Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Dereliction of a Blogger and a Cervix

For many days now I have been wanting to blog but either too busy or too tired to write anything! First I didn't want to write to complain about the 60 days we've spent traveling or living in an on post hotel (because it can get old after awhile). Then I was way too busy partying like a pregnant woman (ie eating and providing old friends with copious amounts of alcohol) in California! Hitting the ground running when I landed back in Alaska, I've been busy closing on our new house. More on all of these fun fantastic events later as they definitely deserve their own posts.

Last night I surpassed my dereliction of duty as blogger and added an MIA cervix to boot. Yes, just when I thought everything was okay and I was ready to start preparing for this baby....my incompetent cervix hit.

On Friday, my husband and I shared a little loving which has been far and few between with our mutual fear of somehow hurting baby E. Later that night I noticed the mucus I had been discharging for about a week was tinged with blood which made me a little nervous. When I called L & D to check with the nurse, she indicated that it was probably something coming loose from earlier in the day. So I continued on with life, checking but not worried about this. However, on Monday,  it got worse which prompted phone call #2. The nurse didn't think that it was too much of a problem, but said to go ahead and come in anyway just to check.

When I arrived, they hooked me up to hear the baby's heartbeat and for contractions which they said I was not having. After finishing the vaginal exam, the doctor asked me, "How much do you know about pregnancy complications?" Dum dum dum. You really don't want your doc asking you that! I braced myself said, "enough to know a lot of crappy things can happen." To make a long story short, I was four inches dilated with the amniotic sac and feet hanging through my cervix. Antibiotics to ward off infection and steroids for baby E's lungs were administered. They transferred me by ambulance to the larger hospital in Anchorage with the NICU (which I came to find out is ranked #2 in the country). There, I had definite contractions which slowed down a little with some lovely drugs. My new doc shot very straight telling us we had three options: 1) Have surgery to put in a cervical stitch after they pushed the amniotic sac and feet back in and then remain on bed rest in the hospital until delivery; 2) do nothing and bed rest in hospital until delivery, or 3) deliver him right then.  We went with option one even though it's not typical to do this stitch after about 22 weeks. We didn't really have anything to lose with option one and our doc has had success with this even past the 22 week mark.

I may be kind of morbid in this sense, but I have the knowledge that with any surgery there are risks. So I told my husband that if I died, to know that I loved him and to make sure baby E knew I loved him dearly.  After many phone calls to my family, I finally managed to wake my dad up and let him know what was going on. They whisked me off to surgery immediately after this. Thankfully everything went smoothly and they had me tucked away in the prenatal ward in the early morning. Where now I sit typing this and will remain for either the duration of my pregnancy or possibly until 32 weeks if I have someone to take care of me at home.

Speaking of home, my terrific husband is going to get to receive our household goods and unpack all by his lonesome AGAIN! Last time we arrived somewhere new, I was in my 2WW for IVF #2. He had the whole  house unpacked in four days! Now he gets to do this again which will actually be a great distraction for him instead of sitting here with me.

The whole ordeal is in perspective for me. While I don't love or even like that this happened, I am grateful that everything is okay for now. I'm ecstatic that we're at 27 weeks and have a chance at a viable healthy baby. I know that I love my husband, my family, my friends, and my baby B. It could be better, but it could be a lot worse. So for that I'm grateful.

xoxo

25 comments:

  1. Scary! I am just glad you are at viability! And that there is a plan in motion...Baby B could definitely stand to have some more growin in there! Good luck!

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  2. OMG jen, this isn't just a little scare. wtf? okay, i am glad i read this and know what is happening. how the hell are we to help being so far away. :(
    love you and thinking of you! - wendi

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  3. Sheesh! Glad everything is staying put, so to speak. I hope the next several months pass quickly and the bed rest does the trick. Hang in there!

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  4. oh friend... I hate that you are up there, and not in a hospital here! I pray for you daily, and that (of course) will continue... If you ever need a distraction, I can text at work all day... :)

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  5. Prayers galore on the way! Hang in there--and keep baby E right where he is!

    Sending good thoughts Jen...

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  6. jen, im so sorry this happened! im more that elated that you and baby E are doing well and glad that you updated. i have been thinking of you a lot lately! i hope you will continue to keep us up to date about you guys. as someone who may need a cerclage in the future, does it hurt down there afterwards?? just curious.
    so happy you are being taken care of and watched.
    ill be praying for you
    xoxo
    lis

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  7. Oh Jen!!! I have been thinking of you and was trying to comment on your last post to see if you were ok since it has been ages since you posted last but i keep getting an error and am unable to comment (hope this one slips through).
    What an ordeal and I am just flabbergasted at your ability to just deal with it. You are so right and your ability to be grateful with such clarity right now is amazing. I am glad you're there and being looked after well. I hope your hubby puts everything in the right place when he unpacks your house!!!!! xxxx

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  8. Oh my goodness. Whoa. I had to go back and reread to be sure of what I was actually reading. Sheesh, I'm happy that they were able to get things stitched up and sorry that you had to go through such a scary thing. Loads and loads of prayers going up for you and your family tonight (and for the remainder of your pregnancy). Hugs.

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  9. So sorry you've had this big of a scare! But I'm glad you have some great perspective and support, and that they were able to put in the stitch to hold you over for as long as possible! Thinking of you!

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  10. Praying for you and Baby E <3

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  11. Wow. hang in there. I am pulling for you and baby E.

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  12. I've been thinking of you lately and hoping that everything was going ok. I was hoping you were just busy moving into your new house. Sorry that you are going through all of this but happy that it seems like you are in good hands. Hopefully Baby E will hand in there for at least another 5 weeks.

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  13. I'm relieved that you went with the cerclage! I'm glad you're doing well so far (or at least sound very well), minus the whole bit about trying to organize and run your life from a hospital bed. I'm so sorry! I was bracing myself for a terrible ending to this post, and I just can't tell you how relieved I am that E is still inside you and that you're healthy. So glad you've got such a sweet hubby, too. :)

    Let us know what we can do to keep you entertained and supported, girl. Keeping you in my thoughts!

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  14. Yikes! This must be a really scary time for you. You're right, though, that you have an excellent chance of delivering a viable baby, especially since the NICU in Anchorage is so amazing. And on the plus side, with all the time you suddenly have on your hands, you'll be able to write as many blog posts as you can stomach! Hope the little one stays put for many more weeks.

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  15. Wow - this is so scary, especially right after moving! I'm so happy they were able to catch it in time, and everything looks ok now. Thinking of you!

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  16. Hoy shit, Jen -- I'm glad everything is ok, but that type of scare you do. not. need. I hope that you are taking their advice and resting away -- just sit around, drink a lot of liquids, and concentrate on gestating (or sleeping).

    Glad to hear from you, though. Let's let the next update be less dramatic, though, ok?

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  17. What and ordeal! I'm so glad you made it through the surgery and are taking care of yourself and baby E.

    Hang in there!

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  18. Wow. I'm happy to hear that you and baby are still ok, but what a scary thing to go through. I'll be thinking of you, and hoping that things continue very uneventfully. Sorry about the bedrest, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right? It'll all be worth it in the end.

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  19. Oh wow! I can't imagine how scary this was and continues to be. I will be thinking and praying for you on bedrest and your husband as well.

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  20. Wow, Girl! I was starting to wonder about ya! I'm hoping your little one stays put for 10 more weeks at least! (BTW, I'm pretty sure you meant 4cm, not inches. lol)

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  21. Oh my goodness...what a close call. I'm so glad you got into the Dr. and they were able to put the stitch in. I will be praying your little boy stays in there for several more weeks and comes out healthy and chubby! Hang in there...I hear bedrest is grueling....but I know you can do it! The reward is just too great not to.
    kd

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  22. I know how scary and incompetent cervix is. I had a cerclage placed at 22 weeks (my cervix had shortened to 1 inch) and then went on modified bed rest. I am Active Duty also but was able to work from home until I delivered my donor egg twins at 33 weeks and they are doing well. Follow your OB's instructions and all should go fine. The hardest thing for me was calming down and not doing as much. I tried to make a schedule while on bedrest and fill it with activities I could pass the time with. Best wishes to you and your DH!

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  23. Dang girl...I'm so sorry that you are having to go through this. Praying for you and your little boy!

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  24. GIRL!!! Where have I been?? Hugs love and prayers to you my friend. HOW SCARY! You have such a great attitude!

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  25. omfg! You have a such an awesome attitude. I think you are made of steel and concrete. I am glad you are stable. The time will fly. 27 weeks is great!!

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