It's Always Something

So, about a month ago, I got a call from Parker's preschool, letting me know that one of the kids there had Fifth Disease or Parvovirus B19.  This is also know as the "slapped cheek" virus.  It is generally a pretty harmless disease that children get.  It usually begins with a low grade fever and mild cold symptoms, followed by a rash on their face, that may spread down their arms and legs.  By the time the rash shows up, you are no longer contagious and you probably didn't realize your child even had the disease before the rash shows up.  Anyways, it usually isn't a big deal to get it, unless you are pregnant.  So, lucky me, I had to go get a blood test to see if I had immunity to it or if I had recently been infected or neither.  A week later I got my results back, I hadn't been infected, but they wanted me to repeat the blood test a couple weeks later when I came in for my regular scheduled Dr's appointment.  I thought I was in the clear, my test was negative and Parker didn't seem to be showing any signs of the disease and neither did I.  Or if I was showing signs, I just assumed it was pregnancy related.  I did have some joint pain in my hands (which can be a sign in adults), but I assumed I was showing signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, which was something I developed at the end of my pregnancy with Parker.  By the way the carpal tunnel went away after Parker was born.  And I did have a couple days when I was extra tired, but again I was just thought it was because I was pregnant.

I was pretty surprised when my Dr called me a few days after my appointment and told me that I had been infected and that I would need to go in for weekly ultrasounds (with the high risk OB Dr.) until the baby was born.  When someone gets infected who is pregnant, there is a small chance there could be problems with the baby.  The chances of problems decrease after 20 weeks.  During the ultrasounds they are looking for excessive amniotic fluid, if the placenta looks larger than it should or swollen and the baby's blood flow to check for signs of anemia.

So far I've had two ultrasounds and they have both looked good.  I will start seeing the High Risk OB Dr next week.  He's been on vacation, that's why I haven't seen him yet.  I'm hoping he will tell me he won't have to see me every week.  Weekly ultrasounds sound very expensive.  We do have insurance, but it doesn't cover everything.  The number one priority is the baby and making sure he is healthy.  On the plus side, I will get a little sneak peak at the little guy every week.

If you have kids and are planning on having more, I recommend exposing yourself to the disease (if you get the opportunity) before getting pregnant.  Once a person has been infected they generally develop an immunity and won't become infected again.

My little alien baby
A face only a mother could love
Eyes, nose and mouth
(I wish the ultrasound tech would have given me a cute profile picture)

Now, for some good news...I had my glucose screening at my last Dr's appointment to check for gestational diabetes and I passed that.  Those sugary drinks you have to drink before getting your blood drawn are gross!  One less thing to worry about.

11 more weeks and 1 day to go!  But who's counting :)

Cheers to healthy babies!

Happy Champagne Thursday!

More information about Fifth Disease during pregnancy can be found here.