Another peek at Elvis!

The OB appointment this morning went very well! He reassured me on all my fears and questions, he said we will definitely check my cervix at the 20 week scan but that there is nothing to indicate any risk. He reassured me also on the possibility of infections which are much rarer than I thought and mostly are not through vaginal microbes but potential blood infections. Right so!

Let's have a look at Elvis! Dr. L has gotten a new scanning machine, much much more high tech and we were very pleased with the improvement. This time Elvis was immediately visible and so so much bigger! He was sleeping at first but then stretched out a bit, nodded and moved the legs! I could see very well the placenta and the umbilical cord. Dr. L. pointed out to us the spine, the head and the heart beat which looked great. He didn't take any measurements and in a way I'm happy not to be worried if he was a bit smaller or too big or whatever, I trust that if the doctor thought there was something out of the ordinary he would have certainly said so. He just said to keep doing whatever I'm doing because everything looks exactly as it should. No pictures though!! Ah well, next scan is the big one and only 3 weeks away, I am sure we'll get plenty at that point.

My blood results were all perfect, I mentioned to him that I had mild hypothyroidism a few years ago but only kept it in check, never took medication for it. My last blood test for it was in the summer of 2008 and the values were within range even though not perfect. He said no harm in checking it again. So I'll probably do it the day of the morphological scan given that it's in the same place.

He didn't weigh me! So no questions asked about weight gain!

He gave me the green light to travel in September with nothing special to do whatsoever, he said it's perfectly safe.

So that's it, I don't think I've forgotten anything, we are so so happy things are progressing nicely and I definitely think I'm starting to feel movements! Woohoo!!

Patches results and more on the Project

We just got a call from the Ultimate Vet Hero and Patches suffers of SEVERE hypothyroidism!! We understood that normal values would be between 10 and 40, where 10 is already quite borderline of course and little Patches has 3!!! the Vet was so happy she found what was wrong and so are we. We really hope that the cure will kick in soon, the dose we had him on since last week is way too low, poor kitten! No wonder he's always cold and sleepy! Now he has this other symptom which he developed in the last week or so; when he eats, any time he swallows, he gags too. Nothing comes out, it's as if he's something stuck in his throat, but that would also be very strange. Another mystery illness I think. The Dude on the other hand is doing really well, getting more and more similar to a dog in his behaviour, so cute! Thanks for all your good wishes and for remembering the Dude too!

I wanted to update also on the Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland Project. After a series of emails which escalated to quite strong tones, it calmed down and we agreed to disagree. We also blamed a bit of the misunderstanding on emails which are subjected to interpretation of course, so I'm still on board and very happy to contribute to it. We'll try to have more frequent meetings where things can be said face to face and clarified immediately rather than creating anxiety for all of us involved. I'll have a dedicated page on the project once we have a few more items together.

Thanks as always for your support!

Seventeen and counting!

Elvis today becomes an onion! Yes, the ticker was giving this from yesterday, just can figure out how to tune it, ah well.

So I gained another kilo this week, that makes it +7.5! Ahh what can I do, the OB may say something to me about it on wednesday...

Again I feel well, with a bit of stretching and exercise and the magic pillow between the legs, my back ache is minimal! I have new interesting things appearing every now and again though, such as a blocked right ear and stuffy nose, plus a touch of heart-burn occasionally. And feeling blessed for all of it. I also had to buy new bras. I had bought a good few when I realised my standard bras didn't fit me anymore, spending a small fortune may I add, without realising that that was only the first step up! You fooled me once....

Now I am more convinced that sometimes the belly-bubbles are not in fact bubbles but Elvis! Still very very minimal though, we can hear more movements with the doppler.

No news yet on Patches blood results, hopefully monday, but he is well so hopefully the treatment is the right one.

And there has been some drama in the last couple of days between me and the girls on the Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland project. I basically disagree with most of the decisions made which in my eyes are just causing a major delay in getting the website up and running, an online forum working, and leaflets out to the public. I'm thinking of stepping down, I'm sure I can give my time to other charities where I feel more in line with the way of thinking. Real pity to be honest, but sure you cannot get on with everyone I suppose.

Patches saga and Attic update

It's a while I hadn't posted about Patches. The little cat is still very small, in fact we think he'll be an eternal kitten! But since he's on the new meds (antiviral and small dose of steroids) he's been doing very well. Until last week. It became obvious to us that the poor thing was trying to use the toilet, straining a lot and nothing would come out. He peed normally so at least we know it wasn't a UTI but more a constipation issue. We contacted the Ultimate Vet Hero and she said to bring him in as he was probably in discomfort. She adores Patches and is so so good with him. The verdict was that yes he was VERY constipated and needed an enema. When I went picking him up in the afternoon the little cat was exhausted but empty! Within a couple of days he was back to his old self but then on Monday night he refused his food and his belly seemed tender to the touch. After a few texts with the Ultimate Vet Hero (she's that good) she said that she searched on her Vet website for more info and thought that another possibility is that Patches may suffer of congenital hypothyroidism! All symptoms fit: halted growth, slow appearing teeth (he only has 6!) lethargy (he sleeps most of the time hence "LazyPatches!") and little appetite. Anyway, after a good night sleep he seemed better and used the toilet (I gave him lactulose) but we still went in for a blood test to check the latest theory. We should have the results by the end of the week and we are so so hopeful that this may be the problem! He definitely had also this herpes virus because since he's on the antiviral his breathing has been great all the time. If the blood work comes back positive for hypothyroidism we will be able to eliminate the steroids and give him the proper meds! Hang in there Patches, lots of people are looking into your case!

And yesterday we had the structural engineer coming over to take measurements and tell us how much steel we need to support the floor of the new room in the attic (we need to reinforce the current structure both for the floor and the roof). The Architect was also there and they worked very well. The plan is now for the engineer to do up his drawings, give them to the architect so that he can finalise the document which will be used for tendering the work! We are very excited! He's confident that overall it shouldn't take more than 4-6 weeks, to us seems a bit quick, but hopefully he's right! We have also found a place to move out to when the works will be ongoing, probably there is no need to move out but I'm sure we won't regret it! The place is in the same estate, it's a one-bed apt on the top floor of a block with a fantastic view of Dublin as well as the mountains! We love it!

And finally I have contacted a yoga teacher specialised in pre-natal yoga! I'll start in September!! Wohoohoo!

And sixteen!

Thank you all so much for the sleeping advices! The pillow behind the back really helped a lot and I slept better. I'm going to check out the body pillow too it seems fantastic! I'll also check out magnesium supplements, my prenatal only contains the equivalent of 17% RDA, so maybe I'm a bit low?

Today marks 16 weeks and I'm so happy to report that for the first time I have NOT put on weight since last Sunday! It's as if I'm less swollen which is great so maybe I've started losing a bit of those retained fluids finally! The belly is shaping up nicely, I will post some pics when I gathered a few more together. Apparently Elvis is the size of an avocado!

One thing I always forgot to say is about baby movements. I don't think I feel them yet even though at times I have the impression I do (like a very light tapping mostly happening in the evening and if I have something pressing on my belly, like...Patches!) but I have to say the doppler has almost cancelled all my anxieties. I still look forward to my next appointment and this time I have a series of questions ready for the doctor:

1) Weight gain (am I in line with what he was expecting?)

2) Being short of breath (not always but if I walk fast or go up a flight of stairs definitely so)

3) My blood tests results

4) Possibility of an incompetent cervix and can I be checked (and the anxiety that the awareness of this condition creates for me)

5) Vaginal discharge. It has increased and I have read it's very normal, but at the same time could it be a mild yeast infection?

6) Back pain and mild abdominal cramping (I think it's all normal but rather have him say so)

7) Discuss my first trimester screening results

8) I need a certificate to apply for a maternity leave

Anything else I have forgotten?

Mike is gone to see his hurling team playing in the semifinal, they are given as strong favourite and this apparently puts them under a great deal of pressure! I'm staying at home watching the same match from the comfort of my couch with Patches and the Dude...

Sleeping troubles

First of all welcome to my most recent followers! I look forward to check out your blogs too!

Next, the doppler is giving us a lot of joy, a part from last night when I could not find the heartbeat at all and kept hearing my own! Eventually we put on a bit more gel, moved the doppler more central and a bit higher up and cloppetecloppetecloppete there it was! I think the first time I used it at the weekend I was probably listening to the umbilical cord blood-flow which had the same rhythm but missed the "tump" sound. Still beating at 160bpm!

Yesterday I had quite a lot of pain in my belly, couldn't tell if it was bowel though and got a bit frightened...but then....it was bowel! I must have eaten something wrong in the canteen....what a surprise... Anyway, my next appointment cannot come soon enough, I'm counting the days.

I have not been sleeping well lately, my back is sore and even if I'm trying to sleep on my left side I seem to wake up on my back. And so I toss and turn. Every book does recommend not to sleep on your back as you enter the second trimester because the growing uterus will press on your blood vessels but I think it may be pressing on my spine...I tried putting a pillow in between the legs but I found it more of a hindrance than help. Any suggestion appreciated! meanwhile the peeing is definitely easing off, I still go once a night but much less during the day.

This morning we stopped by the clinic with chocolate for everyone there and a small special gift for the Favourite Doctor. They were all so so happy to see us (maybe it was the chocolate!) and the Favourite Doctor brought us in an office for a proper chat. She was so lovely as usual, you know she has two children! I never knew. Strangely I feel so safe when I'm there. I suppose it is the familiar feeling, I know everyone so well they are like friends. One of the nurses from the theatre even came up to say hello and give me a hug! Also coincidentally while we were saying our goodbyes we learnt that it was going to be the last day of the nurse who gave us the very first round of blood tests in 2008! She is going to a different fertility clinic closer to where she's from (only a few miles from Mike's home-town! The World is small, but Ireland...God, it's like a big village!).

15 weeks and new addiction

Today I'm 15 weeks. I feel very well, much more energy (although after the two days conference I needed a lot of rest!!) and no headaches for a good 10 days now. I still feel I'm putting on too much weight, from the beginning of the pregnancy I think I'm up 6.5 kg (like I'm putting on something every week without exception). I really look forward to seeing the OB and see what he thinks.

In this last week I definitely didn't eat a lot, but didn't seem to have made a difference. I wonder if I'm retaining fluids (my hands feel a bit swollen but my feet and ankles are not).

Having heard the heartbeat has calmed me down a lot. Really. I'm still concerned about the cervix of course but reading a bit more about it, it seems to be a quite rare condition (between 0.14 to 0.44% depending on age with 0.44% based on 50 years old women) so I want to try and relax a bit about it until I speak to the OB in any case. I've started my meditations again in which I visualise my cervix very strong and tight!

So little Elvis, as you can see from the ticker (which is still acting strangely, it said I was 15 weeks yesterday! I wonder which time-zone it's set on!) is the size of an orange!

Grow Elvis grow!

And my new addiction is "Private Practice"...not as good as Grey's in my opinion but still a great distraction from the irrational fears!