Chloe Alexis

We met our baby girl around 6:30 this evening.  She weighed in at 3 lbs, 5 oz and is 16 inches long.

Chloe is in the NICU and doing well.  More to come......

It's go time.

Membranes have ruptured.  C section this afternoon......

Or not.  Back into holding pattern... Since neither I nor baby are showing distress, the docs are not rushing it.   I'm on IV antibiotics and magnesium to protect baby's brain, and for now, we wait and evaluate minute by minute.

What else?!?!

So close......  They told me this morning that Dr. M. would be coming to see me this afternoon and I might be headed home.
Then.... I started leaking ... something.  Different than what had been happening.  So I figured either I'm peeing when not trying to, or leaking amniotic fluid.

30 and 1.

Still bleeding.  Still contracting, though not regular (and I don't feel most of them).  

Baby still baking!

Hanging out on high alert

I'm still in the hospital and feeling like a ticking bomb.  The past two days have been good and calm, with bleeding continuing to decrease.  This afternoon, bleeding picked up a little again, as did the contractions.  Things aren't urgent yet, but we are watching for any changes and hoping things settle down again.  It's everything I can do to stop googling pictures of preemies and what to expect with a baby at 30 weeks gestation.   Scary stuff.

The Everchanging Plan

So today's update:  I've been moved out of the high risk room back to the ante partum area after another calm night with little bleeding and very few contractions.  I spoke to Mrs. Dr. M this morning (Mrs. Dr. M is my OB and her husband, Mr. Dr. M is my maternal/fetal medicine specialist).  She agrees that we are looking at a bit of placental abruption going on.  The plan as of now is to stay in the hospital until Tuesday.  At that point, if things are still calm and looking okay, I'll be sent home on bed rest until baby is ready.  I'm not sure if we are sticking to our tentative c section date of May 15 at 36 weeks and 5 days or if we are looking at a new date.  I'm guessing a lot depends on what happens in the next week or so.

Watchful waiting

Last night went well, all things considered.  The contractions have pretty much stopped and almost no bleeding all last night.  Today they've pulled out the catheter and disconnected the IV..... And I get to eat!!!!!  I got my second steroid shot this morning, and as of now the main priority is to make it through the next 24 hours to give that shot time to work on baby's lungs.  Tomorrow we re assess and go from there.

Today Dr. M. said he does think we are looking at a slight placental abruption, probably due to it not being attached well near fibroids.  He seemed to think the c-section would be sooner, rather than later, but just said we'd re assess tomorrow.

Still baking....

We had a scary morning with the threat of an afternoon c section, but baby is still baking.  They have multiple surgeons lined up, familiar with my case, and ready to go if necessary, units of blood ready and waiting for transfusion, and I've been moved to a room across the hall from the operating room.... Scary stuff here.  Baby still looking good on the monitors, but we are on high alert for uncontrollable bleeding or my uterine scar splitting open, both of which will result in a mad rush for the operating room.  Contractions are still roughly two minutes apart, with the occasional lull, probably due to the meds I started this afternoon.  The doctors really want to wait at least until 48 hours after the steroid shot because of the difference it will make in baby's lung development, so right now we are hoping for that.  They've also said that the possibility of emergency hysterectomy is now more likely, but assuming that doesn't happen, I've signed the consent forms for tubal ligation.  

Now we wait... And hope for the best.

Here we go again....

I'm blogging from the hospital today....  Came in early this morning after another hemorrhage at home which left our bathroom looking like a murder scene.  Baby looks good on monitor, but the monitor tells me I'm having contractions every few minutes, so they are admitting me again.  We are at 29 weeks 3 days, so it would be nice if baby would stay in a bit longer....  

The plan as of now is an overnight admission with two steroid shots to get baby's lung to develop faster.  Baby isn't showing signs of distress, so no immediate c-section plans, just watchful waiting.

28 Weeks and Hanging in There!

We've made it to the 28 week mark, which brings us up to a 90% survival rate if things go crazy and my body decides it's had enough!  We've had two more bleeding events, which were much less than the last one, resulting in a decrease in activity, sitting and resting as much as possible, and no more exercise.  This really is okay with me because this belly is officially wearing me out.  I'm measuring 40 weeks... Yes you read that right... 40 weeks, with another 8 and a half to go!  On a daily basis strangers say "any day now?"  Pretty soon I'm going to stop trying to explain and just tell them I'm having a litter of 4.  
Or punch them.

My ultrasound at 28 weeks looked great, with baby estimated at 2 lbs 11 ounces, which puts her at the 58th percentile, up from the 53rd percentile at the 24 week ultrasound.  I'm hovering right around a 26-27 pound weight gain, all in my belly.

 

My glucose test was fine and my blood pressure is still normal so things are looking good there.  I am slightly anemic, but not enough to require taking extra iron.  I've started having some swelling in my legs, ankles, and feet by the end of the day, which doc says is just from my giant belly.  I see my regular doc again in 3 weeks with my next ultrasound with the materal/fetal medicine specialist in 4 weeks! 

Now that we've gotten to this point, I'm finally getting excited that we are likely bringing home a baby!  I've shopped for tiny clothes and swaddles, washed everything in dreft, we've pulled the baby stuff out of storage and everything is set up, we've washed the bottles and parts in case we have to go that route again, and only have a few more things to purchase. 
Exciting times!!!!

There are still a lot of concerns with the c-section because of fibroids, location of the placenta, mesh from my previous hernia surgery, and the possibility of excessive bleeding.  One of my docs said they will likely cut into part of my scar from last time, but extend the cut to well above my belly button because baby is so high and they want to stay away from the fibroids which cover the entire area under my belly button.  I'm planning to give blood prior to the c-section so that my own blood will be available if I need a transfusion, but we still have to work out the details of this.

We have an official c-section date of May 15, which is at 36 weeks, 5 days! 

(Happy birthday Daddy!- May 16- I give you the gift of sleep deprivation and poopy diapers!)

Endymion

We headed to mid-city for Endymion again this year.  Some friends from Cassidy's daycare have relatives who host a party every year, which is the ONLY way to do Endymion... With a balcony to watch from, ladders in front of the house, and a full spread of food to share!  

I painted faces for all the kids!

And Cassidy, Jeff, and I painted my belly for my "Baby in the King Cake" costume!

Cassidy and Nana had a great time catching beads on the ladder with Cassidy!