PGAL Check- In January/February

hanshotfirst77 · January 2020

Going to start this up again
Since it's so late in January figure this can cover Feb too and we can always bump it up for a Mid Feb check in too.

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Weeks/EDD/How many times a mom?

Previous loss(es)?

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically?

Any appointment updates?

Rants/Raves/Questions?

Any milestones coming up?

hanshotfirst77 · January 2020

Weeks/EDD/How many times a mom? 19 + 4, June 21st, STM (DS, 5)

Previous loss(es)? 2 MMC's, 2/19, and 6/19

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically?
Physically I'm doing alright, no major complaints. Some headaches and backaches but nothing too bad.

Emotionally it's been tough. The almost 8 week wait between my NT scan and A/S was agonizing. My first pregnancy I was so care free but being PGAL just changed me. I can't just relax and think everything is fine, I am always worrying until I have a scan and it's good, or I have a doppler appt and hear the heartbeat.

Any appointment updates? A/S was on Tuesday and baby girl is doing great! Next up is OB tomorrow and I'll have a Fetal Echo next month.

Rants/Raves/Questions? This weekend nursery prep is full steam ahead! Crib and Dresser are arriving, and will be painting the room. I feel like I'm nesting kinda early this time, but it is a lot of fun, and I'm such a planner it makes me feel good.

Any milestones coming up? Idk if this counts as a milestone but the anniversary of my first loss is this weekend. Getting through the first empty due date back in Sept was hard (I also happened to be in the middle of IVF at the time) and on one hand I am so thankful that I am pregnant for this anniversary and my second empty due date which was this month actually and things are going well. But it's still a little hard.

kerco925 · January 2020

Weeks/EDD/How many times a mom? 22+4/May 31

Previous loss(es)? Twin MMC, CPs

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically? Physically, I am feeling pretty good. Exhausted some days. Emotionally, I am a hot mess today after my appointment.

Any appointment updates? Follow up to my anatomy scan was a bust. Baby boy had his feet on top of his head and they werent able to get the heart measurements two appointments in a row. The doctor referred me to a pediatric cardiologist to do the ultrasound and said, "if anyone is able to see the heart, they will." She assured me that everything they can see looks great, but it's enough to stress my PGAL brain out. Knowing I have to see a specialist is stressful.

Rants/Raves/Questions? Most days I am just fine with PGAL. But the ultrasounds always make me so nervous. I am not usually much of a worrier, except this pregnancy.

Any milestones coming up? Passed all my milestones already.

hanshotfirst77 · January 2020

@kerco925 I’m sorry you have to go to a specialist. Similar thing happened at my A/S, they couldn’t get all the shots of the heart but they are hoping at my fetal echo in a few weeks we will get them. They also told me everything looked good but I totally get how you’re feeling stressed about it. Do you know when you go to the specialist? Is it a long wait?

kerco925 · January 2020

@hanshotfirst77 are they doing the echo because they couldnt get the shots? After reading that it's not very unusual, I feel a little bit better. I'm going to call to make the appointment tomorrow, so not sure about the wait time yet. I am hoping they can see me pretty quickly.

hanshotfirst77 · January 2020

@kerco925 they told me that they do echos for all IVF pregnancies because it puts you at a slightly higher risk of heart issues. But I’m assuming they would have probably had me come back for a repeat U/S if I didn’t do IVF and they still couldn’t see everything they wanted to of the heart. Actually now that I think about it with my son the same thing happened. He was not through IVF. I hope you get in quick too. I have to wait til the end of Feb for the echo. But I feel a little better that the MFM reviewed the images and said everything looks good.

kerco925 · January 2020

This was the follow up because they couldnt see the heart well twice. Same thing happened with my daughter, but they saw it during the second ultrasound. I wish the MFM office had tried harder. They could have had me get something to drink and walk around, but they were in a rush and I was out of there in 5 minutes.

hanshotfirst77 · January 2020

@kerco925 Ugh I hate that. They really should take more time with you. I know they get busy but they should be able to give more time to each patient.

I had my OB follow up today, which was mostly uneventful. I'm trying to see all the OB's in this practice cause any one of them could delivery the baby. And today's OB I did not like. She talked chit chat all through the doppler, and I dont really know what all the sounds mean so I was just dying like come on tell me you hear the heartbeat. Even though I just had a scan, I still get so nervous. And she went on about how when you have a second baby the first one will blame you. And that is totally not what I need to hear right now. definitely not seeing her again. But baby girl is doing good and had a strong heartbeat so I'm happy about that.

kerco925 · February 2020

@hanshotfirst77 ugh. That is so ridiculous to say to you. The first one will blame you? What a weird generalization. Our kids are both a little older, so they will probably be super excited to have a sibling... even if there is an adjustment period.

I use my doppler before every appointment, because I will not go through the stress of having an emergency ultrasound without knowing again. And the doctor still had a hard time finding him this week. Luckily, I found him within 10 seconds right before the appointment. I have to say, the doppler has been such a huge help for my PGAL brain. I know its not for everyone. I dont use it as often now that I can feel him move, but having has helped during the really stressful moments.

hanshotfirst77 · February 2020

@kerco925 I know right? Yeah I think we both have school aged kiddos. Mine is 5 (6 by the time this LO is born) and so far he is nothing but excitement over little sister. I agree I think there will still be an adjustment, they'd been only's for so long and some jealously is normal, but I certainly don't think they will blame us.

I'm glad the doppler has been so helpful for you. I can see how it could be a huge relief. I'm a few weeks behind you I think, and I feel like I am almost to the point where I'll feel consistent moving and that will be a huge relief. Right now I feel her but not all the time, sometimes I drink some apple juice and lay down and poke around until I feel her. Which helps my PGAL anxiety a bit.

kerco925 · February 2020

@hanshotfirst77 I am 23 weeks tomorrow and still not feeling consistent movement. Yesterday, I went a good 6 hours without feeling him. I wasnt that nervous, but broke out the doppler anyway. I think that's why I realized I am just going to have PGAL anxiety through this. It's gotten better, but I dont think I will be totally comfortable.

hanshotfirst77 · February 2020

Reviving this thread cause of my appointment yesterday. I was going to update in appointments but I'm thinking PGAL may be a better place for it.
*TW* Mentions of Preterm labor/loss

So this was to check on BP after it was elevated last week and I had a few concerning symptoms (swelling, headaches) Well the swelling has not come back at all which is good. But even though my BP was better yesterday it still was higher than normal. My bloodwork came back normal and no protein in the urine. My OB said that though she does not think we are there yet, but all these things combined could be signs of what's to come, or they could be nothing. There is no way at this point to tell. But it's concerning enough that she wants to start me on every 2 weeks appts now. I'm already on baby aspirin so there really isn't any preventative measures we can do to try and avoid pre-e. I was feeling okay about it all until I asked what happened if I get pre-e this early (I'm 21 weeks) And she said I'd be admitted to the hospital and *TW* the baby would likely not make it

That was crushing to hear. I know I am not there yet. But I was finally starting to relax and enjoy this pregnancy. It was really hard wrapping my head around all this yesterday. But ultimately, I think my OB is just being extra cautious and laying out all the possibilities. And extra monitoring isn't a bad thing. And since the swelling is gone, and it's only really slightly elevated BP and headaches both which could be from other things and just normal pregnancy stuff I am going to try not to dwell. I go back in 2 weeks for another OB check and then the day after that appt is my fetal echo. And then a few days later I will hit viability day.

But on the plus side, my mom has a bp monitor and we tested my bp last night and this morning and it was much lower. So it might be nerves in the office. And baby's heartbeat was nice and strong yesterday and she's been moving a lot more lately. So trying my best to stay positive. But I am super glad we are keeping the PGAL thread around, even if it's just us two lol.

kerco925 · February 2020

@hanshotfirst77 I am so sorry that you are going through this stress. To go through loss, then the stress of IVF, I cant imagine how stressful this is.

I am happy to hear that your symptoms went away and BP is lower at home. I've had White coat syndrome, so stress can definitely play a part in high BP readings. Try to take it easy and I hope viability day is here before you know it. Thinking of you!

PGAL Check- In January/February

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