Saturday, August 23, 2014
Monday, April 29, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
35 week update
Can.not. believe that we are at week 35 already! It is amazing how quickly this pregnancy has gone by. Sad and exciting all at the same time. :-)
I had my final progesterone blood draw at the lab yesterday. Level was still just below level 2 (see chart at top) but NaPro doc says I can go down to 100mg for 2 more injections and then be done. Hooray for no more needles!!!
Home visit with the midwives is this Friday so I am furiously intending to clean the house the next few days. Ha ha! We'll see what I actually get done. I have had a lingering cold for almost 6 weeks now and am just starting to feel a bit better. I tell ya - it is no fun to have sudden, intense coughing fits while having a 5# baby squishing your bladder. I also pulled a belly muscle during one fit, thankfully that healed up quickly as it was rather painful.
Otherwise, I am feeling good. Very little swelling, blood pressure still fine, blood glucose readings have been good, urine stick readings are all good, baby is moving lots. Little monkey still likes to go breech and transverse often, but seems to be starting to settle down in a good position. I am still visiting the chiropractor weekly for adjustments and that keeps me walking at least. I have regained all the weight I worked so hard to lose last year, but that is just how it goes. It's been hard to exercise the latter part - especially with this cold.
All birth supplies are gathered and ready to go. It's amazing to imagine birthing our baby. I can't wait! I love birth - yes, it is hard work but it is such an incredible process and the reward is like none other. Prayers for all to go well are much appreciated.
Birth story will likely be when you hear from me again - in the next 6 weeks or so, unless something exciting happens in the meantime!
I had my final progesterone blood draw at the lab yesterday. Level was still just below level 2 (see chart at top) but NaPro doc says I can go down to 100mg for 2 more injections and then be done. Hooray for no more needles!!!
Home visit with the midwives is this Friday so I am furiously intending to clean the house the next few days. Ha ha! We'll see what I actually get done. I have had a lingering cold for almost 6 weeks now and am just starting to feel a bit better. I tell ya - it is no fun to have sudden, intense coughing fits while having a 5# baby squishing your bladder. I also pulled a belly muscle during one fit, thankfully that healed up quickly as it was rather painful.
Otherwise, I am feeling good. Very little swelling, blood pressure still fine, blood glucose readings have been good, urine stick readings are all good, baby is moving lots. Little monkey still likes to go breech and transverse often, but seems to be starting to settle down in a good position. I am still visiting the chiropractor weekly for adjustments and that keeps me walking at least. I have regained all the weight I worked so hard to lose last year, but that is just how it goes. It's been hard to exercise the latter part - especially with this cold.
All birth supplies are gathered and ready to go. It's amazing to imagine birthing our baby. I can't wait! I love birth - yes, it is hard work but it is such an incredible process and the reward is like none other. Prayers for all to go well are much appreciated.
Birth story will likely be when you hear from me again - in the next 6 weeks or so, unless something exciting happens in the meantime!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
21.5 week update and progesterone chart
Quick update. All is going well with pregnancy. I am feeling good, blood pressure is good, blood sugar readings are good. Weight gain - well... we are at 17# gained so far, which is hard for me after working so hard to get it off BUT at the same time, I am not swelling, I am walking 2 miles a day and watching my diet pretty closely SO I am not going to worry, it's for a good cause! :-) I am having some pubic symphisis pain and am seeing a chiropractor every week or two which seems to be helping. All of these appointments and labs are pretty crazy - I am running somewhere at least 1 day a week!
My Dr in Richmond is "unexpectedly out of the office for an undetermined amount of time" and so my progesterone monitoring has been transferred to Dr Poehailos in Charlottesville. I met with her yesterday to get established under her care. She said all is good and wrote me a new lab order and new rx (closer compounding pharmacy and cheaper - yay!). My results from this week were lower, just barely down into level 1 so we have bumped my doseage back up to 200mg 2x weekly. She gave me a chart and we plotted my results for the pregnancy thus far - it also shows expected level and treatment for the various trimesters. I love the visual and being able to see where we are and want to be! :-) I will post it at the top of the blog here and keep it updated so those interested can see and be praying.
That's about it for the update so far. I have a good bit of the "nursery" (a corner in our room) done and have recieved my first order of cloth diapers. I will post pics soon.
My Dr in Richmond is "unexpectedly out of the office for an undetermined amount of time" and so my progesterone monitoring has been transferred to Dr Poehailos in Charlottesville. I met with her yesterday to get established under her care. She said all is good and wrote me a new lab order and new rx (closer compounding pharmacy and cheaper - yay!). My results from this week were lower, just barely down into level 1 so we have bumped my doseage back up to 200mg 2x weekly. She gave me a chart and we plotted my results for the pregnancy thus far - it also shows expected level and treatment for the various trimesters. I love the visual and being able to see where we are and want to be! :-) I will post it at the top of the blog here and keep it updated so those interested can see and be praying.
That's about it for the update so far. I have a good bit of the "nursery" (a corner in our room) done and have recieved my first order of cloth diapers. I will post pics soon.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Progesterone Levels update
Here are the nitty gritty details of my progesterone levels through this pregnancy:
Week 5 - 10 progesterone / hcg 1374 (started 200mg injections 2x weekly)
Week 7 - 16.2 progesterone, still level 1
Week 9 - 16.5 progesterone, still level 1 / hcg > 118,000
Week 11 - 19.7 progesterone, still level 1 (added 300mg suppositories 2x daily)
Week 13 - 36.1 progesterone, level 2 (stopped suppositories, continued injections)
Week 15 - 34.9 progesterone, level 2
Week 17 - 46.3 progesterone, level 2 (lowered dose to 100mg injections 2x weekly)
All progesterone is natural, bio-identical. I much prefer the injections (which my husband gives) to the suppositories (messy and time-consuming!). Hoping I get to wean off more soon though. :-)
Care is through my NaPro Doctor and the recommended levels/doses for PCOS (corpus luteum deficiency) patients. So thankful for them!
Week 5 - 10 progesterone / hcg 1374 (started 200mg injections 2x weekly)
Week 7 - 16.2 progesterone, still level 1
Week 9 - 16.5 progesterone, still level 1 / hcg > 118,000
Week 11 - 19.7 progesterone, still level 1 (added 300mg suppositories 2x daily)
Week 13 - 36.1 progesterone, level 2 (stopped suppositories, continued injections)
Week 15 - 34.9 progesterone, level 2
Week 17 - 46.3 progesterone, level 2 (lowered dose to 100mg injections 2x weekly)
All progesterone is natural, bio-identical. I much prefer the injections (which my husband gives) to the suppositories (messy and time-consuming!). Hoping I get to wean off more soon though. :-)
Care is through my NaPro Doctor and the recommended levels/doses for PCOS (corpus luteum deficiency) patients. So thankful for them!
Time is flying by!
I cannot believe that it has been so long since I last posted here. Life is very full and busy.
Let's see... from about 8 weeks until 14 weeks I had nausea in the afternoons starting around 2pm through the evening. I had no vomiting, just felt icky and had some food aversions. I could not stand water AT ALL... I liked bready/salty foods and not so much the sweets. I was able to eat pretty well, though gave in to a bit more processed carbs than normal for me.
Around 11.5 weeks, I began to feel the first little flutters of movement. I was so excited to be feeling that and when we had our first midwife appointment at 12 weeks and she was looking for heartbeat with the doppler, I felt baby move and that is exactly the spot she found him/her so it confirmed for me for sure that it was baby and not just gas! I felt my last 2 full-term babies this early too.
Baby's heart rate has been in the 150's both times we have listened in. Here is a video of the first time (well, audio - it's a video but I asked Tom to cover the camera with his thumb so you don't see my belly but do hear the baby! :-)
Audio of baby heart beat at 12 weeks.
So, now at 17.5 weeks I am wishing I could slow time down a bit. I want to savor each moment and it just keeps flying by! I am feeling much better now, nausea gone, energy returning. I am driven to get this house organized and decluttered, making space for this little one.
So far, I have been able to find a jogging stroller, infant car seat, and dresser/changing table at nice prices. I am planning to get a pack 'n play for baby in our room and have a new one picked out to buy soon. I have ordered cute cloth diapers through a co-op and can't wait for them to get here. It's so fun with all the options now! I have been given maternity clothes, baby clothes, a baby tub, a Medela breast pump, a few types of slings/carriers to try. Most of the *must haves* are taken care of already and we have little space for all the accessories, so just have a few *would likes* on my baby registry still.
Last night, Tom and I both were able to feel the baby squirm under our hands for the first time. So very, very exciting and we are so happy and thankful to God for this gift.
That's about it I guess. Here is a pic of me from election day on Tuesday!
Let's see... from about 8 weeks until 14 weeks I had nausea in the afternoons starting around 2pm through the evening. I had no vomiting, just felt icky and had some food aversions. I could not stand water AT ALL... I liked bready/salty foods and not so much the sweets. I was able to eat pretty well, though gave in to a bit more processed carbs than normal for me.
Around 11.5 weeks, I began to feel the first little flutters of movement. I was so excited to be feeling that and when we had our first midwife appointment at 12 weeks and she was looking for heartbeat with the doppler, I felt baby move and that is exactly the spot she found him/her so it confirmed for me for sure that it was baby and not just gas! I felt my last 2 full-term babies this early too.
Baby's heart rate has been in the 150's both times we have listened in. Here is a video of the first time (well, audio - it's a video but I asked Tom to cover the camera with his thumb so you don't see my belly but do hear the baby! :-)
Audio of baby heart beat at 12 weeks.
So, now at 17.5 weeks I am wishing I could slow time down a bit. I want to savor each moment and it just keeps flying by! I am feeling much better now, nausea gone, energy returning. I am driven to get this house organized and decluttered, making space for this little one.
So far, I have been able to find a jogging stroller, infant car seat, and dresser/changing table at nice prices. I am planning to get a pack 'n play for baby in our room and have a new one picked out to buy soon. I have ordered cute cloth diapers through a co-op and can't wait for them to get here. It's so fun with all the options now! I have been given maternity clothes, baby clothes, a baby tub, a Medela breast pump, a few types of slings/carriers to try. Most of the *must haves* are taken care of already and we have little space for all the accessories, so just have a few *would likes* on my baby registry still.
Last night, Tom and I both were able to feel the baby squirm under our hands for the first time. So very, very exciting and we are so happy and thankful to God for this gift.
That's about it I guess. Here is a pic of me from election day on Tuesday!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Progesterone levels
My progesterone at 5 weeks was at 10 ng/mL and yesterday at 7 weeks was 16.2 ng/mL. It has gone up, but not enough. It is level 1 for this point of pregnancy. I need to get to level 4 before we can discontinue injections.
I do (well Tom gives) the progesterone injections on Mondays and Thursdays, 200mg IM. The blood draws to test progesterone levels are every other Monday before the injection. The life of the injected progesterone in the body is 72 hours, so the blood draw gives us the baseline (without meds) level that my ovaries are making on their own.
I was hoping for better results, but we will continue praying and injecting. :-) Just please pray that the progesterone I am getting will ensure a safe, cushy uterine lining for this baby to grow strong and healthy!
Here is a good article by Dr. Poppy Daniels who quotes Dr. Hilgers' research on progesterone use in pregnancy.
http://community.fertilityflower.com/blog-home/miscarriage-what-should-you-do-for-the-next-pregnancy/
Here is an article by the PPVI Institute. Click on the "progesterone support in pregnancy" link near the top to jump to that section. It has a chart similar to the one my Dr is using to evaluate my results. It has been updated since this chart.
http://www.popepaulvi.com/ncfwh-evaltreat.htm#prog
I do (well Tom gives) the progesterone injections on Mondays and Thursdays, 200mg IM. The blood draws to test progesterone levels are every other Monday before the injection. The life of the injected progesterone in the body is 72 hours, so the blood draw gives us the baseline (without meds) level that my ovaries are making on their own.
I was hoping for better results, but we will continue praying and injecting. :-) Just please pray that the progesterone I am getting will ensure a safe, cushy uterine lining for this baby to grow strong and healthy!
Here is a good article by Dr. Poppy Daniels who quotes Dr. Hilgers' research on progesterone use in pregnancy.
http://community.fertilityflower.com/blog-home/miscarriage-what-should-you-do-for-the-next-pregnancy/
Here is an article by the PPVI Institute. Click on the "progesterone support in pregnancy" link near the top to jump to that section. It has a chart similar to the one my Dr is using to evaluate my results. It has been updated since this chart.
http://www.popepaulvi.com/ncfwh-evaltreat.htm#prog
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