33 week check-in

Things are really taking off now!

First Non Stress Test (NST) and it was very strange. Baby girl kept slipping away from the monitor and we had to restart. But eventually we got a good baseline. The doctor says her heart sounds beautiful. She kept going from 130s - 160s, which seems high to me? But I could be wrong. I obviously am not a doctor.

After that, I had my check up. My glucose numbers have gone up this week, and are getting harder to manage, but they are still mostly under 130. She doesn't feel comfortable medicating yet, so we are doing a panel to test my blood sugar, and I am now going to be testing every 1 and 2 hours after meals. It's insane!

I also told her about my headaches... and my blood pressure was higher than normal 130/80 (usually 120/65-70). So I am supposed to call this week if the headaches get worse. We also did a preeclampsia panel to see where we are as a baseline for that. I don't know what that means, so I need to do more research and figure out what she will be looking for. They haven't had any protein in my urine samples yet, so that is a good sign. I am hoping the headaches are just the changing weather and lessening my caffeine intake, but the rising BP doesn't assure me that's the case.

So next Wednesday we'll have an ultrasound, another NST, and an appointment, and hopefully bloodwork will be back by then.

I really want to get this baby to 36 weeks. That's my goal, and I want to deliver naturally. So, 3 more weeks tiny baby, we can do it!!! Ideally we'd get to 40, but all signs are pointing to that not happening.

If I get a call tomorrow about blood panels I will update.

-Em

Genetics

I am not a nurse. Or a doctor. Or a medical practitioner of any sort. My expertise is in marketing, entertainment, and writing.

However, since starting this journey to understand why my body failed, I have realized that I am for quite a bit of testing before we try again. On BabyCenter, there is currently a poll questioning if anyone women have any common health issues that might link us all together with these hematomas. 

So far, the only confirmed correlation I've found is a blood clotting disease. But what I keep hearing is a sense that autoimmune diseases can also cause the hematoma. Also, if there are any ... i don't want to to say abruptions, but abnormalities in the uterus. (Either from a prior pregnancy, fibroids, cysts, etc.) 


So, when we had our first big bleed on July 10th, the ultrasound technician saw a fibroid in my uterus by the baby. He did not seem concerned, but checkmark on one commonality. 

Wondering about my genetics, I have asked my mother to compile a list of her 'issues' she had (she also lost a baby in her 9th month....) Here is a list of complications she's had: 

1979 College – erythema nodosum 

1983 TMJ surgery – repaired cartilage in jaw

1985 Miscarriage – blighted ovum 12 weeks followed by D&C; followed by pulmonary embolism [hospitalization, several months on blood thinner]

1988 Healthy baby (ME!) born

1989 Baby boy stillborn ‘cord compression’ / cord damage or clotting?? in 3rd trimester @ 9 months

1991, 1995 Superficial thrombophlebitis left leg, right leg

1993 Deep vein thrombosis left leg

2001 Human parvovirus – was tested for lupus, Lyme, and probably some other things

2008 Dislocated /frozen shoulder – rotator cuff repair

2010 Deep vein thrombosis left leg, hospitalization and finally, diagnosis of Leiden Factor V

2013 Type 2 Diabetes

I may be missing something but I think this covers the relevant oddball things.   

So. Now we have some more evidence of things to look for. She was also tested multiple times for Lupus, which I have seen mentioned on BabyCenter. 

Prepare the gallons of water, because this October I am going to need lots of vials of blood drawn! 

-Emily