12/29/17 - Emergency OB Appt

So... I couldn't pee... like, at all in the last 24 hours...So I found myself in my regular OB office where I met with my OB, Dr. Yoder-Katsuki, for a routine visit, and my inability to pee. I thought I either had a bad UTI, or was badly dehydrated. I ended up having to get cathed at this appointment, which was so much fun *rolls eyes* and they still only could get 100cc of urine, amber color, which meant I had to be dehydrated. They dipped the urine, and there was glucose (no surprise, I am a diabetic) and protein in my urine, and ketones, and so they said I was dehydrated, to go home, drink water, and if it didn't resolve within 24 hours to go to the ER. Thankfully, it resolved, and all was well.

Today, I also had a 3D 4D Ultrasound through 4D Sneak Peak of Cleveland, at 16 weeks. We re-confirmed the gender of the baby, though everyone has to wait to find out what it is until 20-24 weeks when we do the photo reveal. 

Baby was stubborn, as it has been in every imaging thus far. I also got re-assurance that baby was growing just fine, and doing well. We will be going back for 1 or 2 more 3D 4D Sessions, around 32 weeks-36 weeks.

See my next post for those photos ;)

NT Scan / MaterniT21 Test / Second Trimester Here We Come!

So, as you can see, I've made it successfully to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

No... that is not a nipple, that is actually a bruise from my Lovonox injections that I am on. I don't know why I have to explain that I wouldn't post nipples on the internet, but thats besides the point.

I am excitedly awaiting enterence of second trimester! Woohoo! The risk goes down a bit, because most of my losses have been first trimester, but I will still walk on eggshells until after 24 weeks and the fetal echo is done.

I'm still very sick, and have been struggling with all day sickness, but preggo pops help! They really are the only thing that helps! I don't know what is in them, but they are miracles! 

As you know, I'm insistent. I fought with the doctor on MaterniT21, and ended up getting the test, because its a blood test, and the risks were warranting the test.

So, today, I had the NT Scan which is the test that looks for down syndrome in the baby. Hopefully everything with that, and the MaterniT21 comes back normal.

Anyway, here are the photos from the NT Scan...

As far as the ultrasound goes, the baby wasn't really being cooperative. 

He/She was laying face down, spine upward, and was sleeping because he/she wouldn't move at all. The ultrasound tech said baby was being lazy. We poked and prodded and I laughed and coughed and baby wouldn't move. 
Heart rate was 156bpm and baby measured 12 weeks 3 days even though I am 13 weeks here. 
NT scan showed nuchal fold of 2mm, which is negative for downs per ultrasound, but we got the NIPT MaterniT21 just to be 100% sure.

My next appointment is on 1/19, but I will have a surprise 3D 4D Ultrasound Reveal for my sister Felicia, when she comes up for Christmas, which will be on 12/29 :) I will update/post photos from that visit!

Also, here is my 13 week photo, since I am so close ;) Can you tell I'm excited?

MFM Consult

So... today, I saw one of the MFM Docs at Hillcrest. The guy I saw is Dr. Rajabi. It was my initial MFM consult; This doctor I didn't really like/agree with, but I tolerated. He tried to fight me on getting a MaterniT21 Plus test, and said it was for 35 and older, and I quickly told him he was wrong, and I would gladly pay out of pocket for the test that tests for trisomies, as well as the sex chromosomes due to my high risk. He scheduled my nuchal translucency scan, and he put a referral into genetics. I will ask again at my next appointment for the MaterniT21 test, because I feel it is better to be safe than sorry with my medical history. Here is the plan thus far for management of my high risk pregnancy. Keeping in mind, this can change as I progress and if other complications come up (which hopefully none do).

Announcing the News To My Mother, Nana and Stepfather

When one becomes pregnant after everything I've gone through, you often think of creative ways to announce you're pregnant to everyone. I figured I was going down to Florida for Thanksgiving, and that if I had shown up with a baby the following year, that my mother and grandmother would be very confused, so I had to think of a creative way to tell her.

I knew my mother liked crossword puzzles, and so I created a crossword puzzle for her to fill in, and then got her a box with baby shoes in it. Here is a photo of both:

SURPRISE!!

Grandma and Grandpa:
Please keep these booties safe
I will need them back in June!

What?? You're really pregnant? I'm gonna be a grandmother again?

Ma Look...
Franky Guess what? you're gonna be a papa again!

(Side Note: I wish I would have video taped her reaction but photos are just as awesome)

Dating Ultrasound

Today, I had my dating ultrasound which, surprise surprise, a woman with my issues DOES actually know their conception date, even though the doctors thought I was crazy, and it matched my date of conception. 

They said because of my history and having PCOS, that they just needed one on file to be 100% sure that my due date was June 15th, especially with needing to be induced. I thought "OK, that makes sense" and went along with it, because I wanted to see my baby again.

It turns out, when you only see your boyfriend once or twice a month, and know EXACTLY when you did the deed as a result, that even doctors don't believe you, so they have to confirm the dates matched. 

Of course, the dates did match, and I was given the due date of June 15th 2017, but there was talk of induction at 38 or 39 weeks pregnancy, and will see how things continue to progress before we get there.

Anyway, here is photos from today's ultrasound :)

Not the best photos, I'll admit, but it was my baby developing nonetheless, at 8 weeks 6 days.

The ultrasound report; I admit, I was very giddy to see the word "viable" put there :)

My next appt is on 11/22 to see MFM, a doctor named Dr. Rajabi. I'll be sure to update :)

First OB Appt

Today, I had my very first prenatal appointment with a wonderful OB named Dr. Yoder Katsuki. She was the OB my high risk GYN recommended. She went down my list of health conditions, and my medications and told me what to start taking and what to not stop taking. She than scheduled the dating ultrasound, and referred to MFM. She and MFM would co-manage me. We also got to see baby peanut today for the first time. I cried! Cannot wait for my dating ultrasound!

A closer look at baby, at 6 weeks; This ultrasound photo was very emotional for me to take, because last year on 11/4/2015; we were told we were miscarrying our son, Avery Matthew, and there were no fetal poles, and the sac hadn't increased and there was no heartbeat. This ultrasound overjoyed me, but filled me with emotions, because not only was there a teeny tiny baby there, but you could see electrical activity, which would develop into a forming heartbeat in the coming weeks. It was re-assuring, that baby was here to stay. It was also discouraging slightly, because babies CRL measured 6 weeks and 1 day, when baby should have been 7 weeks and 4 days, but my OB told me that at this early, its hard to tell, and they would order another ultrasound for proper dating.

Lovonox Injections....

Today... I started my Lovonox Injections, of 40mg in the AM and 40mg in the PM; These prevent me from clotting early on, and keep the baby in utero, and prevent early losses. I also was started on Progesterone in Oil Injections again, which would do the job of the placenta until it could take over. Many woman with PCOS have low progesterone levels, and so when they become pregnant, their body cannot hold the baby and continue to have it develop, so they have early miscarriages; This is one of the pieces of what kept happening to me.