Normally, this is a picture blog. But, I needed an outlet to share the latest news and developments from the land of pregnancy. So, get ready for the ride - it's a bumpy one...
Friday, November 4
We went in for our regular prenatal appointment at the Birth Center with our midwives. At each appointment, they externally measure the uterus to see how much the baby is growing. And the goal is for the measurement to come out about the same as the number of weeks pregnant you are. At this appointment, I was almost 36 weeks, so I should have measured around 36 cm. Now, I've been measuring a little bit big (just like I did with Kayligrace), but it was never enough for anyone to be concerned. Until now. Instead of 36 cm, I measured somewhere between 41-43 cm, depending on who was measuring. And that was large enough to get some people concerned.
No one was super-worried, but they decided to go ahead and schedule an ultrasound so that they could just get a better idea of what was going on and make sure there was nothing problematic. So we went about business as usual, except that now we were slightly proud of what looked to be another bigger baby.
Tuesday, November 8
We had our ultrasound this morning, and that's when the fun truly began. Baby Boy Moody weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs 12 oz, plus I have a highly elevated level of amniotic fluid! And remember, I'm was only 36 weeks, 3 days pregnant at the time. Okay, maybe we are now slightly less proud of our big baby and now slightly more worried about getting this little guy out - especially if he keeps growing. The doctor at the hospital where we had our ultrasound done urged us to call our midwives and talk about our plan of action from here. We readily agreed.
I talked to one of the midwives this afternoon, and got some news that was really, really disappointing for us. We can no longer have our baby at the Birth Center like we had deeply hoped, but instead we will have to deliver at a hospital (UNC to be exact). The midwives will still be with us throughout labor, and they will still deliver this baby (as long as everything goes well), but the setting will be different. We had gotten really, really excited about all the different aspects of delivering outside of a hospital, so this made for a really tough afternoon, but we know that this decision was made for the safety of baby and me. So, after quite a few tears, talking, praying and grieving, we are learning to adjust to this new plan.
Wednesday, November 9
We had another prenatal visit with our midwives today. It was helpful because they gave us a lot more information, but it was also slightly overwhelming too. We did a non-stress test to ensure that baby was still doing well. (He played slightly hard to get, but eventually we found him.) We listened to his heartbeat. They drew a fasting blood sample to measure my sugar, we went and had some breakfast, and then we came back for them to draw another blood sample. This tells them how my body responds to the sugars I eat. We didn't get the results from the blood tests today, but everything with baby looked great.
The information they gave us about our hospital-midwife experience was encouraging after the disappointment of the night before. We were reassured that the midwives who accompany us to the hospital will do everything the same as if we had been at the birth center, and they will also help run interference for us so that we won't have to worry about some of the "routine" hospital procedures. We are still very hopeful for a natural, drug-free birth, and that's what we ask you guys to continue to pray with us for.
They also gave us the reality side of this story today, too. This little man has a propensity to be big, and it is now my job to do everything I can to minimize his growth. This involves a very purposeful diet (high protein, low carbs) and increased exercise. If the baby's weight exceeds 5000 g (just over 11 lbs), I will have to be delivered by a doctor. There are multiple concerns with a baby this big, including an increased chance of postpartum hemorrhage and shoulder dystocia (the baby's shoulders getting stuck while pushing). Hence, the decision to deliver at a hospital instead of a birth center. But, if the baby exceeds the 5000 g mark and a doctor delivers, there is a much, much higher chance that I'd have to have a c-section, partly because to a doctor, that would seem the safest avenue. The national average for c-sections in hospitals is about 1 in 3, which means that midwives actually deliver a higher percentage of babies vaginally than do doctors. It is our #2 goal (after delivering a healthy baby) to deliver this baby vaginally, even if it means that I'm just going to have to get stubborn about making sure that happens. And I can get very stubborn. :)
So, the day-to-day side to all this. I'm already seeing my midwives once a week, but I will also start having ultrasounds once a week as well. This will continue to monitor his size and the amount of amniotic fluid, and it will also check for his continued health (heartbeat, movement, etc). I will also have to see a registered dietician sometime before next week to talk more specifically about my diet. Additionally, I will be getting a glucometer and doing daily finger pricks to measure my sugar levels. (I do NOT like that part.) This will help monitor how well I'm sticking to that diet (and helping to slow down his growth).
We are also now HOPING for a delivery at 38 weeks, instead of the usual 40 weeks. 37 weeks would probably be fine, but 38 weeks would ensure his full development while still limiting his growth. So our new goal due date: November 19. I know it sounds funny to pray for a baby to be delivered early, but please be praying for this with us. That only gives me a week and a half to finish getting ready to bring him home, but I am eager for it anyway. There are a couple of things we can be doing to help encourage my body to go into labor, including taking evening primrose oil, walking regularly, and other things. We will be doing these things, but it is the Lord who is the beginning and the end, and it will all happen in His timing.
Please pray with and for us - for peace to reign, for us to trust the Lord and His timing, for health for baby and myself, for success with my new diet and exercise regimen, for Little Man to not exceed 5000 g, for Baby Boy to be born Nov 19, for a natural and drug-free delivery by my midwives, and for me to do okay with all these finger pricks (I do not like needles). Please pray for Steven as he is who I am heavily leaning on during this time of disappointment and adjustment, and pray for Kayligrace as her parents deal with the craziness of this adventure. I don't want us to end up taking our stress out on her, and I would also like to make the most of these last couple weeks with her. May we make the time, and may it be extra special.
I typed up this whole post with all these details, disappointments, and hopes, but the good news at the end of it all is that, no matter what happens, we will get to bring home our baby boy. C-section, hospital delivery, a huge baby - I know these things are important to me, but they are all simply my hopes and desires. I have and will gladly and rejoicingly welcome this baby into my heart however the Lord chooses to give him to us.
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