34 weeks!!!

We are now in the "golden zone." If Baby Boo is born now, he/she would do very well and not be at risk for long-term preemie complications.

PHEW!!!

So far, this babe has had about eight more weeks in utero than his/her big brother. Pretty amazing.

Next milestone is 35 weeks - then Thumper could possibly come home with us and avoid the NICU - wouldn't that be something?

Since we know Thumper was about 3 lbs at 29 weeks, I would guess Thumper to be about 5 lbs now. Baby is getting big and strong - those kicks are mighty powerful! Not just little "thumps" anymore, that's for sure!

Five weeks of bedrest, one more to go. Then I can really celebrate "Independence Day." But, to tell the truth, I'm going to continue to take it really easy until I reach the 37 week milestone. I am feeling contractions every time I get up, so I'm not taking any chances. Why risk it when we've come so far?

Terbutaline

Many women are still prescribed Terbutaline to prevent preterm labor. I asked my OB about it, and she refused to prescribe it for me. Now I know why! This is good info for anyone trying to prevent preterm labor:


TERBUTALINE
Terbutaline Sulfate, sold under the brand names Brethine and Bricanyl, is an asthma medication that has come to be used on an "off-label" basis to treat preterm labor. Premature labor occurs in nearly 20 percent of all pregnancies in the United States and an estimated 1 million women annually are treated with Terbutaline or similar drugs to halt early contractions. The use of Terbutaline for this purpose is not an approved use by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). As early as 1997 the FDA issued its first warning concerning the potential dangers associated with the use of this drug for the treatment and prevention of preterm labor. As noted by the FDA, "The approved labeling for terbutaline...states that the drug should not be used for management of preterm labor."

Supporting the reasons for not using Terbutaline to manage preterm labor, studies have revealed a link between the use of terbutaline during pregnancy and an increased risk of brain damage and cognitive deficits. These conditions manifest themselves at infancy, continue through adolescence and cause permanent disabilities. A study conducted at Duke University showed that the use of terbutaline may leave the brains of children susceptible to other chemicals present in the environment. The researchers suggest that such an exposure predispose newborns and infants to fall victim to particular ailments and medical conditions in the future.

Consistent with the findings of the Duke University study, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program has recommended that Terbutaline no longer be given to women with mild intermittent asthma while they are pregnant. The reason for this recommendation was that drugs such as Terbutaline, when administered to pregnant women, also penetrate to the fetus where they affect brain development.

Even the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology ("ACOG") warns against the use of terbutaline to prevent preterm labor, when they stated in a Technical Bulletin to it's members that "no studies have convincingly demonstrated an improvement in survival or any index of long-term neonatal outcome with the use of tocolytic (Terbutaline) therapy. On the other hand, the potential damages of tocolytic therapy to the mother and the neonate are well documented."

Here is also a link to the FDA warning dated November 13 1997
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/1997/terbut.htm

No more cervical lengths

I saw my regular OB again today, because I didn't like that my Perinatologist doesn't want to see me anymore and I was thinking that I wanted another cervical length. Well, my OB (and my hubby) talked me out of it because:
1. A shorter cervix would freak me out
2. If my cervix shortened, there would be nothing more she would do, especially since I am nearing a very low-risk zone of 34 weeks and beyond (the "golden zone" as my OB likes to call it).
3. No one knows what a short cervix at this point means. Research has only looked at cervical lengths from 24-28 weeks as far as predicting anything. No one seems to care about a cervical length at 32+ weeks.

So that's it for cervical lengths. I won't be checked again for dilation until 36 weeks. I was 1-2 cm dilated at 29 weeks, who knows what it will be like at 36 (fingers crossed I make it to 36)!

My blood pressure and Thumper's heart rate were both fine. Thumper is head-down and measuring exactly 33 weeks. I, on the other hand, have gained 3 lbs in one week! Bedrest is taking its toll. Time to decrease the ice cream consumption. Maybe one small bowl every OTHER day, haha!

33 Weeks!

I can't tell you how happy I am to be still here and pregnant at 33 weeks! That's seven more weeks than Alden got. Alden was 2 lbs, 2 oz when he was born, and this babe is probably already a little more than twice that. Seven more weeks to go until 40 weeks!

I definitely breathe a little easier with each passing week. At 34 weeks, Thumper will be at no risk for any life long preemie problems. At 35 weeks, Thumper will be a "take home baby," meaning no NICU time. And 37 weeks, of course, is full term.

We are so close!