Welcome to another week ladies! As always, feel free to participate if you're pregnancy is high risk for any reason.
How far along are you?
Why are you considered high-risk?
Any additional monitoring or testing this week?
Any questions/concerns/news?
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week?
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be?
Re: High Risk Check In 4/10
How far along are you? 24 weeks today
Why are you considered high-risk? Connective Tissue Disease - specifically Elhers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) - 5 sec explanation is i make crap collagen which is the glue that keeps your skin/ligaments/organs strong. So i'm super bendy and tear easily. Specific to pregnancy - this means I'm high risk for PROM, preterm labor, incompetent cervix, pelvic issues, breech baby, precipitous delivery, hemorrhaging, and in rare cases uterine rupture. I only had the precipitous labor with my 1st - but each pregnancy up the stakes since the uterus has already been stretched out before.
Any additional monitoring or testing this week? Nothing planned (yet) this week - last week had emergency cervical ultrasound after spotting/cramping (still long and shut) and a follow up next week to determine if I should/can fly to FL this month.
Any questions/concerns/news? Just got off a week of "rest" and feel like crap so I put myself back on rest but trying to remember to stretch every hour or so... the computer chair is just way too much pressure on my lady bits. Anxiety is starting to hike up as I realize I need to get my butt in gear on thinking through birth decisions because of my potentially shortened timeline. I want to make informed decision regarding ECV, CS, spinal/epi (which don't always work well on people with EDS due to dislocating vertebrae and immunity to some drugs)
Anyone else on a preterm watch? TMI question but the whole O's being a no no is driving me nuts - My drive is usually at a 0 but by doing nothing for weeks I keep having super sexual dreams and pretty sure I go in my sleep anyway so then I feel like I should relieve some pressure but I do know i get contractions after O's. Soo not helping my mood!
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week? I made it to viability! That is a huge relief. Every additional week is even better, but if the worst happened and I went into labor tomorrow, there's still 90% chance this boy would make it - esp with how ferociously he kicks my cervix.
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be? Author. I keep saying I'm going to finish that first novel I started 6 years ago and write down the other 5 in my head.
How far along are you?
28 weeks today!
Why are you considered high-risk?
T1 Diabetes
Any additional monitoring or testing this week?
Monthly US with the MFM on Thursday. Fetal echo was 3 weeks ago and everything looks fantastic so theoretically we shouldn't have any big surprises from here on out.
Any questions/concerns/news?
None that I can think of right now.
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week?
So. Many. Kicks!! They are fairly uncomfortable, even painful at times, but at least the little dude is doing well in there!
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be?
I would be a veterinarian and either own my own small practice or work in large animal medicine. I'm already a licensed vet tech but vet school is sooooo pricey and I just don't want to spend so much time away from my family for the next 8-12 years.
It's crazy how expensive vet school is versus what they get paid! My employee's daughter is a vet and he said it's not worth it lol she even cut costs by going to a school in the carribean or something but he says she'll never pay off the debt anyway.
How far along are you? 23 +4

Why are you considered high-risk? pre-diabetes, found out baby has heart defects
Any additional monitoring or testing this week? nothing this week. Next week we have a fetal echo scheduled and then a consult with the specialist and genetics counselor afterwards
Any questions/concerns/news? Nope. Just trying to not worry.
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week? I felt baby girl kick my hand from the outside for the first time last night. I almost cried. Caught me completely off guard and I loved every bit of feeling her kick me that hard. I just thanked God a little more that she was that strong and for that moment. When I went to try and have DH feel, she stopped kicking and was quiet. He called her a little stinker already.
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be? I'm not sure. There are a few things that I've always wanted to do but just never did or could.
@gingerbride26: Wow. I've never heard of that before and it sounds scary. I'm glad that everything is good right now. The no O thing sucks but at least you know it is keeping baby safe. Yay for viability! I cannot wait to make it there on Friday!
@talesofasocialintrovert: Yay for a good echo and no surprises. I agree with the hard kicks. For me, it just makes me feel better to feel her because of issues so I'll take the pain with a smile!
BFP 2/2016 M/C 3/2016 @ 5 weeks
Trying for #4 since 11/2015
How far along are you? I’m 24+5 today. Will be 25 weeks on Thursday. Why are you considered high-risk? I was referred to the MFM fornbaby’s suspected cleft lip/palate. MFM confirmed cleft lip yesterday and said he does believe it extends into the palate, but it’s hard to tell. We did an amnio yesterday as well, to (hopefully) rule out any chromosomal abnormalities and will have to go for a fetal echo at 28 weeks to check baby’s heart as doctor said they form at the same time and it’s not uncommon for cleft babies to have heart problems.
Any additional monitoring or testing this week? I had the amnio yesterday and high tech ultrasound at the MFM. No other tests until 4/26 when I have my glucose test. Everyone (including me) expects me to fail it as I had GD with my first baby.
Any questions/concerns/news?oh I have tons of questions. So many I don’t know where to start. Most of them can’t be answered until my baby is born and we can determine exactly how extensive her cleft is and whether she will be able to eat well enough to stay out of NICU/go home/avoid a feeding tube.
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week? I LOOOOVE feeling (and starting to see) her move. She makes me laugh with her stubbornness (she HATES the ultrasound machine and does her best to thwart any and all attempts to get good pictures of her). And knowing that she looks healthy is all I care about.
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be? I would loooove to work as in the fbi as an intelligence analyst and/or forensic accountant in counterterrorism.
Why are you considered high-risk? History of hypertension (although prior to getting pregnant) and AMA
Any additional monitoring or testing this week? I have an appointment today! Glucose test and who knows what else.
Any questions/concerns/news? My BP has been really good so far - I'm hoping to ask my doctor today when it started to creep up with DD for comparison. I'm also still concerned about this hernia that I have, but she's told me that we really have to wait until after everything shrinks back down after delivery to see if it's going to require surgery or not.
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week? This baby moves SO much more than DD, I swear. Maybe it's because I drink more caffeine?? LOL
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be? This is a hard question for me! Maybe it's also the reason I have a hard time telling people what I view my career path as. I think maybe a process engineer and/or consultant - I love evaluating processes and systems to figure out how to make them more efficient. But I also LOVE to change projects constantly and be involved in lots of things at once. I tend to get bored easily, so once something is past the innovative phase I lose interest. If anyone wants to translate that into a job title for me, feel free.
BTW I love this GTKY question!
@angleyeskkhr that sounds like fun - I read a romance novel where the heroine brought down a drug/crime lord through forensic accounting and it sounded pretty BA
@MichelleAG05 I know exactly what you are talking about! I'm a mech e turned program manager/PMO lead and my masters is in "Engineering Management" which is a lot of process improvement and streamlining. Where I am right now I think they'd call you a SCRUM master if you adopt AGILE processes or a 6-Sigma Blackbelt if you used that methodology. We have people all the time that are sent in by corporate as a "red team" or "tiger team" to watch how we work, tell us we suck, and tell us how we should do it better - sounds like what you want to do :-) I know other companies hire consultants to come in and tell them how to improve - like Office Space ;-)
How far along are you? 28+3
Why are you considered high-risk? Chronic hypertension
Any additional monitoring or testing this week? Not this week, but OB and MFM in 2 weeks
Any questions/concerns/news? At my last OB appt, last week?, I was told that I might be developing polyhydramios
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week? I'm getting a lot stronger kicks and feeling more and more movements.
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be? I think, I'd like to be a professional potato chip taster - or any kind of food taster. Possibly a professional BNB visitor - like work for AirBNB and get paid to book stays and travel the world (a friend of mine has this job!!)
28 + 1! Third trimester--woot, woot!
Why are you considered high-risk?
AMA, and a history of pre-term labour.
Any additional monitoring or testing this week?
Had a follow up ultrasound on Mon because my placenta is borderline low; still is, so I may get another ultrasound in a month. GTT tomorrow....ugh.
Any questions/concerns/news?
Mild panic last week that I was heading into pre-term labour with this one, but FFN came back negative, and while there's been some cervix change, not much.
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week?
My midwife told me that the cramping/contracting I'm feeling is quite normal for a third pregnancy at my age, so phew. (I've never had this with previous pregnancies; when I delivered my last one, I was 7 cm dilated at a check up, and had NO IDEA. No contractions, nothing. So feeling anything this early was FREAKING ME OUT.) Little man is kicking up a storm, and is...on the big side.
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be?
Professor/researcher/writer...basically, what I hope to do once this dang PhD is finished!
~~Wife to one amazing man~~
~~Mama to 3 crazy boys~~
~~Wrangler of 2 cats~~
Thanks for posting.
@gingerbride26 EDS sounds really complicated. I hope the rest of your pregnancy and delivery go smoothly!!!
How far along are you? 29 weeks 3 days (due date is now June 24th)
Why are you considered high-risk? Insulin dependent T2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, Von Willebrands blood disorder, chronic hypertension prior to pregnancy.
Any additional monitoring or testing this week? I have an ultrasound on Friday. I had the fetal echo last month and there was a sign of slight thickening of the heart, but the cardiologist said it's common in insulin dependent moms and usually goes away by 6 months of age and not to worry. Still worried, but hoping it will be all good
Any questions/concerns/news? Can anyone share any positive labor stories? As a ftm, I'm starting to worry!
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week? His kicks feel stronger, the last couple of days he's been kicking me in the bladder so hard that it feels like my urethra hurts. I am not complaining, super thankful that he is so strong.
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be? My mom and I talked about this, we would love to be able to open an animal rescue and have a big property where we had the resources to rehabilitate animals. I would probably handle finances, since I love to work with numbers and am good at budgeting and my mom spends like crazy but is so compassionate towards animals (and humans) and is good at networking. It's fun to dream.
For positive labor stories, I was induced and it ended in a c section but DD was healthy and happy so I consider it a positive
I am not sure if I participated in this before... Probably not, I was not sure I really qualified as High Risk until my last appointment
How far along are you? 27 weeks!
Why are you considered high-risk? Hypertension, BMI and previous C- Section
Any additional monitoring or testing this week? Growth ultrasound on monday
Any questions/concerns/news? Not off the top of my head.
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week? we hit the final week of the 2nd Trimester and scheduled for 7/6 for C-section.
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be? Funeral Director/ Mortician
Why are you considered high-risk? Hypertension, AMA
Any additional monitoring or testing this week? Regular 28 week appointment at the end of the month, as well as 28 wk growth scan, I have to do my glucose test at some point in the next 2 weeks too, and mid-may I go back to the hematologist to check my platelets again even though they were normal the last time they were checked. Geez, that’s a lot...
Any questions/concerns/news? Not right now.
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week? So much kicking and movement is fun! I’m feeling it higher up now, which makes me think that he may be spending more time head down these days. I’m excited to see him again in a couple of weeks.
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be? Is it lame that I would probably do the job I have now? I really love being a psychotherapist! If I had to pick something else I’d be an actress or a chef, or maybe a chef on tv?
@hayhay93
I wrote out a very long birth story for the one thread about STM+ birth stories, but I feel like it was a great experience for the most part! I will summarize here: My water broke while I was pantsless at my doctors appointment (no clean-up, woohoo!). He got to determine it was time to go to L&D (no timing contractions or having to make the decision to go ourselves, double woohoo!!). There was some annoying negotiating with the medical staff to have things go the way I wanted, but they compromised where they could and so did I. I labored for 12 hours start to finish, 6 were active labor, only 2 of those 6 were unmedicated, and I pushed my daughter out in 19 minutes. We were both perfectly healthy at the end of it! Most amazing adventure I’ve been on yet
Why are you considered high-risk? Hypothyroid, bipolar II, gastric sleeve patient
Any additional monitoring or testing this week? I was just told I am now considered high risk because of all of the above. They can't seem to get my thyroid levels under control. I have a CBC, t4, and tsh I need to do today.
Any questions/concerns/news?
What positives are you seeing with your pregnancy today/this week? I love feeling little girl move!
GTKY: If you could have any career and schooling, time, finances, etc were not a factor, what would it be? Veterinarian
With my second, I had a bout of pre-term labour, but to be honest, the only reason they caught that early enough to stop it was because I called the midwife to see if it's normal to have "indigestion" every 10, 7, then 5 minutes. No, apparently it's not;
There are some women (not on this board, but they're out there) who will delight in telling you their horror stories. There's no point in listening to them; your body really will know what to do, (as will your doctors), and you find a well of strength that you didn't know existed until you gave birth. My favourite moment after each of my sons' births was in the first quiet hours after everyone else had left, just looking over at them in the bassinet and realizing, "I DID THIS." And you will do it, too.
~~Wife to one amazing man~~
~~Mama to 3 crazy boys~~
~~Wrangler of 2 cats~~