Guess Who is Not in Bed?

Today I am amazing grateful and thankful for God's loving graces.

Last week Thursday we had our most recent prenatal check up. We are nearing the third trimester and so far things have been going pretty darn smooth. Physically and emotionally I am filled and happy. However, although things are going well, I am obligated to have them check out my cervical length. With Ty I was already put on bed rest because I was dilating so much at this point. They say a problem like that typically repeat itself with each pregnancy. I have been putting it off but felt that it was now a good time to finally have my midwife check how my cervix was going. And while it was pretty closed, only around .25 centimeters dilated, she felt I was around 50% effaced which isn't good. So she scheduled me to have an ultrasound done right away.

Well this afternoon was our appointment. Chris drove like a mad man to make it in time to see our little lady bug on screen and make sure everything was okay. During this ultrasound she was able to check on a few things that were not visible the last time. We were missing a full few of all four heart chambers as well as some facial features. After getting that stuff and some other fun pictures for us she confirmed that my cervixs was well in the safe range and I am not in fear of preterm labor any time soon.

So no bed rest for me any time soon.

Here is my little lady bugs face and knees

STRICT Bed Rest

So here we are, a little over 2 weeks before the 'safe' delivery time (37 weeks) and I am have been placed on STRICT bed rest. This order comes from my midwife during yesterdays appointment where I got hammered for apparently not behaving while on partial bed rest. I told her what all I had been doing and what I haven't been doing but my cervix doesn't lie. We are now about 3.5 cm dilated and 90% effaced which according to her is what most people are at when they are in labor. So now I am at the point where I can't do anything except use the rest room and shower. I can't make my own meals, no church, no nothing. So I am here online all day and reading books. I guess I can't complain because i will need the energy for the delivery, but I feel I am actually losing more energy and strength by staying here. Believe you me though, I am not moving from this bed for nothing ... well at least for the next 2 weeks and 1 day ... :)

What Else You Got ... Bring it On

I am starting to feel like I am a walking example of all the different stuff that can go crazy during pregnancy. I received a call from one of the nurses at my Birthing Cottage this Saturday morning. Apparently results from the big urine test I did, (the one they have sent out to be tested, not the one I did myself at the office) came in this week and I have what is called Group B Strep. You can read all about it on this website here from American Pregnancy.

Seriously, I feel really special that the devil is attacking us so hard. That means God has some great works laid out for our future and the devil is trying everything to discourage me from enjoying my pregnancy. But I won't let him. NO I WON'T!!!

Well, I have already picked up my prescription and I started the antibiotics this afternoon. The doctor recommends that I start treating it now, even though the website and other sources indicate that this is usually taken care of closer to or during labor. She explained that since my cervix is already at 1 cm I am at risk for bacteria and such getting to the baby. I will be tested again once the prescription is finished. Oh and I have to also take one more pill to counter act one of the side effects of the antibiotic which is it could cause yeast infections. YEAH!!! FUN!!!

Once again, please continue to pray for Chris, myself and for Ty. Right now we need an army of prayer warriors seeking blessings and coverage over us and our health. Thanks ya'll.

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(I thought it would be decades before I used one of these pill trackers)

Peace Out!

Our Most Recent Prenatal Visit

Okay so Chris and I were talking about it and we have lost track of what number prenatal visit we are on so we will just go with ... our latest visit. Yesterday we had a visit with Alice our Midwife at the birthing cottage to check on how little Ty is doing and how I am doing with the pregnancy. I have to say that it was a real encouraging and well spent visit. Here are my high points of the visit:

Urine test: Tests for Glucose, Protein, Bilirubin, Ketone, Specific Gravity, Blood, pH, Urobilinogen, Nitrite, Leukocytes. I must be drinking a lot of water because all of the results were good.

Weight: Even on bed rest and not being active, my weight was great. Since that dreadful visit a few weeks back when I had gained too much weight in one month I have actually lost 1.5 pounds. But the baby is still growing and health. :)

Babies heart rate: Still strong and beating loud and clear. Although it did take the student aide a little while to find it. Luckily the baby was moving just before that point so I knew he was fine.

Chances of preterm labor: Are pretty low. While there are some issues, it is not bad as we originally thought.

While I am still on bed rest and my cervix is still dilated the chances of something going wrong are very slim. My cervix is no 1cm dilated (10cm is when it is time to push the baby out) but it is not effaced, or shortening. The midwife explained that there are several women that have gone for weeks/months being 5cm dilated and baby still was healthy and went to full term. Even if I continue to dilate slowing over the next 11 weeks I should still be okay unless I start experience real contractions and other symptoms. So I am not worried. Just chillin in bed, catching up with friends and knitting my little projects.

Peace Out

Lord Be With Us

Just to give you a quick update ... I am at home and on recommended bed rest. Woke up early on Thursday morning experiencing several braxton hicks contracts in a short period of time. So I called my certified midwife Alice and she said to come in when the office opens up at 9am. So monitored and documented all my contractions and headed to the office. Turns out more then likely I was just really dehydrated because after I started drinking a lot they slowed down. However, she did take the time to check my cervix and it isn't completely closed like it should be. It is pretty soft, but she can't get her finger through. Bad, but not terrible.

So therefore, I am in bed ... relaxing. It is not a complete do nothing type of bed rest. I am allowed to get up and stretch, use the restroom, shower and make my own 'simple' meals (no heavy cooking). But it does mean no more walking :( cleaning :) exercising of any kind and just be in bed whenever there is no real need for me to be up. Which of course totally clashes with my instructions to exercise to watch my weight gain. Both situations if not monitored will have some effect on the baby. So now I have to super, super, super watch what I eat and how and when to make sure I have control over both situations.

Basically I just want to be sure that from here on out my cervix behaves, doesn't open any more and Ty stays put until at least 37 weeks. It is so scary because on babycenter.com they have a community section with different groups and Chris and I are a member of the 'Sept 2009 Babies' group so a lot of the ladies are at the same point in their pregnancy as we are. It is nice to hear their stories and how similar they are but some are starting to share their own tragedies with the group. Various ladies going into preterm labor around now. The good thing is now some of those ladies are starting to share that their babies are still alive in the NICU. I try not to read them too much because I am trying to stay positive and think it won't be us.

Peace Out