Week 36 of the pregnancy.
It's been two weeks and one day since we were given the diagnosis of fetal growth restriction. We're back up to the hospital for a VERY important appointment. Today, they are going to measure the growth of our little princess. They haven't had consecutive growth measurements since late June to early July. I guess the standard procedure is that if everything looks good during the mid-twenty weeks, that they don't see you again until around 32-34 weeks. Well, that is how it worked out for us. Week 34 is when they diagnosed her with the growth restriction. They said they needed to wait two weeks to get an accurate measurement of her growth.
As usual, the ultrasound technician was first up to do her thing. But we were thrown for a bit of a loop this time. They basically sent a "tech in training" to do the scans. Ummm...this scan is quite possibly the most important pre-birth scan in my child's life and you send in an intern?
Or to put it into terms guys can better understand. 2 minutes left in the Superbowl, you're down by 6 and you pull your star veteran and put in a rookie? Just....because?
She did inform us though that one of the certified technicians would be watching the scan from another room, which gave us some sense of relief. They freaked us out again though when she told us that we weren't scheduled for a growth scan this time.
Wait just a minute! We were told two weeks after the initial scan, we'd be getting a growth scan.
We pleaded our case and she double checked things. Apparently, they didn't have it marked down. OK, we weren't too impressed with their bookkeeping skills at this point. I understand that everyone makes simple mistakes, but to them we were only temporary patients. To us, this was the well-being of our child we were talking about, basically Jenn and I's entire life. So, it just reminded me that I owe it to Emma to keep them on their toes. If they tell us anything that doesn't match our understanding, that we need to ask for clarification.
Anyway, she does the scan and then a few minutes later, the certified technician comes in and finishes up for her. As has been the case, everything looked good from a movement and vitals standpoint. Their main concern was the amount of growth around her abdomen. Apparently, in asymmetrically restricted babies, that is one of the first areas that becomes malnourished. The nutrients are directed to the brain and other vital organs first. Which makes sense and is a good thing for the overall well-being of the baby.
So, we wait for Dr. Semi-Doom (I officially changed his title since the last time he seemed more optimistic). Jenn and I chat a bit to pass the time.
I can't help but picture us at Disney World. Our little family together, taking Emma on rides and showing her the OTHER princesses. Sure, we wouldn't take her until she is probably about 5 years old or so. But, it's a nice daydream to pass the time.
Finally, the doctor comes in the door and the very first thing he says is...
"We're good".
OK, nice start....could you elaborate, please?
Basically he told us that the baby has shown signs of growth. He is pleased with what he is seeing! Two weeks ago, they estimated her at 3 1/2 lbs. Now they are estimating her at 4 1/2 lbs!
Relief flooded over us. It was the news we had been praying so hard for. I mean, both my wife and I are small. We expected that our baby would probably be small. I'm ok with that, and if anything, I want to teach her not to let her size deter her. OK, so maybe she'll have to wait longer to be allowed to ride rollercoasters. Don't worry, it'll happen!
Anyway, but then he threw in a bit of a twist.
She still isn't growing quite as fast as normal, which is why they (he ran this by his other colleagues) are in agreement. Next Tuesday, Emma will be 37 weeks. In a pregnancy, the time from conception to the due date is 40 weeks. However, they still consider 37 weeks to be "full-term". They have seen enough signs of growth from Emma to feel that it is safe for her to come into the world. They believe it would be better for her to come out, where Jenn's breastmilk and other nutrients could be given to help her. They don't want to wait too long to the point where the placenta is literally starving her of all nutrients and other functions might be affected.
So, ummm...this Tuesday, October 11th, we're having a baby!!! They are going to induce Jenn. They want to start as a natural birth and they will closely monitor things. If there is any sign of distress on baby or mother, they will immediately switch to a C-section. He told us not to be surprised if that would happen, but not to rule out the possibility of a vaginal birth.
So, "Dr. Semi-Doom" officially becomes "Dr. Unexpected". He seems to evolve each week a little.
Wow. Five days to go and she'll be here! What am I doing typing on here?! We still have soooo much to do!
All I can think about is how scary this all is AND at the same time, how good it all is. So, I guess that mean's its...."scary good".
Thanks again to everyone who is supporting our little princess! We cannot express how much that means to us! She hasn't even been born and already she is our everything!
Next week a new chapter in this princess's story will begin. It's not allowed to have any poisoned apples or evil villains (as a probably future over-protective father, I'll leave that role open for her future boyfriends ;)
Rather, this is the part in the story where we're blessed with the sweet baby princess's arrival. It will be a joyous day, many will celebrate across the land...
And...
At least to Jenn and I...
the world will become a little brighter place.
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