Well, if it’s possible at this point…  I got some GREAT news from the doctor today.

 

It started with an ultrasound to make sure the baby was growing the way he should be and to check my fluid.  Well, everything looked REALLY good on the ultrasound…  baby weighs 4lbs, 15oz!  He is in the 77th percentile for fetal growth – which is a really good sign.  There was no detachment of the placenta, which is one thing that can happen with pre-eclampsia.  They measure the fluid level on a scale of 5-20.  My level is at 17…  can’t get much better than that.  Baby is getting plenty of fluid! With the measurements, they tell me I am 33 weeks and 3 days pregnant today. 

 

Next was my blood pressure check.  While I’d been monitoring it at home, it was for the most part, looking pretty good.  It was elevated over the last 2-3 days, but today it was 128/76.  Really good.

 

I then had a non-stress test.  For those of you that don’t know what that is, they hook me up to a fetal monitor and monitor the babies heartbeat and I have to push a button every time I feel any movement or kicking.  They watch for the heart rate to accelerate with the movement.  The nurse told me everything looked perfect for that.

 

And finally, I saw the doctor.  The first week they found protein in my urine, the level was +2.  Last week I guess I was just shy of +3.  Well, this week, I was just over +1!!  It actually decreased!  Dr Folley said this kind of thing usually just doesn’t reverse itself, so my case is extremely mild.

 

I am OK to remain working and he told me that with the report today, getting me to 36-38 weeks should not be a problem.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t think I will make it to my due date and carry all the way to 40 weeks, but anything after 36 weeks is not considered “dangerous”.

 

I go back on Thursday for another non-stress test, a blood pressure and a urine check.  I then go back to see the doctor next Tuesday, and will decide from there if I need to continue to come twice a week or it once a week will be enough.  I will probably have to have a non-stress test done once a week until delivery and he told me I will probably have to have another ultrasound in the next couple of weeks to check the growth again.

 

Basically I just need to keep doing what I have been doing.  Staying off my feet when I’m not at work as much as possible and continue to take it easy and hopefully the protein level will not increase anymore and carrying till 36-38 weeks is a definite possibility! 

 

I am now even much more of a believer in the power of prayer, because Dr Folley saying that this kind of thing doesn’t usually just reverse itself lets me know that there is somebody upstairs in charge!  I want to thank everyone for all the prayers over the last couple of weeks – we know now that it helped.  Please keep them coming, we need to keep the baby in the belly for a minimum of another 3 weeks!

 

In a related matter, I saw Dr Folley for the last time today.  He is moving to Texas and Friday is his last day.  I will be seeing a different doctor from now on, Dr Judis.  I have seen him a few times in the past and he seems to be a pretty good doctor.  He was Dr Folley’s first recommendation for a replacement…  although I am very happy for Dr Folley’s reason for leaving (he is going to work in a low-income area at a hospital) I am very sad that he is leaving.  He has been my OB/GYN since I was in my early 20’s…  and for him to be leaving so close to my due date.  So my care has now officially been turned over to Dr Judis.

 

On another note, Tom and I met with a good friend of mine this evening, who has been certified as a doula.  She very graciously offered to volunteer her services to us.  I was not really sure what a doula did at first, but the more I researched it, the more my interest was peaked.  She is basically there as a support system for both Tom and I during labor and delivery.  She is also a liaison between myself and the doctors and nurses at the hospital to be sure that my wishes are followed during labor and delivery.  Her training, knowledge and experience will allow her to provide emotional support, physical comfort and, as needed, communication with the staff to make sure that I have the information that I need to make informed decisions as they arise in labor. She can also provide suggestions for labor progress, help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort.

 

I am to call her when I go into labor and to the best of her ability, she will remain with us throughout the entire labor and delivery.  She will then stay after delivery up until initial breast feeding has taken place.  She then contacts me 24-36 hours after delivery to see how I’m doing and to set up a post partum visit.

 

Considering I am seeing a different doctor now and there is really no telling which doctor from the practice will actually be doing the delivery, I think it would be a good thing to have a friendly face in the room with me.  I’ve known her for quite some time now and that definitely helps.  And this is something that she’s been through before and knows things about it that I have no experience with.  And from the research I’ve done, statistics prove that moms who have doulas present during labor and delivery show to be much more relaxed and the request for epidurals go down and the chances to having a c-section also decrease.  Mostly because the moms are much more relaxed knowing that there is somebody there making sure their wishes are followed.  I am very excited about this and if anybody reading this has ever used a doula, please let me know…  I’d like to hear what you thought of it.  Send me an email at amber729@bex.net.