Haven't women been getting pregnant forever? Isn't it a natural process and experience? This pregnancy has seemed to be anything but normal. A little background...I have a drinking problem (never seem to stop after the first sip). I have struggled with infertility for three years. I finally got pregnant. OB couldn't find baby on ultrasound so said it was a non-viable pregnancy and discussed miscarriage options. I fell apart, couldn't even believe that I was pregnant in the first place, and drank 5 or 6 bottles of wine over the course of 5 days (I have not had a drop since). I was 6 weeks pregnant when I drank. Three weeks later (I was waiting to miscarry naturally as it was a D & C that had caused my infertility and had just been surgically corrected), surprise, there really is a baby in there.
I fretted over the binge drinking and debated terminating the pregnancy because I couldn't imagine how a little teeny-tiny baby developing so rapidly at 6 weeks could survive all of that alcohol and be born a healthy person with a healthy brain and body. Thanks to you ladies, I couldn't completely let it go, but my hope was renewed as was my faith that there is a very good chance everything would be just fine with this little person inside me. Your personal stories of similar situations gave me so much hope and I thank you again for sharing them.
Last week, we did the NT scan (screening for Down Syndrome). Baby looked good (growing so much! This little one is measuring further along at each ultrasound!) BUT one of the blood test does not. I went from having a 1 in 300 chance of having a baby with Downs to a 1 in 30. I will have an amniocentisis the 20th to get a diagnosis.
I'm not so worried about the results from the amniocentisis as the odds are in my favor, however, the abnormal test that concerns me is the low PAPP-A. My placenta is not producing enough of this protein which is a red flag that I may have complications later in pregnancy (not at all related to my drinking). Low PAPP-A levels are sometimes linked to chromosone abnormalities and are also associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), low birth weight, preterm birth, placental abruption, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, or a stillbirth.
That is difficult enough to swallow, but then the Children's Hospital at Standford called to set up an appt. for a fetal echocardiogram per the perinatalogist's recommendation. The genetics counselor is aware of my binge and I'm guessing that is why we will be looking at the baby's heart. We will also be doing non-stress tests (ironic, "non-stress") and extra ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy.
I don't really have a questions, just a request for prayers and positive thoughts. I love this little baby so much and pray that my drinking didn't harm its brain or body. I am visualizing a healthy baby born at term but I am still so scared. Worrying about all of that alcohol that I consumed and all of these tests is taking the joy out of pregnancy.
To top it all off this is already a stressful time as I'm returning to work next week, had to change grades and classrooms (still setting up the new room), will have 10 more students in the class due to budget cuts, and already have to take time off for the amnioncentists, echocardiogram (out of town), stress tests, and extra ultrasounds. I'm thinking I will need to take more than a month off before baby's due date to reduce stress and also to reduce the risks of all those above mentioned possible complications that tend to begin (IF at all) after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Sorry so long. Your prayers and positive thoughts will be so greatly appreciated.
I fretted over the binge drinking and debated terminating the pregnancy because I couldn't imagine how a little teeny-tiny baby developing so rapidly at 6 weeks could survive all of that alcohol and be born a healthy person with a healthy brain and body. Thanks to you ladies, I couldn't completely let it go, but my hope was renewed as was my faith that there is a very good chance everything would be just fine with this little person inside me. Your personal stories of similar situations gave me so much hope and I thank you again for sharing them.
Last week, we did the NT scan (screening for Down Syndrome). Baby looked good (growing so much! This little one is measuring further along at each ultrasound!) BUT one of the blood test does not. I went from having a 1 in 300 chance of having a baby with Downs to a 1 in 30. I will have an amniocentisis the 20th to get a diagnosis.
I'm not so worried about the results from the amniocentisis as the odds are in my favor, however, the abnormal test that concerns me is the low PAPP-A. My placenta is not producing enough of this protein which is a red flag that I may have complications later in pregnancy (not at all related to my drinking). Low PAPP-A levels are sometimes linked to chromosone abnormalities and are also associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), low birth weight, preterm birth, placental abruption, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, or a stillbirth.
That is difficult enough to swallow, but then the Children's Hospital at Standford called to set up an appt. for a fetal echocardiogram per the perinatalogist's recommendation. The genetics counselor is aware of my binge and I'm guessing that is why we will be looking at the baby's heart. We will also be doing non-stress tests (ironic, "non-stress") and extra ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy.
I don't really have a questions, just a request for prayers and positive thoughts. I love this little baby so much and pray that my drinking didn't harm its brain or body. I am visualizing a healthy baby born at term but I am still so scared. Worrying about all of that alcohol that I consumed and all of these tests is taking the joy out of pregnancy.
To top it all off this is already a stressful time as I'm returning to work next week, had to change grades and classrooms (still setting up the new room), will have 10 more students in the class due to budget cuts, and already have to take time off for the amnioncentists, echocardiogram (out of town), stress tests, and extra ultrasounds. I'm thinking I will need to take more than a month off before baby's due date to reduce stress and also to reduce the risks of all those above mentioned possible complications that tend to begin (IF at all) after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Sorry so long. Your prayers and positive thoughts will be so greatly appreciated.
awprint: RUBY Imagine yourself doing What you love and loving What you do, Being happy From the inside Out, experiencing your Dreams wide awake, 
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