*Disclaimer-this is a long post and a long story, and may mention words like placenta and cervix a couple of times!*
Where to start.. I have not posted anything on here for the fact that putting it down in words seems to make things so much more real.
Lets start with the Good News, I am 30 weeks!! Every ultrasound shows our Lil Mr looking healthy and growing. He is funny, and hates ultrasounds. He is head down and will hide his face in my hip so we cant see his face at times, or he will kick and push away the Ultrasound probe, i love the personality that he shows already. I am amazed how much i love this little guy, i would give anything to keep him safe and healthy. Most people when they see me are surprised i am as far along as i am. I do not mind though, i move pretty great still and if he is growing right, then i will enjoy being smaller. I was born with a heart problem so i had to have his heart checked out. We went to the Riverton Hospital Primary Childrens Wing and had a fetal Echo of his heart. He stayed in great position for the tech to do the test for a bout 20 min. Then he was done and was turning every direction i guess he was not supposed to go. The tech was really frustrated, which made me laugh (she was not too nice). I just enjoyed the hour long test where i got to see him, and after the Dr gave us the news that everything looks GREAT and his heart appears to be normal. Which means i can deliver here at the hospital close to my house and not clear at the U of U hosp.
Ok so i will not call this bad news, lets just say it is a lot more of a trial than i think i can take some days. Baby looks great and that is what i hold onto. I have been blessed that i will give birth to a healthy baby boy and that is one is a constant reminder in my heart. So, at 24 weeks i started to have some bleeding, now i have had some my whole pregnancy off and on. But on this night i had a not so great feeling about all of this and one i think i have learned as a nurse, EMT and such is to listen to your body. So i called my Dr, he sent me into labor and delivery. They checked me and said i was effaced 80-90%. After a NST i did not show any contractions just some cramping. So the Dr sent me home on strict bed rest till i could follow up with Perinatology on Monday morning, (this all happened late saturday night) so on Monday morning i met with a great dr. She was very blunt and open with everything. She told me she was going to do a test that would tell us if i was going to have this baby in the next 14 days or not. She also wanted to check me and see what she felt i was. Well she did the test first and had it ready to go to lab, she told me if it was positive i was not going home, i was going to L&D to be monitored and i would get the steroid shots for our baby to help with his lungs. Needless to say, Jared and i were nervous. So the Dr checked me after the test and to her amazement i was not effaced at all, I was told my cervix was nice and thick. We were so excited, she decided to not send the test in she new it would not be positive. I was ok with this!! She did notice that my placenta was extremely close to my cervix so they were going to watch that close as it may have been the reason for bleeding. So we were sent home to follow up the next week and then again in 3 weeks. I do not know why i was effaced for one nurse and not for the Dr. i just took it as a great blessing. I went back to work soon after and at 29 weeks i followed up with perinatology again. They said my cervix looked great via ultrasound, and my placenta had moved up away from my cervix, and i was ok to go. I had passed my glucose tolerance test and things were looking good!! I was feeling good!! I have been cleared by my cardiologist that i should not have issues with my heart for this delivery as long as i have an epidural ( that was already a plan so i was not worried), things were looking up!!
Saturday night i was at work and started having some pains in my abd, i figured it was braxton hicks or maybe the baby decided to turn. I was so busy at work i did not think anything of it.. I had not had any bleeding since i was 24 weeks so i was a little surprised when i started spotting that night. I went on with my shift and tried to sit when i could and to take it easy, it was a busy night so that really did not happen as much as i liked. At about 430 that morning i was walking down the hall when i knew something was not right. The bleeding had increased and i was getting nervous. So i paged the on call Dr and took a break. Well after 2 pages and hearing nothing at 530, i did not know what to do. So i called over to labor and delivery and talked to their charge nurse (perks of working in the hospital).. She said i could probably give report since my shift was over in 15 min but to then come over and they will see if they can find my Dr.. So at about 615 or so i checked in to L&D after working a 12.5 hour shift. I was exhausted and tired of complications. Now, i had felt the baby move all night and i have a very strong feeling he was ok, so i was ok finishing my shift.. In L&D they told me my Dr had called and felt so bad he missed my pages (luckily he is so nice i know it cant be easy at 430 in the AM and i was in good hands). He said to have me monitored and he would be in. In the mean time i was to get the first steroid shot for Jacks lungs, in case he decided to come early. So i got the first shot at 730 (umm that HURT!! it was like syrup, but i was tough and did not cry or kick my nurse :)... I was then told to try and get some sleep till the Dr got there.. I was so tired i did not mind that order. Jared was there with me and had his phone to entertain him while i slept and listened to our lil Mr on the monitors, and yes he hates those to, he kicks more on them than any other time (where does he get this attitude? haha, i know its me)... The Dr came in and the bleeding had subsided to scant, barely anything so i felt dumb, but they assured me i did the right thing. The dr then looked at the ultrasound report from the previous Monday and said the placenta looked good so we have no idea why i keep bleeding. He then said he wanted to check me.. To my surprise he said i am 70% effaced.. I was a little taken back. One minute i am effaced and then i am not and now i am again? I am confused and wondering what is going on. So after this he is very glad i got the steroid shots. I was sent home (no contractions showing on the monitor, but to come back if they start).. I had to go in this morning to get the second and final steroid shot (which i almost cried, they are intense, but i held back my tears).. Now i am home taking it easy till another appointment tomorrow with the Dr. They are going to do that test i mentioned that test for a protein that will tell if delivery is coming soon (i.e next 14 days) if it is negative and i am not spotting anymore than i get to back to work with a close eye on me. If not then i guess we will hit that road when it gets here..
I know Heavenly Father has his reasons for our Trials.. I am worn, emotionally.. I do not know what i would do without the Lord, my amazing Jared and my family. The people i work with have also been amazing and so supportive. As for answers i really dont have any except that Baby Jack, looks healthy and content right now. I love feeling him move, feeling when he gets the hiccups..He is adorable, i cant wait to hold him in my arms,however i am ok waiting at least 6 more weeks for that chance... I know there have been many praying for us and we can feel the love from everyone... As for now i just sit and wait and hope GOOD NEWS is to come, but i can say this.. I am grateful for this journey, it is not going as planned, but the opportunity i have had to be here and the promise of becoming a mom out ways all the trials we have had placed in our way.."Come what may and love it"... i am sure trying!!
