after a week of strict bed rest, i went back to the doctor today and my cervix length is stable. she measured it three times and got a range of 2.4 - 2.6, which is considered the same as the 2.5 they got last week. not the best news we could have hoped for (that the one medication, indomethacin, was able to rebuild it), but definitely good news that it's not continuing to shorten.
the other good news, in my opinion, was the the doctor was pretty relaxed and confident about things moving forward, and that he gave me a long-term plan. even though i know if something changes drastically that this "plan" will be scrapped, i feel SO much better being able to think more long-term. the week-by-week "see what happens" scenario is not comfortable for me at all. but the doctor said we are really only concerned about the next 4-5 weeks. after i'm 33 or 34 weeks along he's comfortable letting me resume my normal activity and if the baby comes early, so be it. he said there's a possibility that i'll still carry to full-term, but at least by 34 weeks if the baby shows up there won't be any major concerns. especially since the baby is currently measuring at the 67th percentile (3lb, 5oz), and any increased size/development is helpful if he does decide to arrive prematurely.
so until that time, i need to stay on the procardia twice a day as i have been, and build in small doses of the indomethacin (just on weekends, for now) since there are possible dangers to the baby if you take that medication for more than small amounts of time. i also need to stay on a somewhat modified model of bed rest. he said i should still lay down as much as possible, for most of the day. but i can get up and do some small things around the house, and i can even go out to eat or something close to home as long as i don't do a lot of walking. i'll go back every week to make sure things are holding stable.
the week that i'm supposed to go back to work will be week 33 for me. he said there's a chance i'll be able to work that week, or at least part of the week. worst case is i miss that first week and then i can go back when i'm at 34 weeks. again, not ideal, but not a bad situation at all when i was imagining not being able to go back at all until the spring.
this is really ok with me. obviously i'd rather be doing fun summer things and accomplishing all of the things around the house that need to be done before the baby arrives. but at least now i know that's just not going to happen. no more waiting to see and feeling like i'm twiddling my thumbs. now i can plan for what needs to be done, get help where needed, and get over the disappointment that i won't be able to really live it up in these last weeks before parenthood begins. i'm thankful that i did have some fun this summer while i could! i traveled, i went to a concert, i saw some movies, went to some cookouts. now i have this baby to look forward to, and i really am very excited for that part of life to begin.
in less good news, my back pain has returned. i think the indomethacin helped it to feel better, but i can't take it all the time so i guess i may just have to deal with it. i described it to the doctor and he agreed with my internet-researched assumption that it's sciatic nerve pain, which isn't a concern in terms of being a labor symptom. it's almost definitely related to the pregnancy; often in the third trimester the baby's weight can cause this nerve in your lower back to become pinched or squeezed. but it's not a danger... just an annoyance. sometimes it's just awful, other times it's manageable. there doesn't seem to be any pattern or anything i can do about it. i'm hoping being able to move around a little bit more will help me be able to stretch it out a bit. but if that's the worst i have to worry about right now, i'll take it.
my parents are coming down in a week or so to lend a hand with the baby prep and also to bring some gifts that they've collected since my postponed baby shower and just keep me company. it is going to be such a huge help. and i have so many wonderful friends that have already started (and i know will continue) to visit, call, offer help, and cheer me up in general. it's not the way i imagined my pregnancy, but so far the only sure thing about this entire process is that nothing at all has happened the way that i imagined it would. but it's almost over, and even my crazy paranoid high risk doctor says there's nothing to worry about. it's all going to be fine.
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