- Take a taxi from my apartment to the train station. 5 minutes, $2.00
- Take the train to Daegu. 30-40 minutes, $4.00
- Take another taxi to the Hospital 10-15 minutes, $7.00
- Wait 0-30 minutes depending on how busy the office is...
- See doctor for 10 minutes $30.00
- Take another taxi back to the train station 10-15 minutes $7.00
- Take the train to Yeongcheon 30-40 minutes, $4.00
- Take another taxi back to my apartment. 5 minutes $2.00
I do this once a week. This is turning into a very expensive, albeit worth every penny experience.
However, one must always find something positive, right? So, my weekly treat to myself is going to Starbucks, since we don't have one in my city, and sitting down to a Chai Tea Latte and a bagel.
Thankfully, the news given to me at my appointments has been getting better and better week after week. While there is still room for improvement, i.e. my amniotic fluid levels are still low, baby girl is continuing to prove just how much like me she is going to be. Meaning, the best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can't, I shouldn't, or it's impossible. Meaning, Darius and I will have our hands full. She has been growing every week, and she is now on target for her weight, head and abdomen measurements. Her little legs, they measure the femur bone, are still 2 weeks behind. However, seeing as how I don't even reach the 5 foot mark, and my older sister is 4'8'', I think her short little legs just might be her genetics.
For those of you reading this because you have stumbled upon my blog because you too are experiencing low amniotic fluid levels, read on. Everyone else can skip this part. I believe that a person's medical care is just as much the patient's responsibility as it is the doctor's. So, after doing a lot of research on the Internet, I came up with my own method for doing what I can to improve my amniotic fluid levels and keep baby happy. This is what I did. First, I am never without a glass of water in my hands. I am constantly drinking all day and all night until I go to bed. I read that you should also drink at least one sports drink a day. I either drink a Gatorade, a Vitamin Water, or the dreaded Coconut water. The coconut water has the least amount of calories, but it is one of the worst tasting liquids ever created. I have almost completely sworn off all coffee drinks, even the decaf ones. This is because coffee is a diuretic. I have had to quit exercising completely, per doctor's orders. I do still work full time, but I stand and walk only when absolutely necessary. I also take it easy when I am at home. If it's not necessary, I don't do it. Lots of liquids, lots of rest, and I have also changed my diet. I have been trying to eat a little here and a little there throughout the day. It takes an hour for the nutrients you eat to reach your baby, so I try to be mindful of that and eat often. I have also let go of my strict eating regimen and am eating some foods with a higher fat content, more carbs than I normally would allow myself to consume, and protein with EVERY meal. I don't know if any of this has actually helped, or it's purely coincidental. However, I'm not willing to test it.
So, thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. However, please don't let up! The doctor says as long as she is continuing to grow as she should, she can stay put. However, if room is getting scarce in there, we will be seeing baby girl much sooner than we thought. Let's pray she stays put until October!
Next week will be our second Level II ultrasound, which is just a much more detailed viewing done by a specialist. I saw this doctor during my 12th week, and I am not a fan of his. However, beggars can't be choosers when your limited to doctors who can also speak English. The last time I saw him, his news and his bedside manner were both terrible. So let us pray that he is both in a better mood and he has better news.
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