4.12.2008

Pretty, Pretty Buster

*Warning: Despite its harmless beginning, the words cervix, placenta, and uterus are used with abandon in the following post.
**Reassurance: I will not be making a habit of continuing weekly posts that contain these words. It's getting pretty redundant.

On Thursday the ultrasound technician said that Buster is "such a pretty baby." She said this several times, but I remain convinced that Buster is a boy. Who else would announce his presence so emphatically to us and the world at large? And if he is a boy, I agree with the technician. He is a pretty baby.


Of course, having never envisioned myself raising girls, I thought that Millie was a boy until the midwife stretched out baby-laden arms to me and pronounced, "It's a girl!" I think that my women's intuition must have been given to someone else. Some lady's walking around out there with twice her fair share, but I'm not complaining. It's kind of fun to be convinced of something, and because I'm convinced of something, assume that the actuality is the opposite. So, yes, I think Buster's a boy. (Which means he's probably a girl.)

I had mixed news at Thursday's appointment. The fluid level is up to 14. Hurrah! After slipping from 12 to 8 in two weeks time, it rose to 14 in one week, which is wonderful considering it had been only 4 points away from when most doctors begin discussing c-section.

Also, my placenta had risen a bit, leaving part of my cervix uncovered. The doctor to whom my midwife transferred me, however, told me that though the placenta previa may change, the more concerning vasa previa I also have is less likely to change. As the uterus expands, it can move the placenta upward and out of the way, but blood vessels from vasa previa "don't really stretch" (which my doctor phrased so technically). Unless these blood vessels somehow become unneeded and wither, they will probably stay put. I have weekly ultrasounds from here on out, and if I begin to bleed from the vasa previa, I'll have to go on hospital bedrest at least temporarily because the blood vessels, though not umbilical cord vessels, are fetal blood vessels carrying life that Buster needs. They'd have to determine if the blood was maternal or Buster's, and, either way, make sure it stopped. So things are about the same, though I was encouraged to see the amniotic fluid levels so high. (And, yes, I continue to hope and pray that God does the unexpected!)


Thanks for your offers of help and, most of all, for your prayers! Buster is one pretty baby. Anything that keeps him pretty inside of me instead of outside me right now makes me happy, even when I get grumpy.

9 comments :

Anonymous said...

Hi Abigail!
Congratulations on your diagnosis of vasa previa! This will save your baby's life! The IVPF recommends pelvic rest, hospitalization in the 3rd trimester (usually between 30 - 32 weeks) and delivery by C-section at 35 weeks.
I was diagnosed at 28 weeks and delivered a healthy son at 36 weeks.
I urge you to join the vasa previa email group (if you haven't done so already) at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Vasa_Previa/. You will find wonderful people there who are filled with information. This diagnosis is the best gift you will ever receive.
Congratulations again and we hope to hear from you!

Kind Regards,
Jennifer Munson, Director
International Vasa Previa Foundation
Mom to Colton, Vasa Previa survivor
http://www.vasaprev ia.org/stories/ survivors/ JenniferMunson. htm

Risk Factors, Testing, and IVPF Management Recommendations for Vasa Previa:
http://IVPF. org/education/ recommendations. htm

Sign up to receive the free IVPF newsletter:
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/IVPF

To join the Vasa_Previa email discussion group, visit:
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Vasa_ Previa

Medical Resources on Vasa Previa
http://IVPF. org/resources/ resources. htm

IVPF Slide Show about vasa previa
online - http://IVPF. org/Docs/ IVPFslideshow. htm

IVPF Brochure
http://IVPF. org/Docs/ IVPFbrochure. PDF

Frequently asked questions about vasa previa:
http://IVPF. org/faqs/ faqs.htm

Sophie's Walk for Vasa Previa
http://SophiesWalk. org/walk

Help us research vasa previa by filling in the IVPF research questionnaire:
http://IVPF. org/education/ questions. htm

Save babies from an untimely death due to vasa previa by JOINING the International Vasa Previa Foundation, Inc. as a participating member! Visit http://IVPF. org/contact/ member.htm

Full of Grace said...

Dear Abbie,
To me, your news isn't so mixed- it sounds encouraging...First your amniotic fluid levels rose quite a bit, and your placenta has risen a bit as well. I am sorry the other hasn't changed really BUT it sounds like buster is holding "his" own :) and that is a GOOD THING :) Praying for You and Buster! Sending a Hug, Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

Hooray for the raise in amniotic fluid levels! I guess that means the bedrest is working, huh?

Still praying. . .

Griffen said...

Me too. Still praying (and that IS one pretty baby. He looks like YOU. I can tell.)

Rebecca said...

Hello Pretty Buster!

heidiann(e) said...

pretty baby. those feet are made for tracking!

Michelle P said...

So glad to hear your fluid levels are up...that's such a praise! :) And by the way, I want to chastise you for calling yourself a lazybones...besides watching your kids, you are doing the very hard work of entertaining me for hours with this thing! :)

sarah said...

I like that babies spunk. He's a trooper. Still praying, and praising God for your good news!

Abigail said...

Still thanking you all.

Heidi,
That made me laugh. Hopefully, Buster will teach me a thing or two. (Turkey-crows, beware!)