We're on our 25th week by tomorrow. Last week, as scheduled, I did my second doppler, and the results were as follows:
- Because I reverted back to my daily heparin injections, the level of flow for my left uterine artery improved a little bit, though it was still sub-par.
- However, because of the length of time of the blood flow being sub-par, the middle cerebral artery showed slight elevation. The doctor's explanation for this is because the system detected that the blood flow is less than ideal, it automatically tells the arteries to prioritize the brain, hence the middle CEREBRAL artery. Is it just me or anything with the word "cerebral" is just freakout-inducing?
- Anyway, weight-gain wise, the perinatologist doing my exam initially told me that the baby's weight was coming in within normal values. It turns out that he's hitting only the 18th percentile in terms of weight. While this may be normal for most pregnancies, (1) my OB wants him to be over the average in case we need to resort to preterm delivery ; (2) we are aware of the blood flow issue, which means his current estimated weight of 636grams is really not meant to be his size at this time, if it weren't for the blood flow issue. This second point debunks the possibility that this just might be his size or that he may be a small baby, really hitting the smaller percentile. We do know that me and my husband are not particularly small people, plus, the subpar blood flow means the baby would probably weigh a lot more if he had access to more nutrients and oxygen. So it is a bit worrisome but not cause for worry --> something most doctors say to me, which I don't really understand.
Anyway, my immunologist upped my heparin dosage to 50 units per shot, daily, from 35. She also initially prescribed a steroid for me - something I took during the first trimester- that is an immuno-suppressant drug meant to essentially tell my immune system to calm the F down because the baby is NOT an invader. I already bought the pills for 2 weeks as she prescribed, when my OB (whom I saw the day after) said NO. He told me to get these progesterone shots from him every week instead of the steroids. He explained that the shots essentially isolate the immune suppression to just those that affect the baby and leave out the rest of the body. The pills, on the other hand, are like a bazooka explosion of suppressing effect, which means my entire resistance will be down. Because I'm pregnant, getting sick or catching a really bad bug is not a good idea, even with this blood flow issue. So, I followed him as usual, as he seems to be more of a thinking doctor than my immunologist is.
So there we stand, at almost 25 weeks. My next scan will be on April 1, for my 3D ultrasound, and then April 7 for my third doppler which I PRAY SHOWS ALL NORMAL RESULTS.
On the matter of the 3D ultrasound: People usually get 4D ultrasounds, but since the difference between 3 and 4D is just that the latter is in video format, I opted for 3D instead. Also, there are no medical reasons for other people to do it, but in my case, I do need to, because the immune drugs I took at the first trimester carry a risk on the baby to develop a cleft palate. This was a risk I knew about going in, and it was a smaller risk compared to the scarier prospect of my immune system triumphing over the baby, so we went ahead anyway. Since the 3D scan will be able to see the baby's face clearly, assuming he is cooperative and stays still, this would definitely allay my fears. Or inform us of procedures he may need after delivery. I am praying it is the former.
Oh, and it doesn't end there: So far, we've been monitoring the baby and the blood flow issues due to my overly enthusiastic immune system. I've been feeling exhausted lately, sometimes dizzy and lightheaded, and I would also get shortness of breath. I chalked it up to usual pregnancy symptoms as advised by Dr Google and to my asthma. It turns out, when I asked my OB about it, he looked alarmed and asked the nurse to take my BP. My BP then, even after eating a good breakfast and taking the stairs up to the 3rd floor of MMC, was only 90/50. He said this was not good at all, married with the subpar blood flow. My acupuncturist wasn't happy about it either, when I told her Saturday afternoon. She said this was a threat to me, not just the baby. And since the baby was depending on me for blood, then it was something that needed attention right away.
So not only am I supposed to up my calorie intake, I am supposed to take more salt into my system and more 'hypertension-causing' food too. Lechon, here I come!
So, definitely an exciting pregnancy, won't you say?
Last night, my mom saw me injecting my tummy with the 50mg heparin and as a result, she also saw my bruise-laden tummy. One bruise in particular was so unsightly, my mom's face fell and I think she felt sorry for me. But seriously, I do not at all feel bad for myself, despite all these things I need to do to my body to get my baby delivered safely. Nothing else matters, really. No physical pain is too painful to bear. Just that he is safe and healthy. Sometimes, I think the worry and the anxiety is much much worse.
Please pray all goes well !!
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