7 Month Check Up

Tomorrow marks 7 months. Woohoo!

Today I invited my mom to join me for a day of doctors appointments and girl time. Sean was not able to attend so I thought this would be a nice time for my mom to join me.

Our day started off at a quilt show that was in town and we buzzed around the show and found lots of cute stuff. One fun thing we found was a pattern to make childrens booties out of scrap fabric. Mom and I both can't wait to get that pattern started and made some cute gifts for others and a few for Jack.

12pm arrived and it was time for our ultrasound. This ultrasound was a recommendation of Seans cousin who actually attends the ultrasound school we were at, and said that we should come down and be a test person for the students who were learning. She informed us that there was no charge and we would get lots of photos.

So after looking at the calendar I picked a day that would be a good distance from our last ultrasound (which was 8 weeks ago) but before our delivery day. I was ever so curious what our Jack was looking like these days and how much he has grown since our last appointment.

Mom and I arrive, we get checked in and they bring me back. At first they just bring me back and tell mom and Heather to wait until they are done doing the measurements (aka - learning).

The students put me on the table and were slowly evaluating and finding out what parts of the baby were what. They completed measurements on the circumference of his head, belly, and femur to determine the size he would be approximated at. With a little click here and click there, they evaluated Jack to be at 3lbs 2oz with an estimated due date of March 27 (almost 2 weeks prior to his original due date) and a heart beat of 145. He's just what we thought...a large little boy :) Or so the computer says.

After that 30 minute appointment, we headed to lunch with cousin Heather and then got back on the road for my OB appointment in Orange, CA.

2:15pm arrived and it was our turn to visit Dr. Linsey. We originally were moved up in time b/c the doc had an emergency c-section so when we got to the office we didn't know if we would be seeing the doc or a nurse practitioner.

Just as we were finishing up my vitals we hear the man of the hour pop into the office. He arrived just in time.

Backround: My doctor is the same doctor that delivered my brother 25 years ago and whom my mom still sees for her visits. So he's a man that is very near and dear to our family.

Vitals were normal today. BP = 110/80, weight=on track, urine=normal, baby heartbeat = 160, and uterus measurements=28.5 (should be at plus or minus 28 by 2 in either direction).

When I was on the table the doc was looking at my chart and reviewing last months ultrasound and found that I had excess amniotic fluid. He said that I shouldn't be concerned as it is only a concern in about 15-20% of pregnancies. He said that most likely he will order another scan (ultrasound) next appt to recheck for my fluid levels.

With such a concern that he brought up, I made sure to ask my questions. I made sure to find out what the risks were if in fact the baby had excess fluid still at our next appt. Doc said that if the baby still has excess fluid they would order another intensive scan to check for the babies systems to make sure that they were all working properly.

They would be looking to see if his esophagus, kidneys and other such processing organs were being overactive, thus causing the excess fluid. He said we should not be concerned at this time but it would be something that he would look into next visit.

My next question was when would they start to look and see if Jack was going to be "large." Doc advised that they would look at all the factors at about 34 weeks by taking the normal uterine measurements and taking a feel and if need be looking at it through an ultrasound. I just don't want Jack to get too big and then be forced into a c-section. So I want to keep a watchful eye on this topic.

We also spoke to the nurses about alternate people for being a pediatrician. The original rec we got from their office was not something that "went well." I feel much about the new people that we were given names of. My mission this week is to give them a call and start to ask questions.

I also inquired about when I could take my disability time off prior to the baby. The doc gave the ok for 4 weeks prior to my due date. (I can't wait!)

What else what else...oh yes blood work and shots. This appointment was time for some blood work. I didn't know it was coming so I was a bit taken back. I guess this would also be the same time they would order a glucose test but I let them know that I was under the advisement of a diabetic counseling center so I got to avoid that test. Woohoo! No glucose. I did however have to have my blood counts tested (white and red) as well as my antibodies. The blood count was to make sure I wasn't anemic. The antibody test was to check and see if my antibodies were attacking the babies blood. Since Sean and I are not compatible in our blood types, my blood and the babies blood potentially could interact at birth and attach each other.

So after my blood work just two floors down, I came back to the office and got my 28 week shot. This shot was for "Rhogam." This shot it to help prevent the mixing of my blood with the babies. This is a 3 series shot. One at the start, one 1/2 way through, and 1 at birth. So yup, you guessed it. I got the shot in my rear. I had been dreading it b/c the last one hurt pretty bad but this one went very well. Not even a sting.

So with that said I think that is it for my 7 month check up. More to come next month. After next month I start twice monthly appts then weekly. It's getting closer!