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June 2015 Moms
frankengibbs
member
Cystic Fibrosis Update - Funny how these things work (AW)
frankengibbs
member
So this is a somewhat AW update about my CF consultation at the high risk pregnancy clinic for those who were interested in how things went. Bare with me, I am running on almost no sleep:
As most of you know already I found out a while back that I am a carrier of non-lifethreatening CF and in order to make sure LO doesn't have CF they sent me to a genetisist to have an u/s to check that everything looks well since DH didn't have insurance until a week ago and isn't able to get lab work done until he has an open day (he has a very inconsistent work schedule and works long hours).
So we had the scan done and CF is no longer a concern, however I was diagnosed with IUGR (interuteran growth restriction) because although LO appears to be entirely healthy and there is nothing wrong with the cord or placenta, she's smaller than she ought to be. We suspect the cause is my own malnutrition because until March, DH and I lived with my MIL who decided to punish us by not allowing us to eat any of the food in our house despite the fact that she took our money to pay for it and made us broke paying her bills (long story). So until recently I was basically starving. Add that to my hypoglycemia which already predisposes me to having small babies and it's quite a mess.
The plan now is for me to go on a protein rich diet, be monitored 2-3 times a week and be on modified bed rest. If LO has grown in 3 weeks they will continue to monitor me through the rest of my pregnancy to be safe because a small, healthy baby is okay, but if she has not grown, I may have to go on full bed rest and they will have me deliver her at 38 weeks and try to grow her in the NICU for two weeks before I can take her home.
I'm feeling a range of emotions from guilt about not being able to give LO all she needs and concern about what to expect now with baby and juggling my CP work with these new changes...
So any shared experiences or advice would be nice.
Thank you for all who read and wanted updates. Your support has really made a difference to me.
As most of you know already I found out a while back that I am a carrier of non-lifethreatening CF and in order to make sure LO doesn't have CF they sent me to a genetisist to have an u/s to check that everything looks well since DH didn't have insurance until a week ago and isn't able to get lab work done until he has an open day (he has a very inconsistent work schedule and works long hours).
So we had the scan done and CF is no longer a concern, however I was diagnosed with IUGR (interuteran growth restriction) because although LO appears to be entirely healthy and there is nothing wrong with the cord or placenta, she's smaller than she ought to be. We suspect the cause is my own malnutrition because until March, DH and I lived with my MIL who decided to punish us by not allowing us to eat any of the food in our house despite the fact that she took our money to pay for it and made us broke paying her bills (long story). So until recently I was basically starving. Add that to my hypoglycemia which already predisposes me to having small babies and it's quite a mess.
The plan now is for me to go on a protein rich diet, be monitored 2-3 times a week and be on modified bed rest. If LO has grown in 3 weeks they will continue to monitor me through the rest of my pregnancy to be safe because a small, healthy baby is okay, but if she has not grown, I may have to go on full bed rest and they will have me deliver her at 38 weeks and try to grow her in the NICU for two weeks before I can take her home.
I'm feeling a range of emotions from guilt about not being able to give LO all she needs and concern about what to expect now with baby and juggling my CP work with these new changes...
So any shared experiences or advice would be nice.
Thank you for all who read and wanted updates. Your support has really made a difference to me.
Re: Cystic Fibrosis Update - Funny how these things work (AW)
I'm glad that CF is no longer a concern. It sounds like your doc has given you a good plan of a protein diet that you have a really good shot at managing and turning this around.
I was a tiny baby! 4.5 pounds when born and in the NICU, and turned out healthy. (Although a little odd.)
Have you looked at calorie counters and food trackers to manage your protein intake? I think there are some non pregnancy ones out there that are free that could help.
Did you find any good-sounding foods from your other post?
Chin up!
Hopefully, you gain some weight from this protein intake for you and for baby and we'll say, "Chins up!" :x
As far as MIL...I tolerate her for DH's sake but I'm am so glad I don't live there anymore. My family is really upset about all of the things she did because we just never said anything about it but basically she was mad at DH because they got into an argument about her recreational drug use and her train wreck marriage we all had to put up with (yelling and screaming at all hours). So she took away the food and we had to live off of change so I would sleep a lot to ignore the hunger because it was better than living in our car.
Yeah...I have no nice words for her either. She likes to text DH and tell him how much she loves and misses him now that we are doing better and have our own place. Even bought us a pack n' play...So next time I see her I will probably let her know this is all her fault and that no amount of gifts will make me forget how she treated us when we lived with her.
Glad to hear about the CF issue, and wishing you many, many yummy meals to pack on some protein pounds for you and baby. Sending you and baby positive, growing vibes. ❤❤❤
Thank you for your kind words!
I feel beyond blessed to be in our own place!
As far as baby's growth I don't know how much merit this has but it might be worth a try, I read a study a while back and I can't remember where, but it claimed that consuming a lot of dairy products during pregnancy contributed to larger babies at birth. So maybe some Greek yogurt and extra cheese and milk can help get that extra protein into your diet! Good luck.
@Serenamarr I'm definitely going to try that, I don't have my list in front of me but I know most of the dairy items are higher in protein so I'm adding Greek yogurt to my list.
As you mention I think it would be impossible to make up for such atrocities that your MIL committed against you and your DH. Hopefully she recognizes the extreme error in her judgement and actions and there are not continued issues with her. Addiction can be a difficult thing to deal with but it's also not okay to impose her struggles on to you. I hope that she is able to seek help and support to make positive changes in her life.
Take care, here's some prayers that LO embraces the high protein diet sucks it up and packs on some size. Hoping for health and wellness for you and LO.
I'm proud of us for being able to make it out of the situations we were in and I hope that one day I will be able to tell my daughter about these things and help her to not make the same mistakes we did.
But that's why they say hindsight is 20-20. All I can do at this point is listen to my doctors and try to do all I can to give LO all of the nutrition she needs to grow.
ETA: your opinion of her situation was never questioned nor necessary to give. This entire thread was simply OP giving an update of an appointment she had and was for the purpose of passing on information.
2nd round exp 8/20/18.
But I am thankful for all of you ladies who have shared your support for my little family and I.
I'm sorry you had to read that @frankengibbs. Thanks to @ngaines27 @klkonwi for standing up.
I will update you guys about LO's progress when I know more. In the meantime I will be resting as much as possible and stuffing my face. >:D<