Baby Jensen #3 - finally an update

I can’t believe that it has taken me this long to sit down and document this pregnancy.  I don’t know why it’s been such a task to keep up on a blog, but it has.  Not something that I think about a lot, but when I do I realize how behind I am and what a daunting task it would be to catch up.  I’ve caught up a little, but for now I just wanted to take the time and catch up on Baby #3, or “Baby Brother” as he’s been termed.

We found out we were pregnant near the end of July.  It had been about 5-6 weeks since my miscarriage and I hadn’t had a period yet, so we had suspected I might be pregnant.  We were hitting that time when if it wasn’t going to happen then we were going to have to wait because the timing wasn’t going to work well for the next 4-5 months.  So on July 21^st, I took a test and there it was.  I think my first words were, “Holy crap!”

As much as the both of us were suspecting it, we were both still surprised.  I had put it out of my mind somewhat just because I didn’t want to get my hopes up because it can take people months to regulate, let only get pregnant after having a miscarriage.  So I truly felt blessed that it happened when it did, because I really didn’t want to have to wait and have a baby I the first few months of residency.   I also felt humbled knowing that it truly was in God’s hands and the timing of everything miscarriage and all was happening just how He wanted it to, and just how it was meant to be.

We set our first appointment near the beginning of August and I was definitely anxious for that appointment, as I am for most of them.  This one they did an ultrasound to estimate the due date since I didn’t have a period in between the miscarriage and getting pregnant.  The estimated due date they had down was only 5 days later than what we had anticipated so things happened fast.  We were very happy! 

We told our families and friends when I reached about 12 weeks and once we could hear the heartbeat.  So far everything was looking normal and I was feeling great.  I am truly blessed to not get morning sickness in my pregnancies.  Time was passing fairly quickly with Jake gone and besides a little fatigue I was feeling great.  I was even able to keep running (up to 3 miles) until I was about 15-16 weeks  After that I couldn’t do much more running, as it hurt my pelvis and hips too much from the impact. 

I started to show at about 15-16 weeks.  Pants began to tighten and in many ways I was excited to finally start showing because then you get out of that “is she pregnant or just fat” phase.  Pregnancy is always fairly easy on me and in many ways I actually enjoy it.  I also started to feel flutters/kicks by about 18 weeks and they got stronger and stronger as time went on. 

At 20 weeks we had our anatomy ultrasound.  Jake was able to attend for this appointment and we were super anxious to see our baby.  We had all intentions going into the appointment of not finding out the gender, but as soon as the tech put the wand on my belly, there HE was loud and clear.  Plus Jake’s seen so many and I can follow ultrasounds fairly well, that we both figured we might catch and eye of something if it was a boy.  So we had the tech confirm for us and were thrilled to know for sure that it was a boy.  We had really hoped for a boy this time around, not that we don’t love our Audree girl, we just thought another boy would be a great addition to the family.  Everything in the ultrasound was looking great, except for the fact that he was a little small.  ~26^th percentile overall with some of his leg and head measurements falling in the teens.  The doctor was only mildly concerned and wanted to set up another ultrasound at my following appointment just to make sure everything was still okay.  

Before my next appointment I was getting a little worried and began to dwell on baby’s short femur length, and after some Googling (I know, bad!) I had found out that it can be a soft marker for Down’s Syndrome, something that was confirmed by my new doctor at my next appointment (it was at this appointment that I found out that my doctor would be on surgery leave for the next 3 months.  Yes, 3.  I would be 36 weeks by the time she was back, so I decided to switch over to the doctor that I was seeing at that 24 week appointment. 

Like I said, we had a follow-up ultrasound, where it showed that baby had grown as he should but that he was definitely still on the small side.  Our doctor mentioned that yes, it could be a soft marker for Down’s Syndrome, but that it looked like anatomy wise that he wasn’t.  But if we wanted to meet with a perinatologist for a closer look and second opinion that he could give us that referral.  At the appointment we decided that we would just wait, but after a week or so of sitting on it, we decided to go ahead and get the referral for the specialist.  Something I’m so glad we did

We had our first specialist appointment when I was 26 (almost 27 weeks) and was really grateful that we met with her.  They did a very thorough ultrasound (1 hour long) to get all the details on his anatomy.  From the ultrasound they guessed that he wouldn’t have anything wrong, as far as trisomy or Down Syndrome, but they offered a blood test to check for that just in case.   The perinatologist was also concerned about baby’s size, especially his abdominal circumference which was in the 8^th percentile.  At this point she decided that she wanted to see us every 2 weeks for follow-up ultrasounds and we’ll go from there.  We had also been introduced to the fact that maybe there had been some interference with my placenta, by having too many placental lakes, but that she couldn’t be sure that that is what is causing his slowing growth.  She also mentioned the possibility that if growth continued to slow, that I could get started on steroid shots to boost baby’s lung maturity in the event that they would need to take him early.   So after all that information and blood work, we were on our way to follow-up in the 2 more weeks. 

Just before our next perinatal appointment, we had heard word back that all the blood work came back negative for trisomy, which was excellent news!  Such a relief.  Then on January 2^nd, at my follow-up appointment we didn’t receive the greatest of news.  Baby brother was still measuring small and although he did grow over the past two weeks, it wasn’t as much as he should have.  His abdominal circumference dropped from the 8^th percentile to below the 3^rd.   So the perinatologist decided to have me start weekly visits with her for follow-up ultrasounds and Biophysical Profiling, she also said that I would start Non-Stress tests once a week with my OB.  I went into that appointment with not a lot of questions, but as I approach my appointment this week, I will definitely be going in with more.   Such as, at what point would she decide to start steroids?  At one point and how early would she consider delivery?  What does she suspect the cause is?  What delivery options will I have, such as will baby be able to endure labor or will I have to have a C-section?  Many, many things now that I’ve had more time to process and definitely now that we are to a point where it’s getting pretty serious.   The drive home from the appointment I was very scared; I cried and cried.  Now, even though I’m still scared and nervous for baby brother, I’m to where I want answers so that I can adequately prepare myself for what could happen.   I’m in need to know so that I can have as much control as possible mode.  So I’m really anxious for my next appointment this week on the 9^th.  Time has been passing SO slowly and I think it’s definitely a combination of anxiety and needing answers and the fact that Jake is gone on a trip and Audree is sick so I’ve been cooped in the house alone with the kids for the past 5 days. 

It’s been really weird coming from 2 “normal” or “low-risk” pregnancies, to one “high-risk” and crazy one.  All of the appointments and conversations that I have with people are all very surreal.  It’s seem so odd to be talking about myself and pregnancy that way because I honestly never thought I’d be in this situation.  I’m truly grateful that I have many skilled doctors who are keeping such a close eye on me.  And I know that it’s in God’s hands and His will is what will be best for us.

As far as all the other parts of pregnancy, I’ve been feeling quite normal. I have cravings, laziness, fatigue and all the other things I had previously.  Baby moves a LOT and by a LOT I mean a ridiculous amount, which I guess is a really good thing, right?  Compared to my two previous pregnancies, I will say that I’m starting to feel a little old for it.  My body aches more than in the past, especially my varicose legs (gross, I know, I feel like an old lady even saying the words), and so I’m starting to feel a little more content about maybe not having as many kids as I thought I would have.  We’ll take them one at a time though, and see how far we get.  Never know. 

Anyways, I’ve also been really blessed by all the loving support of the family and friends around me.  I’ve already had multiple people come forward and offer to watch kids and help out in any way that I need it, which I really am grateful for.  Now that I have appointments twice a week, they will all be much needed.  And if for some reason, we have to have this baby early and he ends up in the NICU, they will all be VERY much needed.  I’ve also been grateful for all the prayers, fasts, thoughts, good vibes, etc.  that have been sent our way.  I pray daily that things will work out for the best, both for the health of myself and for the baby, and that the doctors will be inspired and prompted to make the best decisions for us.  With all of that said, I know it will.