Worries, I have a few - okay, one.
Monday, March 8, 2010 at 7:30AM I've tried really hard over the past seven months to simply be grateful for all the good test results The Force and I have had. There were so many worries (on the doctors' side) about having a baby post gastric bypass, seeing him clearly in sonograms due to the tummy tuck scarring... and yet it always worked out. Not only didn't he have restricted growth, he continuously measured a week big. Not only did I pass my glucose test, I passed it with "excellent" results.
The streak had to end sometime, I suppose - and that was this Saturday.
The hubby and I went in for my monthly sonogram (monthly because of all the aforementioned concerns). Of course, this one time, we're late AND the check-in desk has a back-up, so when we get to maternal medicine they're rushing us in and out because they're technically closed.
But then the tech pauses. "Have you been leaking fluid?" "No." "Have you be extra busy this week? Extra active?" "Uh, no, not really - I mean, it's been a stressful week..."
"I'm asking because your fluid is... well... it's not optimal. It's not where it should be."
This is the first piece of bad news in this entire pregnancy and of course it comes when I've been fighting a headache all morning and am assuming this sonogram will be our usual routine, in and out so we can go grab lunch and run errands. This first piece of bad news comes when I'm less ready for it than I ordinarily would be.
They have to turn their computers back on to squeeze me in for an appointment with the high-risk specialist on Wednesday (I've seen him before) so they can do another sonogram and he can look at both. Until then I'm supposed to relax and drink a lot of fluids.
Admittedly - last week was a tough week. I'm pretty sure I was partly dehydrated Saturday morning (leading to the headache) and I definitely was not drinking enough water last week. I also wasn't sleeping enough and I was getting spurts of anxiousness throughout the week.
So, really, I'm actually hoping this was my fault, even though it makes me feel like I'm already a bad mom - because the alternatives are worse. I made the mistake of Googling "low amniotic fluid pregnancy" during a spare moment Saturday afternoon. Okay, so it wasn't really a mistake; I have to be informed... but there's a lot of worrisome possibilities, things I really don't want to consider. For now I'm just hoping this was a fluke - a bad day at the end of a bad week. I've been sipping fluids continuously, not doing too much around the house, slept in on Sunday (10:30!), made an easy dinner*, and even went for a pedicure.
The hard part comes this week as I have to keep this up while going to work, going to school (I have FOUR written assignments due Tuesday night), and simply managing daily life. I already had to back out of a fairly significant workshop I was going to lead Wednesday night because I have to go to the sonogram instead.
But The Force is a priority. So I shall continue to sip and sit. ("Sip and Sit" sounds like a good name for a fast food place, right?) Hopefully, by Wednesday, everything is back to normal and it really was all just a bad week.
*For a dose of comfort food, I made Delightfully Sweet's Slow Cooker Lasagna for dinner (I used ground chicken instead of beef and skipped the cherry tomatoes). It was super, super delicious with a side of garlic roasted asparagus. Excellent Oscar watching comfort food. I'm looking forward to the leftovers for lunch! I highly recommend this lasagna. It really did make me feel relaxed and happy. :)
Reader Comments (7)
((Candice)) Thinking of you ... I hope it was just dehydration but def try not to blame yourself! And that lasagna sounds delish! :)
I am thinking good, hydrating and relaxing thoughts for you. Take it as easy as you can and let us know how things go on Wednesday.
I hope everything goes wonderfully on Wednesday. Don't stress too much and don't blame yourself!!
I found you through Mommy Words. I am so glad I dropped by. I had a baby four years after GBS, and my daughter (the Bitlet) was perfect in every way. She will be 11 months old in two days, and I am constantly amazed by her. Keep your chin up!
Thanks all. I just feel terrible that I'm running around, running myself tired and not hydrating enough.
@Caroline - Welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by, too. I had no post-GBS worries, but you know how physicians can make things sound worrisome. So far every test has been totally perfect, so I'm hoping it's just a one-off. Congrats on your Bitlet :)
don't beat yourself up, candice. even the best of us get dehydrated once in a while. i'm sure The Force is cooking along just fine in there.
as hard as it feels, enjoy the sitting and sipping for as long as you can!
Hope you found out everything was ok today. And yes hydration is hard, just when you think you're going to float drink more! That's what I learned anyways.