I had a dream pregnancy, until the 22nd of May 2008. I went for a routine scan and the gyneacologist kept on measuring Liam's head. After measuring for the third time, she tells us that his head has stopped growing and that there is very little amniotic fluid left.
You cannot explain this feeling of dread to anybody. You literally do go all cold and into shock. She then explained to us that I would need to go to the fetal assessment centre where a more thorough scan would be done. I was told to remain in bed for the remainder of my pregnancy.
I could only go to the fetal assessment centre a couple of days after this doomsday visit. Gerhard put a bed in the living room for me and I literally felt as if I was dying. I was also told to drink three liters of fluid a day and so began operation hydrate that lasted for the next six weeks. I had charts on excel detailing the fluid intake. Small projects like these kept me sane.
It was also around this time that I read Jodi Picoult's "My Sister's Keeper" - big mistake for a pregnant woman. I was utterly depressed and felt like I had somehow let Gerhard and Liam down. Looking back I know that there was nothing I could have done to prevent this, but that is part of my calvinistic nature. Its all my fault, its all my fault.
The big day finally arrived. Gerhard and I dressed as if for a funeral. We arrived at the fetal assessment centre early and sat looking at all the happy pregnant couples walking out of the consultation rooms after receiving the all clear on the downs syndrome scans. How ignorant they all seemed to us. I wanted to scream and tell them that they should not look so smug, there were still a million things that could go wrong.
We finally saw the doctor and he confirmed the low amniotic fluid, but miracles do happen and according to his measurements the baby was growing just fine. I almost hit him over the head with the dildo shaped internal scanner that they use for the 6 week sonar when he asked me if I smoked and drank at all during this pregnancy, I mean heck, I have been doing pregnancy exercises with a bunch of fat girls for the past 7 months.
The new doctor said that its probably best not to return to work, but the bed rest was slightly over the top. I did however have to continue with the noble work that I was doing in project hydrate.
I never once calmed down for even a second during this time and the next six weeks were filled with working from home tying up loose ends and project hydrate.
You cannot explain this feeling of dread to anybody. You literally do go all cold and into shock. She then explained to us that I would need to go to the fetal assessment centre where a more thorough scan would be done. I was told to remain in bed for the remainder of my pregnancy.
I could only go to the fetal assessment centre a couple of days after this doomsday visit. Gerhard put a bed in the living room for me and I literally felt as if I was dying. I was also told to drink three liters of fluid a day and so began operation hydrate that lasted for the next six weeks. I had charts on excel detailing the fluid intake. Small projects like these kept me sane.
It was also around this time that I read Jodi Picoult's "My Sister's Keeper" - big mistake for a pregnant woman. I was utterly depressed and felt like I had somehow let Gerhard and Liam down. Looking back I know that there was nothing I could have done to prevent this, but that is part of my calvinistic nature. Its all my fault, its all my fault.
The big day finally arrived. Gerhard and I dressed as if for a funeral. We arrived at the fetal assessment centre early and sat looking at all the happy pregnant couples walking out of the consultation rooms after receiving the all clear on the downs syndrome scans. How ignorant they all seemed to us. I wanted to scream and tell them that they should not look so smug, there were still a million things that could go wrong.
We finally saw the doctor and he confirmed the low amniotic fluid, but miracles do happen and according to his measurements the baby was growing just fine. I almost hit him over the head with the dildo shaped internal scanner that they use for the 6 week sonar when he asked me if I smoked and drank at all during this pregnancy, I mean heck, I have been doing pregnancy exercises with a bunch of fat girls for the past 7 months.
The new doctor said that its probably best not to return to work, but the bed rest was slightly over the top. I did however have to continue with the noble work that I was doing in project hydrate.
I never once calmed down for even a second during this time and the next six weeks were filled with working from home tying up loose ends and project hydrate.
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