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Monday, May. 20, 2002 - 9:39 p.m. - 24 Week Update
Today's OB appointment and ultrasound went great! My OB appointment wasn't too exciting, just the usual pee in a cup (again a trace amount of protein in my urine, but they said not to worry, so I'm not going too), get weighed (I didn't gain any weight since my last appt at 20 weeks!!!), blood pressure (122/76), measure my uterus height (right where it should be at 24 cm) and the baby's heartbeat (right around 140). So by all the usual standards all is looking good! Then we went to the ultrasound. We had to wait about 30 minutes before we were called back which rather annoyed my hubby (he's terrible about waiting and we always end up waiting whenever he goes with me to appointments), but as long as I don't have to be anywhere at any particular time, I don't mind waiting. I guess I figure it's going to take a while whenever I go to the doctors. Anyway, it was wonderful to see our little Peep again!!! She wasn't as active as the last time (I also didn't guzzle down orange juice before the appointment), but we did see her opening and closing her mouth and putting her arm in front of her face (just like I like to sleep!!), grab her toes (!!), and stretch. It was SO cute. They also checked her abdomen size, bladder (there was pee in it), stomach (there was fluid there too, so she is swallowing), heart (all looks well), brain, spine, arm bone and leg bone and head size, everything measured great and she is currently about 1 lb 7 oz. She wasn't cooperating on the sex check, though later on the doctor looked and confirmed again that she was a SHE and not a HE. I couldn't see it this time, but I'll take her word for it. Oh and my cervix was still nice and long (5 mm? or cm??) so no fear of premature labor any time soon, thank goodness. Then the technician did the doppler check. They looked on both sides of my uterus for blood flow and my left side did show a bit of an issue (has to do with the pattern of the blood flow) but my right was much better, showed some of the same pattern but not as consistantly as the left side. Since the placenta is on the right side, it is a good thing that that side looked better. The technician explained that the pattern was something that can sometimes indicate the possiblility of developing preclamsia later in pregnancy, fortunately the pattern wasn't very pronounced and she didn't think the Dr would be concerned. This was later confirmed by the doctor (who was extremely nice and we really liked her) who said that anyone else who showed that little bit of an issue they wouldn't even think twice about it, it's just that they are a bit more cautious with me due to my ANA+ and APA+ status. She also said that everything is looking wonderful at this point and that that little blood flow issue was really nothing to worry about. She further explained that usually if there are going to be issues with the ANA+ and APA+ status, they would already start to show up at this point, so the fact that everything looks great means I'll most likely have a pretty normal pregnancy! Of course, they want me back for ultrasounds to check growth and everything at 28, 32 and 36 weeks. No complaints here though, I love the chance to see my Peep and make sure all is well. So that's the plan, more ultrasounds and checks, but my OB appointments will continue as usual. My OB doesn't see me again for another 4 weeks and won't see me weekly until 36 weeks. I know many people who start seeing their OB bi-monthly around 28 and 30 weeks, but between my ultrasounds, blood tests and my OB appointments I figure I will be well watched over. Tomorrow I have to go in for my GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test). I'm a little nervous about it. I SO do not want to fail this test and have to take the 3 hour test and worry about the possibility of gestational diabetes. So cross your fingers for me tomorrow, ok? After the OB appt and ultrasound we were feeling pretty good and decided to go and see a matinee of Star Wars II which we both quite enjoyed. Best of all there wasn’t a crowd, but there were enough people in the theater to make it feel like you weren’t all alone either. Definitely the best Star Wars movie to date if you ask me, but then I’m not a huge Star Wars fanatic either. Sadly, after we came home Michael called to follow up on a job interview that he went to a few weeks ago (he called last week but they were still making their decision) and found out that he was their 2nd choice for the position, so once again he didn’t get it. He’s so terribly down. He feels like he’s failing me and the Peep. I wish I could make him feel better, but all I can do is reassure him that things will work out and he is not failing us. He is working SO hard at trying to find a job and working all his contacts and everything. I wanted him to get this job SO much because he wanted it so badly and the interview seemed to have gone so well. Plus it would have had some cool benefits. (sigh) Oh well, I know our luck has got to change, I just didn’t think it would take this long. In fact, I probably would have thought that he would find a job before I would ever get pregnant!! Go figure! The nursery is almost done being painted!!! We just need to add a few finishing touches and do a few touch-ups and it will be done. We still have to finish putting up the beadboard and chair rail, but the painting will be done. We already got our crib and it is mostly assembled (not all the way because it won’t fit through the doorway), we have the rocking chair and we are waiting for the dresser we want to get to come into the warehouse so that we can order it. Then we’ll be done! Amazing! I still can’t believe that I have a little Peep inside me. You’d think after seeing her on ultrasound and feeling her doing her aerobics this afternoon that it would seem real, and in a small way it does, but I still can’t believe that in 3 months we will be bringing home our own baby after starting to believe that it would never happen at all! Best of all, things are looking so good for the Peep, she might even be full-term and healthy. As Michael said this afternoon, “It looks like the Peep is going to be a healthy, normal baby despite all your medical maladies!” I I can only hope so! That’s why I do all that I can to ensure her the best chance possible, including shots, pills and everything else!
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