Sjogren's Mom : Placenta

30 weeks

amop — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:20:03 GMT

Nine weeks and counting...

I had my latest appointment with my high risk group this afternoon - everything still looks great. The heart is ticking away like it should, and all the measurements show that baby and placenta are growing. My week-by-week book indicates that the baby should be 3lbs at 30 weeks...and although by LMP I'm 30 weeks, I'm 3 days shy based on ovulation.

Either way, the baby was estimated at 3lbs 2oz +/- 10%...so 2lbs 13oz to 3lbs 7oz. They are saying he's "on track," but the question always arises between my husband and myself concerning how big the baby will actually be. We joked that having an "average" size baby (7 or 8lbs) would definitely throw us...as we're used to a baby weighing several pounds more. Time will tell.

They confirmed today that I won't have to take a second glucose screen! YEAH! Supposedly if I was on steroids to manage the inflammation, gestational diabetes would have been nearly a for-sure. Since I'm only on the Plaquenil, the risk is lower and thus, if I passed the first screen I don't have to take a second one later on. Phew.

I am finding myself short of breath already - don't recall that happening until later on the first time around. Nothing like trying to sing your son to sleep and finding you can't get all of the words out. At least I have the excuse of holding him in my arms and rocking back and forth!

In The Clear

amop — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:20:35 GMT

Yes, I officially received the "all clear" on the baby's heart at yesterday's appointment. What great news...and although it wasn't unexpected given the feedback we've been receiving, it was nice to finally have a definitive answer. There isn't any chance (well, I guess there's always a possibility...) that the baby will have heart block as it would have been detected by now.

The baby's weight is 1 lb 14 oz +/- 4 oz. The "average" weight is just about 2 lbs at this point, so we're right on track. They'll continue to monitor the baby's weight, the placenta, and me once a month through the remainder of the pregnancy (gestational diabetes and swelling primarily). My next appointment is in late May, but until then I still have the lovely glucose screening to endure.

I also have a "little exhibitionist" as the ultrasound technician quipped. Seems yesterday the baby was VERY active (and I could feel it!), so much so that getting the basic shots were challenging, and she wasn't able to get a profile or face shot for our "ultrasound album." However, the baby did pose for a crotch shot. Definitely all boy. Think they've taken one of those pictures each time we've been in...only shot he'll pose for.

Meanwhile, I'm feeling the baby move much more. Last pregnancy, my son only seemed to move on my left side...this pregnancy I feel the movement much more on my right side. Funny. As I sit here typing he's kicking away. The other joy is the continual heartburn. Didn't have that the first time around...and yes, my son was born with a full head of thick, dark hair. Need to make a Walmart run for some Tums pretty soon!

22w2d

amop — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:35:42 GMT

I was asked today how far along I was, and for the first time in my pregnancy I wasn't exactly sure. I know during my first pregnancy that once I reached a certain point, my responses (like most other expectant Moms) were more generalized in terms of months instead of weeks and days. With this pregnancy, I was expecting that I would know more precisely how far along I was given that the 26 week mark is so important. I actually had to double check this afternoon, and indeed, I've just past the 22 week mark.

I had my appointment with the high risk group yesterday, and everything continues to look great. I have 2 more appointments (every other week) scheduled right now, and after that point I'll be through the 26 week mark. The heartbeat was slightly lower yesterday (140bpm) and the measurements were a bit lower - which the doctor said was completely normal as the pregnancy progressed.

I did inquire about what my relationship with this practice would be like after the 26 week mark yesterday, and wasn't surprised to hear that the appointments would be monthly rather than weekly. However, the doctor mentioned that they'd be watching the size...or both the baby AND the placenta. I knew that after the 26th week one of the things that they would start watching more closely would be the baby's size, as babies born to Moms with Sjogrens sometimes have a lower birth weight (which wouldn't be the worst thing in my case!). However, I didn't know that the placenta could experience similar growth retardation...which would obviously have impacts on the baby's well being. Guess they didn't want to spring all of the concerns on me at one time, so I'm wondering what the next appointment will reveal.

To recap, post-26 weeks, we'll be monitoring the baby's size, the placenta's size/growth, my swelling (joints and extremities due to the Sjogrens), and I'll have two rounds of gestational diabetes testing (as Sjogrens Moms are at a higher risk for developing gestational diabetes...good thing I lost that weight before this pregnancy...which lowered my risk in general of developing this pregnancy-related condition).