Jessa Duggar Seewald is Pregnant - Part 3

[chelleinchicago]

I can not tell you how much I love this post.

You captured Jessa spot on !

:worship:

there is something about Jessa that she likes to be elusive and different

makes her feel more important :D when in reality she just comes across as indifferent :D

I think she comes across as having the biggest balls of all the kids. To anyone lurking, I mean that in the figurative and not the literal sense. She doesn't appear to be very empathetic, either.

[ClaraOswin]

The only routine one at my doctor's office is the 20 week anatomy scan.

The ultrasounds I had cost me about $250 each or so, if I'm remembering correctly. (We have to pay 100% of everything until we reach our deductible.)

[drivingmishcrazy]

I think I love both of you. :lol:

Aww haha. :D

Sort of on-topic: from what I remember, my mom had several ultrasounds with my sister and brother, but she was also in her mid-to-late thirties and has a bicornuate uterus. My best friend, however, had at least 3 or 4 ultrasounds, and she just had hers. Then again i don't know how easy her pregnancy was either so :shrug:

[nst]

I think she comes across as having the biggest balls of all the kids. To anyone lurking, I mean that in the figurative and not the literal sense. She doesn't appear to be very empathetic, either.

I agree about the biggest balls - but at the same time - she also wants to appear cool and not have no empathy - but in all the behind the scenes stuff - she is all over him. She appears to be the aggressive one :D

[ClaraOswin]

Anyone else hate those 3D ultrasounds? I think they are creepy. During my regular ultrasound the lady briefly switched it to 3D. My kid looked like a creepy ghost or something.

[drivingmishcrazy]

Oh yeah! I think we had a discussion about this during the Great Dilly Wait, too. Someone posted a picture that can only be described as 3D ultrasound Voldemort Baby. It was great, if I wasn't so lazy, I'd go find it again. :lol:

[bluelady]

In total, I had 5 ultrasounds while pregnant with my son. The first was at my first prenatal appointment. Then, I had a Nuchal Translucency scan, which is not routine here. It is only offered in cases of AMA (which I was) or if the mother presents other risk factors. To me, it wasn't a matter of whether I would abort or not, but having all of the necessary information I could before birth. Then, I had my 20 week scan where it was determined that I had a very large ovarian cyst and a low-lying placenta. At 26 weeks I had another scan, which was sent to a specialist to determine whether the risk of leaving the cyst, and having it potentially twist while I was pregnant, was greater than the risk of having me undergo surgery pregnant (we decided to wait until after my son was born). My last scan was at 34 weeks to determine whether my placenta had moved or not, which would determine whether I could give birth vaginally or by c-section.

My son is 6 months old an too young for any diagnosis but I am unconcerned that my scans would cause autism. According to my sister, who works as a programming coordinator for kids with autism, the latest research shows that there is thought to be a genetic component as well as an environmental trigger. Now, the trigger could be anything (including vaccines and, I suppose, ultrasounds) but it will only trigger on those kids who are genetically predisposed to having autism. And, choosing to forgo one of those procedures (anti-vaxxers for example) won't prevent. Child from getting autism. Something else will trigger it on.

[VineHeart137]

Anyone else hate those 3D ultrasounds? I think they are creepy. During my regular ultrasound the lady briefly switched it to 3D. My kid looked like a creepy ghost or something.

Ha, I'm 34 weeks pregnant. I don't mind the 3d ultrasounds but my husband thinks they are creepy. I asked if he wanted to get them done for our baby and he looked at me like I had two heads lol.

[ClaraOswin]

In total, I had 5 ultrasounds while pregnant with my son. The first was at my first prenatal appointment. Then, I had a Nuchal Translucency scan, which is not routine here. It is only offered in cases of AMA (which I was) or if the mother presents other risk factors. To me, it wasn't a matter of whether I would abort or not, but having all of the necessary information I could before birth. Then, I had my 20 week scan where it was determined that I had a very large ovarian cyst and a low-lying placenta. At 26 weeks I had another scan, which was sent to a specialist to determine whether the risk of leaving the cyst, and having it potentially twist while I was pregnant, was greater than the risk of having me undergo surgery pregnant (we decided to wait until after my son was born). My last scan was at 34 weeks to determine whether my placenta had moved or not, which would determine whether I could give birth vaginally or by c-section.

My son is 6 months old an too young for any diagnosis but I am unconcerned that my scans would cause autism. According to my sister, who works as a programming coordinator for kids with autism, the latest research shows that there is thought to be a genetic component as well as an environmental trigger. Now, the trigger could be anything (including vaccines and, I suppose, ultrasounds) but it will only trigger on those kids who are genetically predisposed to having autism. And, choosing to forgo one of those procedures (anti-vaxxers for example) won't prevent. Child from getting autism. Something else will trigger it on.

I have always felt there has to be some genetic component to it just because it seems like often you see multiple kids in the same family have it. So it wouldn't surprise me at all.

[lascuba]

Speaking of the genetics of autism, here's a great blog post by a parent of an autistic child:

backfromnature.org/2015/03/i-gave-my-child-autism.html?m=1

[justbecause]

They misspelled Derick's name and "SPEAKER" could use an "S" at the end. SOTDRT? :lol:

The product of home schooling?

[ClaraOswin]

Speaking of the genetics of autism, here's a great blog post by a parent of an autistic child:

backfromnature.org/2015/03/i-gave-my-child-autism.html?m=1

Thank you for this. As someone with a toddler with some delays that I am trying to figure out...it was really nice.

[fuscia]

In total, I had 5 ultrasounds while pregnant with my son. The first was at my first prenatal appointment. Then, I had a Nuchal Translucency scan, which is not routine here. It is only offered in cases of AMA (which I was) or if the mother presents other risk factors. To me, it wasn't a matter of whether I would abort or not, but having all of the necessary information I could before birth. Then, I had my 20 week scan where it was determined that I had a very large ovarian cyst and a low-lying placenta. At 26 weeks I had another scan, which was sent to a specialist to determine whether the risk of leaving the cyst, and having it potentially twist while I was pregnant, was greater than the risk of having me undergo surgery pregnant (we decided to wait until after my son was born). My last scan was at 34 weeks to determine whether my placenta had moved or not, which would determine whether I could give birth vaginally or by c-section.

My son is 6 months old an too young for any diagnosis but I am unconcerned that my scans would cause autism. According to my sister, who works as a programming coordinator for kids with autism, the latest research shows that there is thought to be a genetic component as well as an environmental trigger. Now, the trigger could be anything (including vaccines and, I suppose, ultrasounds) but it will only trigger on those kids who are genetically predisposed to having autism. And, choosing to forgo one of those procedures (anti-vaxxers for example) won't prevent. Child from getting autism. Something else will trigger it on.

Yes, there is a genetic component in autism; however, there is NO link whatsoever to vaccines. The link was disproved many times. I hate that people keep perpetuating that myth because it causes people to not vaccinate. I have a younger child on the spectrum, she has Aspergers Syndrome, and I've done my research and keep up with the latest research. I can tell you as a mom that my daughter was born with autism. She has always had it.

What scares me is that IF one of the Duggars had a child with autism, they would blanket train which would be disastrous. The amount of children in the home would keep the child from having the interaction with the parent that is needed plus the amount of overstimulation would be very difficult for a child to handle.

[MalteseBaby]

Weighing in about the history of OB US as a nurse and mother who had one child 33 years ago.

I had 7-8 US during my pregnancy. First was around 9 or 10 weeks, when I had finally convinced my brand new OB-GYN practice that I had symptoms that merited a pregnancy test. RME. ( Home pregnancy tests were in their infancy and were still hugely unreliable at that particular time).

I had lap. surgery to drain an ovarian cyst 6-7 weeks previously, then we moved to a large city in FL from our home state. I had to find new GYN doctors to remove my 3-4 lap. sutures and after asking around at the hospital where we worked, I choose an OB-GYN practice with 6 MDs and 3 CNMs. Thus, it was a huge practice at that time, and they didn't know me, just had my GYN history.

The pregnancy test was positive. They did the first US and there was an empty yolk sac plus the single fetus with a heartbeat. This should have been a red flag but nope, it wasn't.

I had HG, as I was very tall and underweight and not used to eating much. I had to have IV fluids 3 or 4 times in the doctor's office. They did another US to confirm that there wasn't a twin pregnancy at 12 weeks because I was SO sick. ( The HG lasted the entire 9 months and this was when docs prescribed the antihistimine Docylamine, US brand name for pregnancy was Bendectine). Now, this is sold OTC as Unisom for sleep. I pretty much slept through my pregnancy, LOL.

Next US was around 16 weeks. I think they felt very guilty for not listening to me when I said I believed I was pregnant at my first two visits. They were checking fetal growth at this US because I was measuring large fundal height for gestational age. ( Ironic since they didn't even believe I was pregnant until I saw the 3rd doctor in the group- a female who was the one on call when I had my emergency C- section).

US at 24 weeks revealed gender, ( I cried and cried because it was a boy and not the girl I wanted so badly), they measured cranial size against long bone length to correlate normal values. Neural tube defects were visible on US back then. Neither of us showed any abnormalities but there was a big one they missed.

Last US at 36 weeks because they were already debating vag. birth vs. C section due to his estimated size. They still missed a big issue.

There was an extra lobe in the placenta, which was missed on every US. They let me go to 42 weeks gestation without spontaneous labor, and I walked around dilated 3 cm. for 2 weeks or more. Braxton Hicks never hurt, I just knew what it was as a nurse experienced in OB and laughed it off.

The extra lobe of the placenta ( not necessarily the one connected to my baby- it was never quite clearly explained post delivery and I was really not interested since I was recovering from a near- death experience) separated and I had an occult hemorrhage overnight. The next AM, the hemorrhaging was overt, and we called the OB on call and went to the large Level One trauma center with an attached NICU hospital. I chose the best hospital and the one with the best care in that part of FL for babies. I think I instinctively knew things would not go normally from the very beginning. I chose well. They were trying to decide whether to let me labor normally or do a C section as I was in active labor by that time, but they didn't see the huge pools of blood (no amniotic fluid) I had seen that AM before we drove to the hospital. Probably if we had waited on an ambulance, things would have gone differently.

The OB office was adjacent to the hospital and they had a clerk run and get all my chart, including the many USs. In hindsight, when they looked, they could see that the placenta or placentas were abnormally large.

In summary, I labored, I kept hemorrhaging with each contraction, my Hgb. and Hct. were very low and dropping, whereas the day before in their office they had been very high for the 3rd trimester. I was having very strong contractions which didn't hurt at all, but my baby was having decels. I was watching as if from the ceiling... I was in shock. I told them that I would sue if my child was born brain damaged because of their delay in proper treatment of a placental abruption with fetal HT decels. They did an emergency C section as soon as the doctors changed shifts from night shift call to AM duty. The female OB doctor I really liked came on duty and assessed the situation with me and my unborn child. She got the staff running and a C- section was done within 10 minutes. My son was a healthy 8 lbs., 3 oz., and his Apgars were 9 and 10.

I was on a ventilator and receiving blood transfusions for 12 hours or longer. Never could bring myself to risk another pregnancy, over which I have had deep regrets and grief, as I definitely wanted more than one child.

Point being that US was done in the mid 80's but the near- tragedy for both my son and me which would be picked up on US now illustrates that the accuracy was not great. Also, no trans. vag. US at that time. I do have the US prenatal photos of him at various stages, though, LOL.

[Elvis Presby]

I didn't have any ultrasounds with my 1st. With my second, I had 1 right around 20 weeks and quite a few the last 2 weeks (17 days late). I had at least 4 with my 3rd. My 3rd has Tetralogy of Fallot and it was not caught on any of the scans. Baby #4 was a big surprise and I had to see a perinatologist because of my age (36, 37 at delivery) and the previous child with ToF. Also, I had lots if problems during the first trimester that indicated a miscarriage was imminent. I must have had at least 20 scans with #4. #4 was awake and actively moving every time I had a scan. #4 has ADHD. No surprise.

[twinmama]

US at 24 weeks revealed gender, ( I cried and cried because it was a boy and not the girl I wanted so badly)

Ha, I found out I was having two boys at 17 weeks and was kinda down for the rest of the day bc I wasn't even having one girl! But then my husband said I could buy those cute baby leggings for boys too and I was all good. Love my boys!!! Can't imagine anything else. Hardly anyone talks about being sad to find out what sex they were having, I'm not ashamed.

[Shadoewolf]

I only had 2 US with my oldest, they weren't as common back then. But after an ectopic, needing the help of fertility specialist and when my autoimmune got diagnosed I had them almost once a month with my middle and youngest to monitor for IUGR (growth restriction). We had one at 5.5 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks to confirm viability, 20 weeks for anatomy and then once a month for growth. We did two elective 3D sessions with the youngest.

It depends on the doctor and often what your insurance will cover. A lot of Dr offices I've worked in will use whatever tests they think they can get away with billing for. Not to say all do but I've seen it happen. But healthcare is covering a lot less nowadays too, or with a more significant co-pay.

[mollysmom]

The dildo cam!

I just recently had a transvaginal ultrasound & almost started giggling because it really did look like a dildo & they even put a condom on it! Lol that cracked me up!!

[Seven]

As an OB nurse in a rural area I get so annoyed by women who pat themselves on the back saying idiocies such as "I didn't do any prenatal testing because I would never abort." There are so many times I have seen babies have to be Life Flighted away within hours of birth and even passing away because of this mentality. Knowing that your child has an issue helps us SAVE their lives. It has nothing to do with your thoughts on abortion.

[FloraKitty35]

As an OB nurse in a rural area I get so annoyed by women who pat themselves on the back saying idiocies such as "I didn't do any prenatal testing because I would never abort." There are so many times I have seen babies have to be Life Flighted away within hours of birth and even passing away because of this mentality. Knowing that your child has an issue helps us SAVE their lives. It has nothing to do with your thoughts on abortion.

Good point, it's a woman's business whether or not to proceed with a pregnancy. I would personally want prenatal testing, because (to me) it's better to be prepared in case something isn't right.

[MalteseBaby]

Ha, I found out I was having two boys at 17 weeks and was kinda down for the rest of the day bc I wasn't even having one girl! But then my husband said I could buy those cute baby leggings for boys too and I was all good. Love my boys!!! Can't imagine anything else. Hardly anyone talks about being sad to find out what sex they were having, I'm not ashamed.

I learned a long time ago to own my emotions without feeling guilt or shame. I still want a girl and I still don't feel guilty about it, just very sad because I won't ever be a mother to a daughter.

LOL, that's funny about " baby leggings for boys". I thought I was the only one. My son was walking in his little bubble suits and Oshkosh shortalls and his tiny baby legs were uncovered. So, I put this special type of finely knit " leg warmers" on him that had padding in the knees. I had to order them from a baby couture house in Salzburg. He was so young to be mobile- I would have put a helmet on his head if I could have gotten away with it. Fun times!! :)

I'm so glad your preemie twins are your joy. I know you and they went through a lot to be together.

[hilee]

As an OB nurse in a rural area I get so annoyed by women who pat themselves on the back saying idiocies such as "I didn't do any prenatal testing because I would never abort." There are so many times I have seen babies have to be Life Flighted away within hours of birth and even passing away because of this mentality. Knowing that your child has an issue helps us SAVE their lives. It has nothing to do with your thoughts on abortion.

My son was lucky, but we were able to tell from our first trimester screen that I had extremely low PAPPA, which can indicate placental issues (preterm labor, pre-eclampsia, growth restriction, etc) I ended up with preterm labor and my son had severe IUGR born at 34 weeks 2 lbs 15 oz. Because they were monitoring me for these placenta issues my fluid level being less than 3 was caught and I was delivered. My placenta abrupted on the table during my csection. I am forever grateful for the testing and the care I received.

After working in perinatal I'm a huge proponent of testing, finding out at the "gender scan" that your baby is incapatible with life is something horrible for parents to hear. Even worse is when it's subtle and is missed until birth and you are right, it does result in medical emergencies.

[CaptainFunderpants]

As an OB nurse in a rural area I get so annoyed by women who pat themselves on the back saying idiocies such as "I didn't do any prenatal testing because I would never abort." There are so many times I have seen babies have to be Life Flighted away within hours of birth and even passing away because of this mentality. Knowing that your child has an issue helps us SAVE their lives. It has nothing to do with your thoughts on abortion.

This is really spiteful, but I feel like in those situations insurance shouldn't pay beyond normal L&D costs. They created an emergency situation that could have been prevented, using hundreds of thousands of dollars of care that could have gone to someone that didn't bring it on themselves.

[RosyDaisy]

I wonder if any media will cover their speech at the ALIVE festival. It would be interesting to see how they present their current situation to the public.

I would count on it. It may not be a major news outlet, but I'm quite sure the tabloids will send somebody in.

[calimojo]

People mag will be there.

THey will be greeted warmly at the festival because they are among their own kind. It will just spur them on to think they have been the victims of the evil media.

US in pregnancy can be an important way to detect fetal abnormalities and can allow the care delivery team the opportunity to have emergency equipment on hand or plan for delivery at a tertiary care center where the baby can be stabilized and taken directly to surgery. Some conditions that would have resulted in death or prolonged suffering for the baby can be treated and result in successful outcomes.

An US solely to determine the sex of the baby is unnecessary. So for the fundies that only do it for this reason, they are the ones who are exposing their child to unnecessary testing. What should happen instead is you have a screening US for other issues, and if the baby is cooperating that day, you might get to learn the sex. But it seems like some people have their heads up their asses and won't do an US for screening or diagnostic purposes, but will do on just to find out the sex, and if the US tech just happens to notice something else is going on, then that was an act of God at that point.

I have known women who will have 2 or 3 US to find out the sex of the baby, because sometimes those babies will be in positions where it is hard to see the genitalia. This was especially true before the newer US technology which allows for a clearer picture.

In my day, you had the US for medical reasons, and if you happened to find out the sex, that was a fun bonus.