Constance Marie
Five years and six miscarriages later we are proud to announce that Constance Marie will be here in December! Our little girl is set to join our family December 7th. Check back her for updates and photos!
Baby Whites First Ultrasound-April 30th 2010
We had our first ultrasound today! It dated us at 8 weeks and 3 days. The heart rate was 175, we actually got to see it beat! It was amazing!!
OB Appt May 20th
Had my second actual appointment with the doc today. I lost a pound and was given grief over it...told I was going the wrong way. I figure, I am not a small lady and I have 6 more months to go...I am good if I didnt gain more than I should! The doctor tried to find the babies heart beat, and he did for a brief moment, but not long enough for dad and I to hear it. I will be going back next week to try again. I got the schedule for our centering meetings. They will happen once a month to start and then twice a month in the end. Two hour meetings with the doctor and other pregnant women. Still have a one on one moment with the doc, but then we meet as a group to talk about our pregnancies and learn from each other. They have various guests, everything from nutritionists to yoga instructors to lactation experts...we even tour the hospital together. They have been doing these centering groups for three years now. Apparently they have seen a decrease in pre term labor, low birth weight, pregnancy induced hypertension, long labors, and c-sections. They have no idea why...I am thinking simply because women have the support they sometimes lack in their personal lives. I did find out that I will be taking my prometrium for at least another month and I will be on the Metformin for the duration. Whatever it takes to make this baby come out healthy and strong! Another update next week after our next appt...hopefully with news of a great heart rate!
May 25th Ultrasound
Went to the doctors today to hear our babies heart beat. The doctor couldnt find it and so he sent me over for an ultrasound. Baby White measures at exactly 12 weeks....right where baby should be! The heart rate was at 175....nice and strong. Whether that means its a boy or a girl depends on who you ask!
OB Appt June 9th
Had out first group OB appt today. My blood pressure was a little high at 139/96 and I have lost a total of 6.2 pounds now. Baby is doing great! The heart rate is at 150 and he/she is squirming like crazy! I have been in a ton of pain so the doctor put me out of work until at least Monday. He thinks I may have an autoimmune disease. This may cause problems with me working because I can be fine one day and in incredible pain the next. It would however explain all my issues most of my adult life! As long as the baby comes out on the other end just fine, that is really all I care about. I will be in pain the entire time to the point of tears if that is what it takes! The group meeting was cool. We did out weight and blood pressure. Got to meet with the doc. Then we had a PT come in and give us some good excersizes to do while we are pregnant. When she was done, we had a discussion time where we each had to ask two questions...it was really cool to listen to everyones concerns and hear what the answers were. I did find out that I need to take more Vitamin D, but I am taking enough calcium! The kids will go with me to one in August. Jerry came with me to this one. I would really like him to come to as many as he can, but we wont be able to afford him to take the time off if I end up not being able to work! My mom does want to make it to at least one too. I want her to come so she can hear the heart beat. Once the meeting was over I went down to have blood drawn. They took 4 or 5 vials and we should get the results in the next few days. Some should come through today...hopefully. It would be nice to rule a few things out! Next appt is in July....got some homework to do about the food I eat...which I do five or six times a day and I am still losing weight! Our guest at the meeting in July is a nutritionist!
Dr Appt July 21st...HALFWAY POINT!! 20 Weeks!
So, we hit the halfway point...20 weeks yesterday! Had our OB appt today. I gained a whopping half pound in the last month. Blood pressure was good and the babys heart rate is wonderful! The top of my uterus is right at my belly button where it should be! The baby is doing great...mama is having trouble with some of the meds for my Fibromyalgia and so we are going to be working on that. I said a quick prayer yesterday of thanks for making it this far. Next Wednesday, July 28th, we get to go in for the anatomy screen...maybe we will get to see what it is!!
July 28th Ultrasound
Our little girls foot!
We had our anatomy scan today. Jerry and the kids were there to see it. And we HAVE A GIRL! Yes, we have a name but we are not quite ready to share just yet. She is healthy and measuring right at 21 weeks 1 day with a heart rate of 144. It is simply amazing to be where we are considering all we have been through to get to this point! We are so blessed and we cannot wait to meet her!
8-5-10 Ultrasound 22 weeks
CiCi's Profile
Today we had to go to Great Falls for a special ultrasound. We had gotten my blood test results and it took the 1 in 350 chance of Down Syndrome down to 1 in 80. My doc wanted to make sure that I was cared for properly, so he sent us to a specialist. We had the ultrasound done and CiCi is beautiful! All of her measurements were great and her organs were perfect! There were no matches on markers for Down Syndrome. The doc told us there was no medical reason to have an Amnio done. The only reason to do it was for our peace of mind. The ultrasound gave us that so we declined the amnio. We did find out that I have a low lying placenta. That combined with my age, medical, and miscarriage history makes me officially high risk....we we pretty much already knew. I have to go back in 4-6 weeks for a followup ultrasound and I will be seeing my doc more often...but our precious little girl is perfect!
24 week OB Appt
Had my appt today with the centering group. Got weighed in and we have finally gained ONE pound!! My blood pressure is doing great too at 100/70. CiCis heart rate was 160 and going strong! She is a little wiggle worm and has been kicking like crazy. Daddy, Aimee, and Jacob have all felt her move! Todays centering group had a great yoga instructor there. We learned a bunch of great stretches and relaxation techniques to use for the rest of our pregnancy and for labor and delivery. I shared stories of my previous two births with the girls that were there...they were pretty good experiences so it wasnt anything to scare them! Aimee came with me to this appt and she actually found it interesting! She even got to hear her heart beat really good! I go back in two weeks, every two weeks from here on out per the specialist. In a month I will have to do the glucose test....BLAH...our little girl is little but she is so strong!
26 Week OB Appt
Thanks to my specialist I am seeing the regular doctor every other week now. Happy to report that our little girl is measuring right on track as far as the "fundus" height goes. She also has a wonderfully strong heart beat! Mom on the other hand needs some help! My blood pressure was back up and I had gained twice what I should have in the previous three weeks. Not that I have gained all that much...9 pounds all together so far...just how quickly I had gained it, coupled with the blood pressure warrants some concern! It could be nothing. It could be gestational diabetes (so I did my test two weeks early). It could also be the start of pre-eclampsia. Needless to say, they are watching me now for this. I should get my GD test results today. Fingers crossed that I pass so I dont have to do the three hour version! I was given permission to start walking though. So, every morning after everyone leaves Mia and I go for a 30 minute walk. The first day really sucked, but yesterday wasnt as bad. Head up to see the specialist tomorrow, so hopefully more pics of our little CiCi!!
9-9-10 Ultrasound with Specialist 27 weeks
Drove up to Great Falls yesterday with my mom to see my specialist for what I was hoping was the last time. The tech did the ultrasound...these are her legs, still with girl parts, and she is peaking out from behind them! She did all the measurements and looked at all her organs and our little girl "Couldnt be more PERFECT!" She is measuring 26 weeks and 6 days....and was 27 weeks and 2 days....she is in the 47% now and weighs 2lbs5oz now!! They are very pleased with her growth and progress. All her organs looked great! We could even see that her cheeks were getting chubby! She blinked her eyes and was moving her mouth like she was talking (anyone surprised? Didnt think so!). It was the first ultrasound my mom got to see since she was pregnant with my sister almost 30 years ago! We heard her heartbeat as well and it was beating strong at 167bpm! So, now, unless something else comes up, I wont need to go back to see the specialist again! I am still seeing my doc every two weeks...but pregnancy wise, everything is great...now if my body could just get that memo I would be thrilled!
28 Weeks Ob Appt
Had my 28 week appt yesterday. CiCi is growing great and her heart is going strong! My blood pressure was up still. That combined with the lovely sparkly lights in front of my eyes, my daily headaches, lack of sleep, etc....they are watching me closely for pre-eclampsia. I didnt gain any weight in the last few weeks...so I am at a solid 9 pounds of weight gain so far in with this little girl...not too shabby! We had a massage therapist at our group session yesterday. He was AWESOME! He sent us home with some great techniques to help with the pain during labor...and for me...until then! He actually offers a 1 1/2 to 2 hour session for pregnant women and those who are going to support her in labor that gives her a massage and teaches them the techniques to help relieve the pain during labor...and it is only $30! Considering what normal massage costs...that is an awesome deal! Our little girl is moving right along. I did find out that if I go into labor before 34 weeks they will life-flight me to Great Falls where our level 3 NICU is. 34 to 37 weeks is premature, but our NICU here can handle that. Anything after 37 weeks is fine. So...the goal is 34 weeks...which is Nov 2nd for me...I need to make it to at least there! I dont want to have to give birth in Great Falls (I hate that city)...but I what I really dont want is for our precious little girl to end up needing help to be okay....So...Nov 2nd...that is the goal!
30 Week OB Appt
Had my 30 week ob appt today, more like 30 1/2, but who's counting? When I was signing in my left hip gave out on me and I almost fell to the ground. That was lovely...and painful! Got weighed and was up 3 pounds. So, a total of like 12 pounds so far. Not to bad for being almost 8 months pregnant! My blood pressure was still up, but not as much as before. I am having regular headaches and my feet are swelling almost nightly. Doc gave me some things to try at home and will check me again on Oct 13th. If things havent changed then I will go on yet another medication for the HPB and headaches. He really doesnt want to go there though because it can make the swelling worse. Our little girl is measuring right on track and her heart rate is strong. I did ask about what will happen if she stays breech. Turns out, he will check things at about 36 weeks. If she is still breech then he will send me to a doc that specializes in "turning" babies about 37 or 38 weeks. They do it in the hospital just in case something happens and they have to deliver the baby....this is all assuming that I dont go into labor before then! Thinking that I will sometime in November considering I have already been having contractions. Course, they are false labor because I can get them to stop by drinking lots of water and laying down to rest. If that doesnt stop them, then I have to go to L&D to get checked out. Anytime in November will be good at this point! My next appointment is Oct 13th. We are meeting at the hospital for a tour and to pre-register. Cant wait!
32 Week OB Appt
Our 32 week OB appt was over at the hospital. We got a tour of Labor and Delivery. At the start of the appt we had our BP checked and mine was high...twice. So, he checked it again before I left and it was still 145/93. Good news is that the baby is doing great. Her heart rate was strong and she is growing like she should. He had me come back in Thursday morning to have another BP check. It was higher than he wanted and so he had me lay down and rest. Even after 20 minutes it was higher than he would have liked (although it did drop a bit)....he said that I have Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. It is the step below Pre-eclampsia. I was told to go home and rest until Tuesday when he wants me back in to be checked again. I am to lay on the sofa or in bed on my left side and do nothing. No cooking, cleaning, or shopping until further notice. I can go to Jacobs football game on Saturday as long as I promise to just sit there. I can also get up and do some stretches/yoga type stuff if I start to get sore from my Fibromyalgia. He did say to drink more water too...I already drink about a gallon a day, so I am not sure if that one is gonna happen. The goal is to manage this as long as possible so that my BP doesnt go any higher or it doesnt turn into Pre-eclampsia. If by the end of next week things arent going in the right direction then they will most likely give me some shots to mature her lungs just in case they have to take her before 37 weeks....
34 Week OB Appt
I am going to the doctor weekly now, starting last week. But, I will probably only post every other week unless something exciting happens! At this appt my BP was back up and there was a small amount of protien in my urine. So, back on rest I go until my appt next Tuesday. If the BP is up and there is even more protien in my urine, then I could very well end up in the hospital until they decide to deliver our little girl. Dont even want to go there...Other than that, I have now gained a total of 18 pounds in 8 months. I dont think that is too bad! We had another guest speaker today. She was there to talk about shaken baby syndrome and how to avoid it. Different things you can do to calm the baby and to realize that no matter what you do, sometimes they are just gonna cry and that it is okay to put the baby down and walk away for a while...My mother always told me to just let them cry sometimes...that no baby had ever died from crying....Hell, Jacob would cry until he puked...and he is just fine!
36 Week OB Appt
Gained a half pound in the last two weeks. BP was back up a little so resting is in order...tough one to follow at this point! Our little girl is measuring right on track! She wouldnt hold still for the doc to listen to her heart beat. We did hear it, but every time he put it on her, she would shift away from him! Apparently she doesnt like to be touched! CiCi has started shifting at night to sleep near her daddy too. If I face daddy at night she will roll to get herself comfy right against him! We had a lactation consultant at our appt this week. It was the docs wife and she was great! I learned quite a bit about breast feeding and captured some great tips to help me! I really want to try to breast feed, but I am under no delusions that it may just not work because of my surgery. I honestly would just like to experience it...there is no other reason whatsoever. Aimee and Jacob were both formula fed and they are great kids! I am 1.5cm dilated and my cervix is softening. I go back on Wednesday of next week, at 37 weeks, to see if I have progressed any further. I feel like this is coming to an end soon. I even have my bag packed for the most part and got some snacks to take with us. Its all a matter of time now...any day and she will be here for us to love and hug and kiss forever!