Appointment Update
I had my follow-up from last week’s hospital stay. I made the two hour trek south to Seattle yesterday, which wasn’t too bad (on the way down, at least). I had a few bouts of crying, thinking about what would happen if I had to stay again and how much I’d miss Skip and Calista, but overall, it was a good drive.
Once I got there, we went over how I am feeling (ha ha) and I had to be monitored for a while to see how my contractions are doing. They were happy to see that my uterus isn’t nearly as irritable as it was last week. We talked about other medication options due to the IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) pain I’ve been having, but they said I’d only be on the Ibuprofen until 28 weeks, so I decided to tough it out instead of taking something stronger. That gives me about a week and a half to go on that crap.
I had an ultrasound to check cervical length (2.8 cm — they want it over 2.5 cm, so that’s good) and the babies’ fluid levels (both good). It also appears that Baby B has finally slid into place alongside Baby A, instead of being transverse. Baby A is head down, Baby B is breech.
I had a blood draw to check for rH antibodies and got a Rhogam shot as well. I think that was about it. It doesn’t sound like much, but with all of the waiting, and the monitoring, I was there from 1:30 pm to 4 pm.
4 pm is an Ibuprofen dose time, so I was trying to get back to my van to eat something and take my pill when I got hit with the ever fun IBS pain. Normally, it lasts about 15-20 minutes, so I figured I’d suffer through what I assumed would be a brief attack.
I got to the van and ate my apple, and then took my pill. My pain continued. It continued to the point where I was practically in tears trying to drive myself home. That will be the last time I make the drive to Seattle alone, that’s for sure.
I also got stuck in construction and then later accident traffic. It took me about 45 minutes longer than the usual 2 hours to get home. My low back started to hurt and by the time I was 1/2 hour from home, I was ready to stop at a friend’s to lay down, but I decided to push through and make it home. I did finally make it home, then I ate and laid down and stayed down until this morning. The IBS pain lasted from 4 pm yesterday until about 10 am this morning (though as I write this, I think it’s coming back — great). Note to self: more fiber.
I felt pretty good about the appointment, which is a big improvement over last week. Last week I felt like I’d be lucky to get to 28 weeks, now I am feeling like 34-36 weeks is going to be doable. Hard, but doable. One day at a time.
I had a good cry on the way home (when don’t I cry these days?) for a friend. I was thinking about my own situation and how hard it’s been for me, and then my thoughts turned to her. She recently lost her baby at 16 weeks while her husband is in the military in Iraq. And this isn’t her first loss — prior to her pregnancy with her son, she lost a daughter at 22 weeks.
My heart just breaks for her, and I realize how lucky I am to be where I am right now. As miserable as I might be, I am extremely lucky that my boys are doing well and I hope it stays that way. I wish I could change things for her, though. I just felt so sad driving home thinking about how she must be feeling and how I really need to remember how fortunate I am to be so miserable.
Ellie, if you’re reading, I am sorry for your loss. I am sorry to be such a complainer about my own situation. I wish you peace and healing during this time.
Anyhow, that’s about it. Oh, I did ask for the babies’ weights as of the last ultrasound. Baby A was 1 lb 12 oz last week and Baby B was 2 lbs 4 oz They seem to gain about 4 oz a week right now (based on past ultrasounds) so I am guessing that this week, they are about 2 lbs and 2 lbs 8 oz.
I guess that’s all for now! I’m trying to take this resting thing more seriously, so I’m camped out in the recliner while Calista is watching a My Little Pony movie (Have you ever seen one? They are awful!!).
