Ryan and I got to take a tour of the NICU in anticipation of Maddie's stay. I have to say, it's quite nice. All of the rooms have pull out couches to sleep over if you'd like. The nurses we met were really nice.
We went over some of the things to expect. Whether they need it or not, all babies are hooked up to a central monitoring system so the nurses can see what's going on with them at all times from anywhere. Maddie will be hooked up to an IV as all preemies receive antibiotics initially. She'll be evaluated for whether she needs oxygen or a vent, but apparently at 34 weeks with the betamethasone shots most babies do not. She'll have her blood sugar evaluated until she passes 5 tests in a row. And finally, they will evaluate her ability to maintain her body temp. We are anticipating her weighing around 3.5 lbs at birth and they like babies to be about 4 before they leave. The NICU nurse said that if all thing go well, Maddie would likely only stay about a week. Depending on all of the above will depend on feeding. She might have to go straight into The Giraffe (her bed) and if that's the case we'll start me pumping right away.
All in all, I am glad we are at this hospital. Everyone has been wonderful and I've been impressed with their standard of care.
In fun news, Ryan snuck me Panera for dinner...including an M&M cookie. I was totally prepared for my sugar to be out of control and to get lectured by the nurse. Nope!!! My sugar was perfect!!! Now I want a cookie after every meal :)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Sorry it's been so long...
I was hospitalized on Monday for the duration of the pregnancy and blogging from my phone was just too difficult.
Monday we had our growth scan. Maddie fell from the 7th percentile to less than the 3rd percentile. However she grew enough to warrant remaining in there. In 2 weeks she put on 200 grams (about 7 oz.) and gained 2 cm around her abdomen. As of Monday she weighed 3 pound even, which is the normal weight of a 28w3d baby and Maddie was 31w5d so almost a month behind.
Dr. Murphy, my high risk OB, was worried about my BP and decided I needed to be placed on meds, so I was send down to L&D to get a dose and be monitored. During my stay it came back that there was protein in my urine. So, my team of doctors decided that I needed to be admitted for 24 hour observation and a 24 hour urine collection. At some point during Monday evening my doctors all decided that I needed to remain in the hospital until delivery because I could decline so quickly with pre-eclampsia.
I have met with all 5 of my OBs as well as my high risk OB in the last few days. They are all of the opinion that we need to deliver at 34 weeks at the latest because of Maddie's growth issues and my health. I do not have severe pre-eclampsia yet, but if I develop that we will deliver immediately because the risk to me and Maddie is to great to continue the pregnancy.
I spoke with one of my OBs in depth today about what we are realistically looking at with Maddie being born 6 weeks early. I have been a bit panicky about the prospect of a preemie and how she will be affected in the long run. Talking with my OB today made me feel a lot better. If we make it to 34 weeks we are looking at basically no long term problem other than some delays. And not delays like you think. It will be delays like if a book says she should walk at 10 months, we need to add 6 weeks to that. And she should be all caught up by 2. She will likely spend a couple weeks in the NICU, but it is possible she could come home with us.
As for me, my BP is still running a bit high even with being on the meds. They don't want to up the dose at this point because they don't want to decrease the already restricted flow to Maddie. I am having trouble with spikes when I get up, so I am pretty much in bed most of the day and now have compression boots on to stop blood clots. I get my BP checked every 4 hours and Maddie gets an NST 4 times a day.
So, right now we're just hanging out hoping my body doesn't give out and we can keep her baking until 34 weeks.
Monday we had our growth scan. Maddie fell from the 7th percentile to less than the 3rd percentile. However she grew enough to warrant remaining in there. In 2 weeks she put on 200 grams (about 7 oz.) and gained 2 cm around her abdomen. As of Monday she weighed 3 pound even, which is the normal weight of a 28w3d baby and Maddie was 31w5d so almost a month behind.
Dr. Murphy, my high risk OB, was worried about my BP and decided I needed to be placed on meds, so I was send down to L&D to get a dose and be monitored. During my stay it came back that there was protein in my urine. So, my team of doctors decided that I needed to be admitted for 24 hour observation and a 24 hour urine collection. At some point during Monday evening my doctors all decided that I needed to remain in the hospital until delivery because I could decline so quickly with pre-eclampsia.
I have met with all 5 of my OBs as well as my high risk OB in the last few days. They are all of the opinion that we need to deliver at 34 weeks at the latest because of Maddie's growth issues and my health. I do not have severe pre-eclampsia yet, but if I develop that we will deliver immediately because the risk to me and Maddie is to great to continue the pregnancy.
I spoke with one of my OBs in depth today about what we are realistically looking at with Maddie being born 6 weeks early. I have been a bit panicky about the prospect of a preemie and how she will be affected in the long run. Talking with my OB today made me feel a lot better. If we make it to 34 weeks we are looking at basically no long term problem other than some delays. And not delays like you think. It will be delays like if a book says she should walk at 10 months, we need to add 6 weeks to that. And she should be all caught up by 2. She will likely spend a couple weeks in the NICU, but it is possible she could come home with us.
As for me, my BP is still running a bit high even with being on the meds. They don't want to up the dose at this point because they don't want to decrease the already restricted flow to Maddie. I am having trouble with spikes when I get up, so I am pretty much in bed most of the day and now have compression boots on to stop blood clots. I get my BP checked every 4 hours and Maddie gets an NST 4 times a day.
So, right now we're just hanging out hoping my body doesn't give out and we can keep her baking until 34 weeks.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Well that's weird...
I received a letter today from Progressive. It's apparently from a Claims Branch in Sterling Heights, MI. It lists a claim number, date of loss, and pictures of a totally mangled Dodge Magnum. The letter says:
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Ramsayer,
We are completing an investigation into the above captioned incident and need to contact you. It is possible you may have information of value to this claim.
Please contact me at the number below at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your assistance.
And it is signed by a Special Investigator. I have absolutely no idea what this is about, so I call Ryan to see if he maybe witnessed an accident and gave a witness statement or something. He also has no idea what this is about. I was hesitant to call thinking it's some stunt or something. But, all the info (address, phone number, etc.) on the letter checks out as legit. So, I called and left a message.
Guess I'll find out?
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Ramsayer,
We are completing an investigation into the above captioned incident and need to contact you. It is possible you may have information of value to this claim.
Please contact me at the number below at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your assistance.
And it is signed by a Special Investigator. I have absolutely no idea what this is about, so I call Ryan to see if he maybe witnessed an accident and gave a witness statement or something. He also has no idea what this is about. I was hesitant to call thinking it's some stunt or something. But, all the info (address, phone number, etc.) on the letter checks out as legit. So, I called and left a message.
Guess I'll find out?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Say What?!?
Bed rest = too much TV = ignorance destroyed. I think I probably would have been okay never knowing this. Somehow I made it in and out of Wesleyan without knowing we had a B'town cop who doubled as a serial rapist.
Here's one of the articles. It's seriously disturbing knowing that this was all going on while we were there.
Here's one of the articles. It's seriously disturbing knowing that this was all going on while we were there.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Maddie got a 10/10!!!
Today was the appointment with my high-risk OB, Dr. Murphy. First up was the biophysical profile. Apparently my MFM's office got a new ultrasound machine and the tech was pretty excited to play with it. She decided to start playing with the 3D function and even made me a CD of the pictures she took. Here are a couple cute ones of our Madeleine Marie:
Yeah, in case you couldn't tell...she's kicking herself in the forehead in the last picture. I laughed pretty hard when she did that.
Anyway, all in all, the appointment went really well. While there is still restricted blood flow at the cord, it is better today than it was last week. It went down from 4.2 to 2.6. YAY! Maddie passed the NST today in the first 30 seconds we were hooked up to the machine. Dr. Murphy gave her a 10/10 for today. And although we still have to wait for the growth scan next week to get out of woods, things are looking good at this point that she'll be able to stay in there a little while longer.
My blood pressure is still high, although it's been stable. I dropped off my 24 hour urine collection at the lab and they ran another blood panel on me to keep an eye on the possible pre-eclampsia. The lab, by the way, was INSANE! Is it a full moon tonight?!? There were probably about 50 people there and while I was waiting I saw the following: a woman have a seizure, a crazy old lady freak out and start slamming her cane into the counter, and another crazy lady run over two people AND a sign with her motorized wheelchair.
So, we're still in a waiting pattern. Thursday is my next NST and Monday is the big growth scan. I think today I'll celebrate the bit of good news we got.
Anyway, all in all, the appointment went really well. While there is still restricted blood flow at the cord, it is better today than it was last week. It went down from 4.2 to 2.6. YAY! Maddie passed the NST today in the first 30 seconds we were hooked up to the machine. Dr. Murphy gave her a 10/10 for today. And although we still have to wait for the growth scan next week to get out of woods, things are looking good at this point that she'll be able to stay in there a little while longer.
My blood pressure is still high, although it's been stable. I dropped off my 24 hour urine collection at the lab and they ran another blood panel on me to keep an eye on the possible pre-eclampsia. The lab, by the way, was INSANE! Is it a full moon tonight?!? There were probably about 50 people there and while I was waiting I saw the following: a woman have a seizure, a crazy old lady freak out and start slamming her cane into the counter, and another crazy lady run over two people AND a sign with her motorized wheelchair.
So, we're still in a waiting pattern. Thursday is my next NST and Monday is the big growth scan. I think today I'll celebrate the bit of good news we got.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Maddie Got a Gift from Grandma & Grandpa!
Maddie received a gift in the mail from Grandma Jayne and Grandpa Jerry!
BABY QUILT!
Here's a close up of the panels:
"Madeleine Marie Ramsayer" is embroidered on the back.
BABY QUILT!
Here's a close up of the panels:
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Another 24 Urine Collection
Today we had a NST (non stress test) at my OB. Of course, my blood pressure was still high. However, today I also had trace protein in my urine. Since they've been concerned about pre-e for the last week or so, they've ordered me to do another 24 hour urine collection this Sunday. YAY!
Maddie passed her NST with flying colors. My OB laughed when she came in because Maddie was flipping all over the place in there and ended up passing the test in the first 3 minutes we were hooked up. We still had to stay hooked up for the minimum 20 required minutes. Maddie also has the heartbeat of a 32 week baby rather than the 30 week old that she is. So, sounds like she's doing just fine in there right now.
So, our doctor schedule is:
Tomorrow - Dietitian
Sunday - 24 Hour Urine Collection
Monday - Dr. Murphy for ultrasound and NST
Thursday - Dr. Campbell for an NST
Maddie passed her NST with flying colors. My OB laughed when she came in because Maddie was flipping all over the place in there and ended up passing the test in the first 3 minutes we were hooked up. We still had to stay hooked up for the minimum 20 required minutes. Maddie also has the heartbeat of a 32 week baby rather than the 30 week old that she is. So, sounds like she's doing just fine in there right now.
So, our doctor schedule is:
Tomorrow - Dietitian
Sunday - 24 Hour Urine Collection
Monday - Dr. Murphy for ultrasound and NST
Thursday - Dr. Campbell for an NST
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)