Tag: preeclampsia

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 · Pregnancy

14 Week Review

Becca Schmitz3 Comments

If you’re friends with me on Facebook, or follow me on Instagram, you already know that we’re expecting baby #2 this fall.  I’ve been pretty quiet about it, and it feels good to now be at a point where I’m comfortable enough to talk about it.  Emphasis on enough.  As of yesterday, we crossed the 14 week mark, and I want to catch you all up on these first few weeks.  I know the blog post title is a bit inaccurate.  It’s really a review of our first 11 weeks, since we found out we were expecting at 3+1.  Yeah, I know, that’s early, but if you know me at all, you know I am that kind of person.

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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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Life After Loss

Grateful

Becca Schmitz1 Comment

I am grateful for my life, and sad that my son isn’t here.  Those two things are not mutually exclusive feelings, and while that might not sound earth-shattering, it has taken several months for me to come to this realization.

Recently, I read an article about a young, healthy woman, Lauren Bloomstein, (a NICU nurse, actually) who died from HELLP Syndrome.  (It’s long, but you can read it here if you want).  While I had a very short amount of time to accept my diagnosis, I’ve always understood the gravity of HELLP Syndrome, and how sick I was in the hours before I delivered Brady.  However, it’s taken me several months to come to terms with the fact that the decision to deliver wasn’t a decision of my life or Brady’s, it was a decision that was best for both of us.  HELLP is not a slow killer, and had I not been under the care of competent doctors, I truly believe I wouldn’t have made it long.

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Brady John · Life After Loss · Pregnancy

Preparing for the Future

Becca Schmitz2 Comments

With everything that happened with my pregnancy with Brady, we had a lot of questions about what future pregnancies would look like, and whether we would be willing to take on the risks associated with any future pregnancies.  We had always been hopeful we could find a way to reduce our risks and still be able to have children in the future.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to make more babies with this stud?

     

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