so I havnt been around in a while. Life went crazy over the past few months. Last I checked in with you all i told you I was sensitized to RH+ blood. That was all I knew at that point. heres a run down for anyone who doesnt know what I'm talking about. I have RH- blood. generally you are given a rhogam shot at 28 weeks and again after delivery to avoid becoming sensitized to a RH+ baby's blood which would affect future pregnancies. I was given the shot, but it either did not work, or I had a miscarriage between my second child and getting pregnant with this one and was not aware. NO one knows for sure. So after sensitization my body thinks that baby is bad and is killing its red blood cells.
At 14 weeks I started seeing a high risk MFM doc who performed ultrasounds on babie's brain to monitor the blood flow through the cerebral artery. If the blood flow is too fast, it indicates anemia. They also must monitor for fluid around the heart (hydrops) and when a problem is noted a blood transfusion directly to baby is done.
At my 18 week appointment for an ultrasound I found out we were having a baby boy <3 and also found out he had fluid around his heart and was anemic. I had to go to Pittsburgh to meet with a fetal medicine specialist. HE then performed the first blood transfusion to baby. Basically a big needle is inserted into the uterus, into the umbilical artery, samples are taken and blood is given. This first transfusion was at 19w 3d. It went well. I had our second transfusion done this past Friday, also successful.
WE have to go in and have these done every several weeks. It's a scary process and my heart is heavy and my head is full of the anxiety. Every time they have to go in with that needle there is a chance of fetal demise. I"m edging up on 24 weeks when he is viable, but would have a very small chance. if all goes well we will still go to 38 weeks and all will be fine developmentally and baby will just need a transfusion and bili lights out of the womb. But there is always the risk of premature labor or distress that would initiate them to deliver him early. So every day, week, month is a gift we are hoping for all while hoping this goes as quickly as possible.
So anyway, that's my update on me and baby Dawson.
At 14 weeks I started seeing a high risk MFM doc who performed ultrasounds on babie's brain to monitor the blood flow through the cerebral artery. If the blood flow is too fast, it indicates anemia. They also must monitor for fluid around the heart (hydrops) and when a problem is noted a blood transfusion directly to baby is done.
At my 18 week appointment for an ultrasound I found out we were having a baby boy <3 and also found out he had fluid around his heart and was anemic. I had to go to Pittsburgh to meet with a fetal medicine specialist. HE then performed the first blood transfusion to baby. Basically a big needle is inserted into the uterus, into the umbilical artery, samples are taken and blood is given. This first transfusion was at 19w 3d. It went well. I had our second transfusion done this past Friday, also successful.
WE have to go in and have these done every several weeks. It's a scary process and my heart is heavy and my head is full of the anxiety. Every time they have to go in with that needle there is a chance of fetal demise. I"m edging up on 24 weeks when he is viable, but would have a very small chance. if all goes well we will still go to 38 weeks and all will be fine developmentally and baby will just need a transfusion and bili lights out of the womb. But there is always the risk of premature labor or distress that would initiate them to deliver him early. So every day, week, month is a gift we are hoping for all while hoping this goes as quickly as possible.
So anyway, that's my update on me and baby Dawson.