Ultrasound etc

This morning we had another ultrasound because baby is measuring big. All is well. Baby is still

within the normal limits for weight - though closer to the upper limits for age. They estimate baby weighs about 5.5lbs. Baby has been maintaining a normal growth curve and took no giant gain in weight or length since our last ultrasound. All is normal and healthy and good. Baby has also turned to a head down position - it is unlikely that he will turn back to breech.

Poor Peter is still making a slow recovery from having his wisdom teeth out. We thought he was in the clear on Sunday - he was feeling pretty good. Went to work Monday. Throughout the course of this week he's felt more lowsy, and more (not less) pain and discomfort. Yesterday (Wednesday) he was in quite a bit of pain and was experiencing increased swelling on the right side of his jaw, some generalised swelling involving his tongue, and a sore throat, We called the dental surgeon - he prescribed more pain killers and antibiotics. In the evening he felt a popping sensation and spat out a large shard of tooth that must have been contributing to the increased pain and inflammation. AND on top of it seems he has a cold of sorts, complete with barking cough. He has a follow-up appointment with the dental surgeon this afternoon.

A Loss of Wisdom

We spent Thursday evening at the hospital. Baby did not move for nearly 4.5 hours and I was getting nervous. Baby has active days and quiet days - but nothing like this, this was too quiet. I tried everything I could think of to make baby move: eating, drinking coffee, walking on the treadmill, playing loud music, shining a flashlight on my belly (my new favourite, baby usually goes nuts), laying down - Nothing.
Little turkey is mischievous and not yet born. He didn't move the whole time I was getting checked out, though we were reassured with a strong fast heart beat. Then baby called my bluff and went bananas once they got me a room and strapped on the monitor. The doctor and nurses all said we did the right thing by coming in. Better safe than sorry.
Baby has been very active since then - so I am confident that all well.


Today (Saturday) we are spending a relaxing day at home. Peter had all 4 of his wisdom teeth out yesterday. The dentist was very talkative and enthusiastic when I arrived - he talked on and on about how impressive Peter's teeth were - they had SUPER aggressive roots. He said on a level of difficulty to remove - Peter's were a 9.5-9.9 out of 10! He showed them to me, the root branches went down and then took a 90 degree turn. This was the case with all 4 of the teeth. On one tooth all 4 of the root branches took this turn. One even went vertically down took a 90 degree turn (horizontal) then took ANOTHER 90 degree turn vertically down. I wish I had kept them or photographed them. They were impressive.

He also said he had never seen a caucasian person with teeth like this. He's only ever seen it with black and native american people. He asked about the origin of the Thomsen name and asked "It's Danish isn't it? Must be the viking heritage."

He scared us both when he said that the level of difficulty usually correlates the level of pain and swelling experienced after. We did EVERYTHING on the list of things to do to minimise these effects, ibuprofen, ice, ice, and more ice. And it's definately paid off today. He has very little swelling and nearly no pain.

Big Baby

I had my regular prenatal appointment this morning.
We're 30 weeks but measuring 34 weeks. The doctor was a little surprised.
They want us to go for an ultrasound late next week. They said 99% of the time baby is just bigger than average - but it could be something else like a fluid problem and they want to make sure.
So it's more likely that baby is either really fat or really long.
My vagina and I are voting for really long.

Also it looks/feels to them like baby is sitting breech (bum down) - but they're going to give baby until 36 weeks to make up his mind. My mum tells me that I didn't budge until nearly 38 weeks. Like mother, like child?

Update - Specialist Follow up Appointment

I had my follow up appointment with the specialist group last Wednesday December 7.
I thought it was good that the episodes were not increasing in frequency. But they were not satisfied that they were not going away. They made some more recommendations to help decrease the frequency and severity of the episodes. And they suggested that I go off work until baby comes.

It was actually a pretty tough decision to decide wether or not to return to work. Stricken with guilt that I would be letting my fellow co-workers down. And determined that I would not be a wuss and could just tough through the discomfort as I had been for the past few months. But eventually I came to the conclusion that the length of the episodes were in fact decreased if I could rest. I kept thinking of the work scenario: "Mrs. Smith I'm really sorry that you're in pain and bleeding, but I'm having chest pain and need to lay down". It just didn't seem very realistic. The alternative being - toughing through them - which might not be the best thing for this baby and me.
So now I am on medical leave from work until this baby comes - and then my full time job begins. :-)

It's a boy, it's a girl....

.... it's Neuro-Cardiogenic Pre-Syncope?

The good news is that my heart is physically healthy and what is going on is a complication of pregnancy that should resolve within 3 months of giving birth.

Neuro-Cardiogenic Pre-Syncope? <-- what's that !?!

Can happen by one of 2 pathways.

#1: blood volume depletion - by water volume from the blood pooling in my tissues and blood pooling in varicose veins. Complicated by standing for too long of periods (ie.work), dehydration, and hot environments. Heart rate increases to compensate for low volumes - leads to the symptoms I’ve been experiencing.

#2: vasovagal (nervous system) reaction - causes blood vessels to dilate and blood pools with gravity -> a drop in blood pressure -> increased heart rate to compensate for decreased blood volumes reaching vital organs such as the brain. Caused by: hunger/low blood sugar, uterus resting on blood vessels, stress, sleep deprivation, and HORMONES.

The heart murmur? Its normal in pregnancy to develop some form of benign (harmless) heart murmur (extra sounds) due to the increased blood volume needed to sustain the baby/pregnancy.

The solution they gave?

- > Eat salty foods (namely pretzels). Water follows salt. If I increase my sodium levels water will follow and help restore my blood volumes.
- > Wear high pressure compression stockings. To prevent blood from pooling in my legs (pathway #1) AND so that when I have a vasovagal reaction (pathway #2) and my veins try to dilate it prevents them from dilating too much and thus making the symptoms less.
- > Since many of the triggers are things that occur at my work and may contribute to symptoms:
increased activity and being on my feet for extended periods; hunger/low blood sugar (breaks? what breaks - I'm lucky if I can grab my sandwhich at eat it standing at the desk; stress -> they suggested taking 2 weeks off to try and reduce the number of episodes/severity of symptoms.
- > Journal episodes: triggers, symptoms, relieved or not relieved by rest and follow up in 2 weeks

The BIG question: is this harmful to baby?

NO. When my heart rate is even up to 140 blood flow to my organs (uterus and placenta too) is adequate. They are concerned when a persons heart rate reaches number of around 180 and symptoms are lasting for an extended period of time - then blood flow to organs may be compromised. So the goal is to get symptoms under control so that it will not get to that point.


Another baby bump photo coming soon!

Pregnancy Update

Over the past two months I've started having heart palpitations - my heart will race from 120-140 beat per minute. At first I thought nothing of it but soon realised that it would race not only after climbing a flight of stairs (which would be normal), but also at rest like while reading in bed (not normal). Sometimes accompanied by these palpitations I get chest discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, nausea and see stars or have tunnel vision. Each of these symptoms alone are not uncommon in pregnancy - but having them all together is not. These episodes would last for five to ten minutes and occur once a day or once every two days.

The episodes have been increasing in frequency and duration. The other day I had an episode that lasted nearly 45 minutes. I called my doctor and they asked me to come in for a check-up. Upon examination she discovered that I have developed a heart murmur (an extra sound). The discovery of the heart murmur, coupled with the increasing frequency and duration of these episodes, lead her to referr me to a group of specialists in 'Medical Disorders in Pregnancy' - to further investigate. They ordered a 24hour heart monitor (a holter monitor) to try and capture what is going on. It measures rate and electrical conductivity/rhythm of the heart. I have an appointment with the group of specialists tomorrow - Wednesday Nov 23 at 11am. Hopefully they will have the holter monitor results and will be able to tell me if this murmur and symptoms are cause for concern or just something I will have to bear for another 3 months

Some of you have asked:
Am I concerned? Not really - The episodes are uncomfortable but not untolerable. I think excessive worry will only make it worse. I'm interested to hear what the specialist has to say about my symptoms and what the monitor report has told them. I mostly want to know if these episodes have an adverse effect on the baby, which IS my primary concern.

For the most part I have been feeling great. This pregnancy thing is pretty fun, a real miracle. Feeling life in there is awesome! We are getting more and more excited to meet this little person.

My managers at work have been good to me - they have been very accommodating with doctors appointments and vacation requests. I will likely go off work one month early around January 20 (most nurses do go off before their due date because of the nature of the work). Between now and mid-January I'll be working 2-3 days/week with regular days off and vacation days in between.

I'll try to update tomorrow after the specialist appointment - once I have more info.

Check Up

Hello in there....

Baby Bump

Ultrasound 19 weeks

Baby at 19 weeks

a little hand
The little face

Hawaii March 2011