NT Scan & Trisomy 18

Well here we are again! Sorry for the space between the posts, but there hasn't been a lot report the last couple of weeks. Which I suppose is a good thing, the first trimester is over and done with, and the morning sickness has started to subside...slowly but surely. And for once I'm happy to eat, not just eating to keep us nourished.

We had another doctor's appointment on June 8th at Mayo. We decided it would be a good idea for John and I to have the First Trimester Screening done for Down Syndrome. Since neither John, nor myself know what our biological family medical histories are we opted for this screen.

It's called a NT Scan. Essentially it's a test that is done with an ultrasound and a blood test, and based off of the fold of skin at the back of the neck and the fluid there, they measure it and if there is just a small amount then it's an indication that baby is doing fine, if there is a large area of fluid then it's something to be concerned about. The blood test just measures the proteins and other areas of interest and makes sure there isn't something strange going on.

The other exciting thing, is that we had another ultrasound done! It was intresting to say the least, the baby in my stomach actually looks more like a human then the previous ultrasound where its a cross between a human and a tadpole. Our kid was more content to sit upright with its head resting looking down, and did that for the first 10mins that the ultrasound tech was trying to get it to move onto its side so it would be easier to get a measurement of the neck. She had me flip on to my hip, and then my other hip, and then cough, and then back on to my back, and still the baby refused to switch positions, she then stepped out of the room, and asked me to get up and move around hoping that would make the switch, so I stood up did jumping jacks, and paced the floor, and got back on the table, and we began again.

Well, once the ultrasound picture came onto the screen, it was apparent the baby had moved, but the problem was that it was now head down and feet up, so essentially standing on its head! Again, not what we wanted, so the routine was started all over again, up down, side to side, walk, back on the table, and still nothing, finally after digging to my stomach area, the baby made a half turn and by some miracle the baby's neck was able to be measured! The measurement came in at 1.1 millimeters very, very small! Praise The Lord!

Essentially, I'm 33 years old, and the stats state that my chances of having a child with DS is 1 out of 320 births. In this case, the results you are looking for are the denominator being large. Our results indicated our chance of having a child with DS is 1 out of 10,000. So that is a great number to get back, had the denominator been smaller (i.e. 1 out of 75) then the next test would have been an amniocentesis.

As part of this test as well, they also checked us out for Trisomy 18. (Thank you Wikipedia)  Which is:

Trisomy 18 (T18) (also known as Trisomy E or Edwards syndrome) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome. It is named after John H. Edwards, who first described the syndrome in 1960.^[1] It is the second most common autosomal trisomy, after Down Syndrome, that carries to term.

Trisomy 18 is caused by the presence of three – as opposed to two – copies of chromosome 18 in a fetus or infant's cells. The incidence of the syndrome is estimated as one in 3,000 live births.^[2] The incidence increases as the mother's age increases. The syndrome has a very low rate of survival, resulting from heart abnormalities, kidney malformations, and other internal organ disorders

If a child is born with this they won't live long after birth, and our results came back with less than 1 in 100 chance that we would have a baby that has this. That is the normal result when there isn't an issue, as far as what Dr. Johansen said. So we are in the clear for that! Yea! 

So now, we wait again and continue to bake, I've started to "pop" and now can see the beginning of a pregnant belly, which is exciting, and I'm looking forward to July 14th,  that is our Anatomy Ultrasound, and we are very excited about that. But until then, here is a blurry profile pic of our baby! And I'm craving a bowl of ice cream, so I'm going to go have one! Ahh...the perks of eating for two!  
 

New Picture & Heartbeat!

Hello Everyone! 

Well Thursday was a very eventful day! We had a doctor's appointment with Dr. Johansen, and what I thought was just going to be a normal check up with no frills, ended up being another photo-op for us to see Baby Milne! 

So far, I'm looking great as my doctor says, and blood pressure is normal, labs are all normal, and I actually lost some weight, so right now doctor says its OK, however going forward not something that I should continue with. Believe me when I say I'm not trying to loose weight, but this morning sickness is throwing me for a loop! So as long as the prenatal vitamins are staying down and I drink fluids that is fine. If the froth continues we will look into something in the future for that issue.

Now for the really cool stuff...we got to have another ultrasound, and now my little one has decided to have a growth spurt, and we are now measuring in a week ahead, at 10 weeks 2 days. So the embryo has graduated to an actual fetus, and looks like a baby with a very big head! (Insert groan here) 

But while the doctor was going through and showing us all of the different features of the baby, the heart, the brain, the arms, the legs, all of a sudden he focused in on one area and then there was sound, it was the HEARTBEAT! It was the sweetest sound and so soothing to hear, and instantly there was a bond there for me! The heart rate was 158bpm. So that is good as well, shows a healthy rate! We couldn't be more excited to hear about that, I wasn't expecting to hear it already, but I'm not complaining! 

We have the First Trimester Screening for Downs Syndrome coming up on June 8th. That is another ultrasound of the neck area, and a blood draw, followed by another doctors appointment with Dr Johansen. Based off of the information then there might be an amniocentesis but it depends on the numbers that come back from those test results. So that is the latest and greatest!

Due Date Confusion (updated)

Hello Everyone! So here I am again with the latest development on our "Christmas Cookie." Some people have asked us, "So, when are you due," (actually a lot of people have asked) the first answer is based off of the LMP which would indicate Dec 10, 2011. However when we went in for the Ultrasound we were told that we were only at 6 weeks 5 days, which changed the due date to Dec 17, 2011. I know what this is all just an estimate of where we are at, but it's confusing when trying to figure out when to have things ready to go, I think John and I have decided that by Thanksgiving everything will be ready and in place, so that when GO time happens, we won't be caught off guard!

My next appointment is scheduled for May 19th, with my OB doctor. His name is Dr. Keith Johansen, he works for Mayo, he went to Medical School at University of Minnesota, his residency was in the OBGYN Mayo Medical Graduate School, and he is currently the Assistant Professor of OBGYN at Mayo, so I feel covered!

He has to be an "old school" doctor, in the sense that his bedside manner and professional skills, really make the patient feel like they are the only patient he has. Seeing as I have lots of "special" issues, he takes the time with each patient to make sure everything asked (no matter how stupid) is answered! I would call him a farmers doctor, just really down to earth!

The next major test will be the First Trimester Screening for Downs Syndrome. It's a simple test, just a blood draw and ultrasound to check and see what the neck looks like. It's not a definitive test, but it shows if there is an indicator of a higher risk. Since both, John, and I are adopted neither of us know what is in our family genes and while we've agreed that if something were wrong we wouldn't end the pregnancy, we just feel that this would be a great way to be prepared if something showed up. Plus it's an extra ultrasound, so that is a perk! We also will be having an amniocentesis in the second trimester. So keep fingers crossed, and prayers going  that neither will show anything wrong, and if for some reason it did, that John and I would be strong enough to handle it!

Other questions that family members are asking me specifically is how is my iron levels and the polyneuropathy or CIDP going to interfere with this. Answer is so far so good. Anemia or iron levels are holding their own at 38. Which is a good sign, so no iron infusions needed in the future, I will be tested again in 3 to 6 months to make sure.

CIDP is going to be another story. Since I take so many medications to help with the nerve pain, and the meds are relativity new, I've stopped them since the day I found out I was pregnant. So far I've been doing OK, and I've got an appointment with a neurologist in June as a precaution to make sure if I needed something, I'd have assurance that it wouldn't interfere with the baby. Right now, I'm feeling good, and just annoyed when it comes to the nerve pain, as I like to say, the bugs are back!  Only time will tell....

That is it for this weeks addition, we will let you know more next week! Oh, and the picture is of my Doctor!

Due Date Confusion!

Hello Everyone! So here I am again with the latest development on our "Christmas Cookie." Some people have asked us, "So, when are you due," (actually a lot of people have asked) the first answer is based off of the LMP which would indicate Dec 10, 2011. However when we went in for the Ultrasound we were told that we were only at 6 weeks 5 days, which changed the due date to Dec 17, 2011. I know what this is all just an estimate of where we are at, but it's confusing when trying to figure out when to have things ready to go, I think John and I have decided that by Thanksgiving everything will be ready and in place, so that when GO time happens, we won't be caught off guard!

My next appointment is scheduled for May 19th, with my OB doctor. His name is Dr. Keith Johansen, he works for Mayo, he went to Medical School at University of Minnesota, his residency was in the OBGYN Mayo Medical Graduate School, and he is currently the Assistant Professor of OBGYN at Mayo, so I feel covered!

He has to be an "old school" doctor, in the sense that his bedside manner and professional skills, really make the patient feel like they are the only patient he has. Seeing as I have lots of "special" issues, he takes the time with each patient to make sure everything asked (no matter how stupid) is answered! I would call him a farmers doctor, just really down to earth!

The next major test will be the First Trimester Screening for Downs Syndrome. It's a simple test, just a blood draw and ultrasound to check and see what the neck looks like. It's not a definitive test, but it shows if there is an indicator of a higher risk. Since both, John, and I are adopted neither of us know what is in our family genes and while we've agreed that if something were wrong we wouldn't end the pregnancy, we just feel that this would be a great way to be prepared if something showed up. Plus it's an extra ultrasound, so that is a perk! We also will be having an amniocentesis in the second trimester. So keep fingers crossed, and prayers going  that neither will show anything wrong, and if for some reason it did, that John and I would be strong enough to handle it!

Other questions that family members are asking me specifically is how is my iron levels and the polyneuropathy or CIDP going to interfere with this. Answer is so far so good. Anemia or iron levels are holding their own at 38. Which is a good sign, so no iron infusions needed in the future, I will be tested again in 3 to 6 months to make sure.

CIDP is going to be another story. Since I take so many medications to help with the nerve pain, and the meds are relativity new, I've stopped them since the day I found out I was pregnant. So far I've been doing OK, and I've got an appointment with a neurologist in June as a precaution to make sure if I needed something, I'd have assurance that it wouldn't interfere with the baby. Right now, I'm feeling good, and just annoyed when it comes to the nerve pain, as I like to say, the bugs are back!  Only time will tell....

That is it for this weeks addition, we will let you know more next week! Oh, and the picture is of my Doctor!

Baby's First Close Up!

That's right folks! We got to see a picture today of the baby! There is only one in there, so sorry to disappoint those who were hoping for twins! But one is better than none, right?  RIGHT!!  


The interesting thing, is that the baby is measuring in at 6 weeks and 5 days! Which is a few days off what we thought we were at 7 weeks. But the due date is the same! The baby was just hanging out but was also flipping around and moved out of the shot a few times, but the most important thing we saw, was the beating heart, we didn't get to hear it, but we did see it, and yes, I did tear up! We've included some pictures of the baby for you to see!



Dr. Harms said everything looks great for what a 6 week old embryo is supposed to look like, and that a chance of miscarriage is now only about 4% so that is a sigh of relief!

Next appointment is on May 19th, and at that we might get a chance to hear the heartbeat! Yea! But until then we are still baking away! I must admit, I was hoping that the baby would be in the shape of a reindeer but oh well, you can't always have what you want!

I'm Pregnant!

Then you know the news...I'M PREGNANT! 

Yes, the test read, "Pregnant" and at first I thought it was an April Fool's Day joke, and then I tested again on April 3rd. Not believing what I was seeing we decided to make for sure, FOR SURE, and get a blood test. A couple of days later I went in for a blood test at Mayo, and the results came back from an HCG test, and it was 209, which indicates pregnancy! 

We are excited! The estimated due date, is December 10th! Just in time for Grandma & Grandpa Milne's 51st Wedding Anniversary, and we think it would be an awesome present for them! 

In the meantime, I'm 7 weeks along and feeling good, except for a little morning sickness which tends to come at night between the hours of 9pm to 11pm. But other than that, I'm excited to be experiencing this first hand instead of through friends or family members! 

My goal with this pregnancy blog is to update it on a weekly basis so that for those of you who are out of town, or out of state and wish to know some of the craziness that is happening have a place to peek into and find out! 

All we ask is that you pray for a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy! But for right now, we are baking our first Christmas Cookie!