Week 26 Ultrasound
Hello to you all and glory to our God!
Today was anticipated for the past two weeks, and we looked forward to it with hope and excitement. Our patience was rewarded! There is much information, so I will only hit the highlights. This is Xavier Michael's 26th week, and the week when the doctors were to re-evaluate his viability outside the womb.
The day began with another blood draw from Rebecca because of her two above 150 spikes yesterday. Rebecca had a small breakdown at this, especially since they had to poke her so many times to get blood (one vein collapsed as soon as the needle entered it).
After indulging in Lamar's donuts I brought in, an ultrasound exam was done. Due to construction at the hospital, there are only two rooms for the exam, but three ultrasound machines. Though we waited a little, the third (mobile) unit was wheeled into Rebecca's hospital room by Amanda, a sonographer of ten years. She knew how to work the machine, but she also liked to explain what she was doing. The exam was quick, but informative.
After the exam, Rebecca and I rested a few hours, then took a walk and went to lunch. Soon after our return to the room, five doctors paid us a visit. Team Xavier has expanded! We spent nearly ninety minutes with them. Here is a synopsis of what we learned:
- Xavier gained 4 ounces (90 grams) in the past two weeks. Dr. Winn (who is the leading expert in the state of Colorado on the placenta and pre-eclampsia) said she did not expect Xavier to grow so much in two weeks. That is a great praise report! Two weeks ago Rebecca and I wrote on the white board in the room Xavier's weight goals for the two weeks leading to this ultrasound. Their total: 4 ounces, or 90 grams. I feel a little embarrassed we did not set slightly larger goals.
- Xavier's current weight is about 527 grams, or 1 pound, 3 ounces.
- Xavier's physical development is at 24 weeks; his weight is at 22 weeks. Everything looks healthy.
- Resuscitation will be offered if the baby needs to be delivered. We have made it known that we will accept resuscitation, though Rebecca and I do not feel such an event will occur.
- Xavier's lungs are nearly to a point of being fully formed. His amnio fluid, though low, has been centered around his head. This is another miracle because the fluid was where it needed to be when it needed to be there. There is something about inhaling/exhaling the fluid during the formation of the lungs that strengthens them and gets them to grow and develop properly. During the window his lungs were developing, he had what he needed. Praise God!
These are the highlights for Xavier. I will discuss what he needs later. Xavier is not the only one who got good news today, but his mother also.
Rebecca will be allowed to go home (the Southern Outpost in Westminster). She will be discharged Thursday morning. She will have to remain inactive, spending four to six hours a day laying on her left side (makes me think of Ezekiel). And she will have to drink plenty of liquids. Both of these will greatly enhance the flow of nutrients to Xavier. Also, she will have to perform several self exams and baby exams.
Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, Rebecca will have to return to the hospital for tests and exams. Tuesdays will generally be fetal monitoring, blood and urine samples, prenatal checkups, etc. Fridays will be ultrasound exams. Both doctors, the one she will see on Tuesdays and the one she will see on Fridays are top in their fields. Dr. Winn will be our Friday doctor and will interpret the ultrasound results for us. This is another praise report!
It was explained to Rebecca to imagine she was 400 pounds over weight and that she should do no more activity than someone at that weight could do. The doctors also have determined Rebecca does not have pre-eclampsia nor does she have chronic hypertension. This, too, is a praise report--not only because she does not have these, but that the doctors are comfortable in saying so out loud and to others.
Dr. Winn did stress that she expects Rebecca will develop pre-eclampsia and will have to return to a 7x24 hospital stay later in the pregnancy. When this will occur is not predicable and is one of the things we at home and the doctors during her checkups will be looking for.
Xavier is not "out of the woods". Here are some of the issues:
- At his current weight and level of development, he has a 20 to 30 percent survival rate outside the womb. This is survival only and it will come with an indeterminate list of neural developmental issues such as motor problems, cognitive problems, etc. That is, if he had to be delivered right now.
- Every 100 grams of weight he puts on is a major milestone. 1000 grams gives Xavier a 90 percent chance of survival and a greatly reduced percentage of neural developmental issues.
- Xavier needs to get more oxygen so his kidneys will make more amniotic fluid. The 4-6 hours of Rebecca laying on her left side will greatly help this, as will increasing her fluid intake.
- There may/will come a point when Xavier's growth rate will exceed the placenta's ability to supply him with what he needs. At this point, delivering him will better serve his needs. At what point this will be is not known. It is one of the things the doctors will keep a close eye on.
- The problem, Dr. Winn explained, is that the placenta did not fully integrate into Rebecca's uterine wall (we learned more about the placenta today than I even knew there was to know! The psalmist knew well when he wrote we are "fearfully and wonderfully made"). This is the source of the restricted blood flow. I know we have reported this a few times over the past few weeks, but now it's official and no more a working theory.
Rebecca and I are so thankful for today's report and we give praise and glory to God our Father! We know there is more road to travel, but He has brought us this far, He won't abandon us now.
Thank you all for your prayers. I cannot convey our gratitude for them!
Profile of Xavier at 26 weeks, 2 days (03-Apr-13). You can see both hands in this picture.
This is the white board. The night nurse on April 2nd gave Rebecca her goal. We updated Xavier's today.
Rebecca at lunch in one of the cafeterias. Chicken pot pie, and it was delicious.
This is a quilt Rebecca's mother, Penny, made for Rebecca and me as a one year anniversary gift. It has helped make the hospital room feel more like home and helped Rebecca stay warm through the nights.
Week 26
Greetings to you all and thank you for your prayers and support.
Not much to report today; we are waiting for tomorrow's ultrasound (scheduled for 9:00 AM). It's results will help map out the next few months of our lives.
Rebecca is in good spirits. A good friend spent two hours with her over lunch, where they discussed many things including chicken husbandry. Rebecca's BP has crept back up tonight, and tested above 150. No explanation for this, but we suspect too much sugar from the Sunday Bunny.
Rebecca had another round of blood drawn for her weekly tests. No information about the labs at this time.
Xavier is moving about strongly, his heart rate where it has been these past weeks. We are looking forward to see how much he has grown in the past two weeks. This is week 26 for Xavier, and he has met yet another of his goals! He is already taking after his father and mother in being an over-achiever, so we expect to report exciting news tomorrow! After all, he is being bathed in prayer and love.
The window work at the Northern Outpost finished this afternoon. They all look good. I will definitely be rating the window company highly on the Angie's List survey. The painter/finisher who did the staining and paint touchup also did a fantastic job. Yes, this is a shameless plug as both companies did excellent work.
With the windows in a state of drying, I packed the dog and cat, a jar of Rebecca's homemade pickles, some cosmetics and some clothes into the car and headed south. Lena knew almost immediately she was getting a car ride and tried helping me pack. Poof caterwauled a few minutes after I loaded her into the car, but calmed down quickly and looked content in her carrying cage.
Lena, an old pro at visiting the Southern Outpost, raced me to the front door, then raced up the stairs into the dining area. She stared expectantly, as only dogs can stare, at the place her food dish should be. It would be several minutes before one actually appeared.
Poof was a little timid as she checked out her new surroundings, but has grown relaxed. She never hid. A little more clingy to me tonight, but that's OK for now. Thank you for praying peace over her; she had it even from the start of the car ride.
Always, thank you for your prayers. They are the greatest gift we can ask for.
A view of most of the hospital room as seen from the threshold of the bathroom.
Lena making herself at home at the Southern Outpost. She really is not as pitiable as this picture makes her look.
Poof, our self-cloning fuzzball, seems to be adjusting to her new environment. She has picked this chair as her own. It's the best chair in the room; it also happens to be my chair.
A Lazy First of April
Hello and greetings to all of you. I hope the first day of April did not get the better of you.
Very little to report today.
Rebecca had a visit from one of the three doctors this morning, but she had nothing new to report, nor did she have any new ideas. She stopped by just to check in. Rebecca spent the day cat-napping as she did not get a lot of sleep last night. I had sympathy cat-naps because I did not get much sleep either.
Xavier has been active. Rebecca mentioned to me last night she is feeling him differently, that he has more weight to him. That is exciting!
The window woodwork was stained today. Tuesday the crew is expected to seal the wood and paint the walls. If plans hold, that will lead to Lena and Poof going on a road trip Tuesday night.
Your prayers and support are precious to us all. Thank you for them both.