Tag: HELLP syndrome

Pregnancy

NSTs, BPPs, and Other Acronyms

Becca Schmitz4 Comments

There’s been a lot going on in the Schmitz household, as we prepare for the arrival of baby #2.  Along with all the physical preparations we’re making (massive Amazon registry orders, freezer meals, and the like) I also realized this week that I reached THE point.  I’ve treated this pregnancy as a series of mini goals – getting a clean anatomy scan at 19 weeks, making it to viability at 23 weeks, making it past the point when Brady was born at 26+5, making it to the third trimester, and finally, 32 weeks.

32 weeks is the point where we can deliver at our local hospital and not have to go to Abbott.  It’s the point where if the baby arrived now, he most likely wouldn’t need the NICU and would instead just need a little time in the SCN (Special Care Nursery).  The last remaining goal is September 18th, so I feel like I can finally relax, and maybe even enjoy the last 4 weeks and 6 days of being pregnant.

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Pregnancy

The Big Week: Week 26

Becca Schmitz1 Comment

It’s hard to believe (and I’m super grateful) that we’re partway through week 26.  This is a week full of milestones.  26+2 was when I was hospitalized in my pregnancy with Brady.  26+5 was when he was born.  I’m writing this at 26+4, which means that by Sunday, I’ll be the most pregnant I’ve ever been.

It seems fitting that we started off the week with a doctor’s appointment.  No ultrasound this time (our next one is at 28 weeks), but it was still a significant appointment.  We did a glucose test (to check for gestational diabetes), and since they were already doing a blood draw for that, we also did the third trimester Preeclampsia and HELLP labwork.

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Pregnancy

Another Satisfactory Ultrasound

Becca Schmitz2 Comments

Making it to 24 weeks means we made it to our next growth ultrasound.  Compared to the level two ultrasound we had at 19 weeks, these growth ultrasounds are super quick.  The take a couple measurements and you’re out the door.  I think our tech actually spent more time working on the 3D ultrasound photos than she did on measurements, but more on that later.

Or, maybe it’s just that quick when things go according to plan.  Since our pregnancy with Brady was so abnormal, I really have no gauge for how these things typically go.  The consensus at the end of the ultrasound was that this little guy measured at 24+1 and was in the exact 50th percentile for his gestational age.  A friend joked that this kid is on his best behavior after what we’ve been through and is trying to be as average as possible as to not cause any concern.  He’s doing a good job.

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Pregnancy

The Anatomy Scan

Becca Schmitz4 Comments

The anatomy scan has been one of the largest sources of anxiety for me this pregnancy.  As I’ve mentioned before, to most people this is just the “gender ultrasound”, but there was a lot more hinging on this ultrasound than just that for us.   There’s a lot of important measurements taken, and for us, this was our first glimpse at whether this baby was growth-restricted or not (at least at this point).

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Pregnancy

18 Weeks and a HELLP Scare

Becca Schmitz4 Comments

Over the past week, I’ve been dealing with some upper right quadrant pain.  If you’ve had preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome, you know that upper right quadrant pain is a hallmark of the disease.  If you have preeclampsia, you’re constantly being asked about your upper right quadrant, as that will often indicate an escalation to HELLP.  I made another call to the nurse line, and since I was at a stage where HELLP would’ve been really rare, they suggested alternatives – watching my fat intake (if it was my gallbladder) and trying Zantac (if it was indigestion).  The Zantac did help some other symptoms I’d been having, but the upper right quadrant pain wouldn’t go away.  I called back today, and, due to my medical history, they were able to get me in to the doctor within the hour.  I am so grateful for a care team that takes my concerns seriously.

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Pregnancy

A Call Log After Loss

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Pregnancy after loss is a trip.  If you haven’t been there, you probably don’t get the mental acrobatics that I go through on a daily basis.  Today, I’m offering a glimpse into this mental state via a list of reasons I’ve called the nurse line, on-call OB, or sent a medical message during my first 16 weeks of pregnancy.

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Life After Loss

5 Things I’ve Learned

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I’ve spent a year in the trenches as a loss mom.  In that year, I’ve learned a lot about how to navigate this difficult course, as I’ve had successful (and not so successful) interactions with others.  I started this list a while ago, and slowly added on to it throughout the year.  Some of them are for loss parents, some are for the general public that interacts with loss parents, and some are for both.

Anyway, here’s my collection of 5 things I’ve learned in my first year as a loss mom:

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Brady John · Life After Loss

Happy 1st Birthday, Brady John!

Becca Schmitz6 Comments

Up until the morning of Sunday, January 14th, I had every intention of celebrating Brady’s first birthday that day.  Though he was born on the 15th, I figured that had he lived to see his first birthday, Sunday would’ve been the day we had people over to celebrate.  I doubt we would have had great turnout for a party on a Monday night.  However, when we woke up that day, we decided we’d rather visit and celebrate on his actual birthday.

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Life After Loss · Pregnancy

The Trauma of HELLP

Becca Schmitz4 Comments

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past 10 months processing the trauma of losing Brady.  Weekly appointments with a therapist, grief support groups, grief hours, journaling, and, of course, blogging.  Losing a child is a horrific, unnatural kind of loss.  Even if I you haven’t experienced it yourself, I probably don’t have to tell you this.  What I have started to realize is that I haven’t scratched the surface of processing some of the other traumas I’ve experienced.  The fact that a significant date is looming, less than 2 months away, is making this all the more clear.

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Brady John · Life After Loss

28 or 29?

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The answer ended up being 28, and it wasn’t even close.  Because Brady’s due date and my birthday were so close together, we wondered how old I would be when I became a mom. Continue reading “28 or 29?” →