We're at six and a half months...this is a milestone!!! This week starts the daily fetal monitoring. Today, physically and emotionally I was drained. I think I may have over did it this past weekend and it took a toll on me Monday. Actually, now that I think of it, the same thing happened last Monday.
I found myself sad and emotional because I have to ask for help. Help from my husband, family and help at work. I was very self sufficient during my previous pregnancy and consider myself to be very independent in life. I really don't like asking anyone for anything... so to ask for the littlest things is upsetting to me. I tried to get a grip on my emotions. After I ate, I did feel better, hehehe. I also had a weird headache which is never fun, and just added to my already frazzled emotions, but I kept pushing. To top off my day, when I went to the bathroom, to "drop the kids off", you know, # 2, I saw blood when I wiped. Going to the bathroom is already an ordeal for me, I had no idea how much I was straining when I went. Bright red "fresh blood" aka rectal bleeding is what I saw and I did start to freak out just a little. I knew I wasn't cramping and that it didn't come from my lady parts. I didn't want to tell too many people, so what was I left to do? Google my symptoms of course! I know it's the worse thing ever, but my search did come up with some pretty good information. All of which lead to "normal" happenings, for straining, taking iron pills and being pregnant. I did call my doctor, and they confirmed that it was a normal occurrence, but advised me to not strain or I could end up with hemorrhoids, inside or out, (yikes) and then I'd have to see the doctor if it got any worse. After my conversation with my doctor, I felt like this was an isolated incident and that I needed to just relax a bit. So, I came home, relaxed, and tried to clear my head.
Tuesday I woke up feeling refreshed. My fetal monitoring appointment was at 7:45 A.M. The scheduler told me the appointment would last 2-3 hours and would be about 45 minutes per child. When I arrived at 7:40, there were two other people already waiting ahead of me. Subsequently they were both called before me and I meanwhile I thought I had the first appointment?! After completing some forms and waiting, I asked if I could schedule my other appointments while I wait. They gave me a two page print out, with my fetal monitoring and high risk appointments for the next 4 weeks. I then had to check those against the two page print out of my OB doctors appointments. Needless to say it was a little over whelming and all of these appointments still didn't include my weekend appointments.
On a happier note, it was pretty cool to see all of the babies heart beats beating at the same time. The technician actually monitored all the babies at once instead of one at a time. The straps that held the monitors to my belly weren't tight but they were very restricting. It seemed as if the girls were very active during this time frame. I had a heart monitor hooked up to my finger and another button I was to press every time I felt the babies move. I'd say the first fetal monitor appointment went very well. Lets see what tomorrows four appointments bring!
~Truly Karae
