My mom said she was a major worrier until the day my sister got her driver’s license, at which point, given the enormity of things to worry about, she gave up. Apparently that’s when my father took over as an incessant worrier, though not limited to the kids. So this worrying problem seems to be inherited. Or I guess a learned behavior. Hey, we are NY Jews– we’re supposed to be neurotic.
So I was talking to my sister on Sunday night and mentioned the numb belly. She freaked out and said she’d never heard of that, so I ended up speaking with the doctor on call, who said to come in the next day. Dr. Nice was on vacation, so I had the head of the practice, who looked at my belly (nothing to see) and then, when I mentioned the itchiness, suggested a test for cholestasis of pregnancy. I swear! I didn’t even bring it up! Next thing I knew, I was having blood drawn, at which point I learned that the results would not be in until Friday or Monday. But. Dr. Google says that because the levels of bile (which is what causes the problem in the first place) can triple in 24 hours and the tests take so damn long, they’re kind of useless. Dr. Google recommends delivery at 36 or 37 weeks to prevent stillbirth. I am 36 weeks today.
Symptoms I have that could just be normal symptoms of pregnancy (I had to go to multiple sites to accumulate all of these symptoms, including here, here, and here):
- Itchiness: It seems like it’s more characteristic to start on the hands and feet, though, and spreads all over, while mine is pretty well limited to the belly. Some sites say it starts at night, which is certainly when mine is worst. I could have a more mild case or early stages, I suppose.
- Fatigue: Oh man, the fatigue. Just walking up five steps can leave me short of breath, my heart thumping, my muscles ready to give out. Sometimes I have to lie down after a shower.
- Loss of appetite: Yes, this started this weekend. It’s not that I’m never hungry, just less often than usual. Like I was starving for lunch at 1:00 on Sunday but then it didn’t occur to me to eat again until 7:30, at which point I only did it to feel the kid move. I’ve lost a couple of pounds over the past couple of days. Or it could just be my not terribly accurate scale.
- Nausea: Oh, the nausea. That started, I think, yesterday. I know last night was very bad. And this morning.
- Insomnia: But that could just be from the nausea or general discomfort.
I’m nervous. I want this baby out now, where I can see him! Must have Discussion with Dr. Nice at regular appointment tomorrow. Or possibly this afternoon when he’s out of surgery. Are we almost there yet?
