19 Weeks Along: Week 3 of Bed Rest

Another week has passed and once again we give praise for the positive report we received today at Sanford in Sioux Falls.  We were able to ask many questions  that have been on our minds as well as see a lot of anatomy that is not possible on Orange City's ultrasound machines.  We spoke with Dr. Boyle who
was one of the OB specialists we saw when we were at Sanford three weeks ago.  I think he is just as shocked as we are that we are still here today - with the baby that God has blessed us with.  We reminded him that we are only in this position because God has chose for this to occur - nothing else can explain why things look so positive.  Once again the baby's brain, spine, and heart look fine.  We were able to get a good look at the kidneys for the first time and they are slightly inflamed but nothing to be alarmed about.  Dr. Boyle said many pregnancies have that and sometimes it is just the stage of development where the baby is trying to use them more (18-21 weeks) and therefore they become slightly larger.  We will keep an eye on them but for now do nothing.  We asked what the baby's lungs looked like and he said that there is no way to judge a baby's lungs before they are born.  They are "deflated" until birth because baby gets 100% of oxygen from mom.  So we will never know if the lungs are developed until that point. 

Best news of the day - we have a tiny amount of fluid all of the way around the baby!  Normal would be 9 to 22 centimeters surrounding and we have 2.7 cm. Studies have shown that even mom's who have 1-2 cm have babies with a higher chance of survival than mom's with no fluid.  So we hope we can at least
maintain that amount or increase it slightly.  Three weeks ago I had zero so the doctor was very impressed with this amount as well as how much the baby was moving.

So for now we will continue to have appointments every Friday.  If in five weeks we are still in this position they strongly advise that I be admitted to the Sanford hospital since at that point the baby has a chance of survival.  If things are going good we may try to hold off a little longer just for the comfort of being at
home, more relaxed, and eating your own food.  But, obviously at this point we don't have to think that far ahead - we are just happy to be three weeks further which puts us at 19 weeks along.  The baby is still measuring ahead but our doctor said that could be because Andrew and I are above average in height too.  He was not alarmed and would not change my date to the 20 weeks which baby is measuring.

Once again - thank you for your continued prayers.  Our prayers right now consist of more fluid, patience, and contentment.  I am willing to do whatever I can to give this baby a fighting chance - but that doesn't mean every day is easy.  I would love to be more active and working so pray that I can stay content with being at home and being healthy.  We also ask you send up prayers of thanks - thanks to God for answering our prayers thus far and for keeping me/the baby safe.




19 weeks pregnant - I look forward to Friday's because we get to see the baby
on ultrasound and I get to enjoy being outside of our house for a few short hours.