March 12th 2017: Update

I had my Detailed Fetal Echocardiogram, on 2/27/2017. The Cardiologist told me that the babies heart looked good. She told me that she could not rule out if the Baby has 4 chambers, still. Left side fully developed. Baby has the PFO and PDA open which is normal should close after birth. If it doesn't, than there would be further testing to check for CHDs. 2 of 4 arteries/veins visualized. Doctor couldn't properly visualize them entirely which means she couldn't tell if they were going the wrong way or not. Baby is lagging behind by a few weeks measurement wise. There is also a bright spot on the heart called an echogenic intracardial focus. It's a marker of downs syndrome, but since MaterniT21 came back normal, doctor doesn't want to worry about it. (Gabby also had this, so I wonder if its a genetic thing?) Doctor is concerned that with my lupus the baby could have heart rhythm issues associated with specific antibodies and with diabetes could have thickening of the heart but that they will wait for the results of the antibodies to come back and if needed follow up with a second fetal echo in 4 weeks. She also mentioned because of my Diabetes, there could also be risks associated with thickening of the heart. She mentioned that the baby should have follow up echo done at the hospital upon birth because of history and can't tell if any holes are present or not because baby isn't born yet and those typically aren't detected in utero in fetal echos.

I had my Rheumatologist Appt on 3/1/2017, Basic follow up. Rheumatologist decided, that like other specialists, he cannot properly see me/treat me for my issues, during pregnancy. To continue my Plaquenil, Tramadol and Prednisone.

I met with the Doula on March 9th and decided to hire her. So Vivi is going to be my birthing support/labor coach/advocate. For those who don't know what a Doula is, a Doula is a woman who is trained to assist another woman during childbirth and who may provide support to the family after the baby is born.

I had my pain management appointment on 3/10/2017, and the pain management doctor decided there is not anything she can really do for me while being pregnant. It was decided that it would likely be best to wait until the baby is born prior to proceeding with further care. She did mention that she can always safely repeat the trigger point injections during pregnancy if I should need them. Follow up was scheduled for the end of June after the baby is born..

I had my Gender Photo Reveal Photoshoot on March 12 2017 with the AMAZING Nicole DeHoff. It was cold, windy, and the sun was not in our favor, but I hope to see awesome photos from my photographer friend. Once they are in, I will be sure to post them.

Happy Viability Day Baby!

Image result for viability day pregnancy

Happy Viability Day Baby!

If you're born any day after today, you will be able to survive outside the womb!

And no, I don't want you to be born, I need you to continue to cook.

Just know, I'm happy we reached yet another milestone and continue to count down to your arrival!

I love you so much!

Back to MFM I go...

Frustrated because I am being bounced around and I am almost 30 weeks.  But feel a bit better knowing I'll be getting the proper care I deserve. So its back to MFM I go. I guess my regular OB feels that due to my complicated history, MFM is better off managing me. So I get a new doctor, again, to manage my pregnancy and re-learn everything. Hopefully she is good. From what I hear, she is the best. We shall see... Oh, and I am starting the process of finding a doula!

Todays Ultrasound and Dropped from MFM.... Wha? / 2-2-2017

Today, I had a second ultrasound to recheck the heart of the baby. Still need to get a fetal echo done next week but from what could be seen baby was head down and had four chambers. Enough amniotic fluid. No major structural issues seen. Wonderful heart rate as well. Yay for being heart healthy!

Also... today, unexpectedly, Dr Rajabi (MFM) dropped me as a patient for monitoring my diabetes in pregnancy and said my regular OB would manage me from now on because my blood sugars were normal. Which is weird because the diabetes isn't the only thing making me High risk. The reason I was given was that my Diabetes was controlled, but thats what my medications do anyway? Metformins job is to stable and balance blood sugars in Diabetic Patients. I also worked hard on losing nearly 30lbs, and low carb diet and got my A1C down and worked with a nutritionist. I explained this to the Dr, Dr. Sigh, and she told me that it was a good thing to be dropped from MFM. I told her my concerns, but she said to address them at my regular OB appt, with Dr. Katsuki, and so that is what I will do. Its just weird to me, because I also have Addisons. Lupus and am on a blood thinner. Plus you'd think with high risk they'd induce me. It's been a very odd experience and at my next OB appt I am going to discuss my concerns with her. I am totally fine not being induced but I know I will require a IV steroid for stress due to Addisons.... I've just always been high risk, and monitored by MFM so it was odd...
I didn't get any pictures.

Genetecist Appt - 1/29/2017



Today, I met with the geneticist. We had a very lengthy discussion about my medical history and she said an amniocentesis was not needed because there was no specific genes to target. She did however want me to get a blood draw for Hemophilia B since I am a carrier and it is important to know before birth if baby will have this as well as it affects males and females different due to the X chromosome. I figured I would post photos of that discussion, since it is a lot easier than explaining.
























































Sorry if these are not easy to read; They are screen shots of the original MyChart report. Anyway, ultimately, there will be a lot of testing ran by specialists after he is born to see if he has any of these clotting issues, or if he has IgG deficiency like his father since that cannot be determined in utero.

Anatomy Ultrasound & MaterniT21 Results - 1/19/2017


I got the MaterniT21 results back; Baby does not have Downs Syndrome, Turner Syndrome or Patau Syndrome, Yay. This makes me very happy and I feel I can breathe a little bit :)


We found out the gender of our baby, as well, from the MaterniT21, which was on December 19th, but we are not announcing the babies gender until 20-24 weeks, with a gender reveal photo-shoot.


I met with Dr. Rajabi today and had my anatomy ultrasound to check on babies organs. Everything looked normal, but baby was being stubborn again, and so I have to go back in two weeks for additional ultrasound images.

Here are today's images 







Belly Progression - 14 to 17 Weeks


14 weeks 
12/15/2016


Time is flying. I am 15 weeks 2 days today. 
I bet by 20 weeks, I am huge like I was with Gabby haha. The interesting thing is, I dont gain with any pregnancy. I lose. I am down to 233.2 today. Thats over 20lbs lost and I aint even trying haha. It just means after the baby is born, my goal of 190 is more realistic. Its crazy to think about though because I struggled to lose weight before pregnancy and now its just falling off haha.


I wish my belly would round out 
I hate having this B shaped belly...
Anyway.... 16 weeks.



17 weeks today. Almost halfway there.
Still havent felt baby move yet. 
3 weeks to 1 month for Gender Reveal.
3 weeks to 1 month for Anatomy Scan
3 weeks to 1 month for Fetal Echo
3 weeks until 20 weeks. The halfway mark.
Lots to do in the next month.
Oh yeah... And I got lots of stretch marks appearing haha. I dont really know how that makes me feel. It still seems so unreal to me.... Almost like I am dreaming.
I wonder if my B belly will ever go away lol.
Oh yeah... I am 230.2lbs. Which means I have lost 25lbs roughly. Hopefully I can keep it off lol.