A little impatient!

No signs yet....

I predicted that baby would arrive in the first week of my maternity leave (around 11th Feb), and weigh 5lb 5. Having read several stories of Turner Syndrome births, both the estimated weight and arrival (at around 36 weeks) seemed plausible. However, at 38 and a half weeks, and with baby weighing 5lb 6 over 2 weeks ago, it seems that she is determined to throw the rule book out of the window!

I've been in regular contact with the Turner Syndrome Society and I do know that some babies with TS make it to full term, but I'm just so impatient, I was adamant she'd arrive early! And as much as Tim says I'm the impatient one, I think that he secretly is too.

Anyway, the message from all is clear-at least she is getting some extra cooking time, and with every day she is hopefully building up her strength, health and weight.

Platelets-no news is good news?

I've had 2 blood tests since my last post, and haven't heard anything from the hospital, so we are assuming that no news is good news! I'm due to meet my midwife a week today, by which time I'll have had another blood test, and for piece of mind I'm going to see if she can access some of the results for me.

Beautiful gift

My 2 bridesmaids had me over for a cuppa and cake last week, and after checking that I wasn't having an 'emotional day', presented me with a beautiful nappy cake. It had been specially decorated in purple for Turner Syndrome. I was reluctant to take it apart as it looked stunning, but once I'd showed it to Tim, he was very eager to see what the cake contained. I have attempted to reconstruct it though, just to look pretty for a few more days.

Emotions in check....for now

I've had less of an emotional week, and was actually able to share our journey with some friends last night, without getting remotely upset. I definitely surprised myself, especially as I could even recite those dreaded statistics without them affecting me. For some reason though, I still have the door shut to the nursery, and I haven't been inside it for nearly a week. Maybe it's just last minute nerves affecting me.

Due date-10 days!

We are extremely excited, and I'm sticking to Tim like glue now (well except when he goes to work). I will post again after my midwife visit a week today.

Last consultant appointment!

37weeks + 4

Our final visit to one-of-many consultants

Yesterday saw our last visit to the consultant. I say 'the' consultant as it would be silly to assume that we'd get to see one of the 3 that we'd previously seen. This time the waiting room was packed, and we didn't expect to get seen anytime soon. I wasn't particularly nervous, but the issue of the platelets had been playing in my mind. 

We were called in 20 minutes later, and I had the basic checks done, but this time my blood pressure was high. We were told they'd check again in 15 minutes, and then were left to wait for the consultant. My face must have told a story, because Tim was quick to reassure me that my high blood pressure will have been due to the fact that I virtually sprinted to the consulting room when my name was called. As always, he was right (though I don't tell him that too often!), a further check confirmed that my BP was heading back to normal.

After nearly 40 minutes of further waiting, a consultant that we'd never encountered before, entered the room.   She skimmed through my novel/notes and discussed the recent Scans. She then informed us that my platelets had stabilised, MUSIC TO MY EARS! In fact, they had increased slightly, though still remained below the normal threshold of 150. She concluded that I would need a weekly blood test between now and birth, but as they hadn't dropped below 100, no immediate treatment was needed. Hurrah! I was so thankful that my prayers had been answered! We were then told that we could leave (after another blood test) and that I would not need to return until labour, or unless I received a call to say that my platelets had dropped again. 

For the last time, hopefully, we left the department, and walked straight past the 'appointments' desk. What a sense of relief....in the past 20 weeks we've had over 13  appointments at our local hospital (not to mention the Oxford apts and midwife apts), and now we are not due to return to the maternity department until baby Chappo chooses to make an appearance :) 

Just think how much the car parking company has had out of us!!

Nesting?

This week it has finally hit me that I'm on maternity leave! For the past 5 years, I've spent most of my Sundays beavering away on my laptop,preparing for the week ahead at school. This Sunday I had the urge to get my laptop out, but not the need...it felt a tad weird.

I've kept myself busy this week as my hormones have been raging, and for the last week or so I've been feeling extremely emotional and anxious. I've also had a real urge to clean and clear the house (much to Tim's delight). Not your average polishing, washing, or hoovering though, but more like skirting board wiping, patio door frame cleaning and cupboard emptying! Thankfully I got out of the house today to get my hair done, and when I returned home I didn't feel too great, so made myself spend the afternoon in bed chilling with the dog.

What next?

I guess it's just a waiting game.... A few friends are adamant that baby Chappo is on her way, but I'm not so sure. She's beating all the odds, and bucking every trend going, so maybe she won't be early after all?!

No more scans for us!

36 week growth scan....and a moment of mild panic!

Yesterday we awoke with feelings of excitement at getting to see our baby again!

On the short journey to the hospital, we discussed how much she might weigh this time round- Tim was guessing low 4lb, and I was thinking top end of 4lb, not that it mattered so long as all was well.

We didn't have long to wait before being called in, and as we saw the familiar face of the sonographer from the 32 week scan, I was even more at ease. She remembered us, and did all of the necessary checks without my prompting (including the amount of amniotic fluid).

She did mention that she was finding it hard to detect the stomach, but didn't make a great deal of it. After a few minutes, she asked me to lay on my side to move baby. Again she repeated that she wasn't able to see the stomach. She left the room for a few moments to speak to a colleague (about something Unrelated), and when she returned, she looked for it one final time. Unable to locate baby Chappo's stomach, she asked us to wait outside for 10-15 minutes, and then she'd call us in to try again.

At this point the words MIND DOING OVERTIME would pretty much describe my state.....Tim as usual was fine, and reassured me that 'a stomach doesn't just disappear!' Still, those 10 minutes of waiting, rapidly chewing on as many fruit pastilles as I could, were the longest 10 minutes I'd experienced in a while

I hurried through as my name was called for a second time, and thankfully after just a few minutes, there her stomach was. What a little monkey!

Measurements

As I got my things together, the sonographer informed us that all appeared well, she'd grown since our last scan, and now weighed a whopping 5lb 7. The head and abdomen measurements were coming in at around the 50th percentile, but the growth of her femurs had slowed right down, and were only coming in at the 5th percentile. This didn't worry us though, it's a classic symptom of Turner Syndrome.

In the car on the way home, we joked at what a porker baby Chappo had become, at how she wouldn't fit into Tim's favourite outfit (which he bought in size Tiny Baby), and how I'd spent most of the pregnancy being thankful that Turner Syndrome babies are smaller -I'm thinking labour here, hmmm maybe not!

Not long now!

So, no more heart scans, no more growth scans, just one midwife appointment, and a couple of consultants appointments to go.

I had my bloods retested yesterday, and will know the results when I visit my consultant on Tuesday. I'm praying that my platelets have either remained the same, or increased. We've had so much good news that I never expected to have other issues, but we'll just have to wait and see!

Speaking of good news, last night at my church group we were discussing how well things had progressed since the initial shock diagnosis back in Sept, and I definitely think that someone has been watching over our little girl :)

Our other little monkey....

Here is a picture of Winston, taken this morning ....as you can see he is still obsessed with the nursery and its contents!

Schools out for maternity!

36 weeks + 1, and no more school!

So, I am officially on maternity leave! Friday was my last day at school, and what a lovely day I had. It doesn't actually feel like I have finished work for a year, and because its half term, I simply feel like I have a week off.

My class were fab for my last day-well behaved and gushing about how much they'll miss me (its nice to be loved). Bless them, they also got me lots of  pretty pressis and thoughtful cards.

In the morning I was called up to the front of assembly (there was me thinking I'd get away quietly....) and presented with beautiful flowers, a voucher and a lovely baby comforter. It actually made me realise how much I love  my job-most of the time-and how super my colleagues and my class are. Though the staff did find it rather amusing when I said I was looking forward to not getting up early now, the grins on their faces read 'silly lady-you'll be getting up early for the next few years at least!'.

Playing with the pram

My brother turned up on Friday evening to find us in our lounge, amongst piles of cardboard boxes and baby things. We'd decided to get the pram out and attempt to work it! 

After 45 minutes, Tim had put the pram up, collapsed it again, fixed the car seat to the base in the car, and attached the car seat to the pram base. I on the other hand, had sat and watched in sheer bewilderment.... How on earth was I ever going to leave the house when I couldn't work any of the contraptions?!  It all got a little too much and I had a mini meltdown. I don't necessarily think it was just the putting up of the pram that led to it, but maybe that I'd just had my last day at work. Also the fact that I remember the day when we didn't even dare think of buying a single thing for baby chappo, and now here we are with a nursery full of furniture, clothes, and items ready to welcome a new person in to our little family. A little bundle of joy that we didn't dare imagine would make it past 'that day when we found out'.

After a big cuddle with Tim and Winston (our first baby, hehe), we put the bits and bobs away and chilled out. Calm was restored.

Winston woes

One person slightly more overwhelmed by the recent changes and purchases, is Winston, our beloved little Springador. He knows that something is happening - he's scared stiff of the pram, obsessed with
 the nursery, and adamant that all new soft toys (for the baby) are his! We really hope that he adjusts quickly to having a baby in the house, and isn't too put out, as he is just a big a part of the family and I do worry about him. Non dog owners will probably think I'm nuts for worrying about how it will affect a dog, but those amongst you who are dog owners/lovers will understand.  Anyway, everyone adjusts, and I'm sure he will too.

So, what's in store for me and bump now?

 This week is a busy week.....me and Tim have our last scan and a midwife appointment, I'll be catching up with a fabulous friend who is brining her baby boy for his first visit (some nappy changing practice for me), and I've  a hair and beauty appointment, which is a rare luxury. Oh, and going into school to catch up with my marking-for the last time in a while!

Our visit to Mrs...bright & cheerful!

35 weeks + 3

Just a quick update on our visit to the consultant today!

Upon arriving at the hospital, we spotted a sign reading 'short staffed, long delays', so we were very surprised to be called in to the consulting room 5 minutes early.
Once I'd had the basics done (blood pressure, weight-yuk, etc) we were left to wait for our consultant. The conversation between me and Tim pretty much went along the lines 'will it be her? Won't it? Will we meet yet another new person?'
After 15 minutes of waiting (during which time Tim proceeded to play with every button and pedal on the hospital bed, resulting in a rather loud bang!), the door opened and my heart sank. Mrs Doom and Gloom. Having not seen her in 4 months, I wasn't sure what to expect!
Thankfully, due to lots of good news since seeing her, she was a picture of positivity. Well I wouldn't go that far, but there wasn't any talk of miscarriage and what not. She was happy with baby's progress, and hoped that it continued.
We discussed my bloods, and I'm being retested in 7 days to assess how much the platelets have dropped again (not at all hopefully), then she'll decide on a course of action. All sorts was discussed-drips, steroids, infusions, but none of which will need to be seriously considered now unless the platelets drop to 80 or below. A waiting game it is!

Other news
Yesterday evening me and Tim were like 2 kids in a sweet shop! We returned home to find that our pram and car seat had arrived, we'd been bought a lovely baby chair, and also been donated 1 box and 2 large bags of clothes. Tim warned me that I'd have to vet baby chappos clothing choices once she's here, as he said he'll be dressing her in all of it!!

My lovely work friends (aka big bag ladies) treated me to a leaving meal on Friday evening. They spoilt me rotten with many gifts - for myself - along with a cute wellies/rain hat set for baby. It made me realise how much support these ladies have given me on a daily basis, over the past 5 months, and also made me realise how much I'll miss work, well them!

So, our final scan next week, and another visit to the consultant in 2 weeks, soooooo close now!!