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April 2008

Genetics testing results

Submitted by Amy on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 11:45pm

Bottom line result is "within normative range". We did a nuchal translucency early ultrasound test (1st trimester) coupled w/ a blood test. This screened - not diagnosed - genetic screening (there's a BIG difference!!) for chromosomal abnormalities of Trisomy 21, 13, and 18. Trisomy 21 is Down Syndrome. I was concerned about that because of my age. The lab quotes a detection rate of approx. 97% of Trisomy 13 and 18 and approx. 90% detection rate of Down Syndrome w/ these combined tests. I won't get into all the medical mumbo-jumbo unless you ask and I'll re-type what's on my report for you.

Here's the weird thing: my Down Syndrome risk is 1 in 1200, which is LESS than a 35-yr-old's risk of 1 in 308. That's good. My Trisomy 13/18 risk is 1 in 3,081, which is WAY WAY less than 1 in 150.

So odds look great so far for a healthy baby! YAY!

 

Belly weirdness

Submitted by Amy on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 11:32pm

I have what I'm calling belly weirdness. My belly keeps expanding, and it's a tad uncomfortable. Strange little pain zingers that start and stop within a second, but not all over my lower abdomen - just a poke here and a zing there and it's just WEIRD! And expansion. Like super heavy bloating. Yuck. I don't like it - and I am just looking fatter not pregnant. I'm having a real hard time with that. I think some of actually is bloating or so the books tell me - my intenstines sticking out further than they normally would be. What is a good web resource for the anatomy of pregnancy? like, i get where the baby/growing placenta is, but where does all the rest of the internal stuff go? Just pushed to the side and out of the way - what? I've only seen some hand drawings of just where the baby is sitting. Thx for your help.

Wiki Main Page

This is the home page of MyBabyFAQ.com's wiki.

Nothing else here for now.

test

Submitted by Paul on Sun, 04/27/2008 - 7:48pm

This is a test page. 

Here is a test wiki page.  

Formatting test.

Is this really happening??

Submitted by Paul on Sun, 04/27/2008 - 2:46am
Question: 

Umm.. is this really happening to us??  Are we really having a baby?!??

...really???

Answer / Suggestion: 

Yes.  Yes it is real and yes, you are having a child.

(BTW, this is a test FAQ post.  However, the disbelief is pretty much real so I guess the question is valid.  It's a pretty surreal thing still.)

The site's shaping up nicely

Submitted by Paul on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:45pm

Hello folks.  I'm getting things sorted out pretty well for Amy and others to be able to add content.  You should see a flood of posts soon-ish as we get used to the system and get into a habit of posting.  There's a lot to do, so hang in there with us, please!

I'm pretty much in "freak-out" mode with the whole "I'm going to be a father" thing, by the way.  In case you were wondering about such things.  I'm really happy for us, but pretty dang scared too.  We got another ultrasound done the other day, which both eased some concerns and added to the reality check of this whole thing.

The tests have been coming back pretty good so far, but I'll talk about that later.  I'm mostly just adding an update to test some system stuff and see how things are looking.

Thanks a ton for coming by to visit us!  We've really appreciated the family/friends' support and hope that people enjoy and appreciate our efforts building this site.  Take care and please come back soon.

  --Paul

Prenatal nutrition

Submitted by Amy on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:13pm

Wow is this a big deal: prenatal nutrition. I have been reading and reading and reading. There are multiple sites that go thru a good meal plan for you. I know I upped all my carbs mostly because of my nausea - I ate what I thought would make me feel better which was some junk but also a lot less protein. Make sure to keep your protein up!! Can I put 'sous chef' on my registry?

Next stop: Genetics counseling

Submitted by Amy on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:11pm

Since I'm "Advanced Maternal Age" (age 39) I (we) was (were) referred to a genetics counselor. Her office recommends this office to all her patients. I only have had a real concern for Down Syndrome. If my baby had it, I would not abort - I am against that - but I would be armed w/ the knowledge and start to get educated about what raising a Down baby might entail. Other chromosomal abnormalities apparently are life threatening and likely will not live. So the book tells me. Amnio scares me and so does CVS. Apparently Paul and I are leaning towards the 'early screening ultrasound and blood test'. That's next.

The First Appointment

Submitted by Amy on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:04pm

So we made it to our first appointment. I think I may have sounded flippant or seemed aloof but it's still a very weird thing - the notion of this thing that's growing in me. Our doc did an internal ultrasound, found the baby, and could hear the heartbeat. I think this was the first time the hubby really had a sense that this was real and happening. HE'S got no symptoms and I think used to look at me like I was making it all up. I can't believe he'd think I have the propensity to do such a thing. Actually, I'm not really that creative - he should know that by now. Wow.

I'm in denial re: fatigue

Submitted by Amy on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:00pm

OK, so before I got pregnant I was tired all the time and I needed to have a nap after work sometimes {all right, all right - a lot of times!} and lots of times my weekends were shot just trying to get rested. So that said,I read all sorts of things about how tired I'll be. Yep - and HOLY COW!!! I just somehow didn't think I'd be THAT tired, that it couldn't be too much worse than what I was going thru b4 the pregnancy. Oh I knew it'd happen, but I was just not prepared. Some days are better than others.Boy am I having a hard time w/ it. I have so much to get done and I just get/am worn out. My other problem is that I'm not being really talkative/descriptive to my hubby about the tiredness mostly because of my history. It's a sticky point for me.  I'm trying to save face I think and I just need to fully embrace the sleepy. Not doing well in that arena. It bums me out to know that about myself: that I'm trying to sort-of cover up or hide or some weird thing ; that I'm not completely honest w/ him about how I feel day to day. As if he wouldn't be understanding. Yeah, right - he's been absolutely super about everything. What do I really have to be worried about? It's all in my head. And even before - he knows how hard I work and it really takes a toll on me (THAT needs fixing, definitely -how taxing my work is on my brain/body even tho I sit at a computer for 8-9 hrs a day and commute 1 hr each way... that'll be another post.) And sometimes it's about food; I get home and am just super sleepy but have a snack and I'm a little better. I'm definitely better if I actually get a nap.I think I'd better get on the exercise bike and COMMIT to getting regular exercise. Why don't we do what we know is good for ourselves?