16 week check

16 weeks, 5 days today - to be exact!

My appt yesterday went very well. The 17P shots from Wedgewood pharmacy arrived to my door without any glitches, and my insurance is covering it (reimbursing me) as a matter-of-course. It worked out perfectly. Phew! I brought it to the clinic, and nurse injected it for me with minimal pain. So far, so good. Just 19 more weekly shots to go.

I have started to notice a few contractions here and there. Dr. Wiedel stated that while it is a bit early to feel them, it is still within the normal range. It is good that I am feeling no pain, just tightening. Although, I didn't feel any pain with Alden either. So the main thing I have to notice is if they are frequent and regular (2 contractions every hour, for example). Mine are not. I am feeling 1 or 2 in the morning, 1-2 in the PM, 1-2 at night. They are still very random and not frequent. She said that if I start to be concerned, at any point I can come in to have a cervical u/s check. She did one today (I have them every 2 weeks now with the OB), and my cervix is still perfect at a little over 4 cm. I will start to have the cervical checks every 2 weeks at my high risk Perinatologist's clinic starting at 20 weeks. If there is any sign of change, the Peri would take the lead on course of action - whether it would be bed rest, medication, cervical cerclage, etc.

I heard the heartbeat yesterday as well. About 159 bpm. It was strong, like a horse's gallop.

The Elusive 17P Shot

Just a quick update on the recent drama. Last Thursday, I received a phone call from one of my doctor's nurses (I'll call her Wicked Nurse)who states that they can't give me 17P at their clinic because the manufacturer only makes it with latex stoppers. I'm allergic. She refers me to a home health service which gives latex-free injections. And if my insurance won't cover it? Oh well! "We'll just continue to monitor you closely." I DON'T THINK SO! I honestly don't know if I would have risked getting pregnant again if the only thing that could be done for me is "close monitoring." I went into full blown panic mode - especially when my insurance denied the service. Then on Monday (the same day as my son's eye surgery) a different nurse (Good Nurse)called to inform me that she called basically all the clinics and pharmacies in Wisconsin to try to find a 17P source that is latex-free with no luck. Also, I am apparently the first and only high risk preggo to also have a latex allergy. Totally ludicrous, I say. But she goes on to inform me that she started to call pharmacies in other states, and found one who will provide 17P latex-free, and will ship it to me tomorrow. My plan is to pay the expense out-of-pocket for one month, and guilt-trip my insurance (do you want to pay $1 million to the NICU, or $300 to the pharmacy?) into reimbursing me and covering the remainder of my shots (I need 20. One a week starting at 16 weeks). So that is the plan. I am apparently foraging the way for future Wisconsin high risk preggos who can't stand latex. Lucky me.