The third trimester has taken place in Qatar. It has been nice how the pregnancy was broken down into chunks: 3 months pregnant and working in Qatar, 3 months home having fun in the states, 3 months pregnant and back at work in Qatar. Then I will have about 3 months off at home, and a bit more than 3 months of work to return to. Nice little unintentional pattern of threes.
Most of the third trimester involved a busy school and work life. However, we did get one fun trip in. We took a weekend trip to Jordan, which was more fun than I anticipated. At 30 weeks, I had to obtain a doctor's note for the airline, but in the end, no one ever asked for it. We did a lot of driving (about 14 hours I believe) in Jordan, but saw some incredible sights and travelled with a hilarious group that provided lots of laughs. We spent a day at a fancy hotel spa overlooking the Dead Sea so it turned out to be both a relaxing and adventurous trip.
Also in the third trimester, I met my doctor! She had been on leave when I first found Doha Clinic, so I had been eagerly awaiting her return. I found her by emailing friends of friends who had delivered in Doha. She came highly recommended, as did Doha Clinic. I am happy to say I was not disappointed. She is kind, friendly, and so easy to talk to. I immediately noticed the lack of a language barrier. I could understand her perfectly, and she made and received jokes and sarcasm. Great English was something I never specifically set out looking for in a doctor here, or expected, but man, it was sure relieving to find. She is half American and half Egyptian. The first time I met her I had a number of questions, and she answered them and then gave me homework: make my birth plan. Again, shocking and completely unexpected that Doha Clinic asks for birth plans, and not only accepts them, they follow them! I have been reassured of this recently by other people I know who delivered there and had great experiences.
As the weeks passed, I certainly felt myself slowing down at work. I used to be able to get around pretty quickly, but had to start allowing myself more time to get places. Now, at 39 weeks, I'm sure it is quite the sight watching me waddle up and down the stairs. The helpers look at me and laugh sweetly every time I pass. I get the feeling people empathize with me and my size- ha. At least, the women who have been through it before.
All was well until mid- November when I got a little cold. I certainly didn't think much of it until a week passed and then another. It was obnoxious: snot dripping constantly, the inability to breathe through my nose, which made it difficult to sleep. Then about two weeks into that I get a call from Rachael that Jake threw out his back while playing soccer. He hardly moved for the next five days, which were a bit rough, you can imagine. I was 34 weeks pregnant and he was frustrated that he was stuck on his back in bed all day every day. Fortunately, Rachael's parents are in town from Oregon and they were incredibly helpful. I left Jake with them for a few days so they could take care of him while I was at work all day. He missed a week of work and by then was able to walk albeit, awkwardly. Since then he hasn't been able to lift weights or work out, but has been doing small exercises to build his core.
Right about the time Jake's back began improving, my cold got worse. It was now a sinus infection, as far as I could tell. I have had them before and am pretty certain it was as I had pain in my left eye, left tooth, left forehead. Bending over or lowering my head at all was extremely painful because of the pressure. The snot was now green and it was going on four weeks. That is when I decided to stay home on a Thursday and take a long weekend to rest. By the end of the school day, when Jake returned home, I was much worse. Now I was suffering from hot and cold sweats, which I have not experienced many times in my life. It was terrible. I would wake up drenched completely. Then be shivering so bad I couldn't get warm. We kept an eye on my temperature and by the time it was too high, we headed in to the hospital. I was prescribed antibiotics but kept getting worse. The next morning, just a few hours after returning to the hospital, we went back in. The baby's heartbeat was too high, so they kept me there and monitored me, while filling me with liquids, until it subsided. At this point my doctor realized it wasn't a bacterial infection since I wasn't responding to the antibiotics. She referred me to the government hospital, Hamad Women's Clinic, where they could run tests to see if I had a viral infection.
After a less than hospitable visit to Hamad and about four hours of being in the "isolation" room, mostly left alone, I was sent home with a new round of drugs. They confirmed that I definitely had a viral infection, so we stopped all antibiotics and I started on Tamiflu. At this point my temperature had dropped too low. It was too high or too low for a number of days, which was frightening, mostly because of baby Curtis inside. Jake was cautious as usual and forced me to the hospital a number of times, when I would have much rather stayed home in my miserable state, but at least in my bed.
I stayed home from work that entire next week. That was difficult. Home alone, without human interaction or exposure to the outside world, is not for me. Why not go outside? The air quality is so crappy that filling my lungs with dust would have probably done more harm than good. At one point when I was being monitored in the hospital, we listened to a woman in the next room deliver her baby. That was reassuring...not! As I sat there being monitored, unable to breathe through my nose and suffering from a high fever, I realized I was completely unfit to deliver a baby at that point. This scared me enough to give in to Jake and my doctor's requests that I stay home all week. My body was weak, and my immune system was shot from all the antibiotics. Baby was taking everything in me, and luckily, seemed healthy.
I talked to Alise- my doula from afar- multiple times throughout, as she kept checking in on me. She recommended probiotics and healthy foods: rebuilding my immune system. Rachael offered to grocery shop for me and deliver, while Sue Ellen (Rachael's mom) came over and set up my nursery and guest room with me. As miserable as I was, it sure felt nice to have the love and support of these people. I would have been in a pretty sad place without it. Rachael found probiotics, kefir, kimchi, etc. I cut back on breads and sugars and replaced them with fruits and veggies and felt a bit better every day. I still had the congestion (now only on one side), but the doctors said that would probably stick around until I delivered. Apparently many women struggle with congestion throughout pregnancy.
Everyone thought I was going to be out from work until I delivered, and Jake and I tried to get as prepared as possible to have a baby at any point. Obviously we were hoping to buy some time to build up my health and his back, and luckily we were able to. As of now, I am halfway through my 39th week. My due date is this Monday. I have one more day of work remaining in 2016, and I am happy that I was able to return two weeks ago. Staff and coworkers were supportive and helpful, allowing me to come to work, without spending too much time in the classrooms around the kids and germs. We only get 14 sick days per year, and I had already used 7, so I really wanted to be back at work. I am certain I will need some of those in the spring, when I have a new baby.
Our health drama didn't end there though...this week as Jake was getting ready for work, putting his socks on to be specific, he pulled his back again. He spent about 12 hours in the bed, where it happened, trying to not to move in fear of making it worse. He felt as though he was back to square one, starting over with all rehabilitation. He is scared of being unable to move when I go into labor, so he is taking every precaution possible. I must say I was not thrilled about emptying his pee buckets or bringing him food and heat packs. Although when I am feeling bad about it, I quickly remind myself that he feels much worse about it. Obviously he wants to be healthy and helpful as I could go into labor at any point. He missed work yesterday and today, but stayed at Rachael and Alex's today so Gordy and Sue Ellen can help him out. They've become accustomed to assisting us and our health needs these last 2 months. Too bad they are off to Thailand tomorrow...time to get better! ;)
I am happy to report though, that my congestion has cleared up and I am feeling pretty darn good. A bit heavier than usual...but my head has cleared up and I am able to sleep well. Now we just have to get Jake up and moving.
Baby Curtis could be here any day! Five days until due date...six days until my mom arrives...twelve days until 41 weeks (which they won't let me go past)...and thirteen days until Lacey arrives! By then, we should definitely have a little baby in our arms!
 |
| 34 Weeks in the desert |
 |
| Had to get a shot in the local get up |
 |
| Coming soon! |
 |
| 30 Weeks at Petra in Jordan |
 |
| 30 Weeks in Wadi Rum in Jordan |
After a less than hospitable visit to Hamad and about four hours of being in the "isolation" room, mostly left alone, I was sent home with a new round of drugs. They confirmed that I definitely had a viral infection, so we stopped all antibiotics and I started on Tamiflu. At this point my temperature had dropped too low. It was too high or too low for a number of days, which was frightening, mostly because of baby Curtis inside. Jake was cautious as usual and forced me to the hospital a number of times, when I would have much rather stayed home in my miserable state, but at least in my bed.
I stayed home from work that entire next week. That was difficult. Home alone, without human interaction or exposure to the outside world, is not for me. Why not go outside? The air quality is so crappy that filling my lungs with dust would have probably done more harm than good. At one point when I was being monitored in the hospital, we listened to a woman in the next room deliver her baby. That was reassuring...not! As I sat there being monitored, unable to breathe through my nose and suffering from a high fever, I realized I was completely unfit to deliver a baby at that point. This scared me enough to give in to Jake and my doctor's requests that I stay home all week. My body was weak, and my immune system was shot from all the antibiotics. Baby was taking everything in me, and luckily, seemed healthy.
I talked to Alise- my doula from afar- multiple times throughout, as she kept checking in on me. She recommended probiotics and healthy foods: rebuilding my immune system. Rachael offered to grocery shop for me and deliver, while Sue Ellen (Rachael's mom) came over and set up my nursery and guest room with me. As miserable as I was, it sure felt nice to have the love and support of these people. I would have been in a pretty sad place without it. Rachael found probiotics, kefir, kimchi, etc. I cut back on breads and sugars and replaced them with fruits and veggies and felt a bit better every day. I still had the congestion (now only on one side), but the doctors said that would probably stick around until I delivered. Apparently many women struggle with congestion throughout pregnancy.
Everyone thought I was going to be out from work until I delivered, and Jake and I tried to get as prepared as possible to have a baby at any point. Obviously we were hoping to buy some time to build up my health and his back, and luckily we were able to. As of now, I am halfway through my 39th week. My due date is this Monday. I have one more day of work remaining in 2016, and I am happy that I was able to return two weeks ago. Staff and coworkers were supportive and helpful, allowing me to come to work, without spending too much time in the classrooms around the kids and germs. We only get 14 sick days per year, and I had already used 7, so I really wanted to be back at work. I am certain I will need some of those in the spring, when I have a new baby.
Our health drama didn't end there though...this week as Jake was getting ready for work, putting his socks on to be specific, he pulled his back again. He spent about 12 hours in the bed, where it happened, trying to not to move in fear of making it worse. He felt as though he was back to square one, starting over with all rehabilitation. He is scared of being unable to move when I go into labor, so he is taking every precaution possible. I must say I was not thrilled about emptying his pee buckets or bringing him food and heat packs. Although when I am feeling bad about it, I quickly remind myself that he feels much worse about it. Obviously he wants to be healthy and helpful as I could go into labor at any point. He missed work yesterday and today, but stayed at Rachael and Alex's today so Gordy and Sue Ellen can help him out. They've become accustomed to assisting us and our health needs these last 2 months. Too bad they are off to Thailand tomorrow...time to get better! ;)
I am happy to report though, that my congestion has cleared up and I am feeling pretty darn good. A bit heavier than usual...but my head has cleared up and I am able to sleep well. Now we just have to get Jake up and moving.
Baby Curtis could be here any day! Five days until due date...six days until my mom arrives...twelve days until 41 weeks (which they won't let me go past)...and thirteen days until Lacey arrives! By then, we should definitely have a little baby in our arms!
Comments
Post a Comment