Baby Update

36 Weeks & 6 days...

Today we had another OB appointment.

My BP was 150/78.  A bit high, Dr. Long wasn't too thrilled. :)

So, they did some more blood work and a Non Stress Test.  My blood work came back normal and the Non Stress Test showed that Elise is getting the oxygen she needs!  Good news!

We found out in the last week, that high blood pressure can limit the oxygen that Elise recieves.  It can also cause limited fetal growth.

Dr. Long decided that he wants to get weekly tests done, so each Tuesday we will go for our normal OB appointment for blood work and a Non Stress Test.  Then each Friday, we will go for a "Biological Profile" a specific ultra sound that checks her movement, tone, cord blood flow and resperation.  

We also are going to schedule a C-section, since Elise is still breech.  We are waiting for a phone call to schedule that!  So, unless something else happens beforehand, we should know soon what day Elise is coming!!

I'm pretty tired of being on bed rest, I'm definitely ready for Elise to be here and for life to start getting a bit more normal.  

Saturday is our dear friend, Amy's LHC Baby Shower!  I'm really hoping to go (Tim and I think it's a good enough reason to break a few rules!).  So, if my ultrasound goes well on Friday and my BP looks ok, I'm hoping to go!!  It will be a nice break from bed rest and so much fun to see Dan and Amy blessed as they prepare for their first little one!!  I can't wait to meet him/her!  (selfishly I want Amy to have a  girl, so my girls can grow up with a great friend!!) :)

Nora is enjoying the "warmer" weather.  She loves being out side, playing on the slide and in the sand box!  It's hard to believe that she's going to be 3 next weekend!!!  She's getting to be such a big girl!  

She's really enjoying her time with Lizzy.  She's been very imaginative, playing with her play clothes and dolls.  She loves to play "dog".  She crawls around barking, looking for someone to pay attention and play with her.  She did it for over an hour with me the other day.  It was pretty funny!!  She's also ready for Elise to be here.  She talks about her a lot and puts her babies in Elise's crib or bouncy seat.  I think she's going to be a great big sister!

We'll pass on any other new info that we get!

Yet ANOTHER crazy day!

So, yesterday I was minding my own business on bed rest when I got a call from the OB's office!

They had just recieved some results from my ultrasound on Wednesday and Dr. Manning didn't like something that she saw!  They asked me to go to the Birthing Center, ASAP.  When I told them it would be in about 1 hour, they say "An hour?  You need to get here right away?".  Yeah, that put me into panic mode!

Tim was already on his way to Holy Spirit to drop of my 24 hour urine test, so I called him and he came back to get me.  Mom, Tim and I headed once again to the Birthing Center.

We got there and they hooked me up to a monitor and had me do a Non Stress Test.  Then sent me to Radiology for another Ultrasound.  While in the Ultrasound, Dr. Manning stopped in to chat with me.

Here's what happened.

Evidently, when she ordered the Ultra sound on Wednesday, she was only looking to see if Elise was still Breech.  However, the Radiologist did a more detailed U/S that gave them information that worried her.  

There is a grading system they use for 4 specific areas: Cord Blood Flow, Resperation, Movement, and Tone.  They give a 2 (good) or a 0 (bad) for each catagory.  So, the highest "grade" you get is 8.  Elise only got a 4 on Wednesday.  Cord Blood Flow - 2, Resperation - 2, Movement - 0, Tone - 0.  They start to worry when the baby gets a 6 or below.

So, they redid the test to check Elise's movements and tone.

She passed with flying colors!  She got an 8 out of 8 this time!!  What a relief!

They sent me back upstairs and told me everything looked good.  So, we waited to see Dr. Stegman to release me.

In his conversation, we talked about how Elise is still breech and what that means.  He likes to do "versions", which means manipulating the baby from outside the womb, to get her to move head down.  I've heard of this and seen a video of it.  It looks HORRIBLE and painful!  I also know that you can go through all this and either the baby never turns, or once turned, flips back into the breech posision!!!

3 out of 4 Dr.'s at the practice are willing to do Versions, if the circumstances are right.  Dr. Daggs showed up and said she wasn't too comfortable with it, because of my previous C-section.  But, Dr. Stegman said that he'd be free to do it Wednesday night if I wanted.  Dr. Long doesn't do Versions (that's who my next appointment is with).

We are going to try some excersizes over the weekend to see if we can get her to flip naturally, but then need to decide by Wednesday what we want to do.

I'm feeling very unsure about what is best, to try the Version and attempt a VBAC, or to just go ahead and schedule another c-section.

Prayers would be appreciated!!!

An eventful day!!!

35 weeks - 6 days

Today was our normal OB appointment.  I've been on bedrest for one week.

We got there and of course, they took my blood pressure. :)  The nurse said "gosh girl!".  It was 152/100...REALLY high.

She made me lay on my left side and said that Dr. Manning would be in soon.

Dr. Manning came in, said "how are you feeling" and "I think it might be time to sell this".

Tim said, "what does that mean?"  She said, I want you to go over to the Birthing Center, we'll do blood work, monitor the baby, watch your blood pressure and get an ultrasound to see if Elise is still Breech.

So, Tim, Mom and I headed over.  

They hooked me up to the monitor and took my BP.  Soon, I headed down to get an Ultra Sound.  We had a Radiologist doing the Ultra Sound, so that was really interesting.  He showed us much more than any other ultra sound tech.  It went well, he said that her lungs are well developed (she was practicing her breathing again) and her cord blood flow was good.  He gives a "test" that equals 8, 2 points in 4 catagories.  he gave her 2 pts in 2 cataories and 0 pts. in the other 2 catagories.  She wasn't moving much, which was his cause for concern.

However, because upstairs they got some really good monitoring, Dr. Manning was not worried.

We found out that she is DEFINITLY still breech.  The Radiologist didn't seem to think she was going to move...but you never know!

He also said that she's around 6 lbs, so she's at a good size!! :)

My blood work all came back normal, so Dr. Manning opted to keep Elise inside for as long as possible.  We have another appointment on Wednesday, so we'll see what happens then.

I'm still on bed rest (and I think Mom will be on me even more after today!!)

I'm getting pretty restless...ready for Elise to be born and to be able to see her face, hold her and know that we are both safe!!!  But, we trust in God's timing!  

Modified Bed Rest...

34 Weeks - 6 Days

Today we had our weekly OB appointment.

My blood pressure was 145/90, but there were NO traces of protien in my urine (which is really good).  The midwife went over my blood work from the hospital on Saturday and everything looks good, except that I'm anemic (need more iron).

I've officially been put on "Modified Bedrest", which means that I'm allowed to get up for 5 minutes at a time for things like the bathroom, showers, getting food and going to a different room.

Otherwise, I'm supposed to stay on my side, switching every half hour or so (to reduce the chance of blood clots).

We had a bit of a scare, when the midwife couldn't find Elise's heartbeat!  But, found out that was because Elise decided to switch positions her heart was in a different place!  They had to get an ultrasound machine to check her, and it turns out that she is BREACH!  She was in perfect position for a VBAC two weeks ago and decided to switch on us.  I've been given some positions to try and get her to switch back!  We really have our hearts set on a VBAC, so we are praying she switches back.

I'm pretty bummed that I'm on bedrest.  I know that it's only 5 weeks, but I really wanted to avoid this!  I want Elise to be safe and to come at the right time...but this really is a bummer.

Anyway, I'll let you know if there are any other changes!  Thanks ahead of time for your prayers!

p.s while doing the ultrasound, the midwife could see Elise "practicing to breath"!  She said this was a good sign (this was before she detected a heartbeat) because that means that she's NOT in distress.  Baby's who are in distress don't practice breathing.  We were able to see her chest rise and fall.  It was pretty cool!!!

a little scare

So, on Friday night, Tim and I headed off to Birthing Class.  We decided, since Nora's birth was far from normal and we are planning a VBAC, that it would be helpful to take the class again.

Afterwards on Friday night, I noticed that I had a headache and wasn't feeling so well.  I took my blood pressure and it was a little elevated for me.

The next day, we headed off to the rest of Birthing Class.  Throughout the day, I took my BP just to keep an eye on it.  My hands started swelling and by noon it was around 130\88.  By 3:00 it was 156\97.  

Needless to say, we were a bit worried.  So, I called the answering service at the OB, told them what was going on and since we were at the Hospital, we headed upstairs to the Birthing Center.

They took my BP and it was 147\91.  They found traces of protien in my urine and did some bloodwork.  At this point, Tim and I were thinking, "here we go again...we're going to have this baby early".  

After laying on my left side my blood pressure started going down and went well below my normal BP.  My blood work came back all normal.  So, they released me!

So, that night, my BP went back up but not as high as it had been earlier.  I'm taking it easy, checking it a couple times a day and making sure I keep my feet up. :)

I have an appointment on Wednesday, so we'll see what my OB has to say then.

My BP was normal yesterday...and is a little bit elevated today, but not REALLY high.

Anyway, the baby was monitored while we were in the Hospital and she's doing well.  We have about 5 1/2 weeks till her due date...and we are super excited to see her!!  

We are praying that God keeps my BP down...and that we both remain healthy.  We'd really like to avoid a C-section if at all possible!!!

Snowy Days

Today I'm officially 34 weeks!  Only 6 (maybe less!!!) to go!!  Hopefully not more! :)  Spring is coming soon...and I'm so ready, not only for the warmer weather, but to see Elise...to go outside and enjoy the warmth and sunshine!  It will be nice to head to the park with Nora and just GET out! :)

Here's some pics of Nora playing in the snow a few weeks ago.  We got about 12 inches during this weird storm.  She loved it!!

Baby Update

33 Weeks - 5 days

I had another OB appointment today.  Everything is looking good.  My blood pressure was 112/74...which is GREAT!  No swelling, no protiens or sugar in my urine.

Elise is definitely measuring 1 week larger.  The Midwife said today, hopefully you'll go a little early!!  Otherwise, I'm looking at the possibility of a 9 lb. baby!!!  A FAR CRY from Nora's 3 lb. 9 oz.!!!  I can't even begin to imagine a 9 lb. baby!

I gained another pound, so we are up to 8 lbs. total pregnancy.  At this point, Elise should gain about 1/2 lb. a week.  

Other than that, no news!  

Mom and Dad have been delayed in Florida due to some electrical problems that Dad's trying to fix.  Hopefully, I don't go too early and they aren't here!  Mom's supposed to be in the delivery room with us, so hopefully they'll be here in plenty of time. :)