Back to hospital

I took a trip to labor and delivery Sunday night because of contractions again. I contract all the time and everyday. If they pick up I have been taking a procardia but since my cervix measured so good I don't worry about them most of the time. Last night I had three close together so I took a procardia and then waited for them too stop. Well they didnt ,I was having them every 3 to 8 minutes for an hour. The medicine normally has started working by then and my contractions were getting more intense and closer. So, I headed in. They were coming every 3/4 minutes and starting to intensify. I became alittle worried at the point. Since, they are never regular.

Once I got there they hooked up the monitors and started an IV. Of course the first first vein blows :). The next one - I knew it wasn't in all the way bc my arm was getting cold but she taped it in. She was hesitant though. Doctor came in and checked me, she said closed tight :). Hooray. My heart rate was too high for a terbutaline shot but I was given another procardia. Contractions had backed down but it was still irritable and contracting. I kinda thought I was okay but you never know.

After just a short while my arm was huge. Time to replace it into the other arm. Hooray first try blood flowed everywhere and my heart rate was down. The doctor looked at my contractions and they were still coming not like they had been earlier but still coming. I recieved a shot of terbutaline. The procardia is so much easier to tolerate. I started not feeling well but I knew it was just all the meds. Finally,the contractions slowed. They told me I was going to be admitted if they didn't slow soon but luckily they did.

Oh they did a cath for sample too and checked to see if I had been leaking fluid.

Thankfully, this morning ( monday morning)all is quite and hopefully it stays this way. So, now I'm taking the procardia every 6 hours regardless. I didn't really want to but hopefully it will keep the contractions from getting outta control. I know almost every pregnant women has braxton-hicks but once you hit 15 in a hour fully hydrated, laying down, with meds what do you do. I've asked before and the doctors all tell me I have to come in.

I quickly found out that I can not tolerate procardia around the clock. Well, im blamingthe meds. Monday morning I took my procardia dose ( it had been about 8 hrs. Since i was given it at the hospital) and by that afternoon I was feeling awful. My head was hurting and I felt so weak. I didn't even want to lift my arms. It was almost time to take another procardia but we checked my blood pressure three times. 81/51. I called the doctor. I haven't taken anymore procardia and of course now I'm scared too. I really felt bad but my contractions are almost none existence.

I still have my appointment for next Wednesday. We are moving along almost 25 weeks.!!! Next goal New Years Day :).

Things just keep getting better!

We had a wonderful visit this week!!! Everything is working- cerclage, pessary, 17p shots, nifedipine, bedrest and prayers. My cervix measured five - yep that's right!! I didn't know mine could get that long!!!hip hip hooray. I was all smiles after the ultrasound.

Huge milestone!!! WE ARE 24 WEEKS TODAY!!!! I know for most people this week is just another week in pregnancy but for us and many other high risk it is critical. At this point, babies are viable, which means they will try to save them. We are very excited to have made it to this point. We are thankful for each day we have with him. Everyday he stays in at this point there is a greater chance for survival and less chance of disabilities. His weight is now 1 lb 4/5 oz. He is still head down and getting so big on the ultrasound. The past few weeks, I've been afraid of breaking the little guys arm or leg. He occasionally places it in my leg across my groin, well when I moved I crunch it and he snatches it back. We've been able to see his little appendage over there so now I am warning him before I move. Our doctor said there is a slim chance that I could break it but that would be really rare and not to worry about it. His heartbeat was still in the 140s.

I asked the doctor since my cervix measured so long if I could move around some. She said no because we still were not really viable ( that was a few days ago)yet but that if things continued this way at 28 weeks I could move about the house some. I am really excited because while I know keeping this litte guy in is best it is still very very very hard to be on bedrest both mentally and physically. 28 weeks will be just a few days into the new year - come on 2012.

I have finally gone two weeks without vomiting :). That is awesome and I'm now up to 124 lbs- four of which I gained over the last two weeks.

While we still have issues everything is holding. She was going to move me to weekly visits this week but since things are looking so good we are going two again. My next appointment is Dec. 21. Just in time for Christmas.

Andrew had to miss this appointment bc I forgot if I turned off the curling iron :( So, he went home to unplug it but it was unplugged.

Hope everyone is having a great Christmas season.
Day by day and praying we are making it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good visit

Hip hip hooray :). We had a good visit today. We never know what each visit holds but today was a good day. Cervix measured good- possibly 4 but it was funneling some. I didn't get the exact number bc we were all talking. She gave us a script for procardia ( nifidapine) but I'm going to hold off until they are more frequent or start clustering. She said to fill it and take it if i need- max benifit comes from taking it all the time though. Hopefully, I don't need them. She informed us that right now on paper we look great!

Our little guy was just a twisting and turning. He's looking so cute !! I'll try and see if I can get his pictures posted.

Hope everyone has a great and happy Thanksgiving!! We have bunches to be thankful for!!!!

My next visit is Dec 6 but if we need one before I just have to call.

Contractions

I have been having a few contractions through out the day for a few weeks now. Some are more tense than otherS but they are few and far between. Saturday afternoon,all of a sudden, contractions one after another 6 in 45 mins. They are not really painful just bothersome. My neighbor came and got Savannah and I headed to the hospital. I still continued to have them for several hours. They we're not showing up on the monitor at first, so the nurse wanted to see them. I showed her and she felt around and adjusted the monitor bc she said I was contracting good but the monitor wasnt really showing them. She also informed us we were not viable yet, which we told her we understood. I had two terbuline shots at different times. I forgot how bad it makes me shake and my heart race but it did stop the contractions for awhile. We then had an ultrasound to check the cervix. They did it thru the belly so they didn't have to remove the pessary. It was around three but the tech had difficultly with what to measure. I go for another check tomorrow and it will be more accurate measurement bc the pessary will be removed.

We talked with the on call dr for a long while. She was really nice and already knew of my situation. She even stayed in for the ultrasound. We talked about procardia for the contractions and I guess I'll probably start it soon. She told me if they started up again to give her a call but we'd like to hold off as long as possible. Last time terbuline's effectiveness dropped as I took it over the months.

Bedrest is hard and slowly taking a toll on my body and mind and we still have many months to go. We have three goals first make it to Dec.9 th that will be a huge milestone - 24 weeks . At that point our little guy is consider viable :) then the new year 2012- 27.5 weeks then the big goal- Jan 20 th we will reach 30 weeks. We had similar goals with Savannah and made it to term and we hope to do the same. We are fighting and praying for each day.

Tomorrow doctor visit and then shot on Wednesday ( we gave it witha 20 G needle a few weeks ago an will not make that mistake again. Needle size does make a difference)

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and eating :). I still get nauseated and occasionally throw up but I am actually enjoying eating now.

Savannah knows!

Two days ago, Savannah figured out we are having a baby. We started a few days before reading a cute book called " My dog, my cat, my mommy and me". Our wonderful friend Mrs. Rachel bought it for us. It talks about a dog that gets fatter and fatter then has puppies and so on. We read it a couple a times but she didn't say anything about it. We were sitting at the dinner table and Savannah came over picked up my shirt, put her hand on my belly and said "that baby". I said yes and called Andrew back in. She asked him and he said yes too. Then she asked if there were two babies. We laughed and said no just one. She hasn't said much else about it other than asking if he s little.

We've had a great week so far. Hopefully, it stays this way. We'll be 21 weeks on Saturday :)

2-Vessel Cord

Today was the anatomy exam for the baby and a cervical length check. I was very anxious, so I didn't sleep at all. I had contractions start not long after the pessary was placed last week. They make me worry but hopefully they will stay sporadic.

We checked the baby first and he is looking good. He is weighing about 12oz and heart rate 140. It's amazing how much he moves and I can't feel it. I can feel him moving but not like what we can see on the u/s. He seemed to be able to tell what we were trying to look at - he would put his hands in the way everywhere. While examing the cord, we found out he only has 2 vessels instead of three. Andrew asked her how common it was and she told him they see one or two a year. She said we just have to monitor him closely for growth. Once I get farther along I'll have weekly u/s and then bi-weekly NSTs. I am already monitored closely with bi- weekly u/s. He measured great today so it might not be a problem at all. Doctor said this issue was not related to the ic or prolapse issues, it is just something else to add to the pregnancy.

Later we had the cervical check bc our doctor had to go deliver a baby and she wanted to be the only one removing the pessary. It has to be removed for cervical checks. I was also swabbed for infections. Cervix is still holding good at 3.2. It has dropped but is still a normal number. We had the doctor, 2 ultrasound techs, nurse, and Andrew all in the ultrasound room with me- the door barely closed. We even found out the pessary is dishwasher safe- ugh..yuck :)

We are moving along, although some days drag. Savannah is learning that I can't do anything so she waits for Andrew or someone to help her. We decided not to take her today bc I felt uneasy about it. We will tell her soon , it will happen when the time is right. Who knows, she might already know.

I still have issues with nausea and vomiting. I'm really ready for it to be totally gone.

Our next appointment is Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Pessary in place

We took another trip to the doctors office today. They called and ask me to come on in, my pessary had arrived. They are really great and super friendly at Tennesse Valley Ob. Sometimes they run a little behind but it is well worth the wait.

The pessary is pink, silicone, and looks like a small frisbee. Apparently, there are tons of different types and shapes. This is all new to me. It is supposed to help hold everything inside up. Most people are allowed to take them in and out but I am not. I guess it's because of the cerclage but she didn't say.

My insides feel a little uncomfortable right now but I guess they will adjust. However, I can not feel the pessary or cerclage.

Luckily I'm not staying as nauseated anymore but it does still come in waves. I sent Andrew to get tons of snacks today in hopes maybe I'll start gaining some weight. I blamed bedrest last time for my tremendous weight gain but it must have just been mom's good cooking. My activity level has been beyond nothing since 5 weeks and I've only managed 3 lbs.

Tomorrow we will be 18 weeks :). Everything we have done so far seems to be working because at this point last pregnancy I was in the process of delivering and came very close to it. Thank God for wonderful doctors and medicine. We are truly blessed and hopefully everything will continue to hold for our little boy.

All boy!

We had our ultrasound yesterday and my cervix is measuring great 4.2 but he's right there. His heartbeat was 142 and while we were trying to look at his boy parts, he put both hands down so we couldn't see. Andrew said he's modest :). He's just very low and causing me pain and issues. Doctor said he doesn't know, he's just happy being inside. We decided we are going to take Savannah to the next ultrasound on Nov. 9 unless there a problem when I go next week. I think Savannah will be excited and we are ready to tell her.

The doctor did put in a cath to take another urine sample- one of the test came back mixed or something. She thinks it is all fine though. I'll find out the results next week when she places the pessary. I don't have an appointment, they are just going to call me when it comes in. It should be here beginning of next week.

Savannah watched Andrew give me the 17p shot last night. She informed me she got a shot in her leg and it hurt but she got a pink band aid. Last week she Had her flu shot. She told me it was okay to cry :)- I didn't but the needle was dull and Andrew had to stick me three times.

So, while my cervix is still holding great, I'm still on modified bedrest getting closer full bc of the prolapse.

Day by day we are getting closer

Pessary

I called the doctor to let them know I was having issues urinating. I thought I was just going to make a quick trip in and leave a sample to be cultured. Then I saw the doctor, she doesn't think I have any kind of infection because everything looked clear. She is sending off a vaginistist panel and culture just to make sure. I was checked and fitted for a pessary. I have a uterus prolapse issue. My tendons and ligaments are not doing their job holding my uterus in place. It is a result from last pregnancy. She said it's rare but does happen. So, when it comes, I'll have it placed in too. It will help hold everything up while the baby grows.

Andrew gave me my 17p shot this week too. He said he was nervous giving it but he did just fine. It is sore but not bad.

I go Wednesday for my ultrasound. Hopefully, everything is still holding. Please, keep us in your prayers.

Come on March :)

Two shots

Today I got my first progesterone shot. The shot did not hurt but a few minutes later it started stinging and it's still sore a few hours later. Dr. recommended I go ahead and get my flu shot too. So, I did.

Cervix is still looking good at 4.1 but my uterus is folded down touching it. She said it should balloon on up soon. As long as all goes well I don't mind if it's not normal. It did look funny but she didnt seem worried about it.

Well the exciting news is that since I had a ultrasound we decided to see if we could determine the sex. It is still early but the ultrasound lady is pretty sure it's a BOY! She said she'd be real surprised if it wasn't. We'll have plenty more ultrasounds so we'll know for sure before delivery :)We are excited about a boy!!! He was trying to do a forward roll and slapping his arms up and down. It's so fun to watch him. She briefly checked out his measurements and he's measuring right on.

I'm still staying nauseated and throwing up regularly. I was afraid i might have lost some weight but I managed to actually gain 2 lbs. She wants me to take pepcid twice a day bc she thinks that might help.

I go back in two weeks for a cervix check/appt. and we've already scheduled the big ultrasound for the baby on Nov. 9 Whoo hoo !!! If things go this well next appt. We are going to take Savannah to the big ultrasound and tell her then. We'll be almost 20 weeks and we have some big sister cloths and I'm ready to put them on her. I was going to wait till 24 but I'm getting excited with everything holding.

Day by day and lots of praying :)

Heart monitoring system returned

This week I returned the heart monitoring system because my study was completed. I haven't received any results but I didn't have an episode either. So, I assume everything is normal. I wish I would have had an episode. I did have several dizzy spells with it on and it was supposed to record anything abnormal. It is nice to have the system off. I don't think my skin could have handled it for much longer.

I'm still having issues with nausea and vomiting at night. I had hoped since I was so sick early on it would have stopped by now. It is better but nights are still rough.

I also received my progesterone shots- a pharmacy in Birmingham compounded them. The nurse will give me my first one in two weeks then Andrew will give them. I think he is excited about it. I however am not real thrilled about getting a shot every week till March. I know it is best and hopefully it's not painful.


Ultrasound and doc visit in two weeks. I hope they can tell us what we are having then but it could still be too early.

Ultrasound today

Well we weren't going to have an ultrasound today originally but the doc changed it because of an issue I had. Everything looked not just good but great. Cervix measured over 5 and no funneling :). Hip hip hooray . We also got to see little bit hanging out - heat rate was in the 160's but it wasn't wiggling as much as the other times. We could see it's little bitty arms and legs kicking around. Its measurements were right on. I guess it one good perk about being high risks is being able to actually watch the baby grow and change.

I'm on modified bed rest now. She said no trips to walmart or anything like that and when at home I should be sitting/ laying around. Pretty much not doing anything but making sandwiches or getting drinks. She said most pregnancies tend to behave the same and since i was in full trouble at 18 weeks last time- it will probably be a critical time for me again. That's why with everything still looking good I have to be extremely careful. Savannah is having a very hard time with me not being able to pick her up. It's hard for me too.

I go back in three weeks for another ultrasound and I'll start getting progestrone shots weekly. They are supposed to keep my uterus from contracting. I really hope so because I had more than my fair share of them last pregnancy.

The lady at checkout had to call the back about a date and she said Lesley with the twins. My paperwork/file still had tiwns listed on it. They obviously told her one was gone and her face was shocked. She said she was going to get them in the back for not telling her. We told her it was okay - I think she felt bad but we were not bothered by it. We know we lost one.

We are getting excited next visit we'll be almost 16 weeks :). So exciting!!! We are praying my cervix keeps on holding and the baby keeps on growing.

The cerclage is in place

I love love love Huntsville Hospital. It was a wonderful experience yesterday. My doc was awesome and so was her support staff. It could not have gone any better. Well maybe if they could have gotten an IV Cather in on the first try but it only took three. That's better than most times. If I get cold and haven't drank much water it is almost impossible to get my veins. Most nurses don't believe me until they've tried a few times get help and then they try a few times too. Not much fun for me but at least I'm not scare of needles and know no ones ever gotten it on the first try.

Funny that a spinal hurts less than the IV line. I could still move my legs and bottom during surgery but couldn't feel anything. Dr said they gave me a very low dose so I'd recover quicker. I thought I could stand right away but they wouldn't let me. Good reason too after about two hours I tried to stand and my legs were jello. I could lift and move them but they didn't support my weight well. They said as soon as my potty functions came back I could go home - yeah it's the last thing to wake up. It took nearly 7 hours. I had to have a Cather bc my bladder you could see it and it hurt- over 1300 ml - yeah it was full.

They couldn't Doppler the little bit bc it wouldn't sit still and was moving from it. So we got to see it and sure enough it was all over the place :) They laughed it's truly a busy body but after the procedure it wasn't moving so fast but it's heartbeat was going strong.

I am very thankful to have had a great experience. Now we wait and see. I have to be bedrest for just a few days then take it real easy. If all stays good no bedrest but doc thinks at some point I'll have too. I really really hope not. I am struggling today just to lay here.

Day by day - March is getting closer

Cerclage Tomorrow

Cerclage is tomorrow. I'm actually excited because I know it is the best thing to do. We had an ultrasound last Thursday to measure my cervix length and it was great 4.22. That's what it's supposed to be. We also got to see little bit jumping around. It was wiggling and dancing all over the place. The ultrasound tech had a hard time catching the heartbeat bc it was moving so much - it was 172. The other twin was completely vanished. There was no trace of it. Doc said it happens a good bit just most people don't have ultrasounds that early to detect them. So, if we hadn't had ultrasounds until now -we would have never known.

Doc said I need to take my ECAT heart monitoring system off. She said I'd freakem out if I showed up with it on :). Plus I'll be monitored anyway. It a nifty device - it monitors every 10 mins. Regardless and anything it thinks out of the ordinary or if I hit the record button. Well, I haven't had to record anything yet but savannah has hit the record button a couple of times. They always call the device to check on me and I have to tell them false alarm :). Oh and I requested new ECG pads because they were making awful itching spots. The new ones aren't much better but they are easier to remove.

Surgery is at 12:30 and then I'll be released as soon as I recover. A few days of bed rest then real light duty. I go back Sept. 21 to see how things are going.

To the Cardiologist

Well, I've been having some heart issues. Racing rapidly, beating erratic, dizzy spells ( might just be from pregnancy) but I passed out one night. Kinda scary because no one noticed. Anyways, my ob sent me to the heart center for a check up.

The doc heard I had a murmur right away. He asked lots of questions and decided I needed an echocardiogram and a detection device. The echo lady said I had a tricuspid valve and a mitral valve both leaking I guess. She showed me where it didn't all pass through. Not to bad i assume bc she said one was trivial and the other trace. She said the doc would call or write a letter with the details.

He also decided I needed a detection device apparently I get to wear it 24/7 for 30 days. They are mailing it to me bc they have to place an order for it. Somehow it is supposed to wirelessly transmit data to them. I guess we'll find out more when it arrives.

Oh I also had more blood work. Thyroid and magnesium we both being checked. Last blood work came back rubella equivicall - so now I get an extra shot at delivery - whoohoo.

Cerclage in less than two weeks :)

Vanished Twin

Today we found out that Baby b did not develop. It was still there but only measuring 6 weeks about the same as two weeks ago and it's yok sac has already been absorbed. Baby A is doing great measuring 9 weeks and has a strong heat beat (183). It looks like a little gummy bear - she turned it to 3d and we could see it wiggling and moving it's little arms and legs. So cute already. The hematoma has healed or it was so small it could not be detected on the ultrasound.

We have another ultrasound scheduled for September 8 to check my cervical length. Then we will have the cerclage placed on September 12. Since this is a preventative cerclage it will not be a traumatic as the last one - at least it should not be :) last time for those of you who do not know, I went from the ultrasound table to the OR via ambulance and not allowed to sit up or move. It was crazy just like a movie - it took- we counted 14 sticks before they put in a pck line? 2 spinals neither worked so I was knocked out. My ultrasound was at 11 am and by 12:30 I was in a recovery room trying to take what had just happened in. This time will be much better. After the cerclage I will pretend to be on bed rest for about three days. She said if my cervical length stays up I will be only on light duty but when it starts dropping I will then go on bed rest. She also reminded us that the hospital does have antipartum rooms- hopefully we don't end up there.

We are at peace with baby b dissapearring because we know that it is ultimately what is best. We knew that if there was two we might deliver way too soon and not get to meet either of
them. God knows what each of us can handle and what is best. The Doctor made sure to let us
know we are still high risk even with just one and will continue to be monitored closely.

Come on March :)

Different already

As most of you know last pregnancy was not an easy one for us. We knew this time would be challenging too, since I have incompetent cervix. We thought with a preventative cerclage things would be more in our favor and hopefully no bed rest. Well, I'm seven weeks today and have already had two ultrasounds and another one scheduled in less than two weeks now. This pregnancy already has it's own issues. First ultrasound identified a subchorionic hematoma, which is why I started bleeding. That ultrasound also showed one gestational sac but two yolk sacs and only one fetal pole, measuring 5 weeks 4 days.

They ordered my hcg levels checked and another ultrasound almost two weeks later. That ultrasound has confirmed Twins. Baby A now has a heartbeat,114, and measuring 6w6d . Baby B has no heartbeat and measuring 5w6d. Baby B could be a vanishing twin. They can't tell that's why we have to go back in two weeks - doc said baby B should either have a heartbeat or will have disappeared. We are okay with which ever God chooses. Twins would be exciting but my body might not be able to carry two. The good news is it is not our choice and we will be excited no matter which we are given.

My hcg levels were over 48,000 at 5 weeks. Super high and I've been beyond sick this time for weeks already - throwing-up, heart issues, body aches all day everyday. Doc said levels that high that fast can make you very sick. Poor Andrew barely has time to sleep. My mom and his
mom have already started helping out.

Oh the subchorionic hematoma is still there but small - so she's not worried about it right now and we are still on track for the cerclage to be placed at 12 weeks.

Two weeks and we will know more about Baby B :)