"Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart." Psalm 27:14
Thanks for being curious about Benji's story. It's only just beginning, but so much has happened already. We are running a marathon - not a sprint - to safely bring this sweet baby boy into the world. Jason and I agreed we were finally ready to share the ongoing story of this second pregnancy. I'll try to keep the graphic details to a minimum, though I'm going to throw the words 'placenta' and 'cervix' and 'uterus' around A LOT. You've been warned.
Thanks for being curious about Benji's story. It's only just beginning, but so much has happened already. We are running a marathon - not a sprint - to safely bring this sweet baby boy into the world. Jason and I agreed we were finally ready to share the ongoing story of this second pregnancy. I'll try to keep the graphic details to a minimum, though I'm going to throw the words 'placenta' and 'cervix' and 'uterus' around A LOT. You've been warned.
Flash back to January 23rd. I would've been about 22 weeks pregnant. At the time, we were aware of my placenta previa from my 20 week gender ultrasound. We knew the previa existed and it was in the back of our minds it could complicate my pregnancy, but we really didn't spend much time dwelling on this information. That evening we were at a friend's house when I knew something was not right. I went to the bathroom and quickly realized my jeans were full of blood. We left immediately and Jason dropped me off at the Emergency Room, while he arranged for Isaiah to go to a friend's house. The amazing folks at the birthing center at KVH stabilized me, but made it clear they were not comfortable keeping me in Ellensburg. They called for an ambulance and arranged for my transfer to Swedish First Hill in Seattle. By this time, it was nearing 10:00 PM and Snoqualmie Pass was scheduled to close for avalanche control at 11:00. The nurses at the birthing center communicated with Jason and encouraged him to GO and simply get over the pass before it closed. My ambulance crew with Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue radioed the DOT and asked them to keep the pass open until we drove through. Talk about amazing teamwork!
We arrived at Swedish First Hill close to midnight. Jason made it over the pass just fine and we were quickly reunited. They got us settled into a room in the Antepartum Department (AKA the "Stay Pregnant" Department) and I spent the next two days being monitored. My bleeding had subsided. I was not contracting at all. Benji's heart rate continued to be strong and consistent. The overall feeling was that I was not in imminent danger and the baby was safe and secure. I was discharged after a two night stay, with the request from my referring OB in Ellensburg to stay near medical care in the Seattle area out of an abundance of caution. We agreed we would continually reevaluate the possibility of returning to Ellensburg as the weeks ticked by.
Once in Seattle, a series of ultrasounds revealed my placenta was significantly more abnormal and fragile than originally detected in Ellensburg. The typical placenta is an organ with one lobe, that sits high in the uterus. My placenta is bi-lobed and sits very low in my uterus. The placental bodies are attached, but only by a thin membrane connecting the two lobes. To add to the fragility, Benji's umbilical cord insertion happens to fall on the thin membrane between the two placental lobes.
Since being discharged from Swedish in January, I have resided in and around the Seattle area with a few incredibly generous souls. Jason and Isaiah have proven to be road warriors, traveling back and forth to spend weekends with me. We have made the most of our weekends as a family in Seattle; visiting the zoo, parks, and beaches.
Since being discharged from Swedish in January, I have resided in and around the Seattle area with a few incredibly generous souls. Jason and Isaiah have proven to be road warriors, traveling back and forth to spend weekends with me. We have made the most of our weekends as a family in Seattle; visiting the zoo, parks, and beaches.
Fast forward to right now. This coming Friday, March 4th, I'll reach 28 weeks in my pregnancy. Already into my third trimester! A milestone! I have been feeling great and have had no further complications. We were confident I would get the "all clear" to return home. Maybe overly confident. Plans were being made for packing my things, moving back, and welcome home parties.
However, another follow-up ultrasound this past week shed further light on just how complicated my placenta situation is. To be specific, I have something called vasa previa. Remember the thin membrane stretching between the two placental lobes? That membrane is full of critical blood vessels keeping my son alive. That thin membrane also happens to be entirely covering my cervix. Baby's natural exit route to the outside world. I absolutely can not go into natural labor. The result would be catastrophically dangerous to Benji. We are praising God for the early detection of this condition! Seeing as my doctor was quick to point out that babies born to women whose vasa previa went undetected typically hemorrhage to death during childbirth.
SO. I can not return home to Ellensburg right now. It is out of the question. The safest place for Benji and I these next two months is, undoubtedly, back in the hospital. Just in case I should start bleeding or go into preterm labor, we can be whisked into an emergency C-section. I will be admitted back to the Antepartum department at Swedish First Hill this week. I will be in the hospital until Benji is delivered via C-section at about 35 weeks. He will then most likely spend a few weeks in the NICU, depending on his lung development. Long story short, when I finally get to return home (hopefully in May) I'm going to have my infant with me.
The thought of going back into the hospital for at least another two months is overwhelming. The feeling of missing out on Isaiah's last weeks as our only child at home has me grieving. I am sad to not have the opportunity to nest at home and prepare for my son; painting and decorating his room, washing and folding his tiny clothes. Yet, I am fully aware of the reality of this high risk pregnancy. I do not question for one second what must be done. I am a momma to two little boys now and sweet Benji needs me in Seattle and in the hospital. The successful delivery of a healthy baby boy will far outweigh any temporary struggles and hurts. We will do what we have to do.
Today we choose to "be of good courage". We make the choice to be brave. I know Jason, Isaiah, and I were made for a time such as this. We trust, wholeheartedly, that God will not throw anything our way he doesn't fully equip us to handle. Benji Carl, you are so loved already, dear one. We're anxious to meet you sweetheart, but please take your time arriving to the party. We can wait. :)
The thought of going back into the hospital for at least another two months is overwhelming. The feeling of missing out on Isaiah's last weeks as our only child at home has me grieving. I am sad to not have the opportunity to nest at home and prepare for my son; painting and decorating his room, washing and folding his tiny clothes. Yet, I am fully aware of the reality of this high risk pregnancy. I do not question for one second what must be done. I am a momma to two little boys now and sweet Benji needs me in Seattle and in the hospital. The successful delivery of a healthy baby boy will far outweigh any temporary struggles and hurts. We will do what we have to do.
Today we choose to "be of good courage". We make the choice to be brave. I know Jason, Isaiah, and I were made for a time such as this. We trust, wholeheartedly, that God will not throw anything our way he doesn't fully equip us to handle. Benji Carl, you are so loved already, dear one. We're anxious to meet you sweetheart, but please take your time arriving to the party. We can wait. :)
