Week 22 Checkup in The REAL Baby Journey!

So I had my Week 22 check up today where they measured my cervix compared to my Week 20 measurement. With an oddly shaped uterus to start out with and the risk for growth restriction/preterm labor because I'd run out of room or my body couldn't adapt to holding a baby that's technically twice the size the uterus intends to hold, I am being monitored closely.

We did the whole scan and the baby looked very happy and healthy and is living entirely on my right side. The left side of my belly is a flat, empty, nothing there...but from my belly button over to my right hip, it is ALL baby! It is even getting big enough that when I lay flat you can see on my abdomen a large lump on the right side and a just a slope of nothingness on the left. It's bizarre but as long as baby is happy, I'm happy!

Next the tech took the results out to my high risk OB and had her review them. She came back in and instead of just saying "Looks great! See you in two weeks!", she sat down. That cued me off to a little something strange right away.

She told me that cervix measured at 30 mm at my 20 week appointment. Most healthy/normal people measure 34-50 so that was fine but a little short. This week, only two weeks later, I measured at 25 mm. Definitely shrinking. The cervix does shorten as pregnancy progresses but it shouldn't be under 30 until well after the 36th week. Thus we started the preterm labor talk.

I could use vaginal progesterone suppositories every night until either 37 weeks (full term) or until my body starts to go into preterm labor when I'd get admitted to the hospital and monitored full time. Unfortunately there really isn't much we can do at this point if I do start to go into labor as science hasn't caught up to this yet and the body, unfortunately, wins every time. Bed rest has been proven to be more detrimental than beneficial, leading to muscle atrophy, blood clots and a multitude of other issues, thus it is not recommended or prescribed for this. Me being strong and active and fit is the best thing I can do except I have to stop running. All that pounding and active pressure on the cervix isn't helping so I can still walk and bike and do other low impact exercises but no running. I did buy the most adorable swimsuit the other day and plan to join a fitness center and start water aerobics and lap swimming. That is apparently the best thing I can do as it decreases the pressure entirely on my cervix and keeps me active while reducing stress on my joints as well. Win win win.

A downside to progesterone suppositories is beyond there being absolutely no proof they do anything at all, they are exceedingly expensive. Like >$100/day expensive. Simply not feasible and they may not even be covered at all by insurance. So there's that. Both my high risk doctor and my OB GYN said they think watching and waiting is our best bet if I didn't feel strongly about the progesterone (since they don't seem to, I trusted that and don't either). However, the next step is just continuing like normal and waiting. We'll hope it all goes well and I'll get growth scans every four weeks but my first sign something might be wrong would be actual preterm labor with contractions, bleeding, discharge changes, etc. That scares me but what choice do I really have?

I asked about viability and my OB said we'd ideally make it at least 28 weeks to have the best chance of functional and minimal consequence survival. Life/death cut off is 24 weeks, 4 days but those born between then and 28 weeks often have severe lung and mental issues and likely would still be at high risk of death in the weeks/months after birth. Truly ideally would be 34 weeks where if it I went into preterm labor after that, they wouldn't stop it and the baby would likely be just fine.

Right now my chances of making it to 40 weeks are pretty slim. Based on the research they do have, I'll likely be closer to 36 weeks. That puts me at the end of November. I guess all that birthday/Christmas stress may have been for naught ;) Goes to show...just when you think you've got it figured out...

The baby looks great though and no issues there. It was flopping around and even went from resting comfortable to putting one arm up across its face over the forehead/eyes to both arms splayed across the face in a "No more pictures!" move. So, so cute.

So, we wait. I feel like I could use a hug. Or some chocolate. And I'll update Rob when he gets home. This really isn't huge news as my risks of all of this were so high to start with but things are going so well that I just thought they'd keep going so well. This is by no means a legitimate step back or a huge cause for concern, just more information to keep us up to date. I'm a little worried about my work schedule with required three 12 hour shifts in a row every third weekend (usually close to 40 hours in three days) but I called the doctor to see if I could get a note. I'd still work full time but not so many shifts in a row anymore.

Beyond that, I'll keep lifting weights and going on walks with the dog and listening to my body. Slowing down a little will be easier as the hours of daylight get shorter and the it gets colder and football starts back up. I plan to stay active but consciously, carefully, mindfully. I have a little person in there who depends on me and I want nothing more in this whole wide world than to meet this little one happy and healthy and as full term as we can get it. C'mon, baby. We got this.