Tag Archives: Dr. Harry Karamitsos

30 Week Scan – The 411

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Today, I had an OB appointment as well as a 30 week scan. I met with Dr. Karamitsos and he listened to the baby’s heartbeat, which was at a rate of 145.  He measured my tummy and its 34 cm.  We reviewed my blood work from last appointment and discussed my anesthesia questions regarding my cesarean.  We are doing a spinal unless they feel it will take two hours or more in which case they will administer and epidural.  I got my TDAP vaccine today. My mom got hers on Tuesday when she had a preoperative appointment.

After my first appointment, which ended early, my mom and I walked around the corner to Rockefeller Plaza and sat out for an hour before having the Uber pick us up to head to Lenox Hill Hospital Black Hall for my sonogram.

My baby girl now weighs a few ounces shy of 3 pounds.  They anticipate her birth weight to go to 7 to 7.5 pounds.  I honestly think she will be between 5-6 pounds.  I am hoping she stays small.  No one wants a big ole fat baby lol.   My niece was only 5.9 pounds and was sooo tiny !  All the other kids were 7-8 pounds and they were pretty decent size.

I had to do another vaginal exam today and my placenta is still low, though it moved up some.  I HATE doing the transvaginal sonograms.  I have a little cramping afterwards and it kinda hurts.

My amniotic fluid is normal and all the measurements are normal.  I have to come back in three to four weeks for another placenta check and a biophysical exam.

26 Week OB Appointment and Scan – The 411

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Yesterday, I had my 26 week OB appointment with Dr. Karamitsos.   I have gained 4 pounds this pregnancy and the baby is doing incredible.  She is very active and her heartbeat is strong, 165 bpm.   Dr. K put in a script for Vitapearl with DHA prenatals, ordered a CBC panel, vitamin/ protein level check, and tsh in the lab.  While I went to the lab, Dr. K ordered a copy of my last sonogram record so that he could double check to make sure everything was good.  I went downstairs to the lab, got my blood work and requested to see my Internist, Dr. Witt to say hello when done.  Dr. Witt sent for me and when he saw me, gave me huge hug.  I haven’t seen him this year and will not see him for my annual until September.  I went back upstairs and waited for Dr. K and he came out and told me everything is good and if I have any problems, I can just walk in to see him.  Next visit, I get my whooping cough vaccine and I have to now see him every two weeks until the end of August and then I have to come weekly.
This morning at 8 am, I had my sonogram for 26 weeks. I was disappointed when found out that we are doing a vaginal and a normal tummy sono.

The baby was very active during the sonogram, as I kept saying, she is sideways across my tummy instead of up and down like she was…  The sonogram shows that she weighs 1.12 pounds and she has a strong heartbeat. My amniotic fluid level is great and measurements were taken of the baby’s head and limbs.  During the transvaginal ultrasound, which HURT, it shows that my placenta previa is still there.   Hopefully it will move up, but honestly, it does not matter since I am having a scheduled cesarean.

After leaving my appointment, I stopped by the office for my health insurance company and dropped off a letter they needed with my estimated due date so that they could add the baby to my insurance plan.

Seventeen Weeks and Counting ! – The 411

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BABY STATS:

How your baby’s growing

My baby’s skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. The baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she’s around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

How Mommy’s life’s changing

Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

How Far Along?

Seventeen Weeks Zero Days

How Big Is The Little One?

My baby is the size of a Turnip !  She should weigh about 5 ounces.

Total Weight Gain / Loss?

I have lost two pounds

Maternity Clothes?

I am still wearing my normal clothing, which are still too big.  I will be glad when I pop so that I can rock my maternity jeans I bought months ago.

Sleep?

I still have off and on insomnia.   It is currently 4 am and I am up writing this blog post.

Best Moment of the Week?

Last week, I vacationed in Las Vegas with my mom and then headed to New York this week.  On Monday, I had my 16 week anatomy scan and all was well.   I got to see my little one and boy has she grown !  Her legs and arms are so long and she has the cutest long fingers.  On Tuesday, I got to tour the hospital where I will be delivering my baby girl. It was a relief to be able to envision everything.  On Wednesday, I had my monthly OB appointment with Dr. Karamitsos and everything is going well.  He had to move my delivery date back three days because the date I wanted conflicts with the days he is in the hospital and I refuse to deliver with any other doctor.   So instead of a Friday, I will deliver on a Monday. I guess the exciting part of my week was meeting Fantasia Barrino and her band in the lobby of my hotel, as they were staying there this week too.

Symptoms?

I still have no appetite and have to eat by force every four hours.  I re-injured my achilles tendonitis yesterday as I started up the stairs.  My right heel popped and then I felt this burn.  I have my foot wrapped in ACE bandage and if it doesn’t feel any better by Sunday, I am going to the emergency room at the hospital by my mom’s old residence and let them treat it.  Hopefully they can inject it with cortisone, if it is not detrimental to my baby.  I can not imagine having to deal with heel pain while gaining weight with this pregnancy over the next five months.  It took over six months for my heels to heal when this happened over the summer.

I have an increased sense of urinary urgency.  My placenta is low lying and my baby likes to lie at the bottom of my uterus and doesn’t see a need to move up.  Although my placenta has moved up quite a bit since the last scan, the doctors are not worried and feel as the uterus rises, the issue will hopefully resolve itself.

Food Cravings?

I have no appetite.  I have no real cravings this week….  The only dish I have given thought to is swiss steak, so I will get my mom to make some maybe next week when I can fathom eating steak.

Food Aversions?

Salty foods and sugary treats.

Gender?

Baby girl who still has no name !  Any suggestions?

Labor Signs?

None…

What I Miss?

The occasional glass of wine

What I Am Looking Forward To?

Holding my daughter and trying on all these outfits and little tees I have bought her.  I look forward to seeing her in her first church outfit I bought her from Gymboree.
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Bump?

Still no real bump… just a pouch.   I am 4.5 months pregnant and still no real bump.  Maybe I will not end up looking like Orca or Shamu !  🙂
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Navel In/Out?

In

Baby Purchases?

I ordered five or six onesie/ legging sets from Carters since they were 70% off.  I only bought NB size.   I do not want to purchase a bunch of clothing that she will quickly outgrown and not get a change to wear, so I bought gowns, tees, and onesies.  I am avoiding any clothing with snaps.  It is too much work !

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Suction D & C – The 411

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Suction D & C - The 411

I went in to see my OB, Dr. Karamitsos today. He was heartbroken about my miscarriage, as he has been on my journey to TTC for almost two years now.

We scheduled my D&C at Lenox Hill Hospital, the same hospital I was to give birth at, for Monday.

I am just praying that I do not start to have a natural miscarriage before Monday. I really want to do this at the hospital and skip all the natural experience ! I will anxiously await the results of the PGD done on the fetus. Hopefully I will have some answers and not more questions.

My OB did run a battery of blood tests to check for other abnormalities and also to make sure I am not insulin resistant. A few tests were not done previously, as there was no need for it. Now we are double checking autoimmune issues and glucose, just to be on the safe side before I start stimming again.