Daniel James Edward Mills

due April 4 2009

A journal for our baby due around 4th April 2009

recent updates first

November 1 2008: 18 weeks today :)

Last weekend we went to a wedding so pics below are from 17 weeks exactly. This week has been marked by one last ditch effort at morning sickness resulting in strained stomach ligaments - ouch. I can now feel Daniel moving a bit stronger and lying in bed Robert and I can both see my stomach moving as Daniel changes position. Usual pregnancy 'complaints' of tiredness, constipation, haemorrhoids, stretching ligaments and breathlessness. Apart from that though this is a wonderful time :)

October 16 2008 : No pictures from today's scan but it was sooo cute. Proud boy of all his bits, legs wide open with no modesty lol. Spine all clear and brain clear, no spina bifida. CVS results totally all clear and normal.
Little hand moving up to his head as if to say move that probe away lol. Tiny feet kicking .... cute
I have the referral to phone up and make the hospital booking so I'll do that in the morning (Booked in for Monday November 3 at 4pm). Also the referral for the 19/20 week anatomical scan so I'll try and make that for the 10th November which is our 18th wedding anniversary. (It booked for Monday November 10 at 1pm)
Other than that the only concern Jamie (the OB) had was that I will crash and burn out due to doing so much around the house for the 12 people living here. he said we have to get tough on them and tell them to help out more and be more considerate of MY needs as well as their own or they can move out.
We had aimed to go away for the weekend but Robert was so late home we never ended up going anywhere.
So Jamie isn't at all worried about Daniels health but is worried about me.
On a brighter note the receptionist who knows me said how well I was looking and for the first time ever someone in reality told me I was glowing.

15 weeks	15 weeks
Samuel and i	Samuel standing on a stoll lol

October 3 2008: Just heard back from my OBs rooms and Daniel James is definitely a boy and has normal chromosones with no problems ( no Downs Syndrome). This is the 3 probe FISH result and the rest of the results will be through in 10 days thereabouts, just in time for our next appt with Jamie.

October 2 2008: Achy today, sort of crampy. Then again I did have to get up as there is no-one to watch Samuel. He had school this morning so I got a friend to drive me there and back and walking is still very tender. I finally designed this webpage this morning too to document how far we have got. I figured sitting here wasn't going to be too painful.

October 1 2008 and the CVS: I had to see my OB last Wednesday afternoon (Sept 24) as the Downs syndrome risk ratio came back as high at 1:89. Nuchal measurement was averaged out at 2.1mm which I didn't think was too bad. The rest of their measurements read as: free beta hCG = 1.38 MoM  PAPP-A = 1.05 MoM NT = 2.1mm = 1.42 MoM NT GA = 12w5d. Risk of Downs Syndrome (risk 1:89 at Term) Risk of Trisomy 18: not at increased risk (risk 1:6300 at term)

 Robert was away on a conference so I phoned him and then he phoned back during the appointment at the OB. We decided for my peace of mind to go with a CVS. I wanted an amnio but the OB insisted on CVS.  If baby does have DS we will not abort but at least we will know and be able to be followed through the rest of the pregnancy with a paediatrician as well as the OB. So here is the post I wrote on my blog about the CVS. The OB who does the CVS is OB Peter who we saw on our very first appointment.

What can I say.. hmmm... ouch
Peter wasn't even sure he could do the procedure coz the placenta was practically inaccessible, too far to the back and very high up. In the end he managed to find a tiny little avenue he could get to. So he got the tray of equipment ready and the midwife came in then to help and Robert left the room. I don't blame him, the look of the cvs needle laying on the tray would have been enough to scare off anyone!
So then the needles.... yes plural. 3 of them just to numb the area and then the 4th is the CVS canula. First to deaden the skin was a sting and sharp sensation. 2nd was to deaden below the skin and for some reason I could feel that as a dull pain in the back of my left hip. 3rd was even deeper and this time I could feel it in my groin... yet all were given just above my belly button about 2cm to the left top. He did remark to Clare the midwife "13 wks, ever seen one this high up?" to which she answered never.
Then I shut my eyes tight... caught a quick semi-second glance of the cvs needle and that was enough for me!!!
I could feel the first 3 times he took a sample and would withdraw it each time to deposit the sample in the special bottle with nutrient medium. It felt like a pulling and discomfit dull ache and made me wince. The last 2 samples I didn't feel.
OB did say although technically he was very happy with todays test he was not as happy with the amount of sample as it was so hard to get to and he didn't get as much as usual as so little room to work with so if it comes back as unworkable then in 3 wks they want to do an amnio. That involves only 2 needles though and much easier as he has all the front wall he can use and only has to take a bit of fluid, not try and find a particular patch of tissue.

Cramping afterwards... big ouch. I was given 2 panadol and a script for panadeine forte to fill on the way home. I was allowed to lay there for another half hour then they were going to give us both a cup of coffee but had run out of milk so I decided we'd just go home.

Walking was a bit hard coz my tummy was sore due to the fishing around he had to do to get to the placenta... if you ever need a cvs you better wish for a nice low anterior placenta!
By the time we were nearing home and the bumpy part of the road the local anaesthetic was wearing off ... I came straight to bed, had my panadeine forte 2 hrs later and tried to sleep.
We get the first lot of results on Friday afternoon. We elected for the 3 probe FISH rather than the 5 probe as we have had some genetic testing done last year so only real worry about DS.. most of the other chromosone checks will pick anything up anyhow and those results will be back when I have my regular OB appt on the 16th
 

10 hours later: where the local took effect is still white with a red margin all the way round it and still slightly numb in one spot. Can clearly see that where the canula needle went in was right on the very edge of where the local anaesthetic worked so I guess that is why I felt so much.
Feels bit bruised deep inside but otherwise ok.

We did get two very short snippets of video from before the CVS and then 15 minutes after to make sure bub was still ok. I had already done some research after the 12w2d scan when the sonographer back then told us bub was a boy and research shows that at that early girls can still look very much like boys. Peter also agreed that at that early to put no faith at all in what she said .. the CVS will tell us anyhow for sure if it is Daniel James or hopefully instead Naomi Grace.. I just want a healthy baby.

September 22 2008: Nuchal scan day. In brief the Sonographer said Daniel James Mills is a boy and her date for us is March 30. Measuring spot on 13 weeks and yet supposed to be 12w2d but she was adamant all her measurements were 13 weeks and due date March 30.. so I don't mind a bit less off the 40 weeks lol. Our OB however is sticking to a EDD of April 4.

In this one the bottom right 3D image bub is upside down lol. Top right is looking down top of head and seeing hands

The bottom 3D image is the best one and is my signature pic this month (October)

Some would say this shows a boy but I tend to think it is part of a foot, looking down on the ends of toes.

Traditional sucking thumb type shot

Full body showing CRL which for 12 weeks 2 days measured 12 weeks 6 days

September 18 2008: My first OB appt with my usual OB. My appt.. well the scans from last time are on the memory stick and I'll get Dh to put them onto the computer when he gets home and then upload them although maybe only one coz they all 4 look the same lol. Todays, well he only put 2 pics on there. No movement video which is a shame coz she was very active. She was ahead by 3 days last visit and by another 2 days this time so at 11w5d she measures 12 wks! 6cm head to rump and head is 1.67cm across. I go for my nuchal blood test first thing tomorrow morning then have to ph and book the nuchal scan for next week.
We got the big lecture on why do we want to do the nuchal scan etc and why do it if we wouldn't terminate .. he did say he has had a couple of ladies in the past year who had CVS after a high risk result and a couple of them did miscarry, one at 20 weeks after a few weeks of bleeding and yet her baby was normal with no DS in the end. So we said we'd do the same as with Annabelle... blood test and scan and leave it at that. In the end he seemed fine with that.
Other than that he was really pleased with the way she is growing and the way I am.. he asked if I was taking my prenatal vitamins and I told him I did try the other day but it set me back to being sick so he has said not to take them til after 16 weeks. I see him again in 4 weeks.
I can feel movement now even just sitting here, little tickles lol. kewl.

Crown rump measures exactly 12 weeks

11 weeks 3 days (September 16)

September 13 2008: 11 weeks and we still have clear strong heartbeat and a bump that stays and doesn't go down after I rest lol. I love it when the bump looks like a pg bump and not just a middleage spread bulge lol
m/s has been wel lbehaved and today is day 3, I just hope it holds away til after Samuels part is over with.
Lay on my tummy last night and could feel a protest within lol... a 'don't squash me' sort of process... but she found a space and was ok the rest of the night.

First belly shot at 9weeks (August 30)

August 29 2008: Robert took the memory stick in yesterday and will pick it up next week I was hoping they could do it on the spot coz it takes less than a minute to copy over but... oh well..
I wasn't really taking too much attention the other day but I di dsee bub moving so I was hanging out to see it all in detail.
Heartbeat is getting easier to find with the doppler so I do a quick check each night. Just long enough to hear it is nice and strong.

I think the B6 works better than the zantac. I am on 100mg once a day of B6. If it works so well I was wodnering about dosage and if I could take another before tea or even a 50mg to ease me over the evening meal.
I'll have to do a google.

I am cutting back the vitex too. I was on 2 tabules of 660mg a morning. Then I cut down to 1 1/2 and this week I am on just one tabule.. shaped like a capsule but is a dry tablet.
Tomorrow I cut down to 1/2 a tabule then stay on that for a week or 10 days then stop altogether and just keep up with the 5mg folic acid.
I'll start again on the prenatal and the calcium 600mg with Vit D once the m/s stops.

The iron in the prenate makes the m/s worse.

August 27th OB visit.
First of all he is very nice, not my usual OB Jamie coz he is on leave but Peter was lovely.
Did a quck scan, bub is now looking like a baby and moving, heart rate of 178. He described it as a very strong, sound and healthy pregnancy. He was really pleased with the size, heart beat and the placenta and cord meausrements.. The fibroid is off away from the bub so no worries there. No bleeds or anything.

the drama
me
he was very concerned with my m/s, my colour, dehydration , dizzyness and wanted to put me in hospital.
I asked about othe drugs we could try so I am now on Zantac and B6 so Robert had to go and get the script filled then I had to take one of each and lay down until the midwife was sure they were staying down. They even called a on-call nurse down from Recovery to keep an eye on me.
So for now I am allowed home, I HAVE to rest, lay down as much as possible and if I am getting worse I have to call them at any hour and I'l be admitted for I.V. fluid and prednisolone.
I did feel better for about nearly 2 hrs after the 2 tablets but now am wearing down mighty fast.
The Zantac is twice a day and B6 only once a day.
So I am off to bed.
I go back on the 19th Sept if not before. See how we go.
I still think 99% girl.

August 24 2008: We have a doppler at home so out of curiosity we tried it out. the rate is between 162 - 171.. to my mind a girly heartbeat.. what a beautiful sound. Makes the m/s all worth it to hear it. The doppler is well worth the investment.

August 14 2008:  We had our first scan today. First he tried to say all we had was a sac and yolk measuring 6w3d but no baby. Told us to come back in 3 weeks!! I told him last time they could only see that they switched to internal and you could see the baby so eventually he did the internal scan and lo and behold we have a baby measuring 6w5d and a heartbeat of 125.

the full report read "Findings: there is an intrauterine gestational sac which contains a single live foetus. Foetal heart activity was seen and confirmed on M-mode scan. The crown-rump length of 7mm corresponds to a gestational age of 6 weeks and 5 days with an EDD of 4/4/09. Within the myometrium on the lower anterior uterine body there is a small circumscribed area of altered echotxture measuring 12 x 12mm consistent with a small mymometrial fibroid. The remainder of the myometrium has normal echotexture. No maternal adnexal mass or free fluid"

August 2008: Here we go again. A new pregnancy and new hope that this time we will end up with a baby and not another miscarriage. After 8 losses between 5 weeks and 11weeks 4 days you could say I am sort of losing hope of having a baby stay put until near due date.
I got a BFP on July 23 08. For those who understand the lingo the betas are

August 2008
18dpo - 1121
22dpo - 5809
24dpo - 11,635

* For HCG levels <1200 mIU/ml, the expected doubling time is 48-72 hours.
* For HCG levels 1200 to 6000 mIU/ml, the expected doubling time is 72-96 hours.
* For HCG levels >6000 mIU/ml, the expected doubling time is >96 hours.

* At 18 DPO, the average HCG level is 292 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 70-758 mIU/ml. 1121
* At 22 DPO, the average HCG level is 1287 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 185-3279 mIU/ml. 5809
* At 24 DPO, the average HCG level is 2637 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 540-10,000 mIU/ml. 11635

so my doubling time is still between 47-48 hrs instead of the expected 96 hrs...

Pic time of the pregnancy tests.

FRER FRER stands for First Response Early Response

Internet cheapie brand   Forelife brand Clear Blue Clear blue digital

Ó Judy Mills 2008