We go back for the sonogram and the same sonographer who scanned me at 20 weeks was scanning me again today. She remembered doing my scan and the news we had learned from that day. We discussed what I knew since that day and I asked her to let me know of anything new she found today. Today Baby Nelson was weighing, according to the sonogram, 4 lbs 15 oz - he has gained over a pound in a week and half. Remember that he can still gain weight because he is gaining nutrition from me, but his abdomen is dilated with fluid retention. His heart rate today was 126. It is so bitter sweet to hear this sound knowing the outcome of our baby boy, but also comforting to know he is with me today. She continues to take some measurements - leg bone and arm bone are measuring at 30 weeks, head is at 32 weeks, and abdomen is measuring at 37 weeks. I was surprised to hear that his abdomen is measuring 3 more weeks than just a week and half ago, 10 weeks ahead of his gestational age. When we were at the high risk OB, he mentioned that this could be concerning and something that might make us consider delivering early - this was definitely something that would be discussed today with my OB. As I have stated many times, his tummy is extremely dilated, just to give you a perspective, his tummy is bigger than his head. It is definitely hard to see images of his tummy with the dilated / cystic kidneys, ureters, and bladder. I also asked the sonographer about my amniotic fluid and how that was measuring - remember I have low amniotic fluid. She measured my fluid level being at 2.56 cm and said that she was being generous. For a normal pregnancy, amniotic fluid should measure between 8 cm and 15 cm, and when it drops below 8 cm they become concerned.
When we get back to see my doctor my first question was regarding his tummy and possibility of delivering earlier than we anticipated. She said that is something to consider and we could possibly deliver at 34 weeks. Timing is not always your best friend and in our case this couldn't be more true. Our first son's birthday falls right before I am 36 weeks. If we deliver at 34 weeks, all that is going on with Baby Nelson would fall around our first son's special day. I told the doctor this and asked her if this became something we truly needed to discuss, could we possibly do it earlier. I wanted my recovery and all that is going to come along with this to heal in time to celebrate his birthday. She agreed that this was important and said that we could work around this. Due to his abdomin being so dilated my OB recommended me switching my high risk OB appointment to next Thursday, March 6th to see if he had any concerns or recommendations for my delivery. Since we would be flying for our vacation, my friend told me I might want to ask about compression socks since I was swelling so bad already, so I did. However, the doctor said that compression socks would give comfort but not stop the swelling, and that I just needed to get up and walk around when I could. Boy were we in desperate need of a vacation and looking forward to this - bring on the cankles, I can take it!!
I also asked my OB about how we will take care of getting the CMA (chromosomal microarray analysis) done at the time of delivery, since this was something that our genetic counselor asked us to have done to figure out were the extra material from chromosome four came from. The doctor said that it was good I brought this up as we would also need to figure out if Texas Children's would want to complete the autopsy of him.
I know this might be hard to read, just as you might think it is hard for me to discuss with the doctors. Understand that we would love for complete and ultimate healing of our son, but we also know what our reality is and we must plan accordingly while we lift him up in prayers. So my doctor gave me some tasks of calling my clinical coordinator and my genetic counselor at TCH to complete along with my packing. I had to do this just in case we deliver sooner than later. Pending what we find out with these two unknowns would determine whether I could deliver with her, or have to deliver downtown with my high risk OB. I am extremely partial to my OB and would love to deliver with her, but I also understand why I might need to deliver downtown.
I also asked my OB about how we will take care of getting the CMA (chromosomal microarray analysis) done at the time of delivery, since this was something that our genetic counselor asked us to have done to figure out were the extra material from chromosome four came from. The doctor said that it was good I brought this up as we would also need to figure out if Texas Children's would want to complete the autopsy of him.
I know this might be hard to read, just as you might think it is hard for me to discuss with the doctors. Understand that we would love for complete and ultimate healing of our son, but we also know what our reality is and we must plan accordingly while we lift him up in prayers. So my doctor gave me some tasks of calling my clinical coordinator and my genetic counselor at TCH to complete along with my packing. I had to do this just in case we deliver sooner than later. Pending what we find out with these two unknowns would determine whether I could deliver with her, or have to deliver downtown with my high risk OB. I am extremely partial to my OB and would love to deliver with her, but I also understand why I might need to deliver downtown.
I make the phone calls to both my clinical coordinator and my genetic counselor after I finish up and drop off my sweet friend. The genetic counselor says that it would not be a problem for me to deliver at my hospital with my OB as long as certain steps are followed in order to ensure that we get the blood for the CMA. She told me she would follow up with my OB and get her all the information she would need in order to make sure that this could be done. My next call to the clinical coordinator was to discuss if TCH would want to do my son's autopsy and how we would go about getting this taken care of properly if I delivered at my hospital, or do I need to deliver downtown. She said that they do have a doctor who specializes in autopsies of fetal / newborn abnormalities and anomalies. She said that she would contact her and get back with me regarding all the above questions. After a few hours, she contacts me stating that she would be able to do this and I would not need to deliver downtown, but there was some paperwork that would need to be taken care of by my doctor - I forward this on to my OB. It was a relief hearing from both of them that I would, more than likely, be able to deliver at my hospital with my OB instead of having to deliver downtown.
As I finish this post I want to thank you all again for the continual prayers, love and support. Also a special thank you to my friend who gave up her morning to come with me, you are truly wonderful in so many ways!! It is times like these that remind us we truly have an amazing group of family and friends to help us through this journey.
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
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