Happy news:Well, I am 32 weeks along with baby #9. He is growing well and I have had numerous chances to see him on ultrasound, and will have many more viewings before he is born. He is head down, and his arms and fingers are usually close to his face and mouth. He really likes to kick my upper right rib area, and that is where is cute little bum hangs out most of the time, unless I lay down on my right side and then he tickles his way to the left side. He makes me laugh or jump when he kicks hard or unexpectedly. The kids have all enjoyed feeling and seeing him move around.
Not so happy news:
I have been diagnosed with placenta previa. Placenta previa is when the placenta covers the cervix. My placenta is completely blocking the baby's way out. So, after all my searching for a VBAC doctor that would allow me a trial of labor after 2 c-sections, now I am being forced by this placenta to have a 3rd c-section.
I am not happy about this, since c-sections are a major surgery and because they are much more difficult to recover from. There are also a lot of difficult memories with my previous c-sections. My first c-section was an emergency delivery of David, who had stopped moving at 32 weeks. We were blessed to have him live for 2 days. My c-section recovery was easy, but the emotional loss compensated for the physical ease. My second c-section was when I had our twins 15 months later - baby B was transverse and I opted for a c-section so I wouldn't have to undergo both methods of delivery. Recovering from that c-section and trying to take care of twins that had major breastfeeding issues was really, really hard.
I have not had any complications with the placenta previa. I have not had any 3rd trimester bleeding, and I have listened to my body when I developed contractions after running and brisk walking. Now I have slowed my exercise down to a very slow walk (soon to be waddle). I feel like a walking time bomb for complications, but my doctor told me not to worry- he reminded me that just because airplanes can fall from the sky doesn't mean that you should stay inside the house! Barring any future bleeding or contractions, we know now that our baby will be delivered sometime in the first week of January (at week 39).
Unknown news:
I know that sounds funny, but that is all I could think of to label this next bit. The doctors are extremely suspicious that I also have placenta acreta. This is when the placenta attaches to the uterus too deeply. This can result from multiple pregnancies and especially with previous uterine surgeries like c-sections. To truly determine if this is the case, the doctors are performing ultrasounds and are also ordering an MRI which can hopefully give us more information. We will probably not know for certain the seriousness or this placental problem until the c-section delivery. I do not want to unneccessarily scare anyone, but the current facts include various situations. The best case scenario would be that the placenta detaches without massive bleeding and that the c-section can be closed up quickly. The middle ground case situation would be that they have to perform a hysterectomy to stop any bleeding. This has varying levels of severity and problems. The worse case would include demise of either our baby or me (or both) due to blood loss.
Clearly, we are hoping and praying for "our version" of the best of all situations: for our baby and I to come through this delivery with the best of health. This is why I am posting this difficult problem to our blog: we'll need more prayers and faith so that the best thing, the Lord's will, can shine through this experience.
This quote has helped me often in the past, and I need to focus on it during this time as well.
It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is.
It all works out. Don’t worry.
I say that to myself every morning.
It will all work out.
and move forward with faith
and confidence in the future.
The Lord will not forsake us.
He will not forsake us.
If we will put our trust in Him,
if we will pray to Him,
if we will live worthy of His blessings,
He will hear our prayers.
--President Gordon B. Hinckley, October 2000
Thanks for reading all the way through this extremely wordy blog post. Here's a picture, me at 32 weeks!
P.S. Super thankful for technology!
