Appointment with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist

This afternoon I had my first appointment in this pregnancy with a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist.  Thankfully everything in this pregnancy has gone really smoothly.  One of my friend's watched Blue Rock while I went to this appointment.  Blue Rock and her daughter are the same age and are good friends.  Blue Rock had a great time!  This allowed my husband to attend this appointment with me. I was so thankful she offered.

Yesterday was National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day.  It is neat that there is a special day to remember all the sweet babies who never got to walk on this earth.  I often think about my 4 babies that I never got to meet.  My heart is sad but God has grown me so much through this.  I have dealt with depression and other feelings while healing from my losses.  Thankfully God has been with me and I'm able to continue on.

I mentioned before that I changed doctors and hospitals with this pregnancy.  I LOVE my new doctor and liked the specialist she sent me to a lot more than my old one.  It was great my husband was with me as we had to go through genetic counseling on both sides.  The genetic counselor said that she will contact the agency in New York about my balanced translocation and find out more history about what people with my balanced translocation experience.  She told me most likely my odds for all my miscarriages are not necessarily all due to the BT since I have several other issues, blood clotting, thyroid, etc. that could contribute to miscarriages.  I loved how she explained everything, she made a chart of mine and Collin's medical family tree and answered all of our questions.

When I met with the doctor he did an ultrasound.  Apparently the techs do not do ultrasounds at this office.  This reminded me of my experience in Germany, only doctors did the ultrasounds.  He told me that at 36 weeks he's going to switch me from lovenox to heparin which is easier to reverse if I go into labor early.  I'm hopeful that I may not even have to be induced.  I'm going to see him again in 4 weeks and then again every 2 weeks until week 36, then every week along with my OBGYN.  I'm going to have a lot of doctor's appointments in my future.  He also said regarding my thyroid that since the nodules have gone away that my Hashimotos may be gone as well.  That would be so wonderful if I'm cured from that.  He said most likely my thyroid was not the cause of my miscarriages.  I didn't even know you could get rid of an autoimmune disease and to think that it went away during pregnancy when usually the thyroid acts up is amazing.  Only God can cure something like this!  He also said my fibroid is now 7.5 x 6.25.  He said sometimes fibroids get so big that they erupt during pregnancy and you'll think it's appendicitis.  If I start having a lot of pain then I need to call him.  If the fibroid erupts then it goes away on its own.  If it doesn't then it should shrink after the baby is born.  Also based on where my fibroid is, he said to remove it would be tricky since it's on the other side of my uterus.  If they went in, they would have to go through my uterus to get the fibroid out which could cause problems in future pregnancies.  The specialist I saw in Germany never told me this.  So the best thing to do is not do anything unless it's causing me problems.  He also confirmed that I'm definitely having a girl and she looks great.  Which we're so thankful for!

After my appointment we took a short tour of the labor and delivery area and where to go once I'm in labor, it was right by the doctor's office.  I honestly wish there were midwives instead of nurses in the labor and delivery room.  I'm a very natural person when it comes to childbirth and don't want any medicine given to me that I don't need.  Although I am thankful that there are people who can help in risky situations, which is why I wouldn't do a home birth (although many have great success with them). The nurse taking us around didn't seem to be as familiar with natural childbirth.  Of course there is no telling who will be working when I show up.  I'm planning on doing most of my labor at home again and hopefully by the time I go to the hospital it will be about time to have the baby.  I'd like to spend as little time at the hospital as possible (because of all the stories I've heard), want to room with my baby and keep her with me the whole time, etc. Overall I'm looking forward to meeting my sweet girl!

Ultrasound - the one from my OBGYN was clearer but it's still neat to see!
26 weeks!!