in which i survive the ultrasound without hyperventilating
they took us into a different room for the ultrasound, for which i am so grateful. and because i was seeing my ob immediately afterward, i got to hand-carry the ultrasound report to my ob's office, which allowed me to read it. the report sounded more emphatic and optimistic than the peri was when she talked to me, so maybe she was trying to manage my expectations; i don't know. the sac measured 7 weeks but the tadpole itself measured 5w4d. i'm glad we're getting another reading next week, because now that i sit down and go back to betabase and compare my numbers, 5w4d seems impossible.
if anyone reading knows anything about this, please let me know whether i'm looking at this right: if the tadpole is 5w4d today, then i ovulated 3w4d ago, right? 3w4d ago would be the 30th of july (the 31st day of my cycle, might i add), so when i had hcg tests on the 9th and 11th of august, those would be on days 10 and 12 after ovulation. i think. i've tried to avoid charting and all the insanity that goes with it, so i'm kind of a novice. anyway, if my hcg readings were 714 and 2056 on those two days, i would be off the charts. the highest reported hcg level on day 10 (would that be 10dpo?) is 103; a 714 isn't even range with the highest reported numbers until day 14+, and doesn't fall in line with the median until day 19. (it's definitely a single sac, so i'm looking at the single chart.) i'm so confused. if anyone can tell me where i'm mistaken, i'd be grateful. if i'm not mistaken, and if the measurement next week is in line with today's measurement, i'm going to have to lay this all out with my ob, 'cause it's freaking me out, since last time we kind of went through the same thing and i want to get it straightened out right away this time.
and of course, because it would be too simple for everything to just be fine, a new wrinkle has developed. apparently justin has a minor blood protein - JK - that i don't, and hans had it, too, so i developed an antibody (JK-B) to it. the good news is that the chances of a problem are relatively small, and that i have the B version and not the A version (which is worse), and i will be monitored to death in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters (so i won't have to admit how hysterical i am and beg for more ultrasounds). if there is a problem, it will be my antibodies attacking the baby's blood cells, causing anemia and swelling, for which they'll be looking in the ultrasounds. also, early on they'll be checking the baby's blood cell counts in a certain vessel in its brain, which will warn them in advance whether there's a problem. if it did happen, they could give it an intrauterine transfusion, which has about a 2% risk of fetal death. not that i'm too confident on how lucky i am versus the odds these days, but the chance of a problem is pretty slim, and i figure the universe owes me, so i'm going to try not to worry about it and just appreciate that i will automatically get ultrasounds galore because of it.
i went public as soon as i got to work, and my co-workers all screamed, "i knew it!" apparently, they talk behind my back daily and have just been waiting for me to say something. so much for dropping a bomb today.
how is it possible to be thrilled and terrified at the same time? is that terrifyingly thrilled? or thrillingly terrified?
if anyone reading knows anything about this, please let me know whether i'm looking at this right: if the tadpole is 5w4d today, then i ovulated 3w4d ago, right? 3w4d ago would be the 30th of july (the 31st day of my cycle, might i add), so when i had hcg tests on the 9th and 11th of august, those would be on days 10 and 12 after ovulation. i think. i've tried to avoid charting and all the insanity that goes with it, so i'm kind of a novice. anyway, if my hcg readings were 714 and 2056 on those two days, i would be off the charts. the highest reported hcg level on day 10 (would that be 10dpo?) is 103; a 714 isn't even range with the highest reported numbers until day 14+, and doesn't fall in line with the median until day 19. (it's definitely a single sac, so i'm looking at the single chart.) i'm so confused. if anyone can tell me where i'm mistaken, i'd be grateful. if i'm not mistaken, and if the measurement next week is in line with today's measurement, i'm going to have to lay this all out with my ob, 'cause it's freaking me out, since last time we kind of went through the same thing and i want to get it straightened out right away this time.
and of course, because it would be too simple for everything to just be fine, a new wrinkle has developed. apparently justin has a minor blood protein - JK - that i don't, and hans had it, too, so i developed an antibody (JK-B) to it. the good news is that the chances of a problem are relatively small, and that i have the B version and not the A version (which is worse), and i will be monitored to death in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters (so i won't have to admit how hysterical i am and beg for more ultrasounds). if there is a problem, it will be my antibodies attacking the baby's blood cells, causing anemia and swelling, for which they'll be looking in the ultrasounds. also, early on they'll be checking the baby's blood cell counts in a certain vessel in its brain, which will warn them in advance whether there's a problem. if it did happen, they could give it an intrauterine transfusion, which has about a 2% risk of fetal death. not that i'm too confident on how lucky i am versus the odds these days, but the chance of a problem is pretty slim, and i figure the universe owes me, so i'm going to try not to worry about it and just appreciate that i will automatically get ultrasounds galore because of it.
i went public as soon as i got to work, and my co-workers all screamed, "i knew it!" apparently, they talk behind my back daily and have just been waiting for me to say something. so much for dropping a bomb today.
how is it possible to be thrilled and terrified at the same time? is that terrifyingly thrilled? or thrillingly terrified?
posted by laura at 1:13 PM
9 Comments:
Ok, would it be wrong for me to say "knock it off with the dating stuff!"? Because for your health, and my health, and most importantly, the tadpoles health, you should.
We've another us in a week, things will be clearer at that time and in every following visit.
Yes, add two weeks to ovulation. The idea is, the day you start your period (assuming it's a 28-day cycle), you're already pregnant. Weird, huh?
I'm glad you found out about the protein and will get a lot of monitoring. Any chance they can give you an injection or something to help it along?
Still - just be thrilled. This is very good news!
laura -
I have no idea or more information about the whole ovulation/pregnancy timing thing. I'm also not very good at this. I just wanted to say that I've been away from the computer and wanted to check in. I'm crossing everything that the little tadpole catches up in the next week. I'm sorry the US was not perfect. I'm so nervous for our first scan. At any rate, I"ve been thinking of you. Can't wait to hear more (good news) next week!
lauralu, the numbers hell you're putting yourself through seems like the horrendously complex heachache inducing lsat problems that mah keeps talking about. and you don't really want to go to law school, so why put yourself through that torture. figuring out the numbers isn't going to change anything, hon, its just going to make you crazy stressed. concentrate on the things you can do, whatever they may be, for you and the tadpole. if yuo want to occupy your brain study up on nutrition and ways to get enough protein without meat. find new recipes, learn how to have the most ideally balanced meals that still taste phenomenal. those are things you can do to feel like you're doing something (i'm sure there are others, but i'm just hungry right now)...numbers swirling around in your brain isn't necessarily productive, its kind of more nerve wracking, right?
i think choosing to find positivity wherever you can is a great gift and i'm proud of you for taking deep breaths and seeking out the joy.
thrill and terror can often be found hanging out together. distract terror as much as possible in order to run away with thrill and enjoy some blissful stolen moments alone with thrill whenever you can.
Amen sister synge.
Laura, if you won't listen to me; listen to her.
It sounds hopeful to me - those early measurements hinge on tenths of millimeters.
If I were you and Justin, I would get busy talking to the tadpole and telling him or her just how very excited you are to have him or her in your life. Definitely in public. And make Justin talk to the tadpole through nature's little opening there where the rubber meets the road. ;)
Congratulations!
Many things can change in a week and all early numbers and measurements are just that really early. If the OB is not too concerned then go with that for now. It's normal to worry but don't get into the numbers game... ok enough assvice from this corner.
I will be thinking of you and hoping for the best possible outcome.
Laura, I have just caught up on all of your posts (I wanted to read them properly as opposed to just skimming over them and leaving silly comments:)). One thing I have been told in my first three pregnancies by a HEAP of different people is that there is a 3 to 5 day margin of error in either direction. This could be down to a slow starting baby or the angle the wand monkey holds the wand.
Also you may have ovulated a day or two earlier than 'average' and implanted earlier than 'average' therefore buying yourself 5 or 6 days there. Point is, you'll never know those things so go with the wait-and-see approach. You cannot be absolutely certain of your tech's skill in very early u/s either. Things are easier to find later on so she may well have been great at her job in those circumstances. So given all the variables in u/s dating, your numbers fall well within the possible normal ranges.
I'm so glad to see that you have seen a heartbeat at least. If nothing else, it's hope and that has to take you a few more steps forward, maybe?
Now, onto your latest post to find out more about your protein issue!
Congratulations on the good ultrasound, and please try not to drive yourself crazy (I realize this sounds like pot/kettle coming from someone with "Nervous" in her moniker, but I've been there and I know how much it sucks). I'll be hoping for you and the tadpole...good luck!
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