I heard back from the obstetrician today, in regards to our NT scan earlier this week. I'd been playing phone tag for the past few days, and it was good to finally chat with him. He asked us if we had changed our initial plan of NOT having an Amnio after our high risk rating & was very supportive when I told him that we felt the same way: no further testing. He then went on to explain that the blood hormone testing is fairly modern, and that low readings tended to warrant monitoring, but not panic.
The free hCG was low, but not aggressively so {0.58} - this he wasn't too concerned with. The PAPP-A was well under their level of concern {0.18} so he is happy to keep an eye on the placenta, and the growth of the baby, as the pregnancy progresses. He was quite reassuring, letting me know that he's had similar low PAPP-A readings in patients before, and on nearly all occasions, things turned out just fine. He does agree that it's better to monitor though, just to be on the safe side.
So the plan is.. keep taking it easy for the next few weeks until our next OB visit - I'll be 15 weeks + 4 days at that time. A few weeks later, I'll have the 19 week Anatomy scan, where they'll go over the baby quite intensely, to see if any other soft markers come up, and to make sure the placenta and organs are functioning properly, due to the low readings. Once I hit the third trimester, I'll have at least two additional ultrasounds to monitor baby's growth. Fingers crossed all will go well, but there's no point worrying now. All I want to do is get through the next few months, and pray that the baby stays healthy.
You know, despite trying to put on a brave face here on the blog, I've been a wreck the last few days. I worry at the best of times; especially now in the uncertain ones. It's been hard not to panic, to automatically assume the worst, to google the crap out of every fact and figure.
As I was driving home after work today, I noticed a package on my front porch. As I parked in the driveway, I realised it was flowers - someone sent me a parcel! It was a beautiful box of flowers from my nanna, who was really lovely and supportive after Monday's scary appointment. That was all it took to brighten my day and to let me know that someone was thinking of me, and of Baby Jag, and it was beautiful. It's the little things, you know?
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6 comments:
I know that you know that there is nothing you can do, so it's best not to worry but who can actually do that?
It sounds like the doctor was very positive. I'm sending positive baby vibes your way. Try to stay positive yourself (as much as possible at least).
I'm getting worried about you and the worrying. Yep, still here, still reading, just not a huge amount of time to comment these days. I wanted to say this, though.
Parenthood is a long term thing.
Today you have to worry about X. Tomorrow, you have to worry about Y and you will probably still be worrying about X. By the end of the month, you will be worrying about an entire alphabet of things, and this will go on, month after month, year after year.
And before you know it, you will find yourself worrying about whether anyone is taking your kid to the formal and what they are going to wear.
Worrying has physical affects on yourself. It can hurt your blood pressure, your circulatory system, your digestive system, your immune system.
And with that said, it doesn't *help* anything. You can worry 24x7 for the next few weeks until the anatomy scan and it won't change the results.
There comes a point at which you have to give it up to the deities, or find a way to switch it off, or you will worry yourself into a bad place.
You've got some time now where you can investigate ways that help you handle the worrying, before the sleepless nights and the poopy nappies. :)
And this is coming to you from someone who, if given a nugget to worry during the day, will act like a regularly normal person until it is actually bedtime, at which point after doing all the usual calming down things like reading a book and relaxing her muscles, the moment she tries to go to sleep will toss and turn for multiple hours, to the point of being sleep deprived the next day.
I don't know if there are any great answers to it that work for everyone. I have found that a well timed valium can calm the brain but obviously that isn't going to work for you at the moment.
Maybe this is what you need to be googling, right now. :) Something that can help put an end to the worrying instead of keeping you awake at night.
If it helps to put a brave face on it, then do that. If you need to write it down to get it out, then do that. We're listening. Maybe talking to someone might help. Yoga, or meditation, or tai chi, or going to the gym, or a cup of tea, or focusing on teevee shows or reading. Gardening.
What I have found works for me when it comes to cutting out the bedtime worrying is to have some other story in my head to focus on the details of. I have built the perfect hotel on an island several times now. I have designed the perfect chook coop, run and pen. I have planted gardens at 1am, in my mind.
Anyway, don't know if any of that is useful. And I have a habit of upsetting people when it comes to saying things out loud but I did want to get it out there in case it might be helpful. Before I delete this, I'll post it.
Thinking of you and yours. :)
I'm glad the doctor was reassuring. And I know that even though you have a fantastic attitude about the whole thing, it's impossible not to worry. I worried through my whole pregnancy even though nothing ever seemed concerning (and I declined all testing, even the NT scan, because I knew it would just make me worry more). It's impossible not to, and the sad thing is that the worrying doesn't stop when the baby is born. But it is all totally, totally worth it. You are such a good mama already. xo.
Your grandma is quite the sweetie! Continuing to send my love and prayers from across the Tasman.
Glad your OB was able to talk you through it. If there is any positive you get more ultrasounds now. Thinking of you xox
Thinking of you sweetie, and hoping, hoping hoping, that the odds are with you!
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