So, since my first ultrasound, I have had some pending excitement in the world of carrying another baby. Because they didn't get all the required views on the 1st ultrasound, I had to schedule a 2nd. No big deal. Had to do the same for Paige as well. They also mentioned to me that I had a 'low lying placenta' this time, which is something that usually fixes itself, but requires further ultrasounds. No big deal. I already had to have the 2nd one. So I go in to get the 2nd ultrasound 2 weeks later, and they got most every view except a clear view of the heart. Kind of critical. Had to schedule a 3rd ultrasound to try and get a picture of the heart. I got a call from my OB telling me she wanted to chat about my ultrasounds at my next visit. I figured it was about the placenta, and I wasn't alarmed. I forgot my next scheduled visit wasn't with my regular OB, but with another in the office. So, when I got there, she asked if anyone had spoken to me about the baby's heart. I said, 'no', so she explained that they saw something on the heart (echogenic intracardiac focus), which if found in more than one spot, could indicate 'chromosomal abnormalities'. And since they hadn't gotten a good view of the heart, they needed to let me know about this possibility in case the U/S tech said something about it. The Dr said that when found in an isolated spot, it doesn't usually end up being anything; it's when they find 4 or 5 spots that it becomes a concern. And with my 'advanced maternal age' title, it does make me more prone for the chromosomal abnormalities anyway. So, I was a little frightened, but not worried scared. I coaxed myself into waiting for my 3rd ultrasound results before borrowing trouble, which happened to be the following day. So I go in for the 3rd ultrasound. The baby is still not cooperating, and they really had a hard time getting a picture of the heart. When they could see it, there was a shadow of the arm bone on it or something which slightly obstructed the view. There was never any question of whether the heart had developed or functioned correctly--we could always see it pumping on all the ultrasounds. But they need to have a front-on view of it to see if the chambers have formed correctly and, apparently, to see if there were anymore of these 'spots' to cause concern. So, finally, after much coercing and pushing and prodding, the tech thought she had a few pics that would suffice. She said standard procedure after the 3rd u/s, and not getting the views they needed, would be to get a fetal echocardiogram. This is no big deal, and doesn't hurt, but it's just another visit to schedule and coordinate childcare, etc. She said the Dr would call and let me know if I needed to schedule this or if the views she got would suffice. So, I waited all afternoon and into the evening before I got a call. And thankfully, it was my own OB, who hadn't seen me since the 1st ultrasound and had just gotten the results of the 3rd one back. She assured me that they only saw the one spot, so not to be alarmed, and that I didn't have to go get any more ultrasounds out of her office. Praise the Lord! So, the heart issue had pretty much been laid to rest, and the placenta issue, if it didn't resolve itself, would be at worst case a c-section. Although there is still a slim chance something could be wrong with the baby, the only way to know for sure is by having an amniocentesis (inserting a needle and drawing out some of the amniotic fluid around the baby to analyze), which has higher risks of complications than not finding out at all. And because it wouldn't change my course of action, I saw no need for it. My Dr agreed. So, now, I am doing fine, hurting a lot (read about symphasis pubis dysfunction during my pregnancy with Paige titled 'my testimony of God's goodness', July 16 2008), but the baby has a lot of umph in my belly and is growing right on schedule. I am looking pretty large at 5 months, but look the best I have out of any of the pregnancies up to this point as far as weight gain. I am still wearing my regular pants, but definitely had to get out the maternity shirts to cover up the protruding belly. I am definitely filling out differently with this babe than I did with the other 2, which some might say is because I am having a boy and not a girl. Who knows? I am just thankful that the baby is ok, and I am chugging along.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
So What's New?
So, since my first ultrasound, I have had some pending excitement in the world of carrying another baby. Because they didn't get all the required views on the 1st ultrasound, I had to schedule a 2nd. No big deal. Had to do the same for Paige as well. They also mentioned to me that I had a 'low lying placenta' this time, which is something that usually fixes itself, but requires further ultrasounds. No big deal. I already had to have the 2nd one. So I go in to get the 2nd ultrasound 2 weeks later, and they got most every view except a clear view of the heart. Kind of critical. Had to schedule a 3rd ultrasound to try and get a picture of the heart. I got a call from my OB telling me she wanted to chat about my ultrasounds at my next visit. I figured it was about the placenta, and I wasn't alarmed. I forgot my next scheduled visit wasn't with my regular OB, but with another in the office. So, when I got there, she asked if anyone had spoken to me about the baby's heart. I said, 'no', so she explained that they saw something on the heart (echogenic intracardiac focus), which if found in more than one spot, could indicate 'chromosomal abnormalities'. And since they hadn't gotten a good view of the heart, they needed to let me know about this possibility in case the U/S tech said something about it. The Dr said that when found in an isolated spot, it doesn't usually end up being anything; it's when they find 4 or 5 spots that it becomes a concern. And with my 'advanced maternal age' title, it does make me more prone for the chromosomal abnormalities anyway. So, I was a little frightened, but not worried scared. I coaxed myself into waiting for my 3rd ultrasound results before borrowing trouble, which happened to be the following day. So I go in for the 3rd ultrasound. The baby is still not cooperating, and they really had a hard time getting a picture of the heart. When they could see it, there was a shadow of the arm bone on it or something which slightly obstructed the view. There was never any question of whether the heart had developed or functioned correctly--we could always see it pumping on all the ultrasounds. But they need to have a front-on view of it to see if the chambers have formed correctly and, apparently, to see if there were anymore of these 'spots' to cause concern. So, finally, after much coercing and pushing and prodding, the tech thought she had a few pics that would suffice. She said standard procedure after the 3rd u/s, and not getting the views they needed, would be to get a fetal echocardiogram. This is no big deal, and doesn't hurt, but it's just another visit to schedule and coordinate childcare, etc. She said the Dr would call and let me know if I needed to schedule this or if the views she got would suffice. So, I waited all afternoon and into the evening before I got a call. And thankfully, it was my own OB, who hadn't seen me since the 1st ultrasound and had just gotten the results of the 3rd one back. She assured me that they only saw the one spot, so not to be alarmed, and that I didn't have to go get any more ultrasounds out of her office. Praise the Lord! So, the heart issue had pretty much been laid to rest, and the placenta issue, if it didn't resolve itself, would be at worst case a c-section. Although there is still a slim chance something could be wrong with the baby, the only way to know for sure is by having an amniocentesis (inserting a needle and drawing out some of the amniotic fluid around the baby to analyze), which has higher risks of complications than not finding out at all. And because it wouldn't change my course of action, I saw no need for it. My Dr agreed. So, now, I am doing fine, hurting a lot (read about symphasis pubis dysfunction during my pregnancy with Paige titled 'my testimony of God's goodness', July 16 2008), but the baby has a lot of umph in my belly and is growing right on schedule. I am looking pretty large at 5 months, but look the best I have out of any of the pregnancies up to this point as far as weight gain. I am still wearing my regular pants, but definitely had to get out the maternity shirts to cover up the protruding belly. I am definitely filling out differently with this babe than I did with the other 2, which some might say is because I am having a boy and not a girl. Who knows? I am just thankful that the baby is ok, and I am chugging along.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
I am the first....
I am officially the first bearer of a male grandchild for my mom and dad! This will be their 7th grandchild, but first GRANDSON! I am certainly very excited about this, and am still sort of in shock about the whole thing. I am so used to having girls, and this pregnancy was the first time we decided to find out the gender of our baby. So Ava and Paige were both surprises, and delightful ones at that. It is just so different knowing ahead of time. I am not sure which way I prefer. I like the idea of getting used to a certain family dynamic and constitution, but I also like the 'let's see how it goes when whoever gets here' dynamic. At least now, I know I need different clothes!
I have also encountered a new, odd feeling that I find myself dealing with--the thought (and possible reality) that I might have been disappointed if I had another girl. I found myself ready to brace for disappointment when we went to our ultrasound appointment. I was so scared of my own reaction when I should have been elated to see our baby, whatever the gender. The thought that it was some kind of personal failure to not be able to make a son, crazy as that sounds, was on the forefront of my mind for the days preceding the appointment. I was very uncomfortable to be aware of this thought process as it was happening, and not being able to talk myself out of the thought pattern. Weird, because I adore my girls! They are fun to play with, paint nails with and do hair, play dress up with, buy fun clothes for and the list goes on and on. Why I felt this unspoken pressure to produce a boy/grandson I am not sure--but I do know it was not from an external source. The best I can guess is knowing what an awesome gift it is to give to my husband--a son to carry on his name. And what a cool gift to give to my dad, who is such an outdoorsman, nature, sports guy, fix-it-upper who would love to have a grandson to share some of these passions with. Interestingly enough, I was more 'wanting' a boy for Christopher than he would admit to wanting for himself. He LOVES the dynamic of being a dad to our girls, and he understands what a huge and important job it is. He wouldn't have been disappointed to have a 3rd girl, but I think I might have been. Seems so backwards, because everyone figures he's 'relieved' to finally have a boy, because what father doesn't want a son? Such a complex train of thought for me to encounter, and yet such an odd sense of relief to know I am carrying a boy. I am a mystery unto myself (as well as others, I'm sure).
We are thrilled, and yet thrusted again into the unknowns of parenthood. What an exciting ride this will be.....
I have also encountered a new, odd feeling that I find myself dealing with--the thought (and possible reality) that I might have been disappointed if I had another girl. I found myself ready to brace for disappointment when we went to our ultrasound appointment. I was so scared of my own reaction when I should have been elated to see our baby, whatever the gender. The thought that it was some kind of personal failure to not be able to make a son, crazy as that sounds, was on the forefront of my mind for the days preceding the appointment. I was very uncomfortable to be aware of this thought process as it was happening, and not being able to talk myself out of the thought pattern. Weird, because I adore my girls! They are fun to play with, paint nails with and do hair, play dress up with, buy fun clothes for and the list goes on and on. Why I felt this unspoken pressure to produce a boy/grandson I am not sure--but I do know it was not from an external source. The best I can guess is knowing what an awesome gift it is to give to my husband--a son to carry on his name. And what a cool gift to give to my dad, who is such an outdoorsman, nature, sports guy, fix-it-upper who would love to have a grandson to share some of these passions with. Interestingly enough, I was more 'wanting' a boy for Christopher than he would admit to wanting for himself. He LOVES the dynamic of being a dad to our girls, and he understands what a huge and important job it is. He wouldn't have been disappointed to have a 3rd girl, but I think I might have been. Seems so backwards, because everyone figures he's 'relieved' to finally have a boy, because what father doesn't want a son? Such a complex train of thought for me to encounter, and yet such an odd sense of relief to know I am carrying a boy. I am a mystery unto myself (as well as others, I'm sure).
We are thrilled, and yet thrusted again into the unknowns of parenthood. What an exciting ride this will be.....
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