I have been lax in posting even though I have had plenty of time on my hands. On Nov 3rd we went in for our 24 weeks check up and were worried to find that my amniotic fluid had dropped to 8.5. Dr Jick put me on bed rest for the week and sent me to a specialist for a second opinion. We saw Dr Samuel Bruce the following day and Elora was diagnosed with IUGR Intrauterine Growth Restriction. In other words she has entered survival mode but we are not sure why. I was then put on sever bed rest, added some blood pressure medicine and followed up with Dr Jick on Thursday.

Dr Jick gave us the scary news that Elora might have to come out early if her amniotic fluid doesn't improve and she doesn't grow. We went home scared but optimistic. As long as I had extreme bed rest and drank TONS of fluid she would just get better. We arrive the Monday for a checkup to be told that her amniotic fluid had dropped to 7.5 and I was being admitted to Huntington Hospital. They were going to have Dr Bruce look at her again and hopefully would make it to Friday before a c-section was needed.

At Huntington they did a heart beat test on her for an hour where they clock her heart beat. She REALLY does not like to be monitored and kicked the monitor repeatedly. She wore herself out for the hour and was quiet when Dr Bruce came in. He did another ultrasound and found 10cm of fluid and that she was growth-restricted but not the level Dr Jick saw on his scans. For once we received some positive information. I was given my first course of steroid shots to help develop her lungs just in case she was going to be arriving early (4 doses are needed, 1 ever 12 hours).

Tuesday arrived and I see Dr. Jick. He is optimistic with her and my progress and tell s me that I might get out in a week or 2 to finish my bed rest at home or I could be here for the duration, it depends on Elora's fluid and growth. Each heartbeat test done is a trail (I get 2 a day) because she HATES to be monitored. She either kicks the monitor the ENTIRE time and squirms and hides so the test takes 1 1/2 hours instead of one. Last night, going on 36 hours of no sleep (hospitals are really not a place for rest) the nurse had to hold the monitor on her the entire 1.5 hours because she kept on falling of the monitor from her antics! Luckily once we finally finished at 11pm I was given a sleeping aide and Elora and I slept for a blessed 5 hours!!! before we had to be checked on again.

So here I am Wednesday morning, one more day to go before I get another ultrasound to see her growth and my fluid level. I am cautiously optimistic, I have to be with the roller coaster ride we have been on!

I promise to post more often now that I have gotten the hard post our of the way.