Back in November I had a gallbladder attack. It was the worst pain I had ever experienced, worse than labor! (okay, so I usually have epidurals, but you get my idea). It was 11:30 pm and I was just getting to bed. It started with a slight side ache and wouldn't go away with which ever way I layed. I got up and went to the bathroom thinking that would help...it didn't. I went downstairs and did some research on my computer -- people saying it was gas and to do some stretches. I tried every stretch possible and it only got worse. Within 30 minutes I was kneeling on the floor with my head on the couch sweating and unable to talk. Nothing relieved the pain -- sitting, standing, or laying. Fortunately our friend, Rich, was still awake and was able to come stay with the girls while Ken took me to the hospital. The registration process at Davis Hospital (I don't know if it's like this elsewhere) is the worst system ever. I'm sitting there in pain barely able to talk and she's trying to ask me questions like I'm totally normal. All of a sudden I got all nauseous - she barely got me the pan before I puked everything out. The pain went away instantly! They still took me up to monitor me and sent me away an hour and 1/2 later.
I went in the next week to Radiology to get an ultrasound of my gallbladder and found out that I had gallstones. I wasn't surprised as my twin sister had hers out a few years ago, along with my mom and grandma. I was paranoid about everything I ate after that -- I did not want another experience like that again!
To add to the complications, at my big 20 week ultrasound they found out that I have a Single Umbilical Artery. 1 in 100 chance of that happening. It just means that they need to watch the baby to see if she is still growing and follow up at 32 weeks with another big ultrasound. Fortunately, everything else with our baby girl is healthy.
The day after Christmas I started itching really badly all over. No rash, just itching everywhere. By Sunday I decided to look it up on the internet -- thank goodness for our technology today! I wasn't expecting to find anything out, but I did. It's called Cholestasis, or a liver disease you can only get when you are pregnant. It's when the normal flow of bile in the gallbladder is affected by the high amounts of pregnancy hormones. It usually happens in the 3rd trimester and only 1 in 1000 get it. What are the chances? So on Wednesday I went in for some blood tests to make sure that was really what it was. Sure enough, I have Cholestasis. I am on some medicine to help with the itching, which also helps dissolve the gallstones. There could be complications with the baby as well with this disease such as a stillborn baby. A source with reliable information: "A developing baby relies on the mother’s liver to remove bile acids from the blood; therefore, the elevated levels of maternal bile cause stress on the baby’s liver." Who knew that so much could happen in 1 pregnancy when the other 3 went so perfectly!
So my Dr. called me again today to give me the lab results that they had to send in. She told me that I will need to induced at 38 weeks to make sure the baby is safe. I'm stressing just a tad bit, since that is only 6 weeks away! I am grateful that she is keeping such a good eye on me and making sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. So much to do in so little time. And as it turns out -- I will be 38 weeks on Ellie's birthday, February 20th. She made it sound like I would have a say in what day to deliver (to an extent), so my dilemma is -- Do I choose to have them born on the same day (they would be exactly 3 years apart) or wait a few days and let them have their own birthday? You would wonder why I would worry about such a minor detail when other complications could arise, but if you know me...that's what I do best. :) If you could leave a comment or take my poll, I'd appreciate it. I don't want to ruin my daughters lives by having them have the same birthday, if I can help it. :)
I am SO grateful for all the information, medication, tests, and wonderful doctors out there that are here to help. I don't know how I would live in pioneer times without all this technology today. I am grateful that so far everything has gone as smoothly as it has, praying that the next 6 weeks will go as planned and our daughter will get here healthy and strong.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
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11 comments:
Brindy, I'm so sorry you have been having so many problems. How scary. I hope everything continues to go well. Let me know if there is anything you need. Oh, and I should explain my vote. :) I voted for the baby's health, but.... if you have a choice and you can choose with out impacting the baby's health, then I would do it on a different day. Everyone likes to have their own special day. :) Good luck!
Hey Brindy -
I didn't know you were having any trouble, I am so sorry and hope that everything goes smoothly from here on! I vote to have separate birthdays if you can. I am a twin (and so are you), and I always wished I could have a birthday of my very very own, didn't you? Anyway, let us know if you are feeling up to dinner before baby girl #4 makes her debut, we still owe you guys!!!
Oh my heck Brindy, what a whirlwind of a fun pregnancy! I am sorry for all the troubles but it sounds like you have a very good doctor. Go for February 22, that is my birthday!! I think different is best but you of all people would know that sharing a birthday isn't all that bad-or maybe it is :) I knew a family that had their first two girls exactly to the day two years apart and then purposefully had their third thild induced on the very same day!! Good luck and keep us posted!
Oh Brindy! I'm sorry to hear about all your troubles. I hope things continue to improve. Kelson and his younger sister have the same birthday and he never really cared, but she hated it growing up. Maybe it's a girl thing to want your own special day! Obviously her health (and yours) comes first, but I'm with Jennie, if you can choose, go for different. Good Luck!
Brindy, I'm so sorry you've been sick, and had so many complications. Please if there's anything I can do let me know. Even if it's watching your kids while you go to the doctors. I'm usually always around. I'll be praying for your pregnancy to go well. As for the Birthday thing, I'm so close to my sisters, that I think it would be fun to share a birthday together. I think no matter what day she's born on it will all work out to be fine in the end/.
I am sure everything is going to be perfect!! I don't think that there really is any way to not feel rushed even if everything goes perfect and on time! I wish I were closer and I would love to come and help you get ready. Good luck over the next 6 weeks and I will keep you and your family in my prayers!
I am glad you atleast have figured out what was causing all that stuff. My vote is do what is very best for baby's health. I say if you have a choice...different days. Although, if they end up being on the same day you can always celebrate one the day before and one the day after. My sis and I both have birthdays in March and we ended up celebrating them together alot anyway. Not sure that helps...good luck
Oh my goodness! You are a trooper. And I don't think that you are silly for worrying about details such as a birthday. I was in the same situation with my girls. (minus all the scary problems) But Cambrie was due on the 12th of Feb which is Bailie's birthday. I was also going back and forth about getting started so they would have different b-days or just letting nature take its course. In the end my doctor agreed to start me on the 2nd so their b-days are 10 days apart. I am happy with my choice. It gives me a chance to give them each a special day of their very own. Everybody loves a day that is just about them. So thats what I did, but in the end I would think the baby's health is more important. But if you had the choice to do different b-days, I would go for it!!
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy! I'll pray that the rest of the time goes well...My vote is for having two different days for your girls. It may only be a day or two different, but I think they need their own day. This seems funny coming from a mom of twins, but I think it's different when they're not twins and FORCED to have the same birthday!
What a roller coaster ride of a pregnancy! How stressful. I agree, thank goodness great doctors and modern medicine. Good luck with the remaining six weeks. As for the birthdays, my vote is for the baby to have her own birthday, not necessarily far apart from Ellie's, but her own.
Hey Brindy, I can't believe all the problems you have had and the baby is still healthy. I also had gallbladder problems with elizabeth's pregnacy. Gallbladder attacks are worse than labor because they are constant pain and at least labor pains come and go. About 6 months after elizabeth was born I had to have my gallbladder removed. That was the best decision of my life getting rid of that darn thing. If I had lived in the pioneer times I would have been dead a couple of times now, thank goodness for modern technologies.
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