I wrote an extremely long post in early February, filled with pictures, etc. But then for SOME reason, it did not post. Since then, I have been too busy being a mom to rewrite it.
Fast Forward to JULY - finally time for an update!
I added a page to my blog, which has pictures of my new outer fibromas across my back and belly. If interested, it is here.
Without going in excruciating detail, here is the 411 on the rest of my pregnancy (which was a pretty fabulous pregnancy until the end).
1. New fibromas grew
2. My facial tumor swelled, leaving me in indescribable pain. I could barely speak and had to keep cold compresses on my face.
3. What I thought was my baby's foot constantly in my right in my rib cage ended up being a swollen liver. I had HELLP syndrome! (only from elevated LFTs- they were at 220 when the normal range is 30-40!
in my last entry in October, I was explaining one of the effects of NF on pregnancy is preeclampsia. I left you last with being on the verge of testing.
Here was my test :
I had to fill up that nice orange jug with urine. It wasn't as gross as I thought it would be to do, but it was NOT fun. And it was even MORE not fun to carry the full jug with me back to the office. No worries, friends, this jug is empty :-P
Anyway, the results of the urine test were negative. My blood work never gave any indication. So I thought I was good to go. But NF has it's way of saying FU to people, so yeah! :)
But come January 17, during my 38 week appointment, I was explaining that I never seemed to get better after getting sick the month before (I had come down with a severe cough and cold). I just felt crappy. The nausea was back. I was telling her how I had this perpetual weird feeling in my rib cage , and how badly the tumor was hurting in my face. I almost didn't mention having migraines since I thought it was normal. Thankfully I DID tell her! Well, it turned out to not be normal. None of this sounded good to her. My doctor ordered bloodwork but scheduled my induction for the next week. I was miserable, and was told that the baby would be better off in my arms than in my body. With that, I agreed to the induction. [[side note- I wanted a natural, umedicated birth. So much for that]]
The Monday after that appointment was MLK day. Tuesday, January 21, she calls me (with alarm in her voice), telling me she had no idea how the results of my blood work were not flagged as an emergency until that morning. As I said above, my LFTs were 220. She told me I had to leave RIGHT AWAY and get tested again. If the test was still reading high, I would be meeting my son within the next day.
I called John in a panic. Thankfully the car was already packed :) I found my boss to tell him that I may not be coming back. Checked in L&D, had blood work drawn. It was 197 or something like that. So off to InductionLand I went.
I labored for about 8 hours without meds (other than the cytotec I was given). In the evening, my water broke. I agreed to an epidural with fears the induction would fail and I would need a C-section. I didn't know what would happen if I needed a C-Section with no meds.
The contractions squeezed the tumor above my pubic bone (on my right side). The epidural did not work on my right side. So I pretty much labored with no pain medication anyway :)
Induction FAILED (as I thought) and....
I officially became a mother.
Oliver Julian was born Wednesday, January 22 at 10:23 am. He was 6lb 5oz. How in the world did that body fit in THIS body:
I have no idea, but it was pretty incredible.
After delivery, my levels went back to normal. For every subsequent pregnancy, I will be closely monitored. And I will probably never be able to have my natural, unmedicated birth of my dreams :( But what matters is that my son is HEALTHY. He is being seen by my NF specialist, and only time will tell if I passed the gene.
I end with one more picture:
Life is good. :)
PS regarding not having an entire stomach and carrying a child to term:
Oliver got more nutrients than I did from the food I ate :) and what I lacked, he took from my bones, so the books say...
Fast Forward to JULY - finally time for an update!
I added a page to my blog, which has pictures of my new outer fibromas across my back and belly. If interested, it is here.
Without going in excruciating detail, here is the 411 on the rest of my pregnancy (which was a pretty fabulous pregnancy until the end).
1. New fibromas grew
2. My facial tumor swelled, leaving me in indescribable pain. I could barely speak and had to keep cold compresses on my face.
3. What I thought was my baby's foot constantly in my right in my rib cage ended up being a swollen liver. I had HELLP syndrome! (only from elevated LFTs- they were at 220 when the normal range is 30-40!
in my last entry in October, I was explaining one of the effects of NF on pregnancy is preeclampsia. I left you last with being on the verge of testing.
Here was my test :
Anyway, the results of the urine test were negative. My blood work never gave any indication. So I thought I was good to go. But NF has it's way of saying FU to people, so yeah! :)
But come January 17, during my 38 week appointment, I was explaining that I never seemed to get better after getting sick the month before (I had come down with a severe cough and cold). I just felt crappy. The nausea was back. I was telling her how I had this perpetual weird feeling in my rib cage , and how badly the tumor was hurting in my face. I almost didn't mention having migraines since I thought it was normal. Thankfully I DID tell her! Well, it turned out to not be normal. None of this sounded good to her. My doctor ordered bloodwork but scheduled my induction for the next week. I was miserable, and was told that the baby would be better off in my arms than in my body. With that, I agreed to the induction. [[side note- I wanted a natural, umedicated birth. So much for that]]
The Monday after that appointment was MLK day. Tuesday, January 21, she calls me (with alarm in her voice), telling me she had no idea how the results of my blood work were not flagged as an emergency until that morning. As I said above, my LFTs were 220. She told me I had to leave RIGHT AWAY and get tested again. If the test was still reading high, I would be meeting my son within the next day.
I called John in a panic. Thankfully the car was already packed :) I found my boss to tell him that I may not be coming back. Checked in L&D, had blood work drawn. It was 197 or something like that. So off to InductionLand I went.
I labored for about 8 hours without meds (other than the cytotec I was given). In the evening, my water broke. I agreed to an epidural with fears the induction would fail and I would need a C-section. I didn't know what would happen if I needed a C-Section with no meds.
The contractions squeezed the tumor above my pubic bone (on my right side). The epidural did not work on my right side. So I pretty much labored with no pain medication anyway :)
Induction FAILED (as I thought) and....
 |
| First family photo. Notice how yellow I was???? |
Oliver Julian was born Wednesday, January 22 at 10:23 am. He was 6lb 5oz. How in the world did that body fit in THIS body:
After delivery, my levels went back to normal. For every subsequent pregnancy, I will be closely monitored. And I will probably never be able to have my natural, unmedicated birth of my dreams :( But what matters is that my son is HEALTHY. He is being seen by my NF specialist, and only time will tell if I passed the gene.
I end with one more picture:
Life is good. :)
PS regarding not having an entire stomach and carrying a child to term:
Oliver got more nutrients than I did from the food I ate :) and what I lacked, he took from my bones, so the books say...
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