Feel free to skip this post if you already know the details!
At around 18 weeks I received a Level II ultrasound, which is used for more detailed anatomical analysis and is automatically given to patients of advanced maternal age at our OB clinic/hospital. (lemme tell you, Doc, what you can do with that "advanced maternal age" designation...!) Everything pretty much looked good, with the exception that the umblical cord has only 2 of the usual 3 vessels...I only have one artery and vein instead of two arteries and one vein. This is apparently not very rare, but it's not very common either, it's just something that needs to be monitored later on in pregnancy as available uterine room gets a bit tight for the baby. I have one good friend who experienced this with her first child, and other than delivering a little early, everything turned out just fine. This particular complication is why I've started getting Non Stress Tests performed twice a week earlier this week. After two NSTs, things are looking good, so let's hope this trend continues!
A couple weeks later I developed some pretty high level back pain on my lower left side, to the point where I spent the better part of a weekend on the couch, heating and cooling, hoping to reduce the pain so I could at least walk up our two flights of stairs without grimacing and gripping the railing like it was a life preserver. Things got a little better for a few days, I even did a couple rounds on my stationary bike for some exercise, and thought that it was just a common symptom of a progressing pregnancy. Cut to Thursday 11/8 and I was walking downstairs to get some breakfast...I took the last step down and was in immediate SEVERE pain, in the same location as earlier in the week, and I knew that I was in trouble. Called Bob at work, called L&D at the hospital, and waited for Bob to come home to drive me to Bethesda since there was no way I could drive myself.
Upon arriving and changing into a gown, I finally took a close look at my left leg and discovered that it was quite swollen and much redder than my right leg. After an ultrasound on the leg, it was officially determined that I had a massive blood clot/DVT from the groin to knee and I was immediately admitted to the antepartum ward of L&D. Thus began a really scary and depressing time, the first time I'd ever had a major health scare that necessitated a stay in the hospital. I'm so very fortunate that the clot didn't throw off other clots into my lungs, heart or brain...I'm still feeling incredibly lucky about having avoided those complications, at least so far.
I was immediately started on an anticoagulant, Lovenox, and was treated to lots of blood draws and monitoring during my 6-day stay. I couldn't be released until I was "therapeutic" on the Lovenox, and I also couldn't leave until I learned to give myself injections since it was determined I'd need to be taking the drug throughout and at least 12 weeks after the pregnancy. In addition, because of the severity of my DVT, the docs said "absolutely no traveling" except to the hospital and back for my appointments, and that restriction will be in place until sometime 6-12 weeks postpartum, which is when the docs hope I'll be free and clear of the DVT and confirmed not to have any clotting disorders. I've already been tested for clotting disorders, which were all negative, so as of now the theory is that all of the pregnancy hormones and the road trips we took in Sept/Oct caused the DVT and we're hoping that we'll be able to look back on this time as our temporary burden to bear in bringing Baby Burgess into the world.
Getting home from the hospital was quite possibly the happiest time in recent months. I know hospital stays aren't fun for anyone, and mine certainly could have been a lot longer and/or more complicated, but something about being the hospital really did a number on my morale and it took some serious time to recover, both physically and mentally. At first my mobility was very compromised due to a LOT of pain, but my docs were insistent that I get up and move as much as possible so I did as instructed and nowadays I am able to walk short distances without a cane (although I still use it for running errands) and the pain is much more tolerable. The twice-daily Lovenox injections aren't too bad, particularly after I became more adept at administering them...I hardly bruise anymore, and I've been fortunate to avoid any major side effects (knock on wood).
If I haven't gone into natural labor by 35.5 weeks, I'll be switched to Heparin, a more easily controlled anticoagulant, which will allow me to get an epidural if I want/need it (Lovenox and epidurals can't be done together). And, if I'm still pregnant by 39 weeks, they'll induce me. However, I met with a perinatologist yesterday for a growth ultrasound, and she said she'd see me again in 3-4 weeks for another one, "if you haven't had the baby by then"...and then proceeded to say it again a few more times for emphasis, prompting me to wonder what she knows and isn't telling me!! :-)
One more minor issue is that I was diagnosed with an "irritable uterus" four weeks ago, which means that I get contractions more often. I'd been feeling Braxton Hicks since late October, whcih is a bit early, so we weren't really surprised by the IU diagnosis, but it does mean that I'm taking it VERY easy these days. While I haven't officially been placed on bed rest, I spend a lot of time resting, no heavy lifting or strenuous activities, and while I try to move around a lot in order to keep stable with the clood clot recovery, I also have to lie down whenever I start contracting more often. It's a bit of a balancing act, that's for sure.
So now you know why we were unable to travel in order to have a baby shower, and why my awesome cousin decided to put together the "long distance" shower that you all participated in. THANK YOU so much for being a part of helping us prepare for this baby, even from afar!
By the way, I should definitely mention how wonderful Bob has been through all of these challenges. He's been my strength as well as my sanity, and he's done so much around the house and taking care of the cats and generally doing pretty much all he can to keep things running smoothly with very little assistance from me...all while working full-time as usual. This bodes well for when he becomes a Daddy, and I very much hope that my health issues clear up soon so I can help take the load off of Bob and we can enjoy becoming first-time parents while sharing the responsibilities as well as the joy.
I'll try to get more photos posted this weekend...
