Friday 1 August 2014

Clear sailing


Ultrasound at 28 weeks on Thursday July 31st, and regular appointment on Friday August 1st.

In brief, all looks good!

The ultrasound (my sixth!!) was requisitioned because the anatomy scan at 19 weeks had shown a fibroid "adjacent to the cervix." It was unclear if the fibroid could potentially block the birth canal, leading to necessity for Caesarian birth.

We got to review the results right after the ultrasound (why I really like going to Maternal Fetal Medicine!) The fibroid is 6cm, which is fairly large, but it is not protruding into the uterus. Baby's head is pointed down, and the fibroid does not look like it is in the way. They want to take another look at 34 weeks, but it looks like we are cleared for a vaginal birth!

Ember measured 2.3 lbs on the ultrasound, and all growth and development was normal. Heartrate of 136. She is definitely a girl. She scored 8/8 on the biophysical profile.

Today I went for follow-up/regular appointment at the maternity clinic. I passed all my recent tests.

Glucose Tolerance test - All 3 blood tests over 2 hours were normal: no gestational diabetes!

Blood iron levels are good.

No bacteria in urine.

Yay!

It was a  good way to end my week, which hadn't started so well. After all my stressing over food recalls, what do you know, I got sick last Friday. I woke up in the night with diarrhea and threw up a few times in the morning. Of course I was quite worried not to mention wretched and called the clinic right away. The doctor there reassured me that since I did not have a fever it was unlikely to be an infection. She said if it got worse or fever developed to go to Emergency and they would do a test. I started to feel better quite quickly however, and never developed a fever, so I chose to recover in the comfort of my own bed rather than sitting for hours in Emergency on a Friday (double yuck). I have been fine since and Ember has been moving about plenty, so it looks like I can let this go. When I discussed with the doctor again today she said that no fever plus short duration looks like stomach flu. As she said "we like things that go away quickly."

Of course....this and various other bogeys will stay in the back of my mind as long as I'm pregnant. They live there. But after getting this weeks results I'm picturing a Greek chorus standing in front of me chanting:



You can calm the hell down.
You can calm the hell down.
You can calm the hell down.
...right about now?

Yeah. Sigh.

Another positive step we are taking is to finally hire a doula. I've known since before I was pregnant that I would hire a birth support person, but it became one of those things that I kept putting off actually doing, even though I had a list of recommendations from a former work colleague. Finally, reading The Art of Conscious Parenting made me realize that I actually do care about the conditions in which I give birth, and that I do have wants and needs and desire support. 
So I did something about it. We have interviewed one doula already, whom we both really liked, and we meet someone else tomorrow. I find it a bit stressful to have to talk to more than one person and make a decision, mainly because I don't like rejecting people, especially nice people. But all the literature said talk to more than one doula, so we will.

We have also registered for the Birthing from Within course. Even though we are already registered for one prenatal class, I liked the sound of this one because the focus is on mental and spiritual preparedness as well as birth information and techniques. I feel like I need that kind of preparation, especially with my tendency toward anxiety and catastrophic thinking. I'm not so much afraid of the pain of birth (at least at this point) as I am of my reaction to it. I doubt anyone takes birth in stride, but I would at least like to go in with some positive mental preparedness, not just "hoping for the best preparing for the worst" (you all know which of those I would focus on more).

August is also set aside as our month to do some real re-organizing and purchasing in preparation for a baby. Gulp. Yes, this still kinda freaks me out. I've spent money on the pre-natal classes, but  rearranging our stuff and buying baby stuff means that every time I walk through the house I'll be reminded that we are actually expecting baby to arrive. Not that I ever forget about her. But somehow not buying baby stuff has felt like a way to protect myself from disappointment, although that makes no sense whatsoever. Still, times move on. At present I own exactly 3 baby items. A bottle and a onesie that Thy.me Maternity gave me for joining their membership. A blanket my mom knitted for us. Oh, and I do have a diaper bag because I accidentally bought one last year.

Is there a prize for Least Shopping Completed at 28 weeks? Or could it be that someone out there is an even bigger avoider? Stand up for applause if you are LOL!

Thinking of everyone and their journeys, wherever you are at.

18 comments:

  1. Yay, so happy for your good news! Buying baby things is scary, but also so much fun :) I hope you enjoy it to the fullest!

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  2. Thank you. :-) I'm sure we will have fun ;-) Thinking of you!

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  3. Yay for passing all those tests, and everything looking great!
    I have put off buying stuff as well, and originally planned to do this in September/October, but I might break down and start in August after all. As for now, we bought one T-shirt (that won't fit until in at least a year) and the baby carrier. But then I have an onesie I bought when I was pregnant with the twins, and the blanket I started knitting during our IVF cycle, so at least in my mind it's for all our babies. And a dear friend gave us another carrier. So I'm ahead of you - but then, you are registered for two classes, maybe that evens things out? ;)

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    1. hehe! we'll call it even. I really think it's OK to wait to buy things - better to do it when we can enjoy it and not when it's going to cause more anxiety. Glad I got on top of the classes/doula etc. though because availability for those is somewhat limited. hoping everything continues to go well with you.

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  4. I'm so glad that things are looking great! Hopefully the fibroid will continue not to interfere with anything. 28 weeks already.. wow.... I hope you'll get to the point where you will start wanting to shop for the baby!

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    1. thanks! I think we are almost there....Sometimes I just have to DO things and then I realize they are not so difficult as I imagined. thinking of you and hoping all the big decisions go well.

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  5. I can't believe you're 28 weeks already!! Wow! (Being absent from the interwebs has made it feel like everyone's pregnancies have just accelerated). This is all great news, so happy to read!

    I think I might have beat you on the least prepared: initially it was avoidance (recurrent loss'll do that to a pregnant lady), but then we just never had time in all the craziness, and actually, we're still accumulating the essentials. Girl Wonder doesn't even have her own stroller yet! We'll get there though, and so will you. Enjoy all those moments as they become more real!

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    1. OK, you win! :-) I really don't think it's a big deal to have a lot of stuff/have it early. The main point is to enjoy your baby (and I'm so happy you're getting a chance to do that!) Trying to enjoy all the moments - I'm so impatient for her to be here (safely) but also like when she lets me know she's already with me (through all the kicks and tickles and nudges)

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  6. Lots of great news!! Happy 28 weeks!!!

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    1. thank you! it's a happy time - a little more real with every week!

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  7. What great news. I'm glad that everything is coming together so well!

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    1. thank you! we are so happy to be here in this moment.

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  8. I can't even imagine getting to the point of being comfortable enough to start spending money on stuff! Or maybe that's cause I'm just cheap in general. ;) Glad 28 weeks is treating you well!

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    1. hahaha! it is super intimidating, it's true. I've tried to do a bit of research online and often end up more confused than anything! Our space is also modest and I hate clutter and have a horror of ending up buried in crap. So we will be taking it slow and conservative and looking for ways we can be "cheap" too - although I don't mind spending the $$ on the important things.

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  9. Yay for tests coming back clear! You are making progress. Everyone goes at a different pace. I'm shocked by those that have a nursery fully stocked and decorated before the third trimester, but whatever floats their boat. I have friends here that took the Birthing from Within class and they had an excellent birth story. We considered it but opted for a location closer to our house.

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    1. Good to know! yes it does feel like progress. As you say, everyone at their own pace. :-)

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  10. I'm so interested to read more about your experience with the doula. I was so back & fourth about wanting one and in the end I didn't hire one. Looking back, I'm happy with my birth experience but I still wonder if it would have been even better with a doula.

    Have fun preparing for baby girl! Once you start you won't be able to stop

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    1. Thanks! I will do so. We feel really good about the person we hired and are looking forward to working with her - will write more about in the days ahead.

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