The OBs always ask if I have any questions and I openly admitted that the delivery has been on my mind. My OBs all have different opinions about the optimal time for delivery. It has been determined that our delivery will take place between 34-36 weeks. Depending on the day or the doctor, we get a variety of answers about the "best" timing for this birthday. To any outsider it seems like an obvious answer, keep the baby in the belly as long as possible right?!? It is a little more complicated than that.
With a Vasa Previa as you get further along in pregnancy there is an increased risk for one of the exposed umbilical cord blood vessels to rupture. This would be a medical emergency and dangerous for our baby. Even though a 34 week delivery seems very early, our neonatologist does not expect any long term complications if the baby was delivered at this age. The baby would probably spend some time in the NICU (learning to feed and grow) and then come home. Not a big deal, I'm sure this would be very challenging for us emotionally, but it the grand scheme of things it would be a very small speed bump.
I would LOVE to carry this baby until 36 weeks. If we get to 36 weeks there would be a very good chance that the baby could dodge the NICU completely! But I absolutely do not want to put my baby at risk for something dangerous to happen...so you can see this is a very tough subject. Greg and I are open to the "wait and see" approach also known as the "give Amelia an anxiety attack" approach. Basically, they will evaluate us (contractions, cervical length, NSTs, ultrasounds) on a daily basis once we get back to the hospital and determine the delivery date based on how stable things look. We don't know what the best method is, and our doctors openly admit they don't have the answer either, but this is the plan (for now). With pregnancy I have learned that things are always subject to change.
The timing for delivery has been such a sore subject. I have been shocked at how openly people seem to pass judgement. When I was in the hospital last week I had a nurse tell me that, "you have to do what is best for baby and that means keeping her in your belly as long as possible..." That was so hurtful. It almost felt like she was insinuating that I was trying or electing to wrap up this pregnancy early which is pure insanity!! Of course we want to do what is best for our baby but after seeking out the opinions of several specialists it may turn out that a 34 week delivery is best, we just won't know until we get there. I guess our situation might be challenging for some people to understand, but how rude to assume that we would do anything but what is best for this little one!
Tomorrow is a big appointment with our Perinatologists, the highlight being a growth check for our little girl. We can't wait to see how chubby she is getting and with any luck maybe we will get a peek at her cute little face :)
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2 comments:
Good luck at your peri appt. I always find it amazing how openly rude people can be. Of course you will do what is best for your baby. You're a wonderful mom and whatever decision you and your doctors make will be the best for your little girl. Good luck with your decision.
Birth and pregnancy is when you get all sorts of "advice" from all sorts of people. It's so annoying. I hope I'm never guilty of it. I have lots of strong opinions about it, but I try to keep them to myself. Everyone is more happy that way. :) Tough decision on the 34, 36 week thing. I think I would do whatever it takes to keep my kid out of the NICU, but then again I would also do whatever it takes to not have those blood vessels rupture. Is week 35 an option? lol.
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