The Placentally Fainthearted May Skip This

On the way home from my last midwife appointment yesterday, Annika was singing Buster's Song, which changed each time she sang it. Since we first knew of Buster, all the girls have loved to touch my belly, kiss Buster, and talk to him or her using my bellybutton as a conduit (though Millie wouldn't do it until Buster's ears had finally developed enough to hear; she saw no sense in her words falling on deaf ears, I suppose). Recently, they're getting even more excited to greet this baby, as are John and I. (As she sings below, "but den, her hadded to wait long.")





On Wednesday I went to a local hospital to have a Level II sonogram. After that, I had a "consultation" appointment with the area's go-to doctor for high-risk pregnancies. He was a roly-poly man with a soft, accented voice, and he'll deliver Buster if they have to perform a c-section before 36 weeks. This latest sonogram upgraded my placenta's placement to complete placenta previa, and I still have vasel previa (I think that's how he spelled it), which the doctor said, "Is veddy rare. We see it in books, but..." They're pretty certain that the blood vessels stretched across the side of my cervix are from the placenta and aren't attached to Buster directly, which is a very good thing, but the complete previa was a bit disheartening.

Yesterday, I had my last meeting with my midwife, who formally transferred me to the doctor who will deliver Buster if they perform a c-section at 36 weeks or after. I get to meet him next week, right before I have ANOTHER sonogram. Poor Buster's getting zapped all over the place, but this next sonogram is necessary to again check the amniotic fluid levels. Wednesday's sonogram showed that in the two weeks since my last sonogram, the fluid level had dropped by a third.

Sooo, this brings me to the last point of interest. The high-risk doctor and my midwife agreed that to help the amniotic fluid level and to avoid bleeding from the previa, I should be on bed rest. BED REST?!?!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Sad, but true. When I gave her a look of utter consternation, she lightened her pronouncement of complete bed rest to "at the least modified bed rest," which I was glad about until she defined it. It sounds too much like complete bed rest to me, though I am allowed to make an occasional supper and, if I go stir-crazy, visit someone, provided I sit while I'm there. No grocery shopping, carrying laundry up the stairs (tho' I'm allowed to fold!), standing for long, walking about, enjoying spring, planting my garden-ARGH! MY GARDEN!--and such like strenuous activities. Today's been an exercise in trying to find a balance between the impossibility of bed rest and the wisdom of keeping Buster safely curled within, regrettably erring on the impossibility of bed rest.


Case in point: Within five minutes of arriving home from the appointment, I heard loud clanks and clunks. Three fisherman were trying their luck while leaning over the upstairs bookshelf.

I write wryly, but I do realize the importance of avoiding what could cause Buster to arrive sooner than anyone would like. I am eager to hold this baby, but not in an emergency scenario at the cost of Buster's health, so while the girls sleep, here I sit....blogging. And blogging... And, while I do that, I blog some more....

Request: please pray that I'm not an idiot, that I find that balance, and that I can subdue selfish desires to VACUUM and GARDEN and SEE THE WORLD for the sake of this dear baby.

Those of you who pray for Buster's continued health who also continue to pray with hope that the Lord work the unexpected with my misbehaving placenta, feel free to continue! Though I am preparing mentally and emotionally for a c-section, I, too, offer up prayers throughout the week that if Buster and I would be safe with a natural birth, and that if the Lord is willing, that He shift what seems to be most likely.

I know the God who created the universe with a word, who raised the sea in towering walls, and who tenderly knits Buster together as I type can do this more easily than I draw breath. I also know that He may, in His whole knowing and wisdom, choose not to do so, so I try to find the balance between a child's faith and preparing for what may be.

God is good, and though John and I already have such strong ties with this unborn child, Buster is much more God's than ours. He's the Shaper and the Keeper and, unsleeping, He watches over His own.