FETAL MOVEMENTS IN PREGNANCY

I have come across some pregnant bloggers who have passed 16 weeks in their pregnancies and are quite anxious to know if they have been experiencing fetal movements. Part of the reason for this is, if this is their first pregnancies, having not had the experience before, they could indeed be having fetal movements, but does not know how to recognise it.

When I was pregnant with our daughter which I lost, I was told by a friend that at 16 weeks I should be experiencing fetal movements. I however did not know how to recognise them but when these movements fail to pick up as my pregnancy advanced, I became worried because I suspected that something was terrible wrong with my baby. Our daughter was sadly diagnosed with a very rare fetal diagnosis, ‘Hydrops Fetalis’ (see information about this condition on my home page), and as such was not strong enough for me to feel her move.

When I was pregnant with our son, I started feeling him move even before the 16 week mark and this probably explains why he is so energetic now.

When should we begin feeling fetal movements, then? It is said that a pregnant woman should begin feeling fetal movements anywhere from 16 – 25 weeks in her pregnancy and even though for first time mothers, they might not be able to recognise them, they should gradually be able to identify them as their pregnancy progresses.

Read more about fetal movements by following the link below:-

http://www.webmd.com/baby/fetal-movement-feeling-baby-kick

image by: http://www.womancarepc.com/images/fetal.jpeg

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR ANGEL IN HEAVEN – Our First Miracle

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hand

Psalm 127: 3 & 4

"HOPE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE"

Today we pause to say a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to our first little miracle, Sara-Marie Abigail Price, who was born sleeping on April 2, 2006, (four years ago).

For all those who do not know the story of our first little miracle, I crave your indulgence.

After more than a decade long of struggling with infertility, we learned that we were expecting in September, 2005. We were so ecstatic, my husband and I hugged each other and dance around the room.

As the pregnancy progressed, I found that I just could not embrace and enjoy it, as I had dreamt of doing for so long. Each month we visited our doctor, despite the very good reports, I just could not shake the feeling that something would go wrong. I sometimes dismissed this feeling though, thinking it was only jitters from having waited so long and as a result of previous miscarriages, only to have it return shortly afterwards

In the seventh month of our pregnancy, the day after a lovely baby shower was thrown for me, we visited our doctor, for what we believed would be another routine visit with a good report. My doctor, who is very jovial and funny, began the examination, making us laugh as usual. Before long into the examination, we realized that he got very quiet and was looking at the screen of his examination machine, quite intently. He even took a seat on the examination table beside me – something he never did in any of our previous visits. This was when I knew that the feelings of uneasiness I had since the pregnancy was about to confirm that something was indeed wrong I remember my husband asking him if there was a problem and he said, yes. The room suddenly went black, I blacked out, even though I was lying down (I have never heard of this).

I came around shortly after and he asked us to join him at his desk, where he proceeded to write us a referral to a fetal specialist, to see exactly what was happening with our baby. I remember glancing on the referral and saw the term hydrops fetalis, in the space for diagnosis and he then proceeded to explain to us what this was. I really was not listening as I was still trying to come to terms with all that was taking place.

We went to see the fetal specialist and when he began the examination, I saw him turned the screen away from me and said, he did not want me to see the images. By this time though, I was ready to accept my fate, so it probably would not have made any difference if I had seen the images.

We collected the results a few days afterwards and it was confirmed that our baby had been diagnosed with hydrops fetalis, ( a severe, life-threatening problem of severe edema (swelling) in the fetus and newborn and occurs when too much fluid leaves the bloodstream and goes into the tissues). Babies diagnosed with this condition, usually have a low chance of survival.

Our doctor tried to give us hope by assuring us that he was focused on the 30% chance of survival and he challenged us to do the same too.

We waited almost a month for further testing to be done, to see if they could find the exact cause of this condition and all this time, I prayed to God earnestly and others prayed as well and I believed deeply, that things would somehow turn around for us. It was with that faith that I got up out of bed one day, and started preparing the nursery. I felt I had to do this because, if things turned around, I wanted to be ready. This was undoubtedly one of the longest, hardest month ever. The tests all came back negative and I was feeling even more optimistic.

Our doctor referred us to our University Hospital for management from then on of our pregnancy, in hopes of getting treatment for our baby intrauterine.

Sadly, while a doctor was doing my examination, he realized that there was no heartbeat. Our baby had left us without us knowing.

I was admitted the next day (being Saturday), to give birth, and in the wee hours of Sunday morning, April 2, 2006, our little miracle was born sleeping, weighing just over 2 pounds. She fought a good fight, but the battle was not hers to win. I remember I had decided that I would not look at her after she was born, because I did not want to have that image embedded in my mind, as I believed it would have made it harder for me. I however found myself actually trying to look at her, but my husband objected, I guess because he too thought it would have been too painful for me. He saw her though and it was indeed very difficult for him.

The days following this, were some of the darkest days of my life. I never cried so much in my life, and it all began the day after I gave birth and continued right through that night and into the days ahead. I was so angry with God that I refused to even talk to him, I wanted to ask him why, but I just could not. I could not even pray.

I remember being on my way home from the hospital, and found myself scanning my medicine cabinet at home, to have a mental picture of all the pills I had in there that I could take, to put a quick end to this overwhelming grief that I was in, because it was just too much for me. God stepped in though and had me tell my husband that I did not want to be alone at home in the days ahead. I told him this, after feeling very afraid that I was actually thinking suicide, and so the next day and for the rest of that week, I went to my sister’s to stay with her housekeeper, who herself, had had experience with grief, having lost her husband, and my sister thought she could help me through my grief as well.

I made it through those difficult days, largely due to the kind support of my family, especially my eldest sister and my Church family and friends. A very good friend lent me the book, When God Doesn't Make Sense By. Dr. James Dobson, and this really helped me put things into perspective. In essence, what this book is saying is that - life is about change and we are never targeted for bad things to happen to us, this is just all a part of life, and the sooner we understand this, the sooner we are able to accept what comes our way, and  trust God to help us heal from our wounds. I strongly recommend this book for anyone dealing with grief.

My Mom says, our daughter was just too beautiful, so God decided to keep her for himself and I truly believe that. My mother-in-law says that our daughter, gave herself as a sacrifice to make way for our second miracle, because my body needed cleansing from all the anxiety, depression and treatment that I had undergone as a result of my struggle with infertility. I strongly believe that too and this makes our little angel all the more special to us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL, Your dad, your brother and I can’t wait to meet you in the sweet by and by. Continue resting in the arms of Jesus, where you belong, because you must be tired from the fight you fought to stay with us.

WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU.

My Infertility Story – Dealing with miscarriages cont'd.

“I felt as if someone was playing a cruel joke on us and I was not amused. What did we ever do to deserve this, I thought.”

We were only halfway into our experience with miscarriages, with the worst still to come.

Approximately two years after doing my surgery and ten months after we had seen the female doctor, we realized we were pregnant again. We were on the brink of giving up hope as this was about four years after our previous miscarriages.
I was at Church one Sunday and realized that I was feeling terribly hungry and I had eaten breakfast that morning. I could not wait for communion to be served, as I thought even that little morsel of bread could indeed help this terrible hunger that was gnawing at my stomach walls.
I was expecting a period as well and it had not turned up as yet. Could I be pregnant? I thought, as I was also feeling a little bit queasy. I waited a few days to see if the period would show just to ensure that I was not setting myself up for anymore disappointment. That, I was certainly not in any hurry for. The period did not show, the queasiness continued and so believing that something was indeed happening, I did the test. I was pregnant and there was no doubt about it. The joy again was overwhelming and something about this one told me that it would stick around. I was however still very cautious.
I called my doctor the next day but did not get him and so I left a message, he returned my call after a few days and set an appointment to see him. I went promptly and he confirmed the pregnancy. He also did a scan saying he was not sure he would see anything, but as luck would have it, the scan showed the pregnancy with the fetus and even a heartbeat. We were so excited, and my doctor was too. The end to my struggle with infertility was surely in sight.
Having learnt from previous experience, we did not break the news to our family until I was about three months pregnant and ofcourse, they were overjoyed, especially my in-laws.
Each month that we went for our prenatal check-up was a triumph in itself, as the news was always good. We were having a girl, and we were even more excited.
Then round about the seventh month of my pregnancy, everything changed. Our baby was sick, she had developed a lot of fluid (a condition known as Hydrops Fetalis) in her little body and was given only a twenty percent chance of living.
We were crushed. It is confirmed, we are doomed to remain childless. We must have in fact done something to deserve this punishment, as this cannot be happening and not at this stage when I was already thrown a shower and had all my cute pink things to welcome my baby girl.
My doctor wanted to give us hope and so he told us that he was focusing on the twenty percent chance of life that our little angel had, and challenged us to remain positive. Bless his heart. I was put into the public system as he could not monitor my pregnancy anymore and on my first appointment, the doctor discovered that the baby had died. I did not know life as it were anymore. I was walking around like I was seeing ghosts. I was totally devastated and needed to know why this was happening to us.
I was admitted to the hospital the next day and things got worse the day after I had given birth to our daughter, as there was this terrible feeling of emptiness that made me cry and could not stop. I never cried so much in my entire life.

In the next post, I will tell you, (and I know you are eager to read it), how we made it through this very trying and dark time.