28 week Update

I had another ultrasound and doctors appointment yesterday.

After my last appointment, two weeks ago, I left feeling very confused. Every doctor and nurse I have spoken with suggested that with a known vasa previa (some have this but have no symptoms and it goes undetected until they inspect the placenta post birth) that the standard procedure is early admission at 32 weeks and an early c-section around 35 weeks.
So when my doctor said she was holding out hope that I would carry this baby to term and have a vaginal birth - we left feeling very optimistic but then very confused.

This last ultrasound and appointment have cleared a few things up - which is what I was really hoping for.
The ultrasound yesterday showed that the exposed vessel and placenta have not budged an inch. In fact the exposed vessel is still right over the cervix. The chances of it moving enough to safely have a vaginal birth are pretty much gone at this point.
So - the plan right now is ultrasounds at 30 and 32 weeks. At 32 weeks if things are still looking ok and there are no signs of early labour she says that I might be able to stay home until 33 weeks (approx. May 5) And then they will look at taking baby by section in the 35th week (May 20-23).

I asked, why early admission? Why take baby early by section?
- the rationale for these things has mostly to do with things that happen in late pregnancy and any remote chance of early labout putting baby in grave risk. The risks increase the later into the pregnancy we go.
- If something goes sideways in the hospital, baby can be delivered and resucitated within minutes. If something goes sideways at home and I have to go by ambulance or drive be driven there is a chance that we can lose the baby.
- Because the exposed vessels are still right over the cervix, we do not want baby to drop (as they do in the final weeks of pregnancy), to engage in the pelvis and place extra pressure on the vessels.
- If my water were to break with those vessels in their current location they would likely break and cause baby to bleed.

The good news?
This is going to be another really big baby. As I mentioned in my last blog entry, Jack was 9lb 13oz at birth, just 3oz shy of 10lb.
Two weeks ago at the 26 week ultrasound this baby was estimated to be 2lb (average is 1.4lb).
At the ultrasound yesterday baby was estimated to be 3.7lb, and is now off the charts!!! He gained 1.7 pounds in 2 weeks. (The generic 'he', as opposed to 'It', we don't know the gender). This is great news considering baby is measuring 4 weeks bigger than gestational age and will be taken 4 weeks early. And the really great news is that I don't have to push this one out a key hole.

Thank you all, for your continued support. We could use continued prayer that the rest of the pregnancy goes well. That there is no further bleeding over the next month or I will admitted even earlier. And that the birth is uneventful and uncomplicated.

Lots of Love.