Week 33: Three times a week

I hate the term high-risk. High risk for what? Anything? Everything? Getting pregnant for the first time at 38 years old, I was instantly labeled high risk because I was over 35. This meant that my anatomy scan at 20 weeks had to be done at a Perinatologist’s office (high-risk OB) instead of with my regular OB. I remember going to that office and filling out the paperwork for the first time. Each page had a little label with my name, DOB, the medical record number, and the words “High Risk.” This was BEFORE we even knew about Marley’s condition.

(Also, if I am already at the high-risk doctor’s office, why should every page be labeled high risk. Isn’t that implied by me being there? That should have been a red flag! I hated that office!)

The words “high risk” just cause anxiety. No one wants to be labeled “high-risk.” Do you want to go on a “high-risk” flight? Take a train that is “high-risk”? Eat at a restaurant that is “high-risk”? So why would we label women who are doing a SUPER important and already anxiety-provoking job (bringing another human being into the world) with a term so unsavory? Why can’t they come up with another term for it? Like ETLC – Extra Tender Loving Care? That’s what I prefer to be called. So let’s roll with that.

I ended up in the hospital for 3 days at Week 25. Everything was okay, but it was scary, to say the least. Upon discharge, my medical team agreed that I should be seen at least once a week until delivery. At 30 weeks, that number was moved to twice a week.

Why so many appointments? Well, 1. I already exhausted my deductible by being in the hospital, so whatever. 2. Why not?

We don’t need this many appointments because anything is wrong with the baby or me. But, on the other hand, we WANT these appointments because everything is right and to keep them going right. So, at 33 weeks, our Perinatologist was like: “There’s no reason to have you come in three times a week, but….”
Me: “Three times a week is an option?”
And she was like:” Yeah, if you want to.”
Me: “Let’s do it.”

I’m going to be honest. It’s inconvenient AF. But whatever. It’s reassuring. I have two biophysical profiles a week – these are ultrasounds where they test the baby’s breathing, movement, muscle tone, and amniotic fluid. And one NST – nonstress test- where they watch the baby’s heart rate in response to movement for 20 minutes.

Nick can’t come with me to all the appointments – but he does try to go to one per week. And fortunately, they are all usually quick. This baby is super active and wiggly. So she usually passes the biophysical profile test in 10 minutes (she has up to 30 minutes, so she is already an overachiever!). And her NSTs always look great. The biggest issue is that the tests usually take longer than 20 minutes because she keeps kicking the monitor off!

Is three appointments a week too much? Maybe. Do I care? Nope. It offers me peace of mind. During our hospital stay, they mentioned me staying in the hospital until delivery (yeah, and that was at 25 weeks). I’d much rather get all my extra TLC as an outpatient than as an inpatient.