Monday Pregnancy Update

We're home! No baby yet...

HERE IS THE UPDATE:
We went to the specialist today and had another Non-Stress-Test and a Sonogram to look for measurable fluid. The non-stress-test went well. He was chill and not moving a ton, but he did fine and his heart beat looked great. During the test, my Hubbie and I talked about names again and he made me laugh (we so rarely have a serious conversation for any length of time w/o my husband cracking jokes and being witty) and when I would belly laugh…. The baby would move and respond. We decided that it was a fun game for him!

Then we went in for the sonogram. Great anticipation…

The female sonographer looked for pockets of fluid and took measurements. She did it twice and found numbers in the 10’s and 11’s!!!! We were thrilled to hear/see that. At one point, I asked if the baby was sideways (because she was moving it around so much that I could not clearly see what position he was in) and she said he looked like he might be head-down. What? Could it be true?! She said, we’ll wait and see what the Doctor sees and he’ll go over everything with you in a minute.

The Doc came in and did the same process of looking for pockets of fluid to measure. He was not finding what she found. But we DID see it. We all saw the clear pockets of fluid when she was doing it… but for some reason, things had moved and there was umbilical cord in many of the pockets and therefore he could not count it. He even kind of rolled his eyes at the female sonographer (sort of joking) because he was not finding what she found. He said he was still seeing levels in the 7’s. (It was in the 7’s two weeks ago and it was in the 6’s last Monday.) So, at least it was not down. But I was thinking… “I really liked HER number better than your Mr.” Then he basically said that we are 37 weeks and we’ll be 38 weeks at the end of THIS WEEK. He feels that the levels are still low and that we should plan to do a c-section on FRIDAY. What? I said, “Is the baby still breech?” And he said – “yes, the baby is still breech and the fluid levels are too low for us to try to turn him.”

WHY THE DIFFERENCE:
Why she had SUCH different results and view points than he did… I don’t know. But I guess things just shifted btw the time she checked and the time he checked. Talk about getting your hopes up!!?! My Husband and I even talked about going out to celebrate in between the sonographers test (when we thought the fluid was up and the baby was head-down) and the specialist doctor’s measurements. But I guess his word and recommendations win out.

THE PLAN:
We will stay on bed rest. We will go back to our OB on Wed morning. If thing are still Ok, we will go back to the specialist on Thur for another NST and Sonogram. Unless the fluid goes up and the baby is showing a clear head-down position, they will move fwd with a C-section on Friday.

HOW TO PRAY:
- That the baby will be completely healthy through the rest of the pregnancy and through the delivery process (whatever happens)
- That the fluid levels will remain SAFE and will INCREASE for him
- That he will turn head-down on his own
- For God’s will to be done in all of this and in the process of birthing this child according to HIS perfect plan for this little boy
- If it does need to be a C-Section, that God will prepare me
(I went totally natural with my first child and I have not “studied up” on C-Section info much, so I want to be ready and ask good questions so that we are prepared)
- If it does need to be a C-Section, please pray for quick and safe recovery time
- No Fear! (Fear for Safety, Fear of the Unknown) please pray against these things
- Peace – Freedom – Surrendering Trust in Jesus, and in knowing that He loves this baby even more than we do!!!
- If it does go to a C-Section: I’d like to ask for specific prayer over not being able to hold the baby right away. Having to wait on holding him and nursing him… please pray that NOTHING will be lost as far as bonding. Please pray that God will give speed to the doctor and grace to me & my new baby in those first minutes of meeting. I long to hold him right away and have that sweet time to bond.
- Please pray that if he needs to come a little early (it will be 38 weeks) that his lungs will be fully developed and that he will NOT have to go to the NICU
THANK YOU all for tracking this pregnancy with us and for all of your support!

day light and tomorrow

Today was the day light time change day... and it felt odd ALL day.  When to eat?  When to plan the nap?  It was just a little off, but we'll get used to it soon enough.

TOMORROW.....

Monday, November 2 (later in the afternoon) my husband and I will go to the specialist for another Non - Stress -Test and another high res sonogram.  At that time, we will find out the LEVEL OF FLUID that they can measure.  Anything above a 5 will allow my sweet baby to stay in there a little longer.  That is our prayer. 

However, when I saw the OB last Thursday, he said we should have our bags in the car and be ready to go to the hospital just in case....  If the fluid levels are low, they will send us right over to the hospital tomorrow.  Mentally and emotionally we have spent the weekend preparing for the baby. 

 If he can go full term, that will be great.  But the OB considers 37 weeks to be "full term" by the text book and does not feel a great concern that the baby would even have to go to the NICU.  So, if he needs to come to be with us tomorrow... we will trust the Lord and we will be ready.  We look fwd to meeting our son soon!

Labor and Delivery depend on the position of the baby (in the sonogram viewing).  If the fluid was low & he was breech again, they would most likely go right to a C-section.  If the fluid was low and he had turned head-down, they might consider inducing labor. 

Best Case: The Fluid Levels are GOOD (up and in a safe zone) and he's Changed Positions on-his-OWN. 

We'll find out tomorrow!

Thank you for your prayers.

37 Weeks & My Pregnancy Update

MY UPDATE at 37 Weeks:
Well, the non stress test went well.  The baby was still breech and not facing out.... in other words, he's curled up in a way that his arms and legs point toward my back.  So I am feeling him move, but it's not kicking and elbows.  I feel gentel rolling or flutters.  But that counts and that is what is "normal" for him.  His heart rate looked good.  I'm not dialated yet.  The doctor talked to me about the baby being breech and the fluid levels being low....
The Doctor Says:
- They will NOT be trying to turn him (because the fluid is low)
- They do want to plan and schedule a c-section the week before my due date
- The Dr says the baby is "full term" this week and will most likely NOT have to go to the NICU
- He said to have our bags ready
PRAYERS THIS WEEKEND:
I will go back to the specialist to check the fluid levels again on Monday. 
At that point, if the fluid levels are the same or up
--> I will continue to stay on bed rest/drinking water/etc. and he will get to stay in there a few more days. 
If they find that the fluid levels have dropped again (on Monday)
--> they will possibly do the c-section that day!! 

So, mentally, we are ready for him to be with us next week!
*-We are praying that he will stay in as long as possible.
*-We are praying that the fluid levels will go UP.
*-We are praying that he will just turn head-down on his own.
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Your pregnancy: 37 weeks
From Baby Center
How your baby's growing:

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.  Your baby weighs about 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard).  Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1&1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.  It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before. BabyCenter.com

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS & SUPPORT!