14 Weeks

Yesterday I was officially 14 weeks!  I can't believe it.  I had more bleeding last week and the office had me come in to have a heartbeat check.  It took them a minute (which felt like a lifetime) to find the heartbeat, but they found a nice strong one, with a rate between 149 and 160.  I'm still on continued pelvic rest, which also means no working out.  I've been bummed about my limited activities, but I know it's all worth it for my beautiful baby.  I'm not really showing a whole lot yet, just a small bump not much different than my last photo.  I definitely can feel the weight gain though!  And the limited activity rule is not making things much better, but I shouldn't be complaining.  I have another doctor's appointment this week and next and my next u/s will probably be in 2 weeks.  I can't wait to see our baby again, I miss her already!

Ultrasound #4

I have to say this has been one of the best weeks I've had in awhile, despite the little complications I've had with the baby.  We had an ultrasound on Tuesday and found out the baby is doing really well, with a great heartrate.  Baby measured a little smaller than we thought 11 weeks 6 days, but that's only a few days short of what we expected.  I have continued to bleed a little and the doctor explained to me that is what happens with a bicornuate uterus.  They could see spots where they thought the bleeding was coming from on the other half of the uterus.  He pretty much said I'd bleed the whole pregnancy, I thought pregnancy meant I would get out of that!   Oh well, all worth it.  The important thing is our baby is beautiful and perfect right now.

12 Weeks and Tough, Sad Days

Yesterday was a tough day in a number of ways.  I started the day earlier than usual to go into work.  As I was standing in the kitchen after I woke up, I felt a gush of something.  I honestly thought I had peed in my pants.  I ran to the bathroom, and to my surprise there was red blood everywhere, it was all over my shorts and panties and also filling the toilet.  I panicked and started to scream.  I couldn't believe this was happening. I thought it was a dream.  Chuck ran into the bathroom and we both started to cry.  I don't think either of us knew what to do, we were both in such a panic. I was shaking as I tried to get dressed, then we both jumped in the car and headed to the emergency room.  We were both in tears and very quiet on the way there.  All I kept thinking is how could this be happening, I'm 2 days from my 12 week mark.  Isn't this supposed to be when things like this stop happening.  When we arrived at the hospital, I was so hysterical I could barely talk to the receptionist.  Since I wasn't quite 12 weeks, they made me stay in the ER instead of sending me to the OB unit.  They immediately put me in a bed and took a lot of blood.  The nurses tried to calm me down and reassure me that this is sometimes completely normal and the baby may be perfectly fine.  After we waited for what seemed like forever, the doctor came in and did an exam and ultrasound.  When we saw our perfect little baby with the little heart beating strongly, I was immediately in tears.  In tears of relief.  The doctor said the baby's movement and heartbeat were good and the cervix was closed.  The baby measured 11 weeks and 5 days, exactly on track.  They couldn't tell me where the bleeding came from.  It could have been the vanishing twin, it could have been the bicornuate uterus, or sometimes they say it just happens possibly from a tear somewhere.  So though I was relieved to see our baby, I was still worried about not knowing what caused this.  The doctor said I had a 98% chance of having a very normal pregnancy and baby.  The hospital sent me home with a diagnosis of a threatened miscarriage and papers on how to deal with a miscarriage, that just made me feel worse.  I'm a nervous wreck right now, so please keep our baby in your prayers.
I talked with my doctor, which will definitely be the high risk office now.  They reassured me again this might not be a concern and some women bleed through their entire pregnancy.  I was told to drink 3 liters of water a day, stay on bed rest this weekend, and no more working out.  I was trying to work out to keep my weight stable and not gain too much, so much for that.  But I don't care right now, if I can have a healthy baby I will worry about the weight later.  I have an ultrasound pic I will post shortly.
I also said goodbye to my best friend's grandma yesterday.  It was so extremely sad, she was one of the most amazing women I ever knew.  She was so incredibly strong and such a sweet little lady.  I love my friend and her family so much, they are such wonderful people and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Almost 11 Weeks and Still Not Decided on an OB

I'm still fighting with myself as to whether or not I need a high risk OB.  I really like my current OB, but I'm not sure if I'm 100% comfortable continuing with him.  Everything I read and everyone I talk to who has had a septum resection or/and bicornuate uterus, visits a high-risk practice.  The Tri-State MFM group in Good Sam Hospital has been highly recommended to me.  I did a little research and found that they specialize in uterine anomalies and also surgical complications.  I'm wondering why I'm not seeing a practice that specializes in my condition(s).  My surgery can lead to an incompetent cervix and also uterine wall rupture, all of which this practice would be specialized to handle.  Plus they deliver and care out of a much better hospital, one in which I would feel much more comfortable.
When I called to make an appointment with my current OB, they couldn't get me in for 5 weeks.  Now before that I was seeing someone for bi-weekly ultrasounds, 5 weeks just seems too long to me and it makes me leery of the specialized care I would receive.  But another voice in me tells me to go to my current OB first and discuss the plan before jumping to conclusions.  What I think I'll end up doing those is making an appointment with the high-risk practice to see if my condition even warrants me a patient in their practice.