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April 2000 Yes it's true, Andrew is going to be a big brother! We are all very happy. Andrew is so excited he keeps telling everyone he "IS" a big brother. He had been asking for a baby sister or brother since Dec 1999.
Story: Sometime after Andrew was born I started taking folic acid (again) but this time it was by prescription from my doctor. I started off on 2 mgs, then increased it to 3 mgs after a year, then to 4 mgs up until I found out I was pregnant again, then I decreased it to 3 mgs because my prenatal vitamin had 1 mgs in it for a total of 4 mgs total. We didn't tell the family that we were expecting until after our first ultra sound at 12.5 weeks. I truly didn't have much of a choice though because I was starting to show at that point. The U/S II was done a bit early so the baby couldn't really be seen as well as we had hoped. But the doctor could see a normal shaped head, and normal sized arms and legs. He couldn't see the baby's liver or kidneys, even the spine was a bit fussy. We have another U/S on June 21st, and by then the baby will be bigger (and so will I) and we will be able to see the spine better at that time -we hope. I can't wait! This pregnancy is not like the time I was pregnant with Andrew. I have had lots of headaches, backaches and morning sickness, none of which I had with Andrew. Not sure if I will want to have the amnio done this time unless the AFP testing comes back with a high rise for spina bifida. I will keep you posted. May 4, 2000 Today I got a call that one of my blood tests came back abnormal. The test was to check me for the RH factor. Well, it's not RH that I have but my body is making an anti-body to the little E. So I must be tested every 4 weeks to keep an eye on this e-antigen. If the level rise during pregnancy the baby might need to be taken early and need a blood transfusion. Though this is a rare thing, my OB has seen this happen, so I will be checked often. Thinking good thoughts!! June 23, 2000 I haven't officially told everyone about my u/s and Amino testing I had done this Wed. So here goes. Last week my AFP blood test came back abnormal ("high" meaning maybe the baby has spina bifida like Andrew has or the baby has something called Omphalocele it's an abdominal wall defect). Both the tech and the doctor spent A LOT of time looking at our baby. They looked so closely at the spine, the head, the kidneys and the liver as these were all signs of Andrew's birth defect. I had the Amino after the u/s even though the u/s looked good. The doctor checked everything! Looks like NO spina bifida or that wall defect is present!!! We were so concerned about them checking everything that we forgot to ask them the sex of the baby. This doc is not concerned that this baby has spina bifida and that is great news for us, so we can wait to know the sex!! If this baby does have a defect of some kind, it would have to be small as it did not show up on the u/s II, so that's the reason we opt for the amnio anyway -we will know those results in about 10 - 14 days. We are so happy, relieved and grateful to you all for being here for us. I know that some of you are hearing this for the first time, and I am sorry, but I didn't want to tell everyone until I knew for sure. As most of you know the AFP testing can be wrong sometimes. I am keeping this on-line dairy on my pregnancy up so I will keep you posted. Oh, I forgot to tell you they found a cyst on the baby's brain (between the brain and the skull- fluid looking) on choroid plexus cyst called but the doc said it is common and will go away on it's own in time, he said that he sees this often and never tells the parents b/c they do go away on it's own. So, NO I'm not worried about it, it is NOT hydro as it was in Andrew's case! July 1st 2000 We found out yesterday the amnio result, DNA part came back "normal" !!!! YEAH! We also found out that the baby is a "BOY". A healthy baby boy!!! Andrew wasn't very happy at first -telling me he wanted a baby girl and her name was to be Amanda Rose. But he is doing just fine now. Still waiting to see if they find the little E in the Amnio fluid stating the baby is positive and at risk for being born early. My next step is asking you all for your help in naming our baby boy by voting for the names you like best. (Voting ended on Oct 1st, 2000) July 26th 2000 We found out today that they DID NOT find an e-antigen in the Amnio fluid, meaning the baby is NOT positive for the little E. No need to worry about the baby getting sick from the little E and no more blood tests every 4 weeks like I had been having!!!! I'm so grateful. Thank You GOD! Sept 20th 2000 Sorry I have not written in a while, I just had nothing to write about! Isn't it great that my pregnancy is finally going so well that I have had nothing to write about? LOL Anyway, I had my 31 week check up and will start to go every 2 wks to see the OB now. My glucose (sugar) test came back boarder line the first time so I had to have it re-tested, this time it came back fine, the baby's head is down, no swelling of my feet or ankles (like with Andrew) and I am still wearing my wedding rings (I couldn't wear them with Andrew from 5 months on). I'm still having daily heart burn no matter if I take Tums after I eat or not. I'm sleeping great, all night no problem, other then I'm finding it harder to find sleeping positions. Okay so I've gained 23 lbs so far and have about 9 wks left Arrrr. Oct 7th 2000 A name for our baby had been found! Thank you for all your help in naming our son. The name that won is: The poll had the following names: Benjamin got 25 votes Our son will be called Shane
Eric
Oct 18th 2000 I am now going to the doctor on a weekly bases. I am 35 weeks along and have gained a total of 28 lbs. I have filled out my pre-admission form and the baby's form for him to get his birth certificate. I also have packed my hospital bag. Oh and my TMJ is killing me on a daily bases too. I'm also having lots of Braxton Hicks (BH) or maybe real contractions but are irregular (b/c they are painful, I'm guessing they are the real ones) But this is normal and they will not stop my labor at this point b/c I am far enough along now :) Next week I get my first internal exam (first one since about 14 weeks when I was having lots of BH) this will tell me if I'm dilating or not. Check back soon. Oct 25th 2000 Today I had my first internal exam, and got tested for Strep B. I'll find out about that next wk. I am finger tip dilated, and the cervix is thinning out. But she was not sure if Shane is head down or not. She thought maybe he is butt down or head down with his arm over his head, either way I can't deliver him that way, so I have an u/s on Friday Nov 3rd. Pray he is head down and not breech, b/c I was hoping to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) and not by another c-section like with Andrew. I was told the odds of me having a uterus rupture was .6% a less then 1%, maybe b/c it's been 5 yrs since I had the last one. But I had to sign a paper stating I know the risk is still there. I need to talk to her b/c I did some search that some drugs that are given to induce labor can out me at a higher risk. I'll post again after u/s. Nov 3 rd, 2000 I had my u/s Friday morning, and the baby *IS* head down (now), but he is not engaged but I was told he should stay down and they won't need to turn him. Which was another reason I was thinking of the c-sec. Okay, it was great to see my fruit loop again (last time was at 17.5 wks) then she checked the fluid looked fine, I could see him yawn awwwww, and he had the hiccups during the u/s poor kid. I asked about the cyst (choroid plexus cyst) and she check it, it is GONE too!!! I am so relieved, even tho I read every where that it was normal in that stage of pregnancy. She is guess his weight at 6lbs 5 oz as of Friday but then said add 1/2 lb more as u/s is not 100% on weight then to add 1/2 lb for the next three wks (until my due date) about 8.5 lbs. He does like too keep one of his arms above his head so hopefully that will not be a problem later. I then saw my OB right after that not the NP, she did an internal -ouch, said I was closed up tighter then a drum (so that finger tip dilated last wk was not true w/ the NP) but I'm fine w/ that too. Oh and the u/s showed that I have a long uterus, what ever that means, forgot to ask, any ideas? She REALLY listened to my worries about a uterine rupture. And I think I am finally okay with going for a VBAC after all it's been 5 yrs since my c-sec. Nov 10th, 2000 Okay I just got a call, the plan looks like this, she will let me got until Nov 27th so if I don't go naturally (with out being induced) then I will have a c-sec on that day. She won't induce me b/c the rise of uterine rupture after a c-sec is higher for me. I'm happy I talked to her and got some really good info from the net to bring in with me. I'm still hoping to go before the c-sec day on my own. I can hope can't I? :) Nov 23rd, 2000 Today is Thanksgiving Day and my due date but I'm still here!!! So, I'm hoping to go into labor Friday, Saturday or Sunday on my own and avoid the c-section on Monday Nov 27,th. So this will be my LAST update b/c after Shane is born I will start a new page all about him. For those of you keeping track I've gained 33 lbs with this pregnant a small amount from my pregnancy with Andrew where I gained 45 lbs :) But shhhh don't tell anyone! LOL Nov 27th, 2000 Okay so I didn't go into labor over the weekend DARN IT! So I am having this baby today via c-section after all..... I'll write the birth story and post it on the web site too, after I write it of course hee-hee.
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