Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Meeting Lily in 4 weeks...

Lily's birth date is scheduled for Dec 12th at 10am.  I get anxious just thinking about what that day will be like and what we will be feeling.  My heart is heavy.    

I will be 37 weeks at that point, which should mean Lily's lungs will be fully developed.  We decided to plan for her birth before Christmas, so as not to risk going into labor or having to plan funeral arrangements over the holidays.  I feel selfish for choosing a date just to accommodate these personal motives.  On the other hand, if we didn't know anything about Lily's condition, a c-section probably would have been scheduled for 38 weeks anyway.  I think it will be good to have the holidays and family gatherings to look forward to each year; to help us through moments of sadness.  

We decided on a planned c-section because....
  • My last pregnancy was a c-section; a vbac would mean possible (yet small) risk for uterine rupture,
  • The likelihood of going into labor is slim without the baby's pituitary gland to signal readiness,
  • Having labor progress effectively is difficult without a fully formed (hard) head to push through,
  • We're hoping for better color presentation and greater likelihood to have her with us for a few hours,
  • The ability to plan to have our boys and family available to meet her.
While those are all very good reasons, a c-section is still surgery and there are concerns with any surgery.  I am not looking forward to it or the recovery at all.  So, if God decides to allow Lily to come all on her own--with an easy breezy vaginal delivery (it's in my genes evidently...I've just never experienced it)--I would be very happy to cooperate.  It's all in His hands.  

And, what good hands to be in!!!  We couldn't be more pleased with my ob/gyn (Dr. Z), my Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist (MFM), the hospital, the nursing staff, or the neonatolgist (Dr. G).  We had an opportunity to see the labor and delivery section of the hospital this week...quite by accident.  

We had an appointment with the neonatologist to talk about our birth plan.  When we arrived, we asked for the doctor by name, we were signed in, given paperwork, and sent to Labor & Delivery to meet the doctor.  When we arrived, the nursing staff was ready and waiting to put me into a room.  

"A Room?", I thought out loud.  

One nurse said, "Look how cute she looks, all belly, wouldn't even be able to tell she was pregnant from behind".  Again, I mentioned we were there to see Dr. G...."the neonatologist".  "Ohhhh"...from the nurses.  

Evidently, there's an ob/gyn with the same last name.  While we waited for the right Dr. G to come get us, I had the opportunity to explain our baby's diagnosis.  Well, those nurses...they just wrapped their loving arms (figuratively and literally) around me.  One nurse took us into a labor & delivery suite and asked us if we would have a birth plan for them, explained how things would work as far as she knew, and we were able to ask her questions as well.  A so-called accident...all part of God's loving hands to relieve an area of anxiousness for me.

Then we met with Dr. G, the neonatologist...or, as I explained to Justin, Lily's doctor.  If you remember from a previous post, our ob/gyn had contacted him even before our first appointment (having only heard about our situation).  Dr. Z talked to Dr. G about our baby's diagnosis, prognosis, and opportunities for organ donation.  Since that first conversation, the neonatologist has been looking into many different angles and talking with several organizations and doctors (like transplant teams and cardiac surgeons, etc.) to find some loop-hole to allow us to have the gift of giving.  However, it's kind of tough to go up against a Supreme Court ruling.  I was so impressed that he had put so much effort into trying to meet a need he had heard we wanted.  He was easy to talk to and very knowledgeable.  He told us it didn't matter when we went into labor, he would personally be by Lily's side.  He continued to take us through the different NICU areas and explained different circumstances to us.  At the end of our conversation, he introduced us to one of the NICU nurses.  He explained that she runs a mourning mommies support group.  Again, so touched and grateful to have doctors and nurses that are compassionate and caring! 

I guess that's all the news that's fit to print.  My ob/gyn apts continue to be every 2 weeks.  At my last one, my blood pressure was 120/80...good news there.  It doesn't look like it will be a problem for me this pregnancy.  I continue to measure right on target as well, which is also good news.  From what I understand, anencephalic babies cannot swallow.  This allows the amniotic fluid to continue to build and build.  It typically becomes a problem between 30-33 weeks.  So, I'm thankful that seems to be under control still.

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.   : )    

4 comments:

bugs said...

your story continues to touch my heart - i will continue to pray for you

The Martin Family said...

Jessica - I will be praying for you so much during these next few weeks. You are on my heart often. May you cherish every moment that you have with Lily after her birth and know that whatever happens, she will be in God's loving hands the whole way. Much love, Liz

Julie & Randy Delp said...

My heart and prayers go out to your family. I experienced a miscariage at 11 weeks pregnant last year and that was very hard so I can not even imagine what you are going through. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers too in the upcoming weeks

Trail Rated said...

It was wonderful spending the day with you both (and the kids outside) at the Stones. Kami and I keep you in our prayers.