24 Weeks:
So, I've grown 1.5 inches around and gained 8 pounds(!) in the last four weeks, but I don't look much bigger do I? I think you can tell she is filling my abdomen out more though. She's still not riding high, I've never felt movement above my belly button, even though she apparently has room up there now.
I also had a prenatal appointment today. I talked to my doctor about something you may find interesting. I told her that a couple years ago, a friend lost her baby about 1 week before her due date. At the time, they told her the umbilical cord wrapped about the neck. But, when she got pregnant the next time, they happened to do a test that showed she has some kind of blood clotting disorder. She took a blood thinner shot everyday and delivered a healthy little girl. And then a few months ago, a friend of a friend lost her baby when she was in the 7th month. They just found out last week that it's the same blood clotting disorder. They told her she will have to take the daily blood thinning shots and can't fly at all because that aggravates the condition. She has to travel for her job so she had actually flown to Turkey the week before she lost the baby.
This left me wondering why this test isn't standard procedure. I know of two babies that could have been saved had the tests been performed before the fact. And the fact that traveling by plane probably caused the baby to pass away is so scary because it's common for doctors to okay air travel up to 36 weeks, assuming there haven't been any other complications. We had been thinking about flying to California next month, but this all made me think twice. I know it's highly unlikely I have this condition since Caleb came out just fine. But, this all made me second guess what doctors have been saying is safe. Because, as I told my doctor, once something like that happens, you can't reverse it. And we're talking about a life here.
She said that the reason why the test is not standard procedure is because it's "extremely rare". She was surprised I knew two people (well one is in a round about way, but still). The women who have this inherit it from both mother and father, that is why it's so rare and they usually lose the baby in the second trimester. She said it's very unlikely I have it since Caleb was born healthy. But, when I do travel, I can take a baby aspirin and make sure to walk around every hour. That helps the blood circulate. It's a good idea when traveling by car also.
It still makes me angry though! They just sacrifice the few babies that it will affect to save money on performing the test? But, if it's a matter of money, why not offer the test at an additional cost? Why don't they say anything about it!!!???? And what other tests are out there that could save the lives of babies that they don't perform or talk about?
3 comments:
Wow, I've never heard of that before. Very intersting.
I think you look bigger, rounder. You have such a cute baby belly. You do "pregnant" well. I feel like a beached whale.
You do look"more" pregnant and cute. She seems to be filling in well and it is good you are gainingmade the weight.
Funny you should mention something about clotting, I had a patient who had a friend that that happened to also. And just today we were talking about a complication from HPV vaccine that made the person paralized for life! Its another one of those RARE cases. To tell you the truth being in the medical field and dealing with it you hear a lot of thing that really really make you wonder what else is there out there that we don't get told. I think it will always be that way though. I so wish we could have seen you though it would have been great, but we understand about the flying. I think I would feel the same way if it were me. I hope you don't worry about it too much as that is not good either. Keep doing what you are doing! I love the pics! Give Caleb a *HUG* from us!
You look great, marie!
Really sad about the friends who lost babies late in the pregnancy. I always wish there was more that could be done in cases like that.
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