Awoke at 4am this morning to drive in 18 degree freezing temperatures to pick up my mom and get to Children's Hospital in D.C. by 6:30am. Dave stayed home with the kids, as it was yet ANOTHER day of no school. We arrived there without incident. :) The staff was there waiting for me and the testing began almost immediately.
I know what an MRI is, but haven't ever needed one personally, so I wasn't sure what to expect with my own reactions to it. I had to lay completely still on my left side for about 45 minutes while the machine took pictures. I was claustrophobic at first. My heart was racing like crazy. I tried not to focus on being "locked" in that machine, but just to keep my thoughts elsewhere to more pleasant things. This seemed to work. My mom sat in a chair in the room with me. The test was completed. I was then sent to wait for an ultrasound technician. This technician did pretty much the same scan as I have been getting at my bi-weekly OB visits. It took awhile because she was VERY thorough.
After this test was completed I was sent to speak with the doctor. She asked some questions about my history, and agreed we've been through a lot and saw the need for such detailed testing. On large computer screens we were able to see the series of images very clearly. Many of the scans showed the outline of my body with the baby inside, or a close up of the brain, abdomen and face. All very cool. The doctor said everything looked great! Just as it should for a baby in this stage of development. The kidneys measure with a bit of fluid, but this was nothing to be concerned about. They measure in the normal range, but a hair higher. The doctor did say over and over that she didn't think it was any cause for concern. I mentioned that all three of my pregnancy's did have a slight (very slight) abnormality with this kidney measurement. I thought that was important to bring to her attention. She still didn't see a reason for alarm. The amniotic fluid and cervix appear normal. The placenta is on the outer wall of the uterus (on my belly) and still at the bottom mostly covering my cervix. The doctor said it would be a good idea to keep reminding the doctors of this, so that they will operate on me appropriately during the c-section. The baby is measuring right at my 27 weeks 2 days age and about 2lbs, 4oz. I believe the measurements from last week's visits were incorrect - (I will chalk that up to a different sonogram tech and sonogram machine). These measurements have been the norm for me the entire pregnancy, so this makes more sense. We were VERY, VERY happy to leave this appointment with good news for once, because we for sure have had our fair share of these kinds of tests with the worst possible outcomes. I called Dave when we left the hospital (when I could get my phone service back) and told him the good news. He is VERY happy and relieved. I am VERY happy, but don't know when (if ever) I will be 100% at ease.
Dave and I chose to have this test because it hasn't been shown harmful in any way to the fetus or to the mother. We chose this test not to "do something" if the results weren't good, but to prepare for any problems as much as possible before birth (either by choosing a different hospital, set of doctors, treatment plans and so on..), or to maybe shed some light on where in development Andrew and Jacob's brains may have been damaged as they were. With so many unknowns in the past, we feel that getting the most thorough care available is what has to be done so that the baby has the best chance we can give her.
On the way home I called my OB to see if I could be seen earlier today. They said to come right over. My BP was 121/55, weight 174lbs, urine off...of course....., baby heartbeat in the 150's. Per our plan, the doctor ordered a 24hr urine test with blood work which I have begun. I will get the blood labs done tomorrow morning. I have an appt. with the OB next Wed. the 28th of January when I will be 28 weeks pregnant.
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