This week I had both my regular OBGYN appointment and high risk appointment. I also had both of my support group meetings. It's been busy!
At my regular appointment the main task was the glucose tolerance test. I came in about 15 minutes before my appointment, went down to the lab and got to drink the lovely drink that tasted like flat orange crush. They told me I had 10 minutes to drink it and I thought, "That's loads of time!" It took me about all of it. They told me what time I had to be back to get my blood drawn (an hour) and I went back upstairs to go to my appointment. I saw a new doctor because my doctor left the practice last month. I wasn't overly concerned because there's no guarantee who would deliver the baby anyway, it was just surprising. Luckily everyone I've seen in the practice I've liked so it was fine. My appointment went well. Her heartbeat was normal and my weight was fine. I filled the new doctor in on what's been going on and she said thus far everything looks good and we'll just keep doing what we're doing. She said she hoped to get my results by the end of the day and no news was good news. When I left they scheduled my next 3 appointments. One in May and then in June I switch to 2 a month. Afterwards I went back down to the lab and they drew my blood at the one hour mark.
That evening I had regular support group. I have a couple shirts that I can wear and still hide my pregnancy a bit. I was a bit nervous because I didn't want to upset someone by being obviously pregnant, but at the same time as we get closer to the year mark I need the meeting too. I hoped that if someone did notice (I never talk about my current pregnancy during this meeting) they would at least be more understanding because they know I'm there because I lost my baby too. This meeting was about grief vs. depression and some of the fallacies and stigmas associated with these labels. My counselor was the speaker so it was nice to see her in another context. It was helpful and there were several new people. While I wish no one new ever had to come, I'm glad this group is there for all of us. I've gotten so much out of it and I hope others are able to as well.
The next morning I had the Pregnancy and Parenting After Loss support group. I'm so thankful that this group was started as well because it gives me another place (besides friends and family) to talk about this pregnancy and my anxiety and concerns. Since we're all in the same boat none of us feel crazy when we bring things up. The topic this month was about parenting styles and how after a loss your thoughts and actions might change. Sometimes this is good, sometimes this can be a bit much and it's about finding a balance. It was nice to talk about because I have concerns about feeling guilty when I'm overwhelmed. It's not always going to be a cake walk and there will be times I'm at the end of my rope and that's totally normal. I just hope I'm able to realize that and not feel too guilty for feeling that way because I know how lucky we'll be to have her.
Today before my high risk appointment I got a call from my regular OBGYN. I hadn't heard anything so I assumed my blood work came back in the normal range. They said it was a little higher than the threshold (but not overly so) so I need to come back and do the 3 hour test. She said they're not too concerned and to watch my carbs and sugar and most likely the next one will be fine. If not I'll need to be extra careful about my diet (although I've been trying thus far to be, but I'll be even more diligent if need be). She said I could come back any time between now and my next appointment to do it. I'm probably going to go next week just to get it out of the way. So we'll see what happens then. They're not overly concerned so I'm not going to be either.
Our high risk appointment went really well. Adam and I both left feeling so much better about everything. My cervix still looks great. No shortening or trying to open. The baby is measuring almost to the day where she should be and is in the normal range for weight as well. She hiccuped a bit during the ultrasound so we know her lungs are doing well too. They looked at her heart again and the doctor who was with us with Madeline came in and explained everything they were seeing and what it meant. It was so helpful. We were able to see the VSD (ventricle septal defect . . . the hole) which we hadn't really been able to before. He also showed us the aorta (still overlapping, but not severely) and the pulmonary valve. He said the pulmonary valve should be a bit bigger than the aorta and explained how they should be oriented. He said aside from the slight overlap in the aorta everything else looks right as it should. While the cardiologist will have the final diagnosis in June, he seemed to feel pretty confident that it will not develop into Tetralogy since the pulmonary valve still looks normal. He also explained to us the difference between "blue tet" and "pink tet." If the defects are severe enough that the baby is not getting enough oxygenated blood throughout her body, she'll be born blue or will turn blue shortly after birth. That is "blue tet" and the baby would need to be delivered elsewhere where a pediatric cardiac surgeon is. If the defects are there, but the baby is still able to get decent circulation of oxygenated blood then it's considered "pink tet." In this case the baby could still be delivered here and surgery wouldn't be needed for a while. He said based on what her heart looks like today if for some reason it does develop into Tetralogy, it would be "pink tet" and we wouldn't have to go anywhere. That was nice to hear and to get even more information. So hopefully no matter what I'll still be able to deliver here which is a relief. We also talked about when the stitch would come out. Based on how things are going it will come out at 36 weeks. However, if she stays breech (they'll check again right before the surgery is scheduled) then I wouldn't have it taken out. At that point I'd be having a C-section because she's breech so they would take it out afterwards while I'm in the OR anyway. So we'll see once July gets here.
Next month I'll be seeing all 3 doctors (regular, high risk and cardiologist) all on the same day. So I'll just be hanging out at the hospital from 10am to about 3pm. Early June will have a nice long medical update too!
I feel good after our appointment today. Everything is going well and there's no indication that will change. Plus they got a good profile of her face which was nice. Thus far we really haven't gotten a great one (you'd think with all the ultrasounds we've had that wouldn't be the case but it was not). It's been a good and informative week.
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