11 weeks since my last scare (LONG POST)

The night of January 29th I had some cramping but I ended up sleeping it off. Yesterday, the 30th I had cramping off and on all day. I put an email in that morning to be seen (cervical check) and they couldn't fit me in until 3:00PM.

I worked all day and made it to my appointment. Baby looked great but my cervix measured just about a cm less at 2.8cm when it was 3.7cm just 6 days earlier at my anatomy scan. I was instructed to begin vaginal progesterone suppositories, and to go over to L&D to be monitored. I told them I would be back for the monitoring.

I came back about 6:30PM, still cramping off and on. My OB ended up being the first doctor I saw (whom I still am not very fond of). She gave me a speculum exam and stated my cervix looked long and closed and that it was "very posterior" which I am told is great. Next came the even more painful part...the manual exam. She felt around and pressed so hard because it was hard to reach my cervix (also a good thing I hear). She tried sticking her finger in my cervix and stated I was probably about a centimeter to a centimeter and a half dilated.

I asked about being monitored for my cramping and she said it isn't something they do because it is so early. That they don't usually intervene until 22 weeks at the earliest. While I am aware of this, I was only being asked to be monitored and if in fact I was contracting or that is something they are picking up it could be something they could surely stop. 

She said she would consult with my MFM doctor on what he would like to do regarding a possible rescue cerclage and that in the meantime she would have one of the senior residents perform a second exam to see if they felt the same thing. The resident said she agreed about my cervix being really high/very posterior and difficult to get to. She also stated being that the exam was so difficult to perform was a good thing. (Oh so painful though) she said that I might be maybe a half a centimeter dilated. 

The resident asked if I was cramping while I was here and I said I was and I don't know why no one is looking into it or monitoring it. She said it might not be picked up because I'm not that far along but we tried it, and I appreciated the effort rather than doing nothing. 

The Toco didn't pick up anything and my MFM doctor decided against a cerclage because if I am in fact cramping it wouldn't be a good idea to place it then, which I agree with. So I have my regular scheduled OB appointment on Friday. (I really need to switch my OB) and then my follow up scan on Wednesday which I plan to consult with the doctor at that point and see what the new game plan is.

I've heard things about the pessary so maybe that would be an option as well to avoid the surgical route...Well it is Thursday morning hello 19 weeks.

Anatomy Scan

I had my anatomy scan last week at 18 weeks on the dot and all was well with baby. He measured ahead and weighed 9oz already! Over half a pound. He was kicking around and keeping his hands near his face. For the 3rd time we verified he is still in fact a boy! THANKFULLY my cervix looked good, it was between 3.6cm and 3.7cm so no changes, which I am happy about! It's crazy to think next Thursday I will be halfway through this pregnancy. I have my follow up ultrasound/cervical check with MFM February 8th. I am counting down the days! In the meantime I have my second OB appointment this Friday. Last time I only saw my OB twice so I wonder what this appointment will be like. Probably urine, weight, and blood pressure I'm assuming. Until next time!

Made an INBETWEEN Appointment

On Friday, and days before I was feeling a lot of pressure, so Friday morning a made a point to call my MFM's office and see if an ultrasound could be scheduled to make sure my cervix didn't decide to act up. They fit me right in thankfully, they more than anyone knows what can happen in mere days never mind almost two weeks.

I was a nervous wreck, as usual. I went in she checked baby's heart rate abdominal, snapped a cute profile photo for me and went in vaginally to check my cervix. So took quite a few measurements and for the first time she took one with applied pressure. I haven't had that with this pregnancy until that day.

All measurements taken were within the 3cm range. I was also surprised that my largest measurement taken over 4cm with with pressure applied, I'll say it one more time...WITH PRESSURE APPLIED. Usually, from experience with my last pregnancy that is when the cervix will change such as displaying funneling and a shortened cervix, in my case that did not happen, thankfully. The ultrasound tech made a point to say "baby is right there" meaning right on my cervix which is most likely causing all the pressure. His big ole 5oz noggin!

All my measurements ranged between 3.6cm - 4cm+ which in the doctor's eyes meant NO CHANGE from last week. I left SO happy and knew that I would be able to relax over the weekend up until my Level II on Thursday, Jan 25th. Here is to hoping Thursday I will be hearing that baby is growing well and everything looks great. Just 6 weeks and a few days until I surpass my last pregnancy. 

Week 17 on Thursday

I will be heading into my 17th week on Thursday. I am glad I am being checked out every 2 weeks BUT the time in between appointments kills me. At my two week check up last week a BOY was confirmed! Also, my cervix had an average measurement of 3.6cm so it appears I am .2 cm up from the previous measurement, which is completely fine with me.

I had to get an EKG done because the doctor wasn't too fond of my heart rate. It has always been high but they wanted to get me tested to rule out any abnormalities with my heart. I'm still waiting on those results. That test was done on Thursday, Jan 10th so If I haven't heard anything I'm thinking I may be in the clear. I also had an early glucose test done. I PASSED with flying colors. I will probably be retested at 28 weeks the nutritionist informed me. It's so crazy to think that I could make it that far and beyond. 

This time last time around shit was already hitting the fan. I was on bedrest with cerclage number 1 already placed. Aside from elevated blood pressure and a higher than average heart rate things are moving fairly well and I couldn't be happier. I just need things to stay this way and all will be well in my world.

My Level II (Anatomy Scan) is scheduled for my 18th week. That means 10 days from today which will include my cervical check. I know things can change in a split second so I'm so paranoid right before my ultrasounds. I don't think I will ever be able to relax until I have my term baby in my arms.