Induction information

So my visit at the doctor today was pretty fast. My doctor said he was surprised when the results came back from the amnio that the baby was ready, since it's still so far until my due date.

When he was getting some things ready to check my cervix, the nurse came in with the results of the other test from the amnio. He was telling her that there's really no norm, that it depends on the age of the baby and that you have to graph it out to figure out what the results mean. He told me that they would have told him how soon he'd have had to do another amnio. I'm grateful he doesn't have to.

When my doctor checked my cervix, luckily I've already dilated to a 1-1/2. So apparently all the contractions I had yesterday after the amnio actually did something. My doctor said that the moon must have lined up for me with this one.

So on Thursday morning at 7:00, I go in to the hospital to be induced. She'll be exactly 4 weeks early, and I'm not complaining. At least we know that her lungs are good and she should do well.

Ben's award and some other pictures

This morning Ben had an awards assembly at school. This is the third one they've done this year, but Ben was getting an award at this one, so I made sure I could make it. The awards assemblies are a little on the boring side, just because you get to sit through all the other kids getting awards too. Luckily, the school divides the assemblies into different grades, so it's not as long as it could be.

Ben got the award for being a math whiz. His teacher said that he's always one of the very first done with his math assignments and she knows she can ask him any math question and he'll know the answer. I'm glad it looks like he's taking after his dad rather than his mom in that particular subject.

Here are some pictures I took there. Sorry, some of them are a little dark..for some reason my camera doesn't really like to cooperate in the school lunchroom:

These first two are of Ben sitting with his class waiting for his turn to go up and get his award:




Here's Ben standing with his teacher, Mrs. Cruz, who is actually a long-term substitute teacher for his usual one who is on maternity leave (this one is dark, but if you look close, you can see Ben on the left):



And here's Ben leaving with his award. That's as good as I got when I asked him to hold up his award for me:



Now for some random pictures. I'm not going to label them, just because I'm lazy. But some are from when the boys were playing in the waiting room during Alex's speech therapy and some are from our last trip to the zoo last Friday during Ben's Spring Break. It was really the one good day during Spring Break, so it was not an original idea.

More doctor stuff

So this morning at 8:30, the nurse from my doctor's office called. She said that my titer levels had "gone up significantly," so my doctor wanted me to go in the office today at 1:00 for an amniocentesis. If you don't know what one is, it's where they stick a big, long needle into your stomach to draw out amniotic fluid to test for certain things. That phone call upped my stress level a bit. I definitely was not looking forward to the procedure.

Since Bryce had the van today, I called him and asked if he could drive home at lunch and let me take it to the doctor. We decided instead that we would have him go with me. I was glad that he was going to be there, just for the extra support and so I wouldn't have to explain everything that happened to him later.

So we got to the doctor's office (again, a huge thank you to Katie who is so willing to watch my kids for me even on short notice like this was) and went back to the ultrasound room. The nurse had me sign a waiver thing since there are risks associated with the amnio, although she said in all the times they've done them, she's never seen any of them. She then explained a little bit about what they would do and said that I really should take it easy and try to rest for the remainder of the day and avoid lifting stuff. That's easier said than done when one has a 21 1/2 month old son. She said that she thought the main thing the doctor would be checking for with this was for the Fetal Lung Development, to see if it would be safe for the baby to be induced now. After explaining things, she went to see if she could find the doctor, who was finishing up doing a c-section. We really didn't have to wait long at all for him though. Oh, she also told us what the titer level was. It had gone from an 8 to a 16.

When the doctor came in, he said something along the lines of, "Problems. We've got some major problems here." He said I was his first Anti E patient who ended up with problems. He's had other antibodies do it, but I was his first Big E. Lucky me, huh?

To start the amnio, the doctor used the ultrasound to find a nice deep pocket of amniotic fluid and marked where he'd be placing the needle. Of course it was right by the one rib that the baby always likes to push on, so it was a bit uncomfortable to have the ultrasound scanner thingy pushed on there through the whole thing. Even though the amniocentesis wasn't pleasant, that was actually probably the worst part of it.

When the nurse arrived, they slathered the spot for the amnio with some betadine. The doctor numbed the area (that shot was actually worse than the amnio part, probably because I was numbed for the amnio), made sure the ultrasound was showing the right spot, and stuck the needle in. It did hurt a bit when the needle went into the amniotic sack. I had to try to hold as still as possible while he drew out a couple of vials of amniotic fluid. He was getting a couple of tests done, one was the FLD like the nurse had said, the other was called Delta 48 or something like that. He didn't really say what exactly that one was testing for, but I assume it was to test for effects of the antibody. He said that they should get the results of the amnio tonight, then we'll decide where to go from there. If the baby's lungs aren't developed enough yet, I "get" to have another amnio in a week and a half. And he did say that it's likely that I'll have the baby this week or next week.

After the amnio was done, they had me go with another person to go have a Non-Stress Test done. Basically I got to lie on an examination table with montiors on me for about a half hour. They had to come and buzz the baby because she decided she'd rather sleep than move though. She didn't like the buzz and jumped, but it did wake her up. And I had lots and lots of contractions while I was lying there. But everything looked good on the stress test, so that was good.

So now I wait for the doctor to call me with the results of today's amnio and I'm scheduled for another doctor appointment and NST on Thursday morning. I would definitely be fine with having her sooner rather than later, especially if this antibody could be hurting her.

Latest doctor appointment

Yes, I went to the doctor again this morning and had another ultrasound. Everything looked normal with the ultrasound and the baby seems to still be doing well. He didn't take the measurements of her size this time, so I don't know how big she is now, but she's still growing well and looks healthy.

I was a little surprised when my doctor also did the strep b test and checked my cervix at this appointment. With only being 35 weeks today, I thought he would do that next week at the earliest. But no, I'm not dilating yet and wasn't surprised at that.

I did get my blood drawn at this appointment. They should have the results within the next couple of days. I didn't even feel the needle going in the arm this time, so that was always nice.

My doctor had to leave quickly after he finished checking my cervix because he had been paged and apparently had someone ready to deliver, so the nurse guessed that I would need to go back again next week because I'm "special." I think normally they would have had me go back in 2 weeks. I don't mind going back more often, since I know they're making sure the baby is doing well and isn't being harmed by the antibodies.

So this week's appointment is done and I just get to wait to hear how the antibody titer levels are doing and get to go back again next week.

Here's an ultrasound picture from today. It's kind of hard to see, but it's her face and an arm. My doctor was going to get me a 4-D picture of her face today, but she decided to move her arm right in the way when he went to try it.

Trip to the Dentist

This morning I took the boys for their semi-annual dental exam and cleaning. It took a bit to get them all moving and ready to go, so we ended up leaving about 10 minutes later than I had wanted to leave, but we still made it to the appointment on time. And this was even after being stuck behind the guy who thought more than 5 mph below the speed limit was a good idea. I guess it's a good thing I overestimate how much time it will take to get there.

Ben was pretty nervous about the appointment, and when they called him back first, we had to all walk back with him to help him feel a bit more confident. We didn't have to stay with him though, so that's a good thing. And he did really well and said it wasn't bad at all.

Alex got called back shortly after Ben went back, since they were having different hygenists work on them. It was much nicer that way. It cut down the time we'd have to be sitting in the waiting room. Alex had no fear and went right back with the hygenist and also did well for his appointment.

Chris kept wanting to go back and be with his brothers and didn't think it was fair that I was making him stay in the waiting room with Daniel and me. They have a cute little play area in the office, so I thought that would keep them fairly entertained, but they didn't want to spend a lot of time in there. He was glad when Alex was done with his appointment and he got to go back for his turn. He also went right back with no fear, which was good.

Daniel got a bit bored waiting for his brothers, but it was a lot nicer to be able to have the room for him to wander around and the play area to try to distract him, which made it not so bad. The last time we went to the dentist, we had to all go back and wait and watch everyone take their turns and it got frustrating to try to keep kids from pushing buttons they shouldn't be pushing and getting into things they shouldn't be getting into. So I was much happier this time when the kids were fine going back on their own.

And the good news is that none of the boys had any cavities, so that's it until their next cleaning and check-up. I was a little worried about having to squeeze cavity fillings in with having the baby and all the other stuff we've got going on.

After the appointment, we got to go and take Bryce to lunch. The boys thought that was pretty cool, since they don't get to see much of their dad during the day. Ben especially liked it. He's out of school this week for Spring Break and liked the extra outing.

So the appointments that I had been dreading a little bit because of the last time went well, and I'm glad we don't have to do it again for a while.

Today's doctor appointment

I did go to the doctor today, as you know if you read my last post. Of course I always plan on leaving early enough to get there a little early, but for some reason when I have to go to the downtown office, I can never get off as planned, so I end up being a few minutes late. At least it was only a few minutes though.

When they took me back, I basically went straight for the ultrasound room (after they asked me to give them a sample, which they never actually used). My doctor came right in and started the ultrasound. He did some body measurements, then measured the amniotic fluid, then measured how hard it is for the blood to push through the umbilical cord. Basically all the things I expected him to be measuring. Everything looked good and right where it should be. He said the baby measures at about 4 pounds, 14 ounces right now, which is about the 50th percentile. And yes, she is very clearly still a girl.

After he finished the ultrasound, I asked him how high the titer level numbers have gone up. They've told me that they've been going up a little, but haven't told me how much. He said it was easier to show me than just tell me, so he showed me the numbers in the chart. It basically started at 1 and 10 (there are 2 numbers they go by, but I think the first number is a little more important than the second). It then went up to 2 and 13, then 2 and 15, then jumped up a bit (I can't remember exactly what this number was) to something like 6 and 18, and the last one was at 8 and 23. So it has been steadily going up. After he showed me the numbers, he went out to call a perinatolgist for kind of a consultation on whether or not he'd need to see me sooner than next week, since everything with the ultrasound was normal. When he came back, he told me that he'd just need to do an ultrasound basically every two weeks to make sure there were no signs that the baby is being affected by the antibodies (and as long as the numbers stay within the 1 to 10 range), and probably check my titer levels the weeks in between. Since I have another appointment already scheduled in the downtown office for next Thursday, which is a week and a half away, he will go ahead and do another ultrasound then.

With the numbers going up as much as they have, especially when they only went up to a 2 with Daniel (I can never remember what the second number was with him), I keep expecting to have to have this baby sooner than 2 weeks early. She's doing fine so far though and isn't being affected by the antibodies, so she could make it that long. I'm still glad my doctor is on top of it and is watching to make sure so we can take care of things before she starts to be affected by it.

And on the up side, I didn't have to have my blood drawn today, so my arm gets a break from needles for a week.

Another update

As many of you know already, especially if you read my last post, I went to the doctor on Wednesday for another blood draw. It was a pretty quick visit and was kind of fun to be the last one in the crowded waiting room and be the first one called back and be able to leave before anyone else was called back. And getting one little vial of blood usually isn't too painful, although it's not particularly fun.

Anyway, today my doctor's office called again, and yep, the titer levels are still creeping up a bit. So I get to go in to their downtown office on Monday morning and get another blood draw and get an ultrasound. I had kind of been hoping that I wouldn't have to do this this often like I did with Daniel, but looks like I'm out of luck. At least I only have 7 weeks to my due date, so probably more like 5 weeks until she's born. I can handle going every week for that long.

Update

So at about a quarter after 5 today, our phone rang and my doctor's office was on the caller-ID. I knew then that it meant that my titer levels had gone up again. Yep, I was right. It was one of the nurses, Calista, calling to first ask me if I thought the note that my doctor had written on the results was really what he wanted me to do since I have another appointment on the 26th, and then to tell me to go to the office sometime next Wednesday and get another blood draw. When it went up when I was pregnant with Daniel, my doctor had me go in to their downtown office so he could do an ultrasound too, but he hadn't said anything about that in the note, so this time I just get to drop by their lab and get more blood taken. She said the titer level just went up a little bit (which it's done for the two appointments previous to this one too), so it's probably not anything to really worry about. I wonder if this means I get to start my weekly appointments early again.

I'm not worried about it at all, since it seems to be par for the course here. Hearing about it on a day when we weren't all sick might have been a little nicer though.

Latest doctor appointment

I had another doctor appointment today and as many of you already know, I got to take all 4 boys with me because some of them were sick and I couldn't really justify leaving them with someone to get them and/or their kids sick too. I even had my vt comp call and offer to take them for me, but she did appreciate my declining when I told her they were sick. I thought it was very nice of her to call and offer though.

I walked in the office building at basically the same time as my doctor. He was walking behind me at first and I saw him adn told Ben that he was there, so Ben wanted to hide. Since I was walking with 4 kids however, my doctor was a bit faster and passed us. Luckily, that meant that we were his first appointment and wouldn't have a long time to wait. I think the kids were a little disappointed, since they brought along books to read and didn't really get a chance to read them.

The doctor appointment went pretty fast and was a normal appointment. He checked my blood pressure, measured the growth, and listened to the baby's heartbeat. The boys didn't think it sounded like the train that my doctor said it did, so they had a discussion about that for a minute.

Apparently my titer levels did go up a tiny bit again last month, so he did check them again today to make sure they're not going up too high. I had expected the blood draw anyway, so it was no big deal. And the boys were entertained with the suckers they got at the end of the appointment.

I go back again in 3 weeks if my titer levels stay low enough. He said we'd do 3 weeks, then 2 weeks, then every week after that. I'm not sure if he actually realizes that I'll be about 37 weeks along when he'd have me come back in 2 weeks, but I guess that doesn't really matter. I wouldn't complain about not having to go quite so many times.

The boys were good enough at the appointment that we stopped on the way home and got some donuts. They were pretty excited to get them and pretty happy that my appointment didn't take a long time. :)