Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Doctor D'Oub is in the house...

So, you know, maybe I should be making that supreme effort and blogging more. In a matter of weeks, when the latest drain on my life force latest wonderful bundle of joy, arrives, I suspect I'll have even less energy to inform you about the minutiae of my mind.

And even though I'm just coming up on 35 weeks preggers, it could be as little as two weeks before this babs 'arrives'.

Y'see, my dodgy liver appears to be acting up. I'm a carrier of a gene for the liver condition Alpha 1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiency. Thankfully, only having the one defective gene I've been spared this awful condition, but, if my liver is under particular strain, like when I'm pregnant, bad things do happen.

The bad things? My dodgy liver causes a pregnancy condition called Obstetric Cholestasis. (I am all about the scrabble 50 point words today...) What does that mean? It means that my entire body itches. And there is no relief. I was diagnosed with this condition when a doctor in the maternity hospital noticed the deep scabbing wounds I had gouged into my legs with my desperate fingernails.

Nice :)

Unfortunately, this isn't the only downside of the condition. It also increases the risk of stillbirth. Even typing that sentence is enough to freak one out. Moving on.

So, what they do is get the baby out at around 37 weeks. Thankfully, as I grow them big and fat, they have usual emerged at that gestation like a five year old with an obesity problem on Jeremy Kyle.

But, hey, this is me, Domestic Oub, even with all this fun, there has to be an extra little complication? Of course. I would hate to disappoint. Over my four pregnancies I've been trying to accumulate the full 'Most Common Pregnancy Complications' collection. Just like baseball cards or novelty teapots...

So, first off we had pre-exclampsia AND Obsetric Cholestasis, Check! Check! Second time around, a little disappointingly only the Obstetric Cholestasis. Check. Third outing I endured Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD for short). Check!

I reckoned that this time I just had to come down with Gestational Diabetes. I was convinced. It was one of the most common complications and I hadn't had it yet. I have all the risk factors - family history, old age, plumpness. And, without me even having to say a thing, my doc sent me for the test.

I couldn't believe it when it came back negative. So disappointing. Was this going to be a bog standard, run of the mill pregnancy?? Of course I always had the Obstetric Cholestasis to fall back on, but, y'know, been there, done that.

Well, can you imagine my delight when doc announced a number of weeks ago that babs was breech. In fact, not only was s/he breech, but was actually in a transverse lie position - which obviously, this happening to me, is worse than breech. At least a breech baby can get out the 'ladies special place' (I had to call it something for the kids..) but no sideways baby is getting out normally without a copy of Houdini's Great Escapes.

Or a c-section.

Of course there is time for the little rotter to get off his/her peachy downy ass and rotate! But, what with him/her already measuring big (less space to move!), and a potential 37 week deadline (less time to move!) we could be looking at an untimely plucking from me belly.

Check! Hurray, I've collected a full set.

But I have an appointment with my nice doctor on Monday, and hopefully he'll tell me that this little munchkin has done us all a favour and made friends with my pelvis.

Sadly, then I won't get my 'Most Common Pregnancy Complications' commemorative plaque. Drat.

And I am NOT going again.

I really mean it this time.

Honest.

9 comments:

The Dead Acorn said...

I'm pretty sure you qualify for leniency for not posting under the Blog-Slacking Exemption Treaty of 2005.

I hope all goes well, as I'm sure it will, no matter how s/he makes his/her grand debut.

120 Socks said...

Ah Domestic Oulilette, I just want to send you a hug. Hugs are great for lots of things. Baby will turn if he/she is in anyway like Mom in their wonder. Your woes puts the coldness of the big freeze into perspective. And remember if baby does decide to arrive in the middle of the snow (another thing for your list) then we have a four wheel drive and will get you and baby to the hospital snappy!!!

Karen said...

Sending good thoughts and wishes your way!

Niamh B said...

Scary Scary!!

At least you can call handsome army people to bring you to hospital if and when the time comes!!

Have fingers and toes all crossed that everything will go fabulously
xxx

Titus said...

Waah! I nearly clicked on the pubis one. Nearly.
Now look after yourself, and I'm sending good near-term thoughts to you.

If it's any consolation, the double event (yes, it was a bit like Jack the Ripper) was a C-section and bloody great! Don't believe all that guff about not driving or picking anything up for a month - you're as right as rain after a couple of days. And I got a bed-bath afterwards!

Domestic Oub said...

DA - glad to hear abut the BSE Treaty, I'd been hiding behind the sofa everytime the doorbell went - was sure they'd found me and were going to take me away!

Socks - Thank you for your hug :) It was a bit of a pity party post. That;'s what you get for being stuck inside the house for a week because of the stoopid snow!

And again thanks for the offer of your super rescue car - sadly, I left out the woes of my super fast labours from my post - last one I was in active labour for about 20 minutes. I am not kidding. So, this baby is being born on the side of the M50 I suspect!

Karen - Thank you! Need them all at the moment :)))

Niamh - Did I over do the over-dramaticness? Am feeling very sorry for myself at the moment! but, yes, hunky soldier, that sounds like a very positive upsode :)

Titus - You were wise not to click on... And, thank you for your feedback on the c-section experience... I must say that despite it's scary reputation, there are times I do feel drawn to the planned nature of it...I won't bore you with the tales of the last Oub babies arrival, but it was nearly tabloid newspaper fodder...

Titus said...

Even better news, it wasn't a planned one, but an emergency. Still as smooth as silk! Felt like someone getting something out a wardrobe. Well, two things, obviously.

Domestic Oub said...

Lol! What a wonderful description :o)

Totalfeckineejit said...

All will be well, I guarantee it. Trust me, I know these things!

Ps The Ladies special place? Is that the cosmetic counter in Brown Thomas?
Isn't that a bit public?