Yesterday was my follow-up with Dr. Risky about my allergic reaction. Her office staff went crazy over the photos of my face. They are definitely startling! The nurses were all like, “Be SURE to show those to Dr. Risky.”
When she walked into the exam room she said, “I hear you have pictures!” I handed her my phone and she flipped – she felt so bad for me. She laughed at my recounting of the experience (I still can’t believe I was so certain it was just a migraine reaction – I blame my other drugs for slowing down my brain), but then got serious. She said I was probably only a few minutes away from my throat closing up (my throat clearing was the first indicator of that, she said), and that she was so relieved we live close to an emergency room.
She did say that these sorts of allergies can just develop out of nowhere, and she’s seen it dozens of times. She also said there’s really no way of knowing if my allergy is indocin/indomethacin specific, or if it applies to all the drugs in that family. So I said, “What other drugs are in that family?” and she replied, “Well, all the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs…naproxen, motrin, ibuprofen…” I stopped her there. “Wait. So like…Advil? And Ibuprofen? Naproxen! What am I going to take after I have this baby?!” She said that I can try any of those, but I might have the same reaction. In other words, I’m going to be biting on a rag while I recover from my c-section. FUN FOR EVERYONE.
As far as my contractions go, my options are now limited there as well. Indocin is the most effective drug, but that is obviously off the table. I’m not far enough along for Dr. Risky to comfortably prescribe me Nifedipine, and she doesn’t want to give me terbutaline as it’s a pretty hard-core option that would require a lot more monitoring, and we both agreed that these contractions aren’t really warranting something that intense. Hopefully they won’t ever get to that point. So I just have to be extremely conscientious about my hydration (which is hard with my nausea, but I do my best), keep track of my contractions and take it easy when necessary.
I finally am showing! I still have people saying, “Almost six months? But you’re so small…” But whatever. At least I look pregnant!
Next week is viability. Next week I can BREATHE….at least a little easier.
Pgoodness says:
Small but adorable… Just keep that kid in there! xo
Gwensarah says:
I was small with my son at 6 months too, I think boys like to hang out towards the back rather than the front So glad that you caught your allergic reaction before your throat closed, I’ve been there..it’s awful!!!
Carrie B says:
I think you look just perfect for almost 6 months. Plenty of time to get hyooooooge later, right? xx
Teki says:
Oy, terbutaline. I was on it for about 8 weeks or so. HATED IT. Made me super shaky and really had to watch my heart rate. BUT kept that darn baby in the proper amout of time while keeping me out of the hospital! Strong positives there :-). I’m sorry this is happening for you, but sounds like you’ve a great doctor. Keep on incubating!
Jean says:
I just commented about the shakes too and how much I hated it. But you’re right that it keeps the baby in.
Heather says:
I had terbutaline shots with Annie and they were hard for me to tolerate – 8 weeks, yikes! You are a warrior.
Jenn says:
Hi Heather,
Thank you for the update. I’ve been so worried about you!!! Next week we do the happy dance and every week after that just like every week BEFORE that!!! ha ha – . It’s amazing how loved & cared for this little boy is by EVERYONE…just as his sisters were & are!!!
Get some rest Mama – I’ll be thinking of you!!!
Desera says:
cutest baby bump EVER! keep up the good work!
Happy Valentine’s day!!
Margie says:
A few months before I got pregnant, I developed an allergy to Naproxen and everything in the family. The pain after the c-section was difficult. You hang in there. Also, you look absolutely lovely with that little bump!
Heather says:
So, what did you take after your c-section? I have always gone right to ibuprofen so I don’t know what I’m going to do this time!
Margie says:
My doctor gave me Tylenol. It did very little. I was in so much pain. I’m jealous of all the women, who had c-sections, telling stories of how they were up and moving afterwards. If you’re taking ibuprofen then you may be in the clear. I wish. Xoxoxox!
Heather says:
well, I take the “good” stuff in the hospital. And the ibuprofen was the huge prescription pills!
Margie says:
Stupid allergy. I wish.
Editdebs (Debbie A-H) says:
I’m so sorry about that allergy. I am also allergic to nonsteroidals, and it really stinks! I have arthritis, and I can’t take anything but acetaminophen–which barely works.
I think a lot of us are holding our breath for next week–and even longer. Sending so many good thoughts/prayers your way.
Jen L. says:
I was prescribed Nifedipene at 29 weeks. After being on it 2 weeks I broke out in hives on my hands and feet. It was not fun.
Hope things go smoothly for you for the next few months.
Rebecca says:
Praying for another 21 weeks. That will put you at full term, right?
Auntie_M says:
I think, if Heather is at the age of viability (phew!), she is at 24 weeks meaning 16 weeks to week 40 but I believe they plan to do her C-section a couple weeks earlier….
Heather says:
It would put me past it! I am hoping for another 13 weeks or so!
Auntie_M says:
13 weeks!!! Eeeeek!!!! I know you can do this!!!!
Kate says:
Next week will be here before we know it. Sending you good vibes, positive energy and prayers from Chicago. xo
Melinda says:
I will keep you in my thoughts. Your baby bump is adorable!
While you can still recall, make a list of any foods you ate the day of your allergic reaction. In the case that it happens again while you are not on that medication, you will have a starting point to narrow down to the trigger. It may seem like it was the medication but it really could be anything, so it is better to be cautious and aware.
Heather says:
I actually already did that. It wasn’t hard because I barely ate anything that day. Toast, water, toast, water, and then more toast! And the last time I’d attempted to eat was seven hours before my reaction and I hadn’t kept it down. The doctors were like, “okay, we can rule out food then!” I guess that’s a benefit of hyperemesis this time!
Steph says:
“benefit of hyperemesis” Well, it appears you have kept your sense of humor:) Wishing you and the Acrobat many more weeks of peaceful gestating.
Terri says:
I remember that countdown so well.. 24…then just a little more. Last year I made the decision I just couldn’t do it again. We made it full term but all that stress and a very unhealthy uterus I decided to have a hysterectomy. At least then it would be done and I could stop the wishing things were different. I commend you for giving this another try after all you’ve been through, I swear if I wasn’t reading it on here I’d think it was a movie all the things that happen to you guys! Will be sending you lotsss of good thoughts and wishes that the little man stays in there a longggg time! Well not so long as you are running around the block trying to coax him out but you know what I mean.
melissa says:
I so know what you mean! One of the reasons I dont know if I want to try again is because of the stress of trying to conceive and then the loooooong 40 weeks of no sleep and fear!
mccgoods says:
Melissa
After 2 miscarriages, I don’t know if I want to try again either
I just think 40 weeks is so long to wait. But then I look at Heather’s baby bump and I so want that.
I wish you peace in whatever decision you make it’s so hard sometimes.
Bless you
Liz says:
I think you look perfectly sized for 6 mos! Don’t listen to anyone.
Anne says:
Your baby bump looks great:) Hoping you go many more weeks!
Becca Masters says:
Allergic reactions suck! I’ve got terrible food and seasonal allergies and I was itching so bad with them that my doctors and midwives thought I had OC, thankfully it wasn’t. However being pregnant they’re reluctant to let me use my normal antihistamines, so I’m on piriton, which doesn’t really seem to be as effective.
sucks that you’re allergic to a drug family that you will need. have you thought about something that paracetamol based? or an opiate based drug?
Heather says:
My OB said she’s going to figure out something for me, but I am definitely doing my own research. I’ll look into your suggestions! Thank you!
Taryn @ More Skees Please says:
I had preterm contractions with all of my pregnancies (carried to 37.5 weeks, 34.5 weeks and 36 weeks respectively) but was put on Procardia with my first 2. I’m not convinced it did much, as I still contracted and went back and forth to the hospital for monitoring, but my dr said perhaps it would have been worse without the meds and we just wouldn’t know. I’m curious if Procardia is something your doc has mentioned?
Also – with my last baby, I was given weekly progesterone shots from my high-risk dr. I made it to 36 weeks (regular contractions started at 30 weeks). Again, not sure of they helped a whole lot but it was an option I felt good about. You’ve mentioned shots before. Is this what you’ve been doing?
There was no rhyme or reason for my early contractions/labors…was just told I have “an irritable uterus”. Ha!
Anyway, good luck to you! You look great!
Heather says:
yep! Procardia is Nifedipine, and she’ll put me on it when I hit my third trimester.
My shots are for my clotting disorder. We haven’t discussed progesterone – I will bring that up to her next week!
melissa says:
oy vey….I remember those days…Just get to 24 weeks and the baby is viable…ok….now lets get to 28….ok come on 32 weeks….ok 37 weeks….get this baby out safe!!!!!
Having had 2 stillborn sons and 1 beautiful living daughter, I remember the stress of the countdow…..Prayes and loving thought and good ju ju all coming your way!
mel says:
omg it drives me crazy when people comment on the size of someone’s stomach being too small or to big. your belly is adorable.
MichelleR says:
I was put on Procardia with my first at 31 weeks when I started having a lot of contractions. It’s a blood pressure medicine (so not sure if you could even take it with your blood issues), but it has the added benefit of calming down an “irritable uterus”. I still had contractions sometimes, but I kept that baby in there for 5 more weeks.
Heather says:
Procardia is a brand name for Nifedipine – I will be taking it starting in the third trimester! It definitely made a difference with my pregnancy with Annabel – I had her five days after I stopped taking it!
Jennifer Choate says:
I had a reaction to Indocin also. I had gout (one and only time) in my big toe. My heart was racing and blood pounding in my ears. I didn’t have any of the swelling. Never had a problem with any of the other “family member” drugs. We went to the emergency room and they gave me a massive dose of Benadryl.
Annalisa says:
I’m sure there are alternatives to NSAIDs out there, so I would just focus on hanging in there with the pregnancy. I’m crossing fingers you don’t have to go the bed rest route, I know it would be rough on all of you!
Truth be told, after 2 days at home, I started halving my pain meds, because they made me into a zombie, and I decided I would rather tough it out through the healing than fall asleep randomly or being sort of drooly and incoherent (I’ve always had problems with pain meds and anesthesia both, I’m just wired weird that way).
As for the bump, I started looking pregnant around 3 months, kept growing grotesquely, and then at about six months, I just… stopped. I had co-workers looking at me concerned and saying “shouldn’t you be getting bigger?”. My OB OTOH was pleased about it, because up to then she had been having nightmares that with my GD, she’d be looking to deliver a 12 lbs. baby. Bottom line is, so long as everything is looking good in there, who cares what people think it should look like on the outside? If people comment, just smile and quip: “I know, right? I must be one of those lucky women who carry small and bounce back to normal in a couple of weeks!”
Auntie_M says:
That is the sweetest, most precious, adorable baby bump ever! Thank you for sharing!!!
I’m so glad you are back with Dr Risky–she & her staff take such good care of you! We all appreciate that!!!!
And congrats on reaching week 24!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Phew!!!! Those were some long tough weeks and you just had to enter week 24 with a bang (or shall we say a swollen head??? Sorry, couldn’t resist).
You & the Acrobat continue to be in my thoughts and prayers daily…for a continued safe incubation and arrival! Please try to not out-do yourself with any more weird-things-that-happen-to-me-during-pregnancy stories….please!!!!
Ummm….sorry about your post-C-section pain relief options: that sucks!!! I know I probably sound stupid, having never given birth, but I have had 4 abdominal surgeries including a hysterectomy, and I’ll tell you what helped me more than any pain med: being wrapped. My great-great-grandmother from back in the homeland used to wrap her daughters/DILs after birth with wide strips of sheeting. Firm but not too tight. Basically so you don’t jiggle. That tradition has been passed on and it felt sooo good!! I was off all pain meds within 12 hours of my hysterectomy. Try buying a new baby band (those things that cover the gap between shirt & jeans when you are just outgrowing things in early pregnancy)–that might be the perfect fit for you post birth.
Much love to you & yours!
Auntie_M says:
Shoot! I mis-read! Well, consider those early congratulations on reaching the age of viability next week, because I fully believe you shall!
Heather says:
Thank you Auntie M!
I used a binder after Annie’s pregnancy and I agree – it REALLY worked. I’d forgotten about it, so thanks for the reminder. I will definitely use it after this C-Section!
Auntie_M says:
This is probably one of the few times you can say you are into being bound up & not be looked at (too) strangely!
My g.g grandmother went to bind up my grandma after she had my mom & ended up doing the whole maternity ward & teaching the nurses how to do it properly! LOL
Lauren says:
So. This same thing happened to me. My photos of my facial swelling are almost identical to yours, although my allergic reaction was to Motrin–which I had taken every month for cramps for years with zero problems. How interesting that Dr Risky said that they’re all grouped together. Btw, I’m about to give birth too and I do just done with Tylenol although Motrin will still make me look like Steven Tyler.
Heather says:
Let me know how many Tylenol it takes to take the edge off ! LOL
Lora says:
We’re all here praying for you and Mr. Acrobat! Allergies suck.Hopefully the contractions stay annoying and never become something more concerning!
Rachel says:
Hi Heather,
We are in similar boats. I was told last week that I was having “irritable uterus” type contractions…they weren’t causing dialation, so they sent me home and told me I needed to greatly increase my water intake and rest as much as I could. I can definitely tell a difference since increasing my water. I find that I can get so much more down if I don’t put ice in it and drink it though a straw.
Heather says:
A straw is key for me too!
Jean says:
I was on terbutaline for two of my pregnancies. I didn’t like it because it made me shake inside as well as out. I choked on my food a lot because it felt like everything inside of me was shaking too. With my first one, I was in maternity intensive care for a week when I was six months pregnant and in labor. I had terbutaline shots every three hours around the clock and the labor stopped. Then I went home with the pills and was on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. My son was born three weeks early, right after I threw the pills out. I could not take the shakes any more. I had no shakiness from the shots but did with the pills. Then I was on it again with my third child. I stopped taking it when I couldn’t take the shakes any more, and then my son was born. He was a month early but was 6lbs 4 oz so all was well. Although I hated terbutaline, it has saved many babies from being born too early. I know some women who were on it and it kept their babies inside. If you have more contractions, insist on it. It works very well. I don’t know what your doctor meant by it being a hard core option that required more monitoring. A doctor should do everything possible to keep a baby in. It’s not even a bother though. You just take the pills and go about your business. The only difference are the office checkups where you get hooked up the contraction monitor, but it’s really not a bother. You just lie down and read a book. If you’re not having contractions you don’t even have to go in.
On another note, my youngest is allergic to ibuprofen. His face swells up. I am the queen of allergic reactions and gave him benedryl as soon as I saw the first sign of swelling, so he didn’t get as far as you did with the swelling. Always keep liquid benedryl in the house. Liquid gets to the body faster than the pills, and it is also much easier to ingest if your throat is feeling tight. Also keep an epi pen with you. Never drive to the emergency room if you are having an allergic reaction. Call 911. You are very lucky to be alive. Allergic reactions have to be taken care of very fast and emergency workers have epi pens with them. Every second counts when having an allergic reaction.
Heather says:
She means it’s a hardcore option for all the reasons you listed! Plus, I’m not in labor – just having contractions. It would be like prescribing morphine for a stubbed toe. I had terbutaline shots with Annabel because I was having regular contractions, but I also had to be on hospital monitors for them because of all my other medications. So, it’s not a step we need to take right now. But if I started having regular contractions, of course we would do whatever it took to stop them!
Carrie says:
As someone who is allergic to all NSAIDs (including aspirin), there are things you can take for c-section pain. You can have opiates (morphine, Vicodin, Percocet) and Tylenol (acetaminophen). I work at a hospital and in our c-section moms they even have the option of a PCA (patient controlled analgesia- a pump with morphine or similar drug that let’s you push a button when u need more). I have the same reaction as you- face and throat swell up and the last time I took one was the day before high school graduation. Kind of funny now but not so much then. I’m also a pharmacist- you can e-mail me if u have questions. And definitely look into the progesterone shot- it’s called Makena. They have a website. I’m shocked you’re not on it.
Heather says:
SO many people have mentioned the progesterone thing, I am definitely going to ask my OB about it. She must have a reason for not putting me on it. Do you think it’s a good sign that I have been taking aspirin this entire pregnancy without incident (it’s part of my clot management)?
I am relieved that I can take vicodin, etc (I am pretty sure they gave me morphine in my IV after my last c-section), although I am worried tylenol will be a LARGE step down from that. Oh well! I will power through it!
Carrie says:
If you’ve been taking aspirin without problem, you should be fine as long as you continue to take it daily. There are different classifications of NSAIDs and you might be able to try another class ( Indocin is in one class and ibuprofen is in another – look up NSAIDs in Wikipedia for class chart), but I would discuss that with your doctor. You had a very serious reaction. If you do try it you would want to be in a hospital or doctor’s office.
Carrie says:
After reading more about it, I think the reason you’re probably not on Makena (the injectable progesterone) is your history of clots. But still discuss with your doc.
Heather says:
oooooh….that could be it. But I will definitely still ask.
Auntie_M says:
Yay! A pharmacist! Sorry Heather, minor hijack here:
Carrie-I often use http://www.drugs.com to look up info on particular meds or to compare them, or check for potential interactions. Since you’re a pharmacist, do you find it to be a reliable site?
Thanks! ~Mary
PS–My pharmacist saved my life when a (now former) doctor put me on the same family of a med as one I’d had problems with in the past. She has my undying love & respect!
Lisa ! says:
I was just going to comment about the Progesterone, but looks like people beat me to it! I took it with my twins and it worked great, never had one contraction and went to almost 38 weeks for a scheduled C section. I also know several people that had multiple early term babies, then took it with recent pregnancies and had full term babies with no incident. Definitely worth bringing up. I have to take progesterone in the beginning of my pregnancies just to stay pregnant, the only time I didn’t it resulted in a miscarriage, so progesterone and I are close friends I love your blog and have read for many years! So happy for you guys
Jessica says:
Yay for heading towards 24 weeks, I remember celebrating that day. I was like you and took forever to show. I also did the indocin but didn’t have such an awful reaction. Hoping for you that things slow down and you can avoid the terbutaline, I remember it feeling like I drank a pot of coffee within five seconds time. Thinking of you and wishing it was all easier.
Miriam says:
Do you like coconut water? It’s a great way to hydrate, better than water.
Here’s to 13 more weeks.
Rachel says:
You can be on 17p injections with a clotting disorder. I was on them with previous clots in either the placenta or cord leading to a complete placenta abruption. I was also on lovenox. The association between clots and progesterone is with the synthetic progestins and combined estrogen and progesterones. It’s stupid lazy labeling and similar names that gives progesterone a bad rap.
She might not have mentioned it because they’re most effective if started at 16 weeks. However, they are supposed to relax the smooth muscles in your uterus, so would be a pretty good option even though you’re starting them late. Your cervix hasn’t changed, so it would just be a prophylactic, just like if you would have started at 16 weeks. I started mine at around 22 weeks because my insurance couldn’t straighten itself out. They actually made my cervix lengthen a bit.