Week 37 – 41

I have been working till week 39 but at the start of the week 39 I was down with severe flu, sore throat and phlegm so I took around 1 ½ week medical till my due date. As I’m writing this now I’m 3 days passed my due date. Despite my walking, climbing stairs and active life style baby seems to be settled well inside me. Now on 31^st March I personally do not want him to arrive on the 1^st April. So today and tomorrow I will take it slow just being a couch potato!

In the meantime I’m under continuous monitoring for baby’s heartbeat amniotic fluid etc., to ensure he is fine inside me. I’m also at a higher dose of insulin now at 8-8-10 all 3 meals to control my blood sugar levels as well as baby’s weight. Last time he was approximately 4kgs.

By end of this week i.e. maximum by due date + 5 days I will be induced. I’m still hoping for normal delivery. As per last check with midwife baby’s head is nicely positioned and I was dilated. So I’m still hoping that things will go smoothly with the long awaited arrival of my baby!

I would also like to mention here how supportive and friendly the family clinic - Fertilitas has been all throughout my pregnancy.

First Trimester Screening Medium Risk

Week 12- 20
I had my first trimester screening when I was 13 weeks. NT scan looked ok at 1.4mm. I also had to do a blood test, and the results from the blood test came for trisomy 13/18 as 1:305.  Below 300 is high risk and mine in border level high risk. Trisomy 21 was at 1:3989.

at 13 weeks 7.9 cm

Dr called me up for a detail discussion and had to do draw further blood for panorama testing – Non-invasive pre natal testing. Links for further reading about this test. http://www.lifelabs.com/Lifelabs_ON/Patients/TestInfo/Special/Panorama.asp

It usually takes 2 weeks to get the Panorama test results. But I had to do again after 2 weeks as in the first testing they could not find enough sample of baby's DNA. Time passed and at 16 weeks I gave another sample for panorama screening. To our surprise they could not find enough sample again!!! Apparently I'm one of the 1% of people from whom they are unable to get enough sample.

My regular Dr recommended me to do a special screening similar to anomaly scan with a fetal specialist. He measured many parts of the baby to check any abnormalities. Scan lasted for up to 15-20 minutes. Finally he said baby looks fine.

at 18 weeks 3D image

In the meantime the Lab offered to do panorama testing one more time and did not charge us for the previous 2 attempts. At 18 weeks I gave a 3rd round of blood sample for panorama screening.

Finally at week 20 we got the all clear 'Low risk' results.

Meanwhile I have gained 5 kgs so far, and still vomit even at week 20 when my stomach is empty for a long time.

I think this whole trisomy drama occurred because I had low B12. I feel it is one of the important pregnancy vitamin that is ignored by many. See link on http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/anemia-in-pregnancy

However finally I'm relieved to have the results and now trying prepare myself mentally for the arrival of Baby Boy!

Week 8 – 12 & Being Vegetarian during Pregnancy (Aug - Sep)

Since last scan at week 8 things have started to get back to normal. Less nausea in morning. Occasional cramps, dizziness and headache but no more breast tenderness. I wasn’t sure. I worry all the time. AK keeps saying how much would you worry? ‘It happens if it has to happen’ That’s pretty true if I keep worrying there will be no end as this is something that will continue till… I don’t know when. (education, exams, job, wedding, birth of grandkids) Stop Worrying!

Week 9

We went to our usual Dr Pavic again. Scan was ok, things were normal. But I had to do a blood test to check Vit D, Iron levels and B12. I follow a vegetarian diet and eat egg only occasionally purely due to health reasons. Therefore these levels needed to be checked. Results came out to be Vit D low, Iron Ok, B12 low but no need of injections. I had to take Vit D supplements and I also started drinking Marmite for B12.

My diet so far…

Breakfast – Full cup milk with nescafe and ovomaltin, 1 cup Marmite, 1 Apple

Lunch – Salad, legumes, corn, rice, relatively light lunch

Dinner – Noodles with vegetables, tofu and egg

Pasta, tomato, mozzarella Rice and curry etc.,

I drink milk, eat cheese and consume legumes like lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans etc.,

I also take supplements which is Centrum Materna, Vit D and Omega 3

 

Week 9  Size 2.5cm

Week 11

After my scan on week 9 Dr mentioned that I could come back in a month for week 13 scan which would be Nuchal Translucency scan. I could not wait that long so went for a scan during Week 11. It was a miraculous scene! The little embryo had grown into a tiny human with small head tiny hands and tiny legs at a total length of 4.6cm (No photo)

Week 6 – 8 July - Aug

Since my last scan seeing the yolk sac I had intermittent cramps and vomited again one morning. I was walking to work, on my way I had to stop vomit in a plastic bag carry it for a while till I came across a bin. Quite weird!

Close to  the scheduled scan on Week 7 I had cramps they were more frequent started on a Thursday evening last till Friday night. Some were pretty sharp. Eventhough scan showed heartbeat and good growth, I was very apprehensive specially considering my last miscarriage happened with lots of cramps. Dr keeps telling me, if you don’t bleed no need to worry. But it could happen that you aren’t bleeding due to the progesterone suppositories.

Week 7

Around week 8 I did not experience much symptoms. I prepared myself mentally and my hubby as I did not want to get it as a shock via the scan. We went to the scan and I told Dr that I’m not sure due to lack of symptoms. Dr directly did a ultrasound scan. (all this time scan was intrauterine) Surprise!! It was quietly growing.

Week 8  15.9mm

Btw anybody out there reading my posts?

Week 4 – Week 6 _ July 2014

On the following week from the Beta test we had a pre-planned summer holidays. So my next scan was not until I’m back from our holidays. Usually when we are on holidays we do a lot of walking this holiday was no exception. I had also pre-planned a small hike to a national park by Mediterranean sea. I checked with the Dr and we did the hike as planned. I did it slower than my normal pace. I did not have much symptoms other than usual bloating caused by the estrogen patches.

Week 6 – At the beginning of this week I experienced more cramps and vomited orange liquid in the morning. I take my pregnancy multi vitamins (I find centrum has a complete package) and Omega 3. Since I do not eat fish I take them. The fish oil usually worsens the nausea. We had our first scan with another Gyne as our regular Dr too was on summer vacation.

Yolk Sac at 6 weeks