Thank you, FDA!

Good news! The FDA has approved the compounding of 17P so that we can keep this live-saving drug at a low cost. Wedgewood pharmacy (where I ordered mine because it is the only pharmacy to compound the shot without latex), is able to continue providing the drug to mothers in need. Hurray!

Price of 17P Skyrockets

17P is now provided by just one pharmaceutical company, which has spiked the price from $10-20 per shot to about $1,500 per shot. What insurance is going to cover it? Will state health plans continue to carry it? Will the rates of premature delivery skyrocket? I feel SO lucky to have gotten the treatment before this quandary!

Check out the story here.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

It was all worth it...

Finally Out of the Danger Zone

You may remember that I had to be induced early to deliver Alexander because of pregnancy-induced hypertension...well it has finally resolved. My last blood pressure reading was back in the normal range. Thanks goodness! I have been on nifedical for the last few months to control my blood pressure. My OB took me off of it on Tuesday to see what the reading would be off the medication. If it was still high, then I would be diagnosed with chronic hypertension. I was very nervous! I am now so relieved! :) I am happy to be off that medication too, as it was starting to make me a bit dizzy. Phew!

The Boys' New Blog

I have decided (with input from some of you of course!) to continue blogging about the boys' adventures. In one blog. The Second Whorl is dedicated to my journey through being pregnant after having a preemie. Alden's Story is about the preemie experience. My third blog is Jessi Stitches which, up until now, had been dedicated to my knitting projects will become more of a general blog about my life balancing parenting, craftiness, and other pursuits requiring high levels of creativity. This new and improved blog is the result of being inspired by other local bloggers such as Mom in Madison and Clean. I warn you: these blogs are addicting. I can only hope to be as inspiring.

My question to you:

What should the new blog be called? Keep it as Jessi Stitches? What about...

Madtown Mama
A Plus (Get it?)
Double A (Smirk)

Other ideas? Please help. My creativity is getting off to a slow start. I still have postpartum fuzzies... and I am going to use that excuse for a long time...

The first weeks at home...

Sorry for the lack of posts!

We have been home since August 2nd, and have been quite exhausted. Alex completely has his days and nights mixed up, expecting us to party with him from about 10pm-4am. The last two nights have been better, waking up for shorter time periods to feed and going back to sleep. Giving me more sleep. I was getting a bit delusional trying to function on 2-3 hours of sleep per day for nearly two weeks.

Some of you know that as we were being discharged from the NICU on the 2nd, we received news of some concerning spots on Alex's recent MRI. The neurologist was on vacation all last week, so we could not get a solid interpretation. We were extremely anxious about this. Yesterday we received the best news possible from his neurologist: Alex's brain seems totally healthy and normal. The 4 little specks are areas of restricted water flow in the brain, but they are so extremely small that they should not have any residual effect for Alex. In fact, there could be many babes who have this after birth, and you would never know it without an MRI. The neurologist was so unconcerned that he completely discharged Alex from his services, without even needing to see him for a follow-up. We were extremely relieved.

Alex is also breastfeeding better every day. I can't describe how wonderful it is to finally carry on with life and just relax and enjoy my little one. We have had way too many scares in the past almost 3 weeks. I am happy to report that the adventure of being pregnant after having a preemie has concluded with a happy ending.

I will post more pictures when I get to it! I know I have been awful with keeping up on posts. I have had many questions as well as to whether this blog will be devoted to Alex's early years, as I did with "Alden's Story." I haven't decided yet. Alden's Story is really about the first few years of parenting a preemie, and this blog has really been focused on being pregnant after having a preemie. I might throw Alex into Alden's blog... We shall see!

Occiput Posterior (aka: The Dreaded OP)

Here is a link about why my labor was so terrible.

Apparently, I am one of very few nut-jobs who refuse any sort of medication to get through an OP delivery. Seems we were also very lucky to avoid a cesarian or vacuum delivery.

Feeding

Still in the NICU, although the only thing keeping him here is getting his feeding volumes up. It is common with brain bleeds, no matter how small, to affect a baby's stamina. Especially with breastfeeding. He is very effective at breastfeeding, but just stops too soon. We are weighing him before and after each feeding. If he needs to take in more, Dave finger-feeds him (a tube of breastmilk taped to his finger. When Alex sucks, Dave gives him milk with a plunger.) Finger feeding is like bottle feeding: easy for Alex, but no nipple confusion. Alex is taking in more milk from me every day, so I don't anticipate we will be here for much longer, hopefully.

Welcome Alexander!

Just a quick update for now... still in the hospital! I will post pictures later...

I was induced on July 27th at 8:30 AM. I had terrible back labor for 9 hours, 4 1/2 of which was just trying to push him out. He got stuck on my pelvic bone and came out with a giant hematoma on his head. He had strange symptoms that suggested trouble with his brain right away, so was sent to the NICU for monitoring. In the NICU, he had a giant seizure. He was given medication for the seizure, as well as antibiotics for possible meningitis. We were terrified of that as well as the possibility of a genetic seizure disorder.

Today, we received the best news possible: he has a small brain bleed in the right frontal lobe caused by the traumatic birth, and which will most likely be reabsorbed with no long term consequences.

Alex will be monitored with head ultrasounds for the next week to make sure the bleed is reabsorbed and doesn't get larger. I will stay here at the hospital with him to work on breastfeeding, and just being his Mommy. We can't wait to take him home!

Dear Baby Boo (aka Thumper),

Time has flown by for all of us. As much as I enjoy having you in my belly, I know that you will be here, in my arms, soon. Emotions are washing over me like waves. I am thankful for all of the love and support from our friends and family. I've been reading a lot to keep myself inspired for your birth. We do have a real name ready for you (although we can't share it yet); it is a strong name, like you. Your older brother felt you kick for the first time today. He was so proud, he kissed you through my belly. We have all of your clothes washed and ready, your bed is next to ours...we are ready for you, Boo. We are ready to celebrate your birthday!

Love,
Mom

Vent

I never thought I would have a "normal" pregnancy. I knew I would be worried a lot, have to take a lot of supplements and medication, possibly endure bed rest, be financially and emotionally ready for anything and everything. But I wasn't prepared for making it to full term, and still being miserable. I really thought that making it to full term, I would be elated with joy. I was, for a minute. But now, instead, I have to still endure strict bed rest and now have the fear of developing pre-eclampsia. I have to look forward to laboring and delivering lying down again. I have to worry about going on magnesium sulfate again immediately after delivery. I might, therefore, not be able to hold my baby right away and start bonding and breastfeeding, as I imagined I would. This is all exhausting to think about, as I have nothing else to do in bed. It's wearing me down.

Still on bed rest...

Just got back from my appointment! I actually had to go see my OB at the hospital in triage, because everyone decided to go into labor today and she couldn't make it into the clinic. No changes. All my labs were normal, and Thumper was happily thumping away on the monitor with a strong heartbeat. My BP is still high sitting, but normal lying down, so I am on bed rest until Tuesday when I will be induced. If I don't deliver before then! I had a few doozie contractions this morning, and lots of pelvic pressure.

I found out that I will have to labor and deliver lying down again. I had to do this for Alden because he was so premature. Now it is because of my high blood pressure. I am not looking forward to that! I am sending myself vibes for a fast labor.

Update - visit to OB today

It was reassuring to see my regular OB today, and I am now back home on bedrest. My bp was still high at 140/70, but not as bad as last week. I has an NST and AFI, and passed those. She checked my cervix, and I am 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. My cervix is so ripe, that I could go into labor on my own at any time! The plan is to see her again on Thursday for another bp, NST, AFI, and blood and urine labs. If everything still looks good, then I get to stay pregnant until next Tuesday at the latest. Then she will induce me, because that's when she is on-call and she doesn't want me to be pregnant past 39 weeks. I will be 38 weeks and 3 days then. So baby will definitely be here within the next week! :)

We made it to full term!!!

Happy 37 weeks!



I realize this is not the most flattering picture of me, but I just have to document the day. I am big and tired and in bed all day - so big that you can barely see Alden in the picture! I literally got up for a minute, took the picture, and went right back to bed.

My 24-hour urinalysis came back negative for a significant amount of protein. So still no preeclampsia, which is a relief. I see my OB on Monday, and will discuss my risk for developing preeclampsia. I am so scared of preeclampsia, that if my risk is really high I might just consent to being induced. When I read that some women with preeclampsia need to be treated with magnesium sulfate immediately after delivering, my heart dropped. I simply can not go through that sheer hell again. I am pretty scared. The good news is that I have complete trust in my OB. I will do anything to avoid being "magged" again.

Gestational Hypertension

Well, my BP was high again today while sitting, and normal lying on my side. All of my labs are still normal, so I have gestational hypertension and not preeclampsia. I am still home on bedrest and seeing my OB (who is back from vaycay on Monday!) every 2-3 days. I would love to stay pregnant for as long as possible, but I also take comfort in the fact that I will be 37 weeks tomorrow.

Mama's Eye View

Almost 37 weeks!

Back On Bed Rest!

At my OB visit today, my blood pressure was 144/88! Lying down, it went back to 120/70. My blood and urine labs were normal, but I am back on bed rest for at least the next few days. My bp will be rechecked on Friday and Monday. I am so bummed! To make it more stressful for me, my regular OB is on vacation this week, so I had to see one of her partners, who doesn't have the best communication style. I therefore learned all about the worst case scenario of possibly having preeclampsia and if I do have that, needing to be induced, etc. I am not currently diagnosed with preeclampsia because of my normal labs, but I will be monitored super closely from now on.

I wasn't even allowed the extra shot of progesterone, because of the possibility of needing to be induced within the next week if I develop preeclampsia. I was shocked.

I have been in tears today, totally freaked out and stressed. : (

Rethinking the Definition of Term Pregnancy

So this article freaked me out today:

Rethinking the Definition of "Term Pregnancy"

Click on the title to read the abstract. Basically, according to new research, "term pregnancy" should reference women who are 39-40 weeks pregnant. 37-38 weeks should be considered "early term." Early term infants are at higher risk for things like chronic respiratory disease and learning problems. And I thought getting to 37 weeks was enough! Of course, early term infants are at less risk for these things than preterm infants (less than 37 weeks gestation)... but still...

Well, when I reach 37 weeks on Saturday - you know I will be celebrating! It is still full-term to me, and SO much better than 26 weeks!

36 Weeks!!!

I can't believe we made it this far - one more week until this babe is full-term! :) I am feeling really good. Just easily tired from activity and trying to build up my strength, which has diminished after six weeks of bedrest. I still contract often, but that is considered normal at this point, as long as the contractions aren't painful. I am guessing this babe to be about six pounds now, which is average. Alden was about five pounds and still in the NICU when he was adjusted to 36 weeks gestation. It takes a lot more effort and struggle for a baby to grow outside the womb. We know exactly what a 36-weeker looks like. I still remember thinking that our five pound boy looked HUGE! Thumper is most likely already about three times Alden's birth weight and has had ten more weeks in utero. We feel extremely lucky.

Go all the way, Baby!

Today was going to be my last shot. My 20th! But I saw a little left in vial and asked if it would be OK to get just one more next week -- the nurse looked at me funny and said it would be fine, but most women can't wait to be done with the shots! She also said that if I want to "go all the way with the pregnancy," then that's the way to do it. I said, let's schedule that appointment! I am now labeled "hard core." The shots aren't that bad, really. If one more will buy me an extra week, it is VERY worth it!