22 weeks

I thought this post was going to be live but I got spoiled with all the posts being scheduled ahead and grew lax on my blog. Mostly it's actually because of pictures- I haven't been uploading them at all to put on the blog. And I haven't been taking as many pictures in general; just busy.

I got the thyroid results back. I am within limits. Barely, but I am. I have to say though that at this point I am extremely ticked off. The limits that were listed for the three trimesters were different than the limits they held me to for the 1st trimester reading that I "failed" by a small margin and the specialist said I was fine. I'm just going to use numbers to illustrate.

TSH level at 11 weeks (first trimester): 2.591
TSH level at 21 weeks (second trimester): 2.72 

At the appointment to discuss my first TSH level she told me in the first trimester that the level has to be below 2.5, so I had to go to a specialist. (Remember she also said my level was 25.91 and the maximum was 25, so I was flipping out because 25 is very, very, very bad. So that was a big mistake there and one she later fixed in her notes.) In preparation for this 2nd blood draw I tried to find what they were looking at online, because I wanted to see what was going to be okay. The range REALLY varies based on who you're talking to. I finally figured it was probably required to be less than 3 in the 2nd trimester; that was what I could find with a 2.5 maximum in the first trimester.

This is what the midwife center listed as acceptable levels with the return of the 2nd blood work:
First trimester 0.26 to 2.66
Second trimester 0.55 to 2.73
Third trimester 0.43 to 2.91

Take a look at that for just a minute. Based on those numbers, my TSH level  at 11 weeks was within acceptable limits. I did not need that second blood draw. Between the back and forth between myself and the midwife center, the midwife center not listening to a specialist in the field (in fact insisting the specialist was not taking into account the fact that I was pregnant when she and I had discussed it), I am pretty fed up right now. This is not a standard test for them to do. It was done in my opinion on the whim of someone there. A specialist said I was fine. They aren't using consistent acceptable limits. I don't understand and this just goes against the grain of the way I operate; very factual based.

Sorry for the tirade but I just had to get that out. I do have two other things to say though just to show I can be reasonable. ;) I am a bit concerned that my level is even closer to the limit. And from all the extensive reading and research I've done, most pregnant women do have a level that's 1.XX. So... it does seem to me that my TSH level is somewhat higher than it should be so it does make me wonder if in general (as in even non-pregnancy possibly) I might have a slight problem. This blood test they took additional measurements though and everything else came out fine and well within normal limits. I'm no doctor. But again I'm going to go with the specialist who said that I'm perfectly fine with no risk factors. But this might be something I kinda keep an eye on myself just in the future even though I hate the blood draws. And keep an eye on, I mean watch symptoms. I might even be tempted if I'm having blood drawn for a different reason to ask them to check TSH levels at the same time.

End my tirade and onto the weekly post.

How many weeks: 22 (11/18/14)

Size of baby: A papaya and measures 20 cm or 7.9 inches. (This is crown to rump, not head to toe.) The baby also weighs 425-500 grams or 15 ounces - 1.1 pounds. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Up 3 pounds overall. I am up 2.5 pounds since last week.

Maternity Clothes: I am still in my "bigger" clothes and they are getting tight. I don't think it will be much longer in non-maternity clothes. And I can tell myself personally that I am bigger. 

Gender: Boy

Movement: I feel movement quite frequently although I think most of the time it's not strong enough yet that Dave would feel it by putting his hand on my stomach.

Sleep: I don't know what's going on- I keep waking up in the middle of the night and then it takes a long time to fall back asleep. I'm tired and even as it is I have been getting less than 8 hours of sleep a night, which isn't really good but the way it's going with how early I get up for work. (Less than 8 hours doesn't account for waking up in the middle of the night, so I'm actually getting less than even that.)

What I miss: Not really anything. I do have to say, this time I'm not being as cautious in avoiding some things I did with Neil. (Well and more with the 2 miscarriages. Part of that is just not being quite so paranoid and part of it is knowing I did everything for the first 2 pregnancies and it didn't make a difference.)

Cravings: Not really anything.

Aversions: Nothing.

Symptoms: I'm just pretty tired at this point in general and my growing belly also proves I'm pregnant haha.

Best moment this week: I didn't really get a chance to fill this out at 22 weeks so I'm catching up at 23 weeks. Things have been rough, non-pregnancy wise and for things I'm not going to publicly post about. I love the weekends and picking Neil up at daycare every day.

Looking forward to: Thanksgiving and having some time off work

Same this time: Baby movement and the baby seeming to respond to me! As far as if I touch or something. 

Different from last time: Last time I thought I popped during this week. That hasn't quite happened yet.