This weekend I realized that we have definitely entered the “happy second trimester”!
During the first trimester I am majorly overwhelmed with fatigue. I don’t think overwhelmed is too strong a word.–Being a person with normally high energy levels, requiring little sleep, it is such an adjustment for me, that it is almost a constant frustration. During the first trimester I require at least one nap/day or I need to be in bed very very early. This also makes me incredibly emotional, because I am so tired, and usually something ridiculous sets me “off” once a day. . . But when the second trimester arrives, I feel like I’m suddenly back to my “old” self! What an exciting realization!
Going into this pregnancy, I definitely felt apprehensive. Since my last pregnancy ended with preterm delivery at week 32, I’ve been interested in the experiences of subsequent pregnancies, in women who have delivered prematurely. . . You hear women’s stories of subsequent pregnancies ending even earlier–and I had hesitations about pregnancy because of what it could potentially mean for the life of our new little child, as well as the logistics of bedrest again, preterm labor & delivery again, hospitalization, another NICU experience for us as a family with two toddlers!
But I have to say: I’m encouraged!
Given my history, my doctors and even the “healthy beginnings” people from my insurance company are treating my current pregnancy with greater caution.
My ob is recommending weekly progesterone shots from week 16 – 36. She has referred me to a high-risk specialist who will make the decision about the shots. Basically these shots relax the uterus so that it won’t contract. My insurance “case manager” (who is a long-time ob nurse) tells me that many women who take these shots (having had previous preterm deliveries) go on to deliver their babies full-term, often without requiring bedrest. Others she has dealt with, who lost children at 24 or 25 weeks, carried the next baby to week 32.
The idea that these shots would provide a very good chance at delivering my child full-term–and the additional benefit of not being on bedrest–is very exciting and encouraging to me.
My appointment with the high-risk specialist is this morning. They will do an ultrasound, discuss my history and formulate a strategy for dealing with this pregnancy. So I’m praying the Lord will give the specialist wisdom and also an understanding of our need to balance what procedures are necessary to protect the baby and what is “extra” (given our insurance coverage). . .
and now I’m off to bed. . . even 2nd trimester energy diminishes at some point!
