35 weeks, 2 days

I wish I could get in the habit of updating sooner...sorry, I am almost a week behind.

Yet another check up...Friday November 7

Once again I was hooked up to the monitor to check Baby Brother's heart rate and movements. I was also being monitored for any contractions. Baby Brother cooperated and his heart rate and movements fluctuated accordingly...so well, as matter of fact, that I didn't have to do the entire half hour! Plus, I actually had a contraction while hooked up to the monitor. I never experienced Braxton Hicks contractions with my first two pregnancies, I had no idea what they felt like. Well, now that I experienced it while on the monitor, I know exactly what a contraction feels like. And...I have been having them for a few weeks. Not regularly at all, but at least one or 2 a day.

Anyway, I had one contraction and Baby Brother's heart rate was anywhere between 116 and 156. He moved quite a bit. I did have a quick ultrasound, but they only measured fluid and his heart rate again. Next appointment I will have the growth scan, to see how big he is getting!

Since I was having contractions, the doctor thought it best to check and see if I am dialating at all. I am almost at 1 cm...which is not much at all. I do find that I have contractions more frequently if I do a lot of walking. So, the Doctor told me to take it easy and make sure I get lots of rest so I don't have any contractions. Their goal is for me to go at least 40 weeks or even 41 weeks (YIKES!) to make sure Baby Brother is plenty big enough for surgery.

My next appointment is Friday November 14th...36weeks and 2 days!

34 Week check up...

Sorry for posting twice in one day. I wanted to update sooner but I had a very busy weekend, and when I did have a bit of down time...I slept! Anyway, I still wanted to take a minute to update from my OB appointment on Friday. I am officially on a weekly schedule to see the OB, so you will start to get more frequent updates...maybe! ;o)

Like I said before, I don't have to see the cardiologist until Baby Brother arrives. At that point the medical team from duPont in Wilmington will come to Harrisburg and care for Baby Brother, then transport him. So I will only be seeing my OB from now on. He says that a lot can happen in a week, so he needs to see me more often. That's fine.

This Friday was my first Fetal Stress Test. I was hooked up to the monitors for a half hour to record Baby's heart rate and movement patterns. Plus, it recorded any contractions I was having. Baby Brother was to move 2 times every 10 minutes...he definitley did that! He wasn't still much at all. His heart rate fluctuated perfectly according to his movements. His heart rate ranged from 117 to 162. I also had another ultrasound, however, it was only long enough to measure amniotic fluid...which was normal.

I will be having a Fetal Stress Test, weekly from now on. Plus regular ultrasounds every other visit, to measure Baby Brother. I am looking forward to my next appointment...I'm curious to find out how much he has grown...considering my belly is HUGE!

Should LIFE be a choice?

A rather akward title for this post, considering the topic for my blog...I know. I just wanted to share with you one thing I experience every Friday when I go to my Doctor appointments.

The OB that I go to is in a medical center attached to the Hospital. They are Specialists and the majority of their patients are high risk for whatever reason...these parents and doctors are fighting for the lives of the babies. Ironically, only less than 2 blocks away, there is a Women's clinic that performs abortions. Every Friday we go to the doctor, and every time we pass a group of young women, barely of age to vote, picketting and fighting for the right to have an abortion. It's very disturbing and angering. Even more than that, it breaks my heart to know that as I fight for Baby Brother's life, someone else is out there fighting to end a life.

Psalms 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Week 33

I saw the cardiologist for the last time today. Actually, the last time until Baby is born. The appointment went very well and rather quickly. We had our last prenatal echocardiogram, which only lasted about a half hour. The doctor reviewed everything and was very pleased with what he saw. Baby's heart is very strong and growing well. We have made it passed the "dangerous" phase and now we are just waiting for Baby's arrival.

I go back to Harrisburg next Friday for another routine prenatal exam.

I didn't get measurements or weights today, only a heart rate, which varied every time they checked it. It ranged from lowest at 121 to highest of 139.

30 Weeks!!

This picture is from 3 weeks ago...at my 30 week point. But, better late than never...right!?!

Try to ignore my goofy expression. Honey was being silly while taking the picture, so I joined in the fun and made the goofy face. Actually, this picture is the best one of the 4 he took.

October 15, 2008

Today, I am officially 32 weeks! I had my 32 week check up today. I got to meet one of the other doctors in the practice today. So far I've only met 3 of them, and there are still more that I still haven't met. I am finally starting to get comfortable with the idea of going to a new OB. However, meeting a new doctor yesterday really made me miss my old doctors in Chambersburg. Oh well.

My appointment was very routine...and Baby was doing just fine. They did an ultrasound to check his growth. They seemed to be rather rushed, so they didn't go over any of his measurements with me. All I know is that he measured to the 32 weeks and his heart rate was 130.

We took a quick tour of NICU and the Labor/Deliver Unit at the Hospital. I was very surprised at how nice it was. Being the first time delivering at this hospital, I wasn't sure what to expect. But the rooms are very nice. We got to know what to expect when Baby is born. It wasn't really anything new, other than, they basically are going to be rushing us through Labor/Deliver process so that we can be transfered to duPont right away. As soon as Baby is born he will be given some IV's and I will get to hold him for a few minutes. Then he will be taken to the NICU for further assessment. Once he is taken to NICU, then I will get to go sit with him. We won't be in Harrisburg very long, well at least Baby won't be. Once he is stablized and ready for transport, he will be taken to duPont and placed in their NICU until I arrive. This is all information we already knew, but walking through the process with the nurses just seemed to make the process even more real. While in the NICU, we saw a baby that was born at 25 weeks and weighed only 1 pound. He had a twin who was also in the NICU. He was so tiny, and fragile looking...definitely an image I will never forget!

I go back to Harrisburg next Friday for my last appointment with the Cardiologist. I will be having one last echocardiogram before baby is born. We won't see the cardiologist again til Baby is born, and he will have an echocardiogram then.

I hope to post pictures soon...so check back to see Baby's updated 4D picture. And of course, my belly, (which I think cannot grow anymore!). :o)

Another Update...

In keeping with the purpose of this blog...I figured it was high time I shared about my last OB appointment.

The blood work turned out fine! I saw my OB on September 26th, who seemed pleased with how things were going. I am officially back to my starting weight, or pre-pregnancy weight. I actually lost about 12 lbs in the first trimester, then very slowly gained it back. They did a "growth scan" to check the baby's size. This is nothing more than an ultrasound...he weighed about 2 lbs 11 ozs. and his heart rate was 148. The lab tech had trouble getting some of the measurements, Baby didn't really want to cooperate so much.

We also saw Baby's cardiologist for an updated echocardiograhm. It went ok. The Cardiologist said there was very little to no change in the appearance of Baby's heart. He definitely didn't change his diagnosis.

I go back on October 15th to see the OB...and I see the cardiologist on October 24th. That will be the last time we see the cardiologist until Baby is born.

Be praying...we know God has amazing things instore for Baby Brother!