So I had my second perinatologist appointment today. I walked in there feeling old school. Like, “I’ve been here before, this is old hat to me now.” And shoot, rounding up two boys not once but twice in one week to go to doctor appointments should get me SOME sort of recognition, don’t you think? Even if Kile had to entertain the boys (by taking them to Sportsman’s Warehouse) while I was actually in the appointment today. I read a little bit of a stale “People” magazine before I was called back and settled into the same ultrasound room as last time.
The first gal came to do the ultrasound and I remembered her from last time. She’s very friendly. She did all sorts of measurements on the baby (measuring: on time, weight: 3lbs 7oz) and even zoomed by the goods just to ensure that she hasn’t turned into a he in the last two weeks. She hasn’t. Still a girl. Woot! I was also feeling encouraged by the baby’s weight thus far. Cute as his puny runt status has made him, I’d far rather not have another 4lb 15oz baby, thankyouverymuch. So with 7-8 weeks left to go, I think it’s entirely conceivable that this gal will put on another two pounds at least, don’t you? Of course, we then discovered that the little stinker has turned herself breech in there (again) with her head up by my ribs. Now, I’m not terribly concerned because what does it matter? I’m getting a c-section anyhow. But I knew Kile would be upset. He’s very nervous about babies being breech and then turning down at the last minute and getting all tangled up in the cord. Gee, I wonder why? But, as the gal said, there’s not much we can do about it. And I’m choosing to be optimistic here.
Then she got down to business. She was training another gal on how to do this kinds of ultrasound (she kept referring to it as an “MCA”) but I only understood maybe 10% of what she said. Darn the medical community and their confusing acronyms! She did intriguingly tell the trainee that they don’t often do these MCA ultrasounds and that the patient has to meet some special criteria. Oooh! Made me wonder what this criteria was and what I had done to merit it. Made me feel special, it did.
Then the doctor came in and he did the scan of the brain too. He said that the numbers have gone up in two weeks, but not a whole lot. Meaning, there’s nothing to get our panties in a bunch over quite yet. He wants me back in two weeks to do another scan. I mentioned to him my doctor wanting to know when would be best to do the c-section. She was thinking 38 weeks, but wanted his input on if 37 would be better. And, God bless him, he said he thought 37/38 would be perfect. He actually said that 37 1/2 weeks was probably the best time. Which, coincidentally enough, is exactly when I want to have this baby. March 21st, oh yeah! He said he’d include that in his note to her. I felt like pumping my fist into the air. He also mentioned that after 37 weeks that’s some uncharted territory with this whole MCA ultrasound thing so doing the c-section then might be good for peace of mind as well.
So all in all, I’d say that went well. As well as a perinatologist appointment could go. I’m back in two weeks, baby.
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2 Responses to “Heads up”
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I’m glad that your numbers still look good!
MCA aka MCA doppler aka middle cerebral artery doppler replaced doing amnios a few years ago to determine whether or not the baby was becoming anemic due to the antibodies. This site is really good at explaining it, although it’s kinda technical. The ISO Moms thread on the BabyCenter High Risk board is a great place for info – I think I mentioned it before. There are graphs out there where you can chart your gestation and the number that they gave you to see where you fit. I can’t find one right now (commenting and going to bed, I swear! or that’s what I keep telling my husband).
Even though the triplets shouldn’t be affected by my antibodies (they are all Rh negative just like me, they still do MCA dopplers just to make sure.
There are still some things you might want to prepare yourself for. She might need a blood transfusion after she’s born and she will probably be jaundiced – meaning some time in the NICU under the bili lights. Don’t start reading too much because it can be really scary stuff (including my own story). I’ve always been one of those to over-educate myself (again because of what happened to me).
Another novel of a comment. I’m really happy that things are going well for you and the little lady!
May I ask why you are so attached to March 21 as the day to meet your little girl? I don’t know why, but I’ve been skating along thinking our girls would possibly have the same birthday, considering your due date is the same as mine was. Like I said, I don’t know why – I KNOW you have c-sections, which means early, so big DUH on my part. Oh well, at least they can share clothes, huh?