OB Appointment, Final NST and Belly Pics

Today brought my 26-week OB appointment and the final NST test in the trauma protocol. All went well at both appointments. The OB was first where I had the standard pee in a cup, check my weight, blood pressure, wait, wait, wait...in comes my OB "Any problems?" Other than the fall and a few contractions, no. She measured my fundal height today and I'm right on target for 26 weeks. Baby's heart rate was normal and I'm up a grand total of 9lbs this pregnancy.

We discussed what needs to happen between now and my appointment in 2 weeks. I'll go sometime next week (at my convenience) for the 1-hour Gestational Diabetes test. Due to the PCOS, I am at greater risk for GD but since I have remained on Metformin throughout the pregnancy and gained very little weight, we're hoping the levels will be normal. I really don't want to have to deal with insulin shots, too. I'll also have blood work done to check for anemia and the standard CBC counts. Since we know I'm Rh-, I'll also have another antibodies check and then be given a Rhogham shot at my next appointment on September 12th.

The final NST was pretty uneventful. I was given a very quick sonogram to check the amniotic fluid levels around the baby. Fluid levels were normal. Baby Girl looks great from the quick scan that we got. She's still head down with her bottom between my upper left and middle and her legs are on my right. I've been fully aware of the location of her legs as she likes to kick often! I did have one brief contraction while attached to the monitor today. A perinatologist was on duty so she checked everything before they released me since it was my last visit. According to her everything was well in the normal range so we're good to go! I am done with the NSTs, for now at least. As long as no other complications occur or nothing comes up at future appointments, I shouldn't need to return for an NST unless my OB would like to do one right before delivery time.

25 Weeks!

105 Days to Go!!

Has anyone else noticed the number of days to go is getting awfully close to two-digit numbers??!!

The Little Miss has grown to about 13 1/2 inches long from head to heel and is now about a pound and a half. Approximately the size of a rutabaga.

Baby Girl is exchanging her long, lean look for a little baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair - and if we could see it, we'd now be able to discern its color and texture. Although it's likely to change after birth. The Little Miss' lung sacs are also beginning to function this week.

In other developments with the NSTs, contractions have continued. Tuesday's NST revealed a fairly strong contraction and I continued having more at home. My OB and the staff Drs in the Triage department say I shouldn't worry until I begin having 6 contractions in an hour. Easy for them to say...especially when I know the contractions shouldn't even be occurring at this stage! Although there must have been something in the air yesterday as the hospital's labor and delivery rooms were completely full and babies were being born left and right.

I have 3 more NSTs to go. I'm really hoping the next week and a half flies by. I'm anxious to speak with my OB at my next appointment and hopefully get some of my fears relieved. Continue to keep us in your thoughts over the next few weeks. We need the Little Miss to stay put for another 15 weeks!

Belly pics to come later.....

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good:

We're okay. For Now.

Saturday and Sunday's NST tests revealed no contractions, a consistent heart rate for the Little Miss and I was well hydrated. While this is all good news I feel as though I'm constantly on edge just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Is that twinge normal? Am I supposed to be having that pain? When was the last time I felt her move? Have I drank enough fluids today?

Sure I was completely sick with worry after the fall. I didn't care if I had a broken bone or how much pain I may or may not have been in, all I cared about was whether Baby Girl was okay. When she checked out okay in the ER, I felt a relief. I could breathe again. Now that I'm going through these NSTs and have found out that tightness I was feeling were indeed contractions, I'm back to nerves frayed and worried sick.

The Bad:

While I didn't have any contractions when attached to the monitors Saturday and Sunday, I felt more Sunday night and this morning. They're not at a rate that would be of concern yet...just one or two every few hours. They're not occurring all the time, just once in a while. If it were every hour I would be back at the hospital. But this concerns me because they're occurring despite my drinking a gallon plus of fluids a day.

The Ugly:

These thoughts that I can't prevent running through my head. I know my nerves are shot. I'm on the verge of tears thanks to the stress and pregnancy hormones. I KNOW I should think positively and try to keep myself calm at all costs but there are days, much like today, where I just can't and I give in to it all. The ugly reality is, IF I were to go into pre-term labor right now and it couldn't be stopped, my daughter, the one I've been growing and nurturing for 6 months now, wouldn't survive. Sure there are some amazing advances in medicine but the truth of the matter is, it's way too early for her to come into this world and she wouldn't survive beyond a few hours. That's a reality I just can't face but yet I can't ignore the possibility either.

So please, PLEASE, keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming our way. I think I need them more for my sanity than anything.

NST Tests and Belly Pics

After dealing with some minor freak-outs (okay, possibly major freak-outs) regarding the non-stress tests I finally had a few minutes to capture the 24 week belly. After taking the pics, I realized I've worn this same top for several belly pictures. I promise I have more clothes than that one shirt!

As I posted on Thursday, I was notified I'd have to go through multiple NSTs (non-stress tests) to complete the abdominal trauma protocol to make sure things really were okay with the Little Miss.

The hospital phoned Thursday evening to schedule the testing. Since I was less than 26 weeks, I needed to go in immediately to begin testing. The first of 7 tests began Friday morning. Since I am less than 26 weeks, the testing had to take place in Triage.

I was asked to provide a urine sample and they took my blood pressure as well as temperature. For an hour I had two monitors strapped to my belly. One monitor was basically a doppler used to monitor Baby Girl's heart rate and the second monitor was used to check for contractions. I had a clicker to press each time I felt the Little Miss move. She was VERY active Friday morning. While attached to the monitors, I had two contractions within the hour. The nurse was concerned I may have been going into pre-term labor but after checking my urine and consulting with the Dr. on call it was determined I was severly dehydrated....so much so I was off their hydration scale. SO not good. Apparently between vacation, being stuck in airports for two days, and the mess when we returned home, I wasn't drinking enough. Needless to say, that's been corrected.

I returned for round two of NSTs today. I was very well hydrated and had no contractions while attached to the monitors. I return Sunday for round three then have a short break before returning Tuesday and Friday for tests 4 and 5. I'll have my last two NSTs the 26th and 29th. I have my 26-week OB appointment on the 29th so the hospital was kind enough to schedule my last NST right after my appointment.

As long as I continue being complication-free (no cramping or bleeding) and don't have any more contractions, all should be okay. If I continue contracting, they'll need to do a cervix check to be sure I'm not dialating and trying to go into pre-term labor. All a very scary reality, especially with the Little Miss so small. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers until we're given the all-clear at the end of testing.