The Scoop

This afternoon I carted Randi, via wheelchair, to the perinatologist's office for our regularly schedule scans. We were moved from the 2 p.m. slot to the 3:15 slot to make sure that she was the last patient that he saw this afternoon.

During the ultrasound, the doctor came in to witness them for himself, a first. The fluids and Albumin were not able to reverse the reverse flow of blood at the umbilical cord insertion. This obviously had us at a loss. Parks is completely encroaching upon Wyatt, and we feared that we would not get an accurate measurement again. Remember that we are 32 weeks, 5 days today. Parks head measured 35 weeks, and his belly measured 33 weeks. He is weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces. All the blood flow issues are looking great for him. Wyatt is, of course, a different story. His head is measuring 29 weeks, and his belly is measuring 27 weeks. He is FINALLY weighing in over 2 pounds, an answer to prayer. He is a full 2 pounds, 4 ounces. Of course the sonographer was sure to let us know that the measurement may not have been exactly accurate due to his position. This is what we thought two weeks ago when he only weighed 1 lb 11 oz. We are hoping he really weighed more then, and the measurement today was at least closer to accurate.

The consult after the scans was the heaviest since we had the "no babies delivered before 28 weeks" discussion at 24 weeks that left Randi in tears as we left his office. The doctor gave us the option of delivering tomorrow, but he truly believed that we could make it the extra week with Wyatt still in reverse end diastolic flow. He wanted Randi to come in every couple days for non-stress tests (NST's), hydration, and ultrasound scans. Randi and I did not feel comfortable with this. We, at least, wanted her to get monitored every day. Randi decided to bite the bullet and take it one step further. She is at home tonight to get her metaphorical house in order, and she will return to Labor and Delivery tomorrow for the duration of the pregnancy. She will have fetal heart rate monitoring at least three to four times per day and fluids and Albumin treatments as long as the blood work continues to look good and her body can handle the additional fluids. If we make it all week, it sounds like we will deliver next Saturday, exactly 34 weeks, but if at any time the babies look distressed or fail a biophysical profile, we will be transferred to the NICU hospital for delivery.

What is the point in waiting, and who does it benefit? Parks will reap the greatest benefit from the prolonged stay at the In Utero Motel. At 34 weeks gestation, he has almost a 100% chance of arriving unscathed from the pregnancy. The main thing is his lungs will be more developed and he will have virtually no chance of respiratory distress. The additional week will allow both boys time to develop their suck/swallow reflex coordination to aid in feeding once they arrive.

So, this will be our reality until we create a new one with the birth of our two sons. Randi said it before, but I will say it again...thank you so very much for all that you have done for us, no matter how small you believe your part has been, it really means a lot to us both.