January 04, 2005
37wk Ultrasound, Checkup, and BIG News
This afternoon I had my second prenatal visit with my new Houston ob/gyn. We started out with an ultrasound. The tech was very cheerful and kept making comments about "cute feet and hands" and "there's her upper lip/profile/thigh." She checked the amount of amniotic fluid (good) and measured Olivia. Then she gave us a couple of pictures (which I will have to scan in later) and sent us on to another exam room. We forgot to ask about the baby's measurements then, but we got them later.
My vitals were taken (blood pressure - good, weight - possibly up a pound or two, urine - everything ok), then I was instructed to strip from the waist down. After doing so, the nurse returned to tell me we had to move to the room next door. Rather than redressing, she had me put on a hospital gown over my shirt. Unfortunately, it wasn't big enough to close in the back, so I got to put a second gown on backwards just to keep my butt covered as I walked the three feet to the next room.
The reason I was moved was because they wanted to do another fetal non-stress test and the first room didn't have a monitor. Olivia proved difficult again and the only way the nurse was able to get a decent heart reading was to yank the straps on the monitor as tightly as possible and manually press the monitor into my abdomen. Calling it uncomfortable is a bit of an understatement. Olivia also refused to move, aside from a few kicks at the very beginning. Even using the zapper provoked no response, aside from causing her heartrate to accelerate. (But the doctor later said that was fine.) It was during this test that I had to break out the yoghurt drink as mentioned in my last post.
Dr. Storey said that despite the difficulties with the non-stress test, the readings looked good. She also checked my cervix (the reason for being de-pantsed) and said I still hadn't started to dilate. We all realized I hadn't gotten the results of my group-B strep test, so she had a nurse call my Austin doctor, who promptly faxed over the results (negative).
At the beginning of the non-stress test, the nurse had checked the records to see what the tech had estimated Olivia's weight at. She's up to about 8 1/2 lbs and is now in the 95th percentile for her gestational age. Dr. Storey was concerned that Olivia could be up to 9lbs by next week, and with my height/size (I'm only 5'3"), vaginal delivery could be difficult and traumatic, and she may not even fit through my birth canal. We all promptly decided that a Cesarean section would be best for her and for me.
Dr. Storey wanted to deliver her a week early, but that was a Saturday, so she first attempted to schedule it for the day before. But there were some conflicts with various parties that needed to be present at the proper date and time (first thing in the morning), so I ended up getting scheduled for Wednesday, Jan 12th, at 7:30am.
Can I freak out now?? Our baby is going to be delivered in ONE WEEK! I am so excited and so scared!
Another Gestational Diabetes update
Last week I had the last appointment with my endocrinologist. We went over my logs, he did a quick physical checkup, then he upped a couple of my dosages by two units (lunch and bedtime). Dr. Moore was fine with me continuing to send my logs in to his office until I deliver. During delivery, a Houston endocrinologist on staff at the hospital will be monitoring me.
Dr. Moore also told me that in these last few weeks, I might actually have to start reducing my dosages. Dropping a few units each wouldn't be abnormal. I think he's right. The last couple of days, I've dropped low unexpectedly. Yesterday morning, I started to get hypoglycemic three times before lunch even though I was eating the same stuff as usual and eating/injecting at the proper times. One time, my glucose was at an all-time low of 54. (I start showing hypoglycemia symptoms when my blood sugar hits the low 70's.) Today, we checked after lunch and despite eating the required amount of carbs, my glucose level was 85 instead the usual 120-125. I was at my ob/gyn's office at the time, in the middle of an exam, and had to break out a yoghurt drink I'd packed "just in case." I'm glad I brought it or things could have gotten ugly.
I'm really going to have to watch my blood sugar closely now.