Nug Prayers Needed

[Samantha Puppy]

Today I have an appointment with the Center for Advanced Fetal Care at the University of Maryland. I've been there twice before but they wanted me to come back today to see how the pelvic kidney is doing (last time I was there, they couldn't see it but they didn't know if it was because it had shriveled up and "died" or if it was because he hadn't gone potty in awhile and the poo was blocking the view). I also have a ton of questions to ask them regarding risks of Down's, risks of heart problems, risks of future pregnancies, etc. I hope I can remember them all.

In addition to that, I haven't been feeling well lately. My back has been absolutely KILLING me. I can't fully straighten up when I walk, so I look like a 90 year old woman shuffling around (nothing against 90 year old women, I just don't want to look like one at 27!!!!). I can barely manage stairs anymore because my knees are so weak. I grunt, huff and puff. I'm just tired of feeling like this. I want to be ME again. I don't mean to complain, I know there is a miracle inside me... I'm just impatient by nature anyway so I'm frustrated. I'm petrified of giving birth - I'm still weeks away from doing so and I already keep thinking to myself that I can't do it. I just want this all to be over.

Anyway, thoughts and prayers for the doctor appointment this afternoon would be appreciated. Feel free to ignore the above pity party paragraph.

[prechrswife]

Praying here. I hope everything goes well today.

[4 Dog Mother]

Prayers coming your way! Don't worry about having a pity party on yourself. Pregnancy, while a miracle, can be quite tiresome and uncomfortable! Most women I know that have been pregnant have had AT least ONE pity party. You are entitled to them.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Make a list of all the questions you want to ask! This way you won't forget anything Good luck for you and little Nug!!

[Karen]

I agree - write down a list, so you don't get home and remember that one-more-thing! Prayers being sent your way, and for Nug, too!

[Samantha Puppy]

Yeah - funny thing, that. I spent a lot of time doing research on our conditions last week, so I had a page FULL of questions written down. Last night, I put the piece of paper by my purse... and left it at home this morning when I left for work.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Jaime, my thoughts and prayers are with you and little Nug. Please let us know how things go. Maybe you could reconstruct your list while you're at work if you have time? (((((HUGS)))))

[Jadapit]

My thoughts and prayers will be with you both.

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

(((JAIME and NUG))). Hope everything goes well at your appointment.

It's natural to be apprehensive about the labor and delivery - I am nervous about mine, and it's my third!!

Are you planning on going to some ante-natal classes - even if you are not planning on a totally natural birth, you will find it VERY reassuring to go to some classes - if nothing else the breathing techniques are good for keeping you calm and preventing panic.

Don't want to post TMI here - please PM me with any concerns you have - I am no expert by any means, but you may find that "talking"about your concerns will relax you a bit!!! (((HUGS)))

[Samantha Puppy]

We're currently in birth prep classes now. We've had 3 and we have 2-3 more. It helps some but I'm still scared to death. I've never been in the hospital for anything before. It's just a lot to take in all at once, if that makes any sense.

[Cataholic]

Good luck with today's visit. Prayers that things are manageable, if not exactly what you hoped for.

As to the nervous part? Remember this...be as nervous as you want to be, just know when it is 'time'...nerves go out the window, and your body takes over. It is true. All the aprehension I had left as soon as the first labour pain kicked in.

Good luck today, and please let us know. Thinking of you.

[Toby's my baby]

Prayers and thoughts coming your way! I hope everything is ok, and you can remeber all you questions. Pity yourself all you want I hope you feel better soon!

[Samantha Puppy]

Thanks everyone. I had some time this morning and wrote down as much of the list as I could remember. I had a lot of help from a very helpful Chromosomal Disorder site I had written last week - they don't usually work on weekends but had a doctor compose an e-mail back to me to answer some of my questions. I plan on taking what she said in today and asking my actual doctors what they think - since they know my history.

I'm sitting here, out of breath for absolutely no reason. See, this is the stuff I hate. I know he's just stretching and my lungs don't have the room to fill up like they used to but there still is something unnerving about sitting down, not doing a darn thing, and still huffing and puffing like you just ran 5 miles. Blah.

I leave in 5 minutes. I'll try to get online tonight and fill you in, but if not I'll post tomorrow.

[Samantha Puppy]

Well, we're back!

First, the good news: He has TWO kidneys! The one wasn't visible last time because he was "backed up" but we could see it this time. It is still down lower than it should be but the bloodflow to it was normal and it functions just fine - it's just not up where it should be. It should cause him no problems once he's born. They also checked bloodflow from me to him, through his heart, kidneys, and other organs. Everything was strong and normal.

The not-so-good news: He's measuring smaller than he should at this stage in the game. He should be upwards of 4.5 lbs. and he's only approximately 3 lbs. 3 oz. I was only 5 lbs. 4 oz. when I was born (and I'm barely 5'2" now) and Josh was only 5 lbs. 11 oz. (and he's about 5'5" now) so they're attributing it probably to the fact that we're both tiny people HOWEVER it could be affected due to the two vessel cord issue we have going on. By how much, we don't know and won't until he's born and starts growing really. But I do have to go back to the Advanced Fetal Care Center one more time in 3 more weeks to see how much he's grown. I have an OBGYN appointment on Wednesday and I plan on asking him if there are any foods that will help pack on the weight. I'm sure he'll be a small baby anyway, just hopefully not 3 lbs. small.

Keep those prayers comin' - Nug needs to start fattening up!!!

[Lobodeb]

First of all ((((((((((((((Jaime and Aiden)))))))))))))).

I'm glad you got some good news today!

A few doctor's visits back, my doctor made a comment to me that I was gaining too much weight. She asked what I could be eating less of, etc. But one comment that she made stuck out to me that might be able to help you. She said to stay away from the starches or my baby is going to be huge and it'll only make my delivery that much harder on me.

So, maybe eat more starches?

Either way, good luck.