Quick update - 24 weeks!

Hello there!

I'm 24 weeks today, and so excited! Some adorable women were asking about me on one of my message boards, so I gave them a quick update. I figure I'll use it here as well to save some typing time. :)

Hi everyone!

I have good news! Everything is going great and I hit 24 weeks today, after one month of strict bedrest. 24 weeks is the viability cut off point, so my baby has more than 50% chance of survival at this point, and it gets better every day.

I SOOOO appreciate you guys asking about me - I actually have been busy with work! I worked 26 hours last week while laying almost totally flat on my hospital bed. It really helps me pass the time and not feel guilty about missing work (I'm the head of my department so I want to stay involved).

At this point, there is no reason - other than if I contract an infection - that I can't go another 2 months with this baby. My doctor wants me to make it to 34 weeks now. I really feel I can make it.

I'm sick of sitting in bed, but honestly I'm not doing too bad at all. I'm on another mailing list with ladies who are on bedrest, and some of them are totally going bonkers. Me, I think I'm naturally a lazy hermit if left to my own resources, so lots of the time I've actually very comfortable. I can take a nap any damn time I want, I can use my computer and work or play video games or chat on message boards ALL NIGHT then sleep all day! Once a day or so I have a moment where I feel whiney because I want to do something else - usually when there is nothing good on TV. But, mostly I'm OK.

I have lost some weight since being in the hospital, and I had lost about 10 pounds before my water broke as well, so I think I've lost like 25 pounds at this point. So now I have to drink Ensure Plus and some extra snacks to try to gain more weight. Honestly, I don't want to gain too much weight because I have a fibroid and my stomach is already so huge, the last thing I want to do is add a layer of fat on there. Also, I'm worried about gestational diabetes, which would suck for a premature baby (which I will almost certainly have). But anyway, I don't want to lose a bunch of weight either, so I'm trying to eat what I can, when I can.

I got my first round of steroid shots today and yesterday, so that will really help the baby if something goes wrong. I also had the first of my now daily non stress tests, where they monitor the baby's heartbeat for 30 minutes. He passed with huge flying colors. The nurse said that his heartbeat was basically as good as it can possibly be. So that was really exciting. And I loved the test... I just sat there listening to my baby's heartbeat and I sang quietly for a while, and then I talked to him about some random things at the end. His heartbeat actually went up a little when I was talking, so I know he was hearing me.

I also had a big ultrasound last weeks and everything looks really good, other than the fact that my fibroid is growin (20 cm now) and the baby still has very little fluid (AFI 2.0). But, everything else couldn't be better! She didn't actually see a penis, but she was pretty sure she saw a scrotum, so she says it is 80% chance a boy.

Anyway, thanks again for asking about me! You guys are so wonderful. I will keep you updated if anything happens.

Christine