A Single Woman's Journey To Motherhood


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Name:
Location: Washington, United States

I began my TTC journey in January 2005. It finally worked with the 5th IUI and along came Eliana! I started trying for a second (T42) a little over a year later, and was thrilled to get pregnant on the second try this time. Jacob soon joined our family! Not sure if I am done at two, but come along for my journey in motherhood. If you stop by, please leave me a short note! I like to know when I have visitors. :)

Monday, October 22, 2007

Another concern..

This pregnancy is just full of troubles...

Non-pregnant, my blood sugars are quite stable. Last pregnancy, I eventually needed Metformin, glyburide and two types of insulin. This pregnancy started out quickly with needing to move from just Metformin to Metformin and glyburide..I worry about what's in store...

In any case, I had a very scary experience tonight. Around 5, I had a brownie (I know...not a great idea, but I was really craving one). Then I had supper at 6, spaghetti with meatballs. While eating supper I felt very full and didn't eat as much as I might normally, but it was still a decent amount. I felt very very tired after supper so decided I had better take my blood sugar at 2 hours post eating (I don't always, OB said for now just fasting was OK). It was 58!!!! I have never in my life had a blood sugar so low. I took it again immediately on the other hand in case I did something wrong...still 58.

I panicked. I called the consulting nurse hotline and was on the phone with her for about 30 minutes during which time she had me have a 1/2 cup juice and retake blood sugar about 10 minutes after we started talking, 56!! Then I had another 1/2 cup and retake (about 20 minutes after original) and it was finally going up and was 63. She left me with instructions to have a 1/2 peanut butter sandwich and she will call back in an hour...my blood sugar now is 99.

What is going on??? I am really very perplexed...and concerned.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Just got home from the hospital...

When I saw my OB nurse on Tuesday, I mentioned I had been having some cramping in my leg. Since I have a history of pulmonary embolisms, and a family history of DVT, they decided to do a doppler study on Friday to check it out. (actually, they wanted Thursday, but I couldnt get out of a meeting that day...).

Anyway, so I picked up Eliana from day care at 3:15, head over for my 4:00 appointment and they are 30 minutes late. By 5:15, the sonographer or whoever it is who was doing the study says, "I have to call your OB." Yep, I had a nice 14 cm clot running from knee to my mid-thigh. OB said to go directly to the hospital.

WEll, not quite so easy as I had to arrange someone to watch Ellie. I called the babysitter who was going out of town I thought Sat morning, but no, she was leaving Fri night. However, she offered (and I accepted since it seemed the best place for Eliana to be) to take Ellie with her. They will be back tomorrow afternoon. I dropped Ellie off at the sitter's, considered stopping at home to get a change of clothes and something to do, but decided against it because the OB had clearly told me to go straight to the hospital.

I get there, go to labor and delivery because that is where he told me to go, but they won't take you until you are 20 weeks along in your pregnancy. So I waited. And waited. For an hour and a half I waited, with noone watching me or checking in on me. I seriously could have had a heart attack or something and noone would have known. Finally, after I had complained three times, transport comes to pick me up because for whatever reason I was not allowed to walk myself over even though anything would have been better than me just sitting there alone in the waiting area (which is not visible from the admissions desk). The OB on call didn't come see me until 10:00pm!! I was really really pissed. I should have stopped at home to gather my things...

In any case, I was on a Heparin drop which they kept increasing from 10:00pm until 4:00pm today. I was discharged with a lovely set of needles of Lovenox which I will be taking until 6 weeks after delivery. Oh, and if I happen to go into labour on my own and have taken my Lovenox in the past few days, I can't have an epidural...lovely.

I am only 8 weeks...this is going to be a very long pregnancy I think...

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

First prenatal appointment

I had my first prenatal appointment today with the OB nurse. It was nice to see her and to have her remember me. I am sure she probably reviews the chart before bringing you in, but still, she even remembered Eliana's name. :)

It was basically just the intake appointment. We reviewed my medical history and family health history, talked about how my pregnancy and birth went last time and took a bunch of blood tests. I mentioned that I had been having leg cramps off and on over the past couple weeks...nothing really bad, but since they seemed to ALWAYS be in the same leg and seem to be in relatively the same spot, I thought I would mention it. She talked to my OB and they are going to set up an appointment for a doppler ultrasound to check for clots...

I am not sure if it was because of that, or because my BP was 139/78 (much higher than it was last week when I went to the doc for laryngitis), but he also said he wanted to set up an appointment for me at the hypertension clinic again. I don't mind the hypertension clinic, but I hate taking the time off for the appointments (they only have appointments on Thursday mornings from 8-12). If I knew for sure that they would be on time and I had an 8:00 appointment, I could just take off the morning, but since the second half of our day starts at 10:40, that is pretty hard to make....grrrr...Ultimately, I obviously want what is best for the baby so I will go though...

Oh, and she continues to insist to go by due date based on LMP, even after the ultrasound technician had confirmed my due date based on ovulation...very frustrating. So the baby's due date is either May 24 (LMP) or May 26 (ovulation), but in either case, will probably be induced two weeks earlier...

I am exhausted tonight and the week is not even near over...tomorrow I have a small group meeting for the church starting with a dinner at 5:30, Thursday I have a training from 4-6pm, and Friday I have the singles group at the other church at 6:30, and even though I get to sleep in on Saturday, I also have our local SMC meeting in the evening....Is it Christmas vacation yet?? LOL

Friday, October 05, 2007

So relieved...

First, I was frustrated. I called the OB (or rather my babysitter did since I had no voice) yesterday. My OB was actually in surgery so I spoke with his partner. He said he would not order a repeat because I was not bleeding or cramping...I just couldn't believe it...Who makes a mother wait 4 weeks to see if their baby is still alive when there is an indication that things are not going well????

So, I went to the RE this morning for my ultrasound. As far as she knew, it was my first ultrasound and I didn't tell her otherwise. Everything looked fine this time. Baby has really grown in two days! It was 4.6mm(I think) on Wed and today it was 6.37mm! And thankfully, the heart rate was closer to normal...125. She said I could come back in 1.5-2 weeks for a follow-up ultrasound. I was going to but they coudln't find any afternoon appointments (and I most certainly do NOT want to take any more time off for a little while at least), so I guess I won't go. I feel better now anyway, knowing that the heart rate is closer to normal, I can wait the 4 more weeks until I see the OB.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Not so great ultrasound..

Baby measured fine, my cervix and ovaries were fine. I appear to have a retroverted uterus which I swear I didn't used to (I even thought someone had said it tilted forward...). There is also only one baby which is best (although I would be pretty thrilled with twins too).

BUT, the heartbeat was slow. 84bpm. The sonographer took it three times: 91, 79 and 84. Definitely slow for 6w2d (she agreed with my due date based on ovulation over the nurse's due date based on LMP).

I have researched a bit and it doesn't sound good. 60% chance of demise if the heartbeat goes up to normal by 8 weeks. Pretty much 100% chance if it doesn't...I asked around on one of my SMC boards, and everyone who has had experience with this has lost the baby...

So, I am going to beg for a repeat ultrasound. I have been home sick with laryngitis ALL WEEK but I think I will get my babysitter to call my OB tomorrow and beg for a repeat or maybe even have her call the fertility clinic and see if they would do a repeat on Friday (why wouldnt they? I have to pay for those ones...).

Anyways, any and all prayers for little bean #2 are greatly appreciated.

Monday, October 01, 2007

Tupperware!

So, I may have mentioned that I had a Tupperware party last weekend (thankfully not this weekend as I am STILL sick). I had a great time and for whatever reason, I couldn't help myself, I bought the kit, and I am a Tupperware consultant! LOL. The thing is, I think I would really enjoy it if someone wanted a party, but I am way too shy to actually beg my friends to have a party of their own. So, if you know of anyone looking for a party, let me know! In the meantime, here is a link to my very own Tupperware site in case you don't live around here but want to purchase some Tupperware. :)

Katrina's Tupperware Site