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Wednesday, October 26, 2005

An apple a day won't keep the OB away

These are appointments we can't avoid when we're pregnant. Not that they're bad, as later in the pregnancy it's awesome to hear the baby's heartbeat. But, in the beginning, when you're forced to make all these choices about testing and making sure you're as far a long as you think are just not fun. And the filling out of the paperwork, such as what I ate for the past two days (huh?). I told the information nurse that I wasn't getting the quad screen test, because, honestly, what's the point? What could happen? I could have a child with Down syndrome?? Uh, check that off the list, I've already got Sarah, and she's wonderful. I even joked to Jeff the other day about how I feel for people with "typical" kids, because they always seem to be the ones who are screaming whenever I'm on the phone with their parents. Not to say that Sarah doesn't have her fair share of temper tantrums & meltdowns. Oh yes, she's definitely a toddler. But, most of the time, she's very pleasant in her demeanor. She doesn't get flustered as much as I recall Emma doing (such as me keeping her out of the pantry, she just doggedly keeps trying to climb in there, no tears, just determination). Maybe this is part of the stereotype of people with T21 are always so happy. I don't think that's it. I think they have a different prospective on life, even at this young of age. Sarah just doesn't see the point in getting upset if it's the 5th time I've dragged her away from the cat's water dish & told/signed to her "no". She just looks at me & smiles, as if to say, whatever mom! I'm gonna go back & do it anyways!
Anyways, Jeff wants me to get the test, for his peace of mind. But, I've told him, it won't help mine. It'll worry me if it's elevated, and it really won't even if it's normal, because what if it's wrong? I just don't want to deal with the stress. It wouldn't change my mind either way. The only thing I'm concerned about is the baby's organs, the heart, brain, that sort of thing. I might end up seeing an ultrasound specialist to get a Level 2 ultrasound, but he requires that his patients have the quad screen first.
My OB is concerned that I'm measuring a little farther along than I should be for 7 weeks. I've gained about 4 pounds (by my estimate) in the past 3-4 weeks, which is odd, as I don't think I've been eating more than normal. So, he's scheduled a regular ultrasound in his office in 3 weeks. One, he wants to make sure that I'm as far along as we think (if not, I might be 4 weeks ahead, not sure) and two, he wants to make sure there's only one in there, yikes! Don't even joke!!!!! The thought we could be having twins stresses me out more than the idea of having another child with T21. When I told Jeff this, all he kept saying was, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no! You're NOT having twins!" LOL I think I'm going to give the poor guy a heart attack. So, we'll see in 3 weeks how things go. I'm still having the nausea, but it's not as debilitating as it was earlier. Maybe I'm just learning to combat it a little better.

4 comments:

Kristina said...

aww it all will work out in the end =) it always does i cant wait to see your u/s pics! btw hehe TAG your IT!!!!!

Naomi said...

I had a CVS when I was pregnant as I really needed to know what was going on before he was born, I didn't want a shock in the delivery room again and I would have stressed for the entire pregnancy. Anyway even though I had the CVS which ruled out chromosome issues I still took a modified version of the quad screen test - I think maybe it was only a triple screen instead.

The only tested for neural tube defects (spina bifida and such) which is what the test was originally designed for and is pretty accurate. If the baby had of had spina bifida then sometimes surgery can be done in utero and maybe I'd have chosen to deliver at a different hospital.

Anyway maybe you can take the modified version of the test as well. That way hopefully you'd still get the level II ultrasound.

Mandy said...

If it is twins that is just another reason not to do the tests. They are usually elevated when there is more than one baby.

I have 14 month old twins and is it stressful? Yes. But as I'm sure you feel about Sarah, I love them so much and couldn't imagine what life would be like without them!

Lori said...

We didn't do any testing for our pregnancy's either. My daughter with Down Syndrome is 5 years on the 14th and she sure is sweet. Time flies. Go and check her out. On my most recent post she is the blondie holding the apple. She sure is a joy. Congratulations on the newest addition. Well God Bless your family, you most certainly are very blessed.

Lori