Appointment check-ins! - Page 9 « Back to Group Discussions

[MaerynPearl]

Thyroid test came back :(

TSH is high, T3 uptake is low. 

Looks like I'm hypo again :( so now I get to take daily pills and get monthly blood tests to keep an eye on it.

[GoofyInOK]

Mae- I'm sorry to hear that.  :(  Hopefully with the pills it will wind up being no big deal in the long run.  Hugs.

We had our 20 week ultrasound on Monday!  Everything looked great.  Baby was playing with its lips and possibly nibbling a bit on its fingers.  You know how we didn't really want to know the gender ahead of time?  Well, the legs were tightly crossed the entire time.  LOL  So baby took care of the final decision for us!

Here's one of the pics:

Oh, and baby got hiccups during the ultrasound!  :)  It was so super cool.  I could feel the little jumps, lol!

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by GoofyInOK 

Oh, and baby got hiccups during the ultrasound!  :)  It was so super cool.  I could feel the little jumps, lol!

Cute pic... and I love hiccups!

During ours, Ro was kicking my cervix... it's so weird to see it and feel it at the same time, but that's twice now I've had it confirmed that those "twinges" in my cervix are indeed baby.

[Jodie]

Wow what a great u/s picture!:) So cute.

[XanaduMama]

Had our 20w ultrasound today. As you may remember, we've been a bit concerned about the results of our quad screen bloodwork, which showed a much higher risk of Down's (1 in 29 was the figure; 3%). We decided against getting the amnio, for various reasons (including the fact that they did the quad screen way too early--at 12w instead of the usual 16, and the general unreliability of the test), but wanted to see whether the scan showed any soft markers or other elevated risk indicators.

The happy news is that everything looked EXCELLENT--baby was measuring right on target or slightly ahead, and the heart, brain and other organs all looked fine. Heart rate was 143 and strong, and we saw baby moving around and generally being cute. Yay! So all this apparently cuts our risk in half (since half of DS babies show markers on ultrasounds), and it definitely put our minds as much at ease as possible.

We also found out that the placenta is anterior, which explains why baby's movements have felt somewhat muffled (mostly squirms, not too many kicks yet, and nothing from the outside), but it's far from the cervix, which is the most important thing! Baby was also breech, not that that means anything at this stage.

We had decided to find out the sex, and the big surprise for me is that it's a ........... BOY! The kids and I were so sure it was a girl, so I'm dealing with some gender disappointment (though nothing too serious--I think I'm almost already over it, 5 hours after the scan). ds was sooo excited to have a brother on the way; dd (who was overtired and already cranky this afternoon) cried for 10 minutes in disappointment (which was hard for me to deal with as I'm already feeling sad that she won't have a sister ), but she too seems to be over it already. I'm somewhat sad about getting rid of all our baby girl clothes and also apprehensive about having to name this boy-child (boy names are SO HARD, ugh). But I'm really glad we found out now, so that I have this time to work through my feelings!

[ms.shell]

That's good news, mama!  Congrats on your cutie pie; I know that lowered risk will help to ease your mind.  I happen to think boys are the most fun, btw! ;)  Good luck finding a name you and he will love!

[Iowa]

20 week ultrasound picture from last Wednesday.  All looked good at the scan although they had a heck of time trying to determine the gender (and I'm one that can hardly wait until 20 weeks to find out!).  After lots of repositioning our tech said that she's going to go with her gut and say "girl".  She looked a little more and thought she could see the labia lines.  If I hadn't already seen a clear boy ultrasound with my first I would maybe be a little skeptical, but there was zero indication of any boy parts so we're going wtih GIRL!   

[scowgirl]

Dangit! Accidentally pasted over my post and couldn't undo. Let's try this again.

Had a midwife checkup this a.m. at 22 weeks. They gave me the Glucola and instructions on when/how to do the test, and then the midwife just answered some questions I had, measured my fundal height, and listened to the heartbeat. She said all sounds/looks good and had no concerns. Always good to have an uneventful checkup!

My bp was high, as usual (139/73?) but I brought in my log of normal readings taken at home over the past few weeks. I get worried that my home cuff is not as accurate or something, but I got a new one a couple of weeks back, and it is reading the same as the old one (almost always right around 120/80, or below, only a few readings in the 120s or approaching 130). My midwife didn't seem concerned (and pointed out that the baby was measuring very average at the ultrasound, which is a good sign), but I wish the readings would settle down at my appointments. I'm not as worried about it being high now, so you'd think the "white coat hypertension" would ease off. It's hard not to suspect that maybe the high numbers are the "real" ones and I'm doing some kind of damage to my baby.

[lisarenee25]

Had midwife appointment today.  Everything was fine.  Blood pressure was good.  Pee stick fine.  Baby was sleeping soundly with a heartbeat of 140 bpm.

The small detail of the complete previa is still looming (diagnosed at 13.6 weeks).  We decided together that I should wait 24-30 weeks for a follow up ultrasound - just as long as I am not bleeding - which is fine with me.  I would rather not do ultrasounds every month.  It's unnecessary.  Plus, I don't need the aggravation.  I don't want to know that it's marginal, i want to know that it's moved completely out of the way.

All signs point in that direction.  I'm only measuring 2 weeks a head as opposed to 6 weeks, like I was at 14 weeks.  That low lying placenta pushes the uterus up - so it appears it's larger than it is.  I haven't spotted for 3 weeks.

Things are going very well.  Apparently drinking 16 glasses of water a day makes me feel better.

[XanaduMama]

Originally Posted by scowgirl 

My bp was high, as usual (139/73?) but I brought in my log of normal readings taken at home over the past few weeks. I get worried that my home cuff is not as accurate or something, but I got a new one a couple of weeks back, and it is reading the same as the old one (almost always right around 120/80, or below, only a few readings in the 120s or approaching 130). My midwife didn't seem concerned (and pointed out that the baby was measuring very average at the ultrasound, which is a good sign), but I wish the readings would settle down at my appointments. I'm not as worried about it being high now, so you'd think the "white coat hypertension" would ease off. It's hard not to suspect that maybe the high numbers are the "real" ones and I'm doing some kind of damage to my baby.

We were talking in the other thread about labor techniques, and this is one place I use my yoga breathing: getting my BP checked. Mine is always quite low (too low, sometimes), but I do have white coat hypertension on occasion and doing the yoga breathing has become a ritual that I believe helps avert it. So if you're not already doing yoga, or practicing your mindful breathing in preparation for labor, it might be worth starting!

If I were you, though, I would start thinking in the direction of the Brewer diet--at least increasing (significantly) the amount of protein in your diet. Your BP is still quite low, but if it's really rising, then pre-e is always a concern (though it's very early to be worrying about that). Extra protein certainly can't hurt, in any case!

[Jodie]

Went to my shadow care appointment, through medicaid. I need another ultrasound because the tech could not get a good look at the cord, so doing that next week.

They also want me to come in next week for the "sugar" test.

I've never taken a GD test and don't want to now. When I declined I was informed that because I am on state insurance I can't decline, its required. I'm making a few calls today to get this clarified.

This doesn't seem right to me, I have the right to refuse or decline treatment or procedures. Hmm

I am ready to not go to "the clinic" anymore, I'm thinking of disappearing after getting results of the new ultrasound. I may end up taking the GD test if I can't get out of it. But that will be the last test I get there.

I get prenatal care through my midwife but the medicaid thing is just for back up(in case of transfer) and to get tests such as ultrasounds done.

I had medicaid for the other 2 kids but didn't sign up or participate in the prenatal care, that was much less stressful. I never needed to use it except for the first couple of newborn exams at the ped.

On a positive note I get a do over on the ultrasound so maybe this experience will be better than the last.:)

[GoofyInOK]

Originally Posted by lisarenee25 

All signs point in that direction.  I'm only measuring 2 weeks a head as opposed to 6 weeks, like I was at 14 weeks.  That low lying placenta pushes the uterus up - so it appears it's larger than it is.  I haven't spotted for 3 weeks.

Things are going very well.  Apparently drinking 16 glasses of water a day makes me feel better.

Lisa- I just wanted to say I'm so glad that signs are indicating your previa is going away!  You have had it really rough in the past few months, and it's so good to hear that things are looking up.  Keep us posted...  I have been thinking about you off and on and have been wishing you the best with the baby.

Everyone else, it's really awesome that things are going so well for pretty much all of us.  All the babies with u/s pics are looking so cute and like, well, real babies!  LOL  It's hard to believe (at least for me) that time is passing so fast.  I have only 4 months on the dot before little one is here...  YIKES!

Jodie - I am thinking of declining the gestational diabetes test, too.  It seems strange that you "can't" on medicaid.  I wonder what they would do if you just didn't show up for that test?
 

[sjdragonfly]

It's interesting about the GD test. I would think they'd be happy to not have to pay for something. Though maybe there are a lot of cases of women who have it who don't get tested and causing problems with their babies so they're just trying to cover all of their bases or something? I'm glad that my midwives let me decline anything I don't want to do and they always present things as a choice ahead of time so I can decide to do it or not. Love them so much. If only they were pediatricians also!

[lbkw]

It never occurred to me to skip the glucose tolerance test. I have never had an issue with results in the past but it always reassures me since I have a constant craving for sweets, I like to make sure everything is under control.

[MaerynPearl]

I'll do my diabetes test at not this appointment but the next one... but we don't do it the normal way. I just eat a big protein packed breakfast 2 hours before my appointment, and she does a finger prick at my appointment. The only reason we do it at all is that I am at an actual increased risk of diabetes, due to family history (both my mothers mother and fathers mother are/were diabetic... though not gestational... and I am "obese")

I know my good friend here who had her youngest with the same midwife never had to have hers checked, but she has no risk at all for it.

[scowgirl]

Originally Posted by XanaduMama 

We were talking in the other thread about labor techniques, and this is one place I use my yoga breathing: getting my BP checked. Mine is always quite low (too low, sometimes), but I do have white coat hypertension on occasion and doing the yoga breathing has become a ritual that I believe helps avert it. So if you're not already doing yoga, or practicing your mindful breathing in preparation for labor, it might be worth starting!

If I were you, though, I would start thinking in the direction of the Brewer diet--at least increasing (significantly) the amount of protein in your diet. Your BP is still quite low, but if it's really rising, then pre-e is always a concern (though it's very early to be worrying about that). Extra protein certainly can't hurt, in any case!

I'd say if anything it is going down... when I started taking it myself at home, early in the pregnancy, I would get the odd 135 or 139 over something reading. Recently it's never above the high 120s and that's maybe 1 reading out of 8 or 10 (I try to take it every 3-5 days). The rest are usually below 120/80, or right around it. I still worry about it, but less now since I have a growing data set at home that looks much better than the numbers at the doctor's office.

However, I certainly would not kid myself that I have perfect bp, plus my weight puts me at risk for continuing issues with it, and I want to keep close tabs since it's getting later in the pregnancy now. Thank you for the reminder that I need to really be focusing on the protein again. I eat eggs pretty consistently for breakfast, and chicken breast and Greek yogurt with lunch, but I have gotten out of the habit of drinking quite as much milk as I was. I was trying to focus on the Brewer diet to start with, but never really managed to adhere to it perfectly.

(Not to derail the thread, but I have to make the shameful admission that I find it basically impossible to find any kind of strict diet ever, even for a reason as good as the health of my baby--though I guess I would have to, somehow, if I got GD. That scares the crap out of me. I just seem to have absolutely no willpower, or I have whatever the opposite of willpower is. I hate this about myself but following a diet feels overwhelming bordering on completely impossible to me.)

Anyhow... the yoga breathing is something I should look into--thanks for the suggestion! I try to take deep breaths now but I can still feel my heart rate speeding up with the anxiety when they get ready to take my blood pressure. Doesn't help that you have to step on the scale right before that. 

[scarykarrey]

I had my 20 week ultrasound today! My placenta is still anterior, which explains some of why I'm still not really feeling movement (along with my flabby gut). The baby was being dramatic with its hand near its face, and since it was breech, was tap dancing on my bladder when it wasn't cross-legged. We got some good alien-face pictures, which I'll have to scan later.

My BP was excellent! 114/62, which is actually rather low for me, but I'll take it. One step closer to giving birth without pre-eclampsia, woo!

[mrs_mandolini]

Had my scan this week @ 19 w 4 d. Anterior placenta. Baby had arms & legs crossed over the body so we didn't get any good face shots, but everything is fine. 1 tiny choroid plexus cyst (which my dr. and google both convinced me that, in isolation, is basically a non-finding). Get another scan in a month to see if it's gone.

Reading about optimal fetal positioning with an anterior placenta. whee. I don't really want to have back labor all that much.

[Jodie]

We came to a compromise today on the phone.

So got it worked out that I will eat a meal with 50g of carbs and then one hour later will test blood.

So I choose to eat 2 pieces whole wheat bread, 8oz of OJ and eggs.

[Shinyredstar]

Originally Posted by scowgirl 

Not to derail the thread, but I have to make the shameful admission that I find it basically impossible to find any kind of strict diet ever, even for a reason as good as the health of my baby--though I guess I would have to, somehow, if I got GD

Speaking from personal experience as someone who's never been able to maintain a diet for her own health, it's amazing how much easier it is to make those changes when your child's health is at stake. I guess it's that "I'd die for my child" adrenaline that kicks in. Much easier to make excuses for poor eating habits when you're only affecting yourself.

Out of curiosity, what would be the downside of GD testing? Just concerns about interventions that may not be necessary or over treatment, or ... ?