Week 36 check up

Well we went to UNC again yesterday (Tuesday). We allowed an hour for our commute, as usual, but traffic was worse than normal and it took us an hour and a half to get there. As a result, we missed our 8:00am ultrasound appointment because we arrived at 8:30am. Therefore, we had to wait around for over an hour to get squeezed in to the next available time slot. This also caused us to miss our 8:45am check up, which we didn't get to until close to 10am.


The ultrasound went well! The reason for this ultrasound was to measure the amount of amniotic fluid because it was on the low side of the normal range last week. Fortunately, things looked good, we're back to the mid-level of the normal range (normal runs between 6-20 and we were a 12). Because the results looked normal, they decided we don't need to have any more ultrasounds. We did get some great 4D pictures of Ethan yesterday during the ultrasound. We were surprised to get any at all because last week they told us that it was too late in the pregnancy to see anything because it's getting so crowded in there! But the ultrasound technician said it certainly wasn't too late to get pictures, it all depends on which way the baby's positioned. Below are some of the pictures from Ethan's most current "photo shoot"! It's amazing how much detail a 4D picture shows. We can really start to see what he's going to look like!

Week 35 - UNC check-up

Today we visited UNC for an ultrasound, our 35 week check-up, and another tour of Labor & Delivery (L&D), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with our care coordinator. Dan and I took the tour back in March when Ethan was first diagnosed with his heart defect and we learned we'd have to deliver at UNC, but my mom was with us so it was good for her to get to know the area with us.

Everything looked normal on the ultrasound - Ethan's not showing any other defects or problems besides his heart at this time. He's already 6lb. 1oz. and in the 53rd percentile, and we still have a month to go! From here on out, we'll be traveling to UNC once a week for check-ups. The amniotic fluid is borderline on the low side so at next week's check-up, I'll also have another ultrasound to monitor the fluid level again. If it looks alright, then I won't have any more ultrasounds; but if it's looking low, they will probably monitor me weekly with an ultrasound while I'm there for my weekly check-up.

After the ultrasound, we went for our check-up, where I learned I tested positive at the last visit for Group B Strep (which they say is common in about 30% of all pregnancies), so I'll be given an antibiotic in my IV when I go into labor. And speaking of labor, Dr. Boggess has me scheduled to arrive at UNC on Thursday night, August 9th and I'll stay overnight and get induced on Friday, August 10th (if I haven't already gone into labor before then!). So one month from today, we may quite possibly be meeting our sweet little boy as he enters the world!

Once we finished with the weekly check-up, we met up with our care coordinator, Lisa. She guided us through our tour of L&D, NICU and PICU. We learned that in the NICU and PICU, parents and grandparents have 24 hr. access to Ethan, but only 2 people are allowed in his room at one time. We also learned that we are allowed to sit in on the weekly team conferences that take place every Monday afternoon. The team consists of all medical team people that will be dealing with Ethan's case, including our care coordinator. The team discusses all the current patients, so for confidentiality sake, we will only be sitting in on the part of the meeting relating directly to Ethan's status. Doctors also make daily rounds in the NICU and PICU so we can get updates at that time as well. Also, the NICU has an 800 number to call and speak to Ethan's nurse on duty at any time of day or night to get an update if we're not able to be with him! I feel like we're definitely in the right place for our son's treatment.

Thanks for the continued prayers for our son and for us. We can definitely feel the love and encouragement and support of all our friends and family!