June Doctor Appointments

I figured I'd wait until I'd had all my appointments and then write one post with all the information.  So here we go!

I saw my regular OBGYN first.  It was a routine appointment.  They checked my weight, blood pressure, the baby's heartbeat and measured my stomach.  I'd lost a bit of weight since my last appointment and at first they were concerned.  Then I explained that I'm counting my carbs and it was fine.  The nurse said usually after a woman is diagnosed with gestational diabetes her weight at the next appointment is either lower or about the same.  So no reason to be concerned.  I talked with the doctor about the plan from my endocrinologist and my other upcoming appointments then I was done.

We saw the pediatric cardiologist next.  Our daughter was being difficult again, but they persisted until they were able to see everything they needed to.  According to our doctor things still look the same.  Which is good because that means they're not worse.  She feels pretty confident that her heart defect won't develop into Tetralogy of Fallot at this point, but scheduled us for one more appointment before she's born just to make sure.  Even if it does, it will be "pink tet" so I'll still be able to deliver at my hospital, not somewhere else where they have a pediatric cardiac surgeon.  That was so good to hear and feel finalized about. She also told us that she's fairly confident at this point that we'll be able to take her home in the regular amount of time.  She shouldn't have to stay at the hospital once I'm ready to go home.  That was another relief.  The doctor also told us that she'd be over to see our daughter not long after she's born to check her out and that most likely the neonatologists will be checking her instead of our pediatrician.  We'd been told to expect the second part but it was nice to hear it again and feel more prepared.  It was a good appointment and we left feeling more prepared and confident.  We'll see her again in the beginning of July to get her final sign off before the baby is born.

The next appointment was with the high risk doctors.  I had an ultrasound so they could check her development and my cervix.  Everything looked good.  They estimated her weight to be about 4 pounds which was normal for her gestational age.  It was good to know she wasn't starting to get too big.  Hopefully this trend will continue.  She was head down this time and that was another good thing.  That meant we could talk about the cerclage coming out.  As long as she's still head down and the pediatric cardiologist signs off it will come out at my next appointment, July 7th.  They do it in the office and it's a lot less invasive than getting it put in.  They'll keep me around for a couple hours just to make sure I don't go into labour.  He told us everyone always thinks that as soon as it come out labor will start, but that's not what usually happens (more like 1 in 10).  Having a few contractions is normal because of the irritation.  They keep you for those couple hours just to make sure they don't turn into regular contractions.  Any time after that we could have a baby (wow!).  I'm still kind of in shock about that.  We'll just have to wait and see what my body does.  I might have her early or I might end up having to be induced.  Time will tell.

I had my other appointment (we're at every 2 weeks now) with my regular OBGYN on my birthday.  Everything was normal.  Her heartbeat was strong and my weight was fine.  My doctor wants me to start weekly appointments next week (this only adds one more appointment that I would have normally had) just to track my weight and her growth to make sure she's not getting too big.  If they get concerned about her size it could mean a C-Section.  Hopefully that won't be an issue.

So that's all the medical stuff thus far!  Whew.  I'm looking forward to having our daughter not only to hold her and have her on the outside, but also to stop all these doctor appointments!  They take up a lot of time and energy.  I still can't quite believe we're only a week away from the cerclage coming out and about a month from her due date.  I've spent so long worrying about getting to this point now that we're close I don't quite know what to do!