Thursday, January 18, 2007

The Good News and the Bad News

So many people have emailed asking for updates on the pregnancy and/or say, "Keep me informed" that I guess I have decided to post an occassional update here.

Yesterday I had another appointment with the perinatologist. I see her every 2 weeks. Which do you want - the good or the bad first? Let's start with good.

Good news: Cervix is closed and long. Baby is measuring right on target. She actually did many of the measurements typically done at the 20 week ultrasound, including the head, chest, femur, 4 chamber heart, kidneys, etc.

Bad news: I'm contracting again. I had called in on Friday complaining about it, but she wasn't too concerned. I don't feel contractions or tightness, just a mild crampy feeling in my lower abdomen. Yesterday, via ultrasound she could see contractions and seemed a bit more concerned. She gave me a drug called Ventolin that is a smooth muscle relaxer. She didn't really want to give me anything saying that if she did it would "fill up my receptors" (or something like that). The explanation makes more sense in that if I take too much right now it won't work as well further down the road when it's really needed. Since I'm already in bed and drinking lots of water, she wrote the prescription telling me to only take it when really needed. It's very difficult for me to distinguish when "really needed" is. I seem to feel every little thing already while having nothing to do in bed, but think.

And, I'm finding it more and more difficult to remain optimistic. It's hard getting new bad news every time I go to the doctor. My perinatologist, although I think is the best around, is not very forthcoming with information.

4 comments:

TOW Blog said...

i emphatize with your nanny mess. it is so hard to find a good one.

i also have a daughter who was premature, born 29 weeks, 950 grams. she was intubated for 1 month and 1 more month in the hospital. they said she would not make it or if she did, she would have many health problems.

she is tuning 8 now and is always the student of the month in 2nd grade.

good luck with your pregnancy and i wish you no contractions yet. i am so glad we both like crochet, too!

i will ty your patterns. i also donate preemie bonnets to our nearest NICU.

all the best!

Tracy Batchelder said...

Hopefully the contractions will stop soon. Take comfort in knowing that you are doing all you can. It must be very frustrating to feel you are not getting all the information you need from your doctor.

Marcia said...

Praying, Candy. I take ventolin for asthma. Are you taking it in pill form or as an inhailer? I've been thinking about you.

Candy said...

minotte, welcome to my blog! I love hearing happy endings. Thanks for sharing.

marcia, I'm on the pill form, although they do have an injection used obstetrically. I had to take 2 pills yesterday to get things calmed down....not at all happy about that since my peri wants me to use it sparingly. :-(