I don't even really know where to start with this pregnancy. They say every pregnancy is different and I get that. Lemme tell you mine have been to the EXTREME!!! Obviously with all that we had been through with Kayleb, from jump the drs have been on me like a hawk. I think out of the 22 weeks we've known we were pregnant I haven't seen the dr maybe 3 of those weeks. From drs appts, to specialists, to sonos and fetal echocardiograms we've done it all and we still have 13 weeks left.
So I've been no where near as diligent taking photos as I was with Kayleb; I know horrible mommy. But with the most rambunctious 10 month old, a 6 year old, summer, running a business, being on bed rest I just haven't done the best job. I promise to try and be better. But so far here's what ya get!
Clearly I suck lol, being as I'm 25 weeks and haven't taken any since the picture above. But we all know what I look like pregnant and 3rd babies have bloomed way more early than previous ones.
SO what we know so far:
1. Around 10 weeks we found out I had a blood clotting disorder that is pregnancy induced. We weren't aware of it from previous pregnancies because I never showed any signs or symptoms. So because of this, I started having to give myself Lovenox injections daily (oh so fun lemme tell you). As we get closer to delivery I will switch to heparin shots in order to prepare. This also means that the dr won't let me go past 38 weeks because of the risk it poses. So that moves baby date kt around Nov 3rd.
2. Because I had polyhydraminous (excess amniotic fluid) wth Kayleb, the likelihood of me having it again is pretty high. Around 32 weeks with Kayleb I was around 25cm of fluid (anything above 20 is considered high). At 25 weeks with this one I am already at 20cm. So we will be keeping close eye on it.
3. Because I had a preterm baby before and because I've conceived and will have given birth within same year I am at high risk for another preterm baby. They think that he will probably come around the time Kayleb did which was 36 weeks which puts baby due date around Oct 22.
4. Baby #3 does have a calcium deposit on his heart or a small bright spot. This could be quite normal but with or history they are not taking it lightly. They keep an eye on t every sono and are continuing to measure to make sure he is growing at normal pace (so far so good). The fetal echocardiogram was normal, however to me this means nothing and I take it with a grain of salt as Kaylebs fetal echocardiogram was completely normal and his defects weren't found until after he was born. So until baby boy gets here I'll continue to pray.
5. Around 22 weeks I started having preterm labor contractions that were changing my cervix (not good). I had a short stint in the hospital followed by a long 4 weeks on bedrest (whatever that means when you have 2 kids). So because of this I have started weekly progesterone shots (yippee more shots) to help slow down the progression of labor. Let me tell you I can handle the daily injections in the stomach but this is a weekly injection in my ass with a 20 gauge needle that Eric has to adminstor, when I tell you that mess hurts (and I have a pretty high pain tolerance), I mean tears streaming down my face; it's awful. I will continue that until labor and will be adding in procardia within the next two weeks (another slow down labor, but luckily it's a pill). As of wed 8/6 the dr lifted my bed rest slightly. As long as I haven't been having contractions or feeling bad I am able to get out of the house now, walk, and be slightly normal. However I'm still supposed to be limiting the amount of time in holding Kayleb, standing up, etc. At this point I am happy for any sort of normalcy.
To say I've been on an emotional roller coaster is an understatement, from having a medical baby, spending lots of time in the hospital, dealing with post partumn depression and PTSD, heart surgeries, moves, engagements, more babies and life changes our family has had quite the year, and we still have 5 months left of it. I still struggle with my depression and PTSD but luckily therapy is really helping. I'm not ashamed to say that because if my story can help someone else than I will feel like I am doing something for others. Sometimes in life we have hardships and I know God has a plan for each and every obstacle that he has put in front of us and every one we will face in the future. I've learned so much about myself through all of this and the type of person I want to be; I want God to use me to help speak to others, to become a better partner/wife, mother, daughter and child of God. I look forward to what's ahead and I know it will be nothing short of adventurous.
Until next time.............
~ boy mom
