36WEEKS
Things have been moving a long just fine with this second pregnancy. I did have that concern about having pressure down low at about 29 weeks, but that turned out to be Braxton Hicks. It is a tightening but not pain and you just have to get off your feet.
This week, I went in for an OB visit and I asked the Dr if the baby was/is still breech. He measured my belly (right on track) and listen to the baby's heart beat (sounded good). Then he felt the baby belly and said he did think that the baby was still breech. He asked for a sonogram.
The sonographer confirmed that the baby was/is breech. Then she checked several things to help determine his weight and the amount of fluid. She went to get the Dr (not usual). He came in and watched the monitor. Things were more matter-of-fact. Their conversation was not as much about what position my son is in, but about fluid levels.
The Dr left the room with my chart. I could tell something was up, but did not know what exactly all of this meant. The sonographer explained that the Dr was less concerned about the baby's breech position and more concerned about the low levels of fluid that she was able to measure. She thought he might want me to see a specialist. The Dr came back in and said just that. I was to go, right then, to a specialist in the building next door. Bypassing checking out at the OB and then bypassing fully checking in (paper work) at the specialist, they took me right in for another sonogram. I was concerned and asked 1,000 questions.
The new sonographer checked everything (just as the first one had) and came up with about the same weight est -- around 6 lbs possibly about 6.4 lbs at this point. She did not tell me about the fluid and just wanted me to wait until the specialist doctor could come in and double check and go over things with me. The wait seems long.
There was a knock on the door. It was my Mom! When I called just to let her know I was going to a specialist and I would know more later... she left work and drove over to be with me. My husband had our two year old son, or he would have done the same thing. It was a blessing not to be alone. And it was on my Mom’s birthday too!!
After what seem like a long time of the specialist doctor checking and re-checking the same things that I had seen 4x that day, he finally said that the baby was Ok. His heart beat is good, He's breathing, He's moving, Etc.... (Exhale!!) He said that the fluid level is low, but not as low as what they had thought. I would not have to go to the hospital. Praise God.
He put me on bed rest. He said I need to get off my feet, lay down on my left side, and drink lots of water. I will go back to see the specialist on Monday afternoon for a non stress test (which tracks the baby's movements and heart rate) and another sonogram to check the fluid levels.
My OB called me later that night to follow up and go over what was done and said. He is so careful and very thoughtful to call. He explained that had they not found more measureable fluid, he would have sent me on to the hospital for an IV and we would go from there. If the levels had been too low, they might have started to talk about a need to deliver the baby early. Being that he is breech, this would mean a C-section. Thankfully, the levels of fluid that were measured at the specialist office allowed me to come home and to be on bed rest. Now we have time to pray.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE BABY & PREGNANCY:
- That the fluid level will increase
- That the baby will be able to stay in there as long as he needs to for his lungs and everything to fully develop / for his overall health
- That the baby will turn (which the Dr says is and can be related to the fluid level going back up) head down and that we will be able to go through labor and delivery naturally
OTHER PRAYERS FOR OUR FAMILY:
- That my older son will not miss out on Mommy while I have to lay down / not getting to run round with him or get out at the park
(I want both of them to have the BEST everyday and yet it is now very important that I lay down and that I am not keeping my usual pace or schedule...because the fluid levels could go back down.)
- Overall peace and health for our family
- Mental and Emotional prep for whatever happens
(I can't plan. I can't worry. I need and want to TRUST GOD in all of this and just be open to what needs to happen with this sweet baby.)
- Other things going on... For our house to sell fast! For more work and God's provision in this time.
THANK YOU!
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Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She/He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She/He's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement. Next week, at 38 weeks, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she/he's in a head-down position, but if she/he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly. You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy,
it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time.
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