Update

All is quiet on the western front. Or eastern, depending on how you look at it.

Since my last actual post about the fluid levels, the numbers have rebounded amazingly well. Two weeks ago, my fluid level was measuring at around a 9.9 - just shy of "normal" - but still within an acceptable range, but last week, it was down below that, somewhere in the neighborhood of 6-8. We did a repeat BPP this past Tuesday, where I was able to get my levels up to the 11 range - excellent news! Apparently drinking lots of water and resting when possible works. Today we were just shy of 12, so we can resume the previous schedule of NST/Doctor's appointment on Tuesdays, with a BPP scheduled at the high risk place on Fridays. Bonus: I was able to request the same sonographer we've had the past two visits - we liked her a lot!

Aside from that, I'm feeling great. We're having some ridiculous weather in the DC area - tomorrow is supposed to be a high around 100 with a heat index of 110 - not good for ANYONE to be out in, let alone a wilting flower like myself. Planning on hanging in doors as much as possible - maybe make a few more freezer meals (recipes will be posted), maybe work on the baby's room, heck, maybe even wash the few items of clothing we have already. Oh, and all the usual housework that needs to be done that I've been putting off. Had a freak out earlier this week that WE ARE NOT READY, which included (mind you, at 4:20 am) really silly things, like our bedroom not being cleaned, or my hospital bag being ready to go.

Biggest new complaints: puffy feet and sleep. My ankles have been swollen for a while now, but the newest discovery is the puffy nature of the top of my feet. Just strange - it doesn't go down very easily, as my ankles do. Oh, and sleep.... yes... I do realize that once baby is here, sleep will disappear. I also acknowledge that there is a certain biological reason for my inability to sleep through the night - some say it is training for when baby is here. But seriously... it's been at least a month since I've had a night's sleep uninterrupted. I'm not even asking for 8 hours... I'm simply asking for an evening where I do not wake up at least once... usually between 3-4:30AM. Sleep is at a premium now, and I can't even take advantage of it.

Oh... not to end on a whiny note - best part of today - awesome new sonographer was able to get some adorable photos of the monkey. As usual, hands were up by her face, and once, after trying to get her to move her hands, we got the perfect shot of a little pout. So much fun.

Water, Water, Everywhere...

Well, we just got back from our first BPP - biophysical profile. As I mentioned in my last blog post, the BPP, in coordination with the NST test I had on Tuesday, help determine how the baby is growing and developing. I guess when you have a high risk scenario, these things are important, especially in determining when a baby might have to be delivered early. Since this pregnancy has been without much stress (relatively speaking) so far, I went into these appointments with some mild concern, but overall pretty confident.

The NST on Tuesday was fine, aside from some issues with time management at my OB's office (you are hereby saved from THAT rant), and even though the baby decided to take a nap during the NST, we were able to coax her with cold water and apple juice to move enough to show periods of activity. Today's BPP was also an example of the little monkey doing her job. The sonographer showed us the heartbeat (right in the higher 140s - all good) and showed us the evidence that the baby is practicing her breathing - all in all, she's doing all that she is supposed to be doing. Good girl - an excellent student, just like her mama!

Unfortunately, aside from the baby's great performance, it seems that my amniotic fluid levels are on the low side. Last Friday (one week ago), I was told that the levels were low. On Tuesday, the midwife explained that the "normal" range is between 9 and 20, and last Friday, I was at a 9.9. On the low end of normal, but normal. So, great, I didn't leave the office worrying too much - I just committed to making sure I was getting enough water every day.

Today, however, the levels had dropped. The tech's first measurement came out around 6.4 and the second measurement was slightly better at an 8.6. The high risk doctor came in (who we love!) and discussed what this meant for where we are at right now. I'll be going in again for another BPP this Tuesday to see where we are at - in the meantime, I'm going to try to keep my water intake up (it never hurts to stay hydrated!) and rest as much as possible. The doctor cautioned, after my inquiry about simply upping water intake, that it might not just be a matter of hydration (although, second reminder, it's good to keep your body hydrated!). It's entirely possible that this might be an indication that the placenta is starting to poop out (her words), and not do an adequate job of getting fluids into the amniotic sac. So, we're in a wait and see scenario. While the doctor didn't say this, my reading between the lines brought me to the conclusion that this could be the first step towards being put on bed rest, or potentially even welcome the little monkey into the world a little earlier than expected. I'm at 34 1/2 weeks right now (give or take a few days for varying calculations of the due date), so the longer the little one can cook, the better.

For now... I have a liter of water next to my side of the bed, a laptop with Netflix Watch Instantly loaded and ready to go, and my copy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ready to be read. Bring the weekend on!

Strike a Pose!

I've recently been diagnosed as "high risk" - even though this does not come as a huge surprise (chronic hypertension, weekly or biweekly doctor visits since I was 8 weeks along... I'm not a brainiac, but even this, I know, is slightly unusual for a "normal" pregnancy), it does seem slightly funny to me. I guess whenever I have heard of women having a high risk pregnancy, it is often accompanied with tales of a difficult pregnancy, including anything from multiples to mandatory bedrest to any other assortment of situations. If anything, I feel like I have been experiencing what might be the easiest pregnancy on record: I have, as of 25 weeks, only gained 2 pounds, I never experienced any nausea or morning sickness, my bouts of exhaustion have been few and far between, and really, it's only recently that I have grown enough that people KNOW there is a little one growing within. So, high risk, even though the reasons for that distinction ARE quite serious, and I am taking them seriously, it seems a little funny at the same time.

I also found out at the same appointment that there is absolutely no way I will still be pregnant at my estimated due date - at the very least, I will be induced at 39 weeks (which, to my accounting, would be mid-August, instead of later-in-August). There is always the possibility that I will go into labor before needing to be induced, or that I might even develop some of those high-risk-associated conditions that would cause for me to have the baby earlier. I do hope that the ease of this first 2/3 of pregnancy only continues and the terms attached to my medical chart are only there for show.

On quick benefit of the chronic hypertension induced high risk diagnosis is that I am supposed to have ultrasounds performed every four weeks in order to make sure the little monkey is growing at the appropriate rate. Chronic hypertension can affect the vascular system, and can, in turn, affect the growth of the baby, so ultrasounds are used to measure the baby's growth and make sure any conditions (like intrauterine growth restriction) does not happen. We had our first of these ultrasounds (we already had one at 12 weeks for early screening of possible issues as well as our big 20 week anatomy scan) yesterday - the great news is that not only is the little monkey growing right on schedule (or a bit beyond - I was 25 weeks yesterday, overall measuring at just under 26 weeks, and her arms were measuring 27 weeks - a little monkey she is indeed!), but she's super cute and knows how to pose. Here is the glamor shot the ultrasound tech was able to catch (after jiggling my belly a bunch to get her to move her hands away from her face, shy girl!).

It will be so interesting to see how these early snapshots compare to the real thing!