the increased amount of blood circulating through your body as well as hormonal changes.

You are probably anxious to feel your baby move, but it is still a bit early. You may notice an increase in cervical fluid and you may also notice a darkening of your labia around your vagina and the areola area around your breasts due to hormonal changes.

During pregnancy, the cervix usually feels firm, but it will soften during labor to allow the baby to pass through. Your cervix is protected by a mucus plug to protect your baby. The mucus plug will be expelled shortly before or during labor.

Your body is burning calories faster than it did prior to pregnancy and your metabolism may increase by up to 25%. The quantity of blood pumping through your body will also increase, making you feel warmer than usual. The increased blood flow can also give you a rosy "blooming" feeling.

You may notice that you have an improved skin condition during pregnancy. For some lucky women, pregnancy hormones can cause skin to appear to "glow" and appear smoother. You may even have shinier hair and brighter eyes. Some women develop a "pregnancy mask" (chloasma) caused by deeper skin pigmentation. This can cause irregular patches of brown skin to appear on your forehead, cheeks, neck and nose. Exposure to sunlight can exacerbate chloasma, though sunscreen can reduce its effects. Chloasma usually disappears after birth as your hormones return to their pre-pregnancy levels.

Elevated estrogen levels and increased blood pressure can cause the dilation of your skin capillaries which can in turn give rise to spider nevi (raised red marks surrounded by spidery lines) and palmar erythema (redness of the palms) during pregnancy. Both conditions are considered minor and fade after the birth of your baby.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Thu, Apr 3, 2008 8:30 AM
I just got back from my 1.5 hour Perinatology appt. Whoa, it took FOREVER!

Dr. Brady prescribed Zofran dissolvables instead of the pills I have been taking. He said the dissolvables will work better and don't have the chance of being puked up. He wants me to take it 3-4 times a day right now, since I am still dehydrated. He wrote hyperemesis in my chart.

My BP is super low 92/55. It's always low, but that seemed really low.

I had my pap smear and was catheterized for my sterile urine specimen (I wish they didn't have a requirement for that, YUK!) And the rest of the appt. was spent scheduling my cerclage surgery and my NT Scan.

NT Scan: 4/23/08 (12w6d)
Cerclage Surgery: 4/30/08

I will have weekly ultrasounds following my cerclage surgery and will start 17P (17alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate injections) at week 17 until the end of the pregnancy.

He wants me to continue taking the PrimaCare One prenatals (that contain DHA/ARA omega 3 fatty acids) plus take 2 ferrous sequels per day (iron, but not to start until after I stop puking). He also wants me to add Calcium and Magnesium to my daily regime.

That's about it. I am glad to finally get my dates scheduled and get things moving along. Dr. Brady laughed and said, "Your chart is getting really thick!" ;)

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Wed, Apr 2, 2008 3:00 PM
Well everything is fine. The baby is doing great.

I went in for my emergency ultrasound with Lori at the Seton Center. She immediately showed me the baby and how he/she was waving. The baby is certainly active already! Lori looked all over my uterus to find any type of blood pool or implantation spot where she could identify the source of the spotting. Unfortunately, she couldn't find anything.

The Nurse Practitioner, Betsy, came in and told me that they fully think the spotting/cramping is from my being severely dehydrated from my morning sickness. My job is to drink, drink, drink - anything I can keep down. And also I am to take more Zofran per day in order to help keep the morning sickness more in control.

I have an appt. at 8:30 am in the morning to meet with Dr. Brady and we'll see what he says tomorrow, as well.

Thank goodness. The baby's heartrate was 180 BPM - so high!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Wed, Apr 2, 2008 9:20 AM
The nurse just called me back and said that Dr. Brady wants me to come in for an emergency U/S. So my appt. is at 3 pm. Hopefully everything is ok.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Wed, Apr 2, 2008 8:27 AM
The Good News & the Bad News.

The Good News first ~ Last night (9w5d), Slawek and I both heard our baby's heartbeat for the first time on our babybeat doppler. His/her little heart was beating 176-180 BPM. I recorded it. It was so exciting to finally hear it for the first time. :)

Now the bad news ~ I'm spotting and cramping. :( Yesterday was my last estrace pill. I took it in the morning. Then by last night I started cramping severely. I kept brushing it off until I noticed I was spotting later. I freaked out and quickly took 2 estrace pills, as estrogen was the only thing I had changed. (I am still doing 1cc of Progesterone injections each night + 200mg of Prometrium orally per day). By this morning, the spotting did stop, but I am still cramping pretty severely.

I left a message for Dr. Brady. I have my first appt. with him tomorrow at 8:30 am, but I was worried so I called.

I almost stayed home from work today, but decided to come in as long as I'm not spotting. (Still cramping though.) :(

I am hoping and praying this is nothing. :(

Comments:
amy: Wow! I was 10 weeks yesterday and I took my last estrogen pill last night and same thing...hours after I missed a dose I was having severe cramping. It lasted most of the day today with back pains. I did the same thing and took and extra dose today. I didn't have bleeding but I feel like if I had not taken the next dose so soon ,bleeding was right around the corner. The happened to me also when I was 8 weeks and cut back on progesterone due to my new OB telling me my levels were unnecessarily high. I spotted for 3 days and went right back up to taking my full dose. I'm curious as to what your doc said as I'm petrified to stop taking my hormones now. I called mine today and he said to just take both estrace and endometrin until 12 weeks and then ween. Did your cramping ever stop?

Kimber: Oh my how scary Christine!!! :( You keep trying to drink as much as you can! Keeping you and your little girl...I mean bean...in my prayers!!! ;)

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Tue, Apr 1, 2008 11:38 AM
I keep placing Evan, Aidan, and Bella's hand on my belly and asking them, "What am I having? A boy or a girl?"

Evan's response:
"No. It's not bear."
(bear=fair, and he says it in the most SERIOUS tone, LOL).

Aidan's response:
He ignores me, but then 15 minutes later comes over and puts his hand on my bella and says, "Is it a girl or a boy?"

Bella's response:
"Mommy? You okay?"
(as in, "Mommy, are you crazy?")

They are cracking me up!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates