Landry is here!

July 7th, 2012 at 10:57pm
4 lbs 6 oz 16 1/4" long

It's been a whirlwind of events and it's still going! Just wanted to upload some cell phone pics

34 week appt update

I had my regular OB appt today and was hoping for some reassurance from last weeks peri appt, no such luck.

I first had the ultrasound and Joe said he's grown but is still behind by same rate as Thursday. He's grown to 1818 grams (4 lbs) and is still 7th percentile.
I also lost 2 pounds from Thursday(no bueno!)

Dr. B walked in and said there's just no sugar coating this. He's behind and it's not looking good. He is having to make energy choices because my placenta isn't providing him with what he needs. Right now he is deciding to protect his major organs and grow his brain (thats why his head is still measuring within range) this is called asymmetrical IUGR. There's a fine line we have to walk. She said at some point soon she will look at me and say he's safer outside vs. inside. Could be today, could be tomorrow, could be in 2 weeks. Right now he needs to stay inside, he's still growing slowly, moving and practicing his breathing. We will be lucky to get 2 more weeks out of me but that's the goal.

I go to the high risk doc at the hospital on Thursday for another growth scan and umbilical artery scan to look at the blood flow restriction. Then return to Dr B on Monday for a repeat growth scan. She told me to have my bags packed and bring with me at both appts in case they decide to deliver :( she even had my appt on Monday scheduled for 1st thing in morning so if we need to induce we can get an early start, that doesn't sound hopeful!

I'm nervous for this little guy, I definitely don't want him at risk inside me nor to see him in the nicu. I'm reminding myself often that we will do whatever for healthy! If that means time in nicu, I just don't know how I'm gonna leave him there, might camp out if I have to!

Praying no nicu!
The Macs

Little Man

Little man is indeed little! As many of you know, I have several health issues that cause my pregnancies to be high risk. These, in return, put Landry at risk for something called IUGR, Interuterine growth restriction. Basically the baby doesn't grow well inside for several different reasons, one of which is poor blood flow through the umbilicord or because the placenta isn't functioning properly. We've been lucky to escape this with prior pregnancies but unfortunately it seems we've landed here with Landry.

Today I heard words such as liver isn't growing, small abdominal circumference, abnormal growth, fetal mortality. All very scary when a perinatalogist is talking about your baby. Basically, if you measure below 10th percentile the baby has IUGR and is at risk for things I wish not to think about.

The short version of what we learned to is that:

A) I grow small babies - given the fact that Brody was 6 lbs 2 ounces and Jaxson was 4 lbs 15 ounces so we don't expect Landry to be a robust 8-9 pounder.
B) Landry is even smaller because there is some restriction with my blood flow and my placenta isn't working like it should. He's at risk and we have to watch him very carefully. We will be having ultrasounds and non stress test twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) and more than likely I will have a 3rd ultrasound once a week with the perinatalogist to watch the blood flow.

The hope is to get 2-3 weeks out of this pregnacy for Landry to gain weight and develop more. If, at any point he stops growth all together or my blood flow worsens he will be delivered immediately. So at any one of these appointments they could pull the plug and we induce right then and there (eek!)

Dr. Tabor (perinatalogist) will send this report to my OB, Dr. Bradford and we will decide on Monday if I should: get steroid shots to develop lungs quicker in case of delivery, go on bedrest to try and encourage growth and discuss fetal kick counts as they are below what they should be. I should feel 10/hour after eating and laying down and I only feel 3-4/hour, if that.

Stats (for my memory):
I'm 34 weeks and Landry's measurements are:
Head: 34 weeks
Belly: 29 weeks 6 days
Femur: 30 weeks
Weight: 3 lbs 10 oz
7th percentile on growth chart overall

To say I'm not worried would be a lie. I think mainly because I feel so helpless. We are in limbo and there's absolutely nothing I can do but pray! He's too early to deliver without being in NICU and having complications and he's not in that healthy of a place inside me. I'd almost rather be in the hospital strapped to monitors so that I knew he was ok in there vs. going 2-3 days holding my breath that he's ok. I don't even know if he will gain enough weight to stay out of the NICU if we do make it 2-3 weeks. At that point he might only be 4 1/2 pounds...so many variables and unknowns.

So that is where we are at. I will update Monday after my appointment.
Til then

1st unexpected visit to dr

I've been telling hubby for over a week now that I felt Landry was trying to bust out from sides and that my ribs were killing me. I've also had terrible back pain. We've been doing a lot of projects around the house so I figured that was it.

Well, Tuesday I noticed Landry's movements had slowed down significantly and by Thursday morning he was hardly moving at all. So I called the nurse and she said to come on up to get on monitor. Dr. B checked my cervix, it's very soft but not dilating, did an FFN test(came back negative) ultrasound looked good but showed Landry to be transverse and about a week behind due date. So them we got on monitors for a NST, which he failed. His heart rate was very flat(meaning there werent any accelerations with movement) and he had 2 dips into the 90's. I ended up spending almost a hour and a half on monitors and having to drink juice in order for Dr. B to be satisfied with his readings.

She said she thinks he's in a weird position(transverse with head in ribs) and that's what is causing lack of movements but is ok with it right now as head isn't putting pressure on soft cervix. I go back in another week for repeat testing.

Please pray for increase movement, growth, and head down positioning.

Summer project: playroom

Last summer we painted the inside of the house except the boys rooms and bathrooms. We didn't do those rooms because I knew I wanted to do something different but didn't know what. A year later I'm ready to tackle these rooms :) I wanted a place the boys would love and be able to keep organized and clean as we will be spending a lot of time at home once Landry comes.

I have a love-hate relationship with the playroom! I love that all the toys stay in one place but I hated the lack of organization and cluster that could occur within 5 minutes of the boys being in there. I wish I took before pictures but it was pretty disastrous! The boys, at times, couldn't even go in there to play because there was so much crap everywhere! Now, everything is organized and has its place! The only thing left is putting up the buckets (once we find a black rod).

They have a reading nook, bean bag for movie watching, chalkboard/magnet wall that has some of their school work, and the train table.

Landry: 32 weeks

Well I have made it another week with no sign of bed rest! I can hardly believe it. I'm definitely getting tuckered out and growing but other than that I feel great. If I do too much I contract more in the evening but it seems a good nights sleep hits the reset button for my uterus and I'm good to go the next day.

We only have 2 more weeks left of progesterone, I'm not too sure what happened other than the pharmacist didn't put the correct amount in the vial to begin with. That will take me to 34 weeks and we will then assess the situation.

Hard to believe he will be here in a few short weeks!

31 week doctor appointment

No time like now to update on Mr. Landry. I'm waiting to see Dr. B but already had my ultrasound to check on Landry's growth. He is measuring right on track with my due date, weighing in at 3 lbs. 5 oz. and is head down. Last time he was breech so I'm glad he flipped, although I already knew he did considering the amount of kicking I get in my ribs!

I'm officially past my bed rest time, I went on bed rest with both boys at 30 weeks and I'm now 31, fingers crossed this continues!!

Until next time.