My peri appointment was very mixed. On the good side of the fence, baby is looking okay overall, still. On the bad side of the fence, the anemia is creeping higher. Today's MCA reading was 3 points away from the danger zone. Also, the baby's head is measuring 3 weeks ahead while his body is measuring 2 weeks ahead. There appeared to be some fluid collecting in the baby's head, which would be due to the anemia and could be the beginnings of hydrocephalus. However (back to the good side of the fence), there wasn't any excess fluid collecting around the baby's heart or lungs or other internal organs, so that was reassuring.
The peri said that the MCA reading (Middle Cerebral Artery ~ the rate of blood flow is measured in that artery and the reading corresponds with the level of anemia in the baby) has risen, on average, 4 points per week for the past 8 weeks. If it continues to rise at the same rate, there is significant chance that the baby will need to be delivered early, perhaps as early as 33-34 weeks. The peri tried to be encouraging, though, by telling me that the baby would probably do pretty well since he's big, and bigger preemies do better, typically, than little ones. He also pointed out that there comes a time when the baby would do better in NICU than in the womb, and reminded me that delivery wouldn't stop the anemia process since there'd still be my antibodies in the baby's bloodstream, so serial transfusions are most likely going to be necessary. I didn't feel reassured; I don't particularly want a baby spending several weeks in NICU, ya know? Baby is estimated to weigh 3lb,12oz right now (he's gained 1.5 pounds in the past month!), and the peri said we just need to hold on for as many more weeks as we can. He said there's still a chance I'll make it to my scheduled c-section date, but he thinks the odds are higher we'll have an earlier delivery. My prayer is that he's wrong and I go all the way to March 2nd. That's only 57 more days.....I really want to believe we'll get there!
Anyhow, that's where things stand right now. Bordering on "oh crap!" but not quite there yet. I did ask the peri if he thought we could skate along this border for the next 8 weeks and he said he'd be surprised, but it was possible, so that's what I'm hoping to do. But for now, it's back to the ol' "wait and see". Gotta tell you, while this has been a very easy pregnancy, physically-speaking, it has been horrible from a psychological point of view. I can't wrap my mind around the thought that I might deliver this baby in 3-4 weeks rather than 8, and I *really* hope that doesn't happen. One part of me wants this pregnancy over with, but another part of me wants to "go the distance", especially since this will have to be my last baby. And since I'm NOT having any big physical discomforts, I'm able to enjoy the pregnancy (aside from the mental turmoil), kwim? So I'm not in a big rush to be done, though I'd really like to know how it's all going to turn out.
I will keep everyone updated on how things are progressing. Hopefully I will be pregnant for many weeks to come!
The peri said that the MCA reading (Middle Cerebral Artery ~ the rate of blood flow is measured in that artery and the reading corresponds with the level of anemia in the baby) has risen, on average, 4 points per week for the past 8 weeks. If it continues to rise at the same rate, there is significant chance that the baby will need to be delivered early, perhaps as early as 33-34 weeks. The peri tried to be encouraging, though, by telling me that the baby would probably do pretty well since he's big, and bigger preemies do better, typically, than little ones. He also pointed out that there comes a time when the baby would do better in NICU than in the womb, and reminded me that delivery wouldn't stop the anemia process since there'd still be my antibodies in the baby's bloodstream, so serial transfusions are most likely going to be necessary. I didn't feel reassured; I don't particularly want a baby spending several weeks in NICU, ya know? Baby is estimated to weigh 3lb,12oz right now (he's gained 1.5 pounds in the past month!), and the peri said we just need to hold on for as many more weeks as we can. He said there's still a chance I'll make it to my scheduled c-section date, but he thinks the odds are higher we'll have an earlier delivery. My prayer is that he's wrong and I go all the way to March 2nd. That's only 57 more days.....I really want to believe we'll get there!
Anyhow, that's where things stand right now. Bordering on "oh crap!" but not quite there yet. I did ask the peri if he thought we could skate along this border for the next 8 weeks and he said he'd be surprised, but it was possible, so that's what I'm hoping to do. But for now, it's back to the ol' "wait and see". Gotta tell you, while this has been a very easy pregnancy, physically-speaking, it has been horrible from a psychological point of view. I can't wrap my mind around the thought that I might deliver this baby in 3-4 weeks rather than 8, and I *really* hope that doesn't happen. One part of me wants this pregnancy over with, but another part of me wants to "go the distance", especially since this will have to be my last baby. And since I'm NOT having any big physical discomforts, I'm able to enjoy the pregnancy (aside from the mental turmoil), kwim? So I'm not in a big rush to be done, though I'd really like to know how it's all going to turn out.
I will keep everyone updated on how things are progressing. Hopefully I will be pregnant for many weeks to come!
, so the news that the baby can stay inside for at least a while longer is GREAT news. 32, then 34 weeks are _huge_ milestones to be celebrated, and you should feel confident that, at the baby's weight, an early delivery isn't dreadful news.
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