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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

NuMom2b Study Visit One

I wasn't going to talk much about my participation in this study.  However, I looked at my stats and found that there have been a lot of people that have found my blog by searching for the NuMom2b study.  A quick search myself led me to the conclusion that there really isn't much information out there about this study.  I'm hoping that by writing about it, it will give others more information and help them make the decision on whether or not to join.

So I went to my first study visit last night.  They had already sent me a whole bunch of paperwork to fill out and bring in to my first visit.  I had to fill out a consent form, a couple of authorizations for them to get my delivery records, a W-9 (because they are paying me $50), a questionnaire about my eating habits before I got pregnant (really long, reminded me of the SAT/ACT in high school), and a page asking me questions about my emotional state.  It was a lot of paperwork! 

So I got to the study, turned in my paperwork, and was taken back to an exam room.  The first thing that happened was that I received my ultrasound.  I got to see Bubbles again!  And Bubbles now has arm and leg blobs!  It was pretty awesome to see, and I got to hear the heartbeat. 

After the ultrasound I had to provide samples of blood, urine and a swab up my hoo haa.  Not to bad actually.  After that I was supposed to have an internal exam (ie, with a speculum), but as I came out of the bathroom, I was cornered by three ladies who had concerned looks on their faces.

Why?  Well because they thought they'd seen two yolk sacks on the ultrasound.  I'm pretty sure my heart stopped.  So I had to have an internal ultrasound to find out if there were twins, because if there were twins, I couldn't be in the study.  But by having the internal ultrasound, it would mess up something about the internal exam, and they wouldn't be able to do it that night.  I of course chose to have the internal ultrasound (hello, better pictures of Bubbles!).

So, as soon as the ultrasound starts, the tech says, see, two yolk sacs.  I stopped breathing.  Then she zooms in and gets a better look, and I'm not sure what she saw the other times, but there was just one baby.  She checked around for about 5 minutes, but no other baby was found.  I resumed breathing, and felt my heart go back to normal.

It's not that I wouldn't love twins, it was just such a shock!  I immediately starting thinking of all the additional complications and costs, and how was I going to tell The Husband, etc.

Anywho, I have to go back Thursday for the internal exam.  So I don't have any details on that yet.  But I was sent home with more homework!  I had to fill out forms about my sleep habits, my emotional state, The Husbands family background, my family background, and blood issues.  It sure is interesting!

I'll post again when I know more about the internal exam.  Meanwhile, I'll leave you with a picture of Bubbles with leg and arm blobs!

4 comments:

  1. I looooove the gummy bear stage! That is a compliment :) I think it's so sweet that baby is starting to look more like a baby! I am so happy that everything is going so well!!!!

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  2. Wow! Great picture. And, that's weird about the other yolk sac. I wonder if that means there was a twin at some point?

    The study sounds awesome! I'm glad you're doing it!

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  3. Was there actually a second sac or was it just a misreading of the u/s? A mystery indeed. I can imagine what a shock that must be, though!

    How exciting that you're getting to see more u/s of your little Bubbles :) Baby growth equally freaks me out and fascinates me.

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  4. Yay for Baby Bubbles and for Mom. Curious about the extra sac though. Any ideas what might have been happening in there?

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