Two Weeks

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and they did another AFI (ultrasound to check the fluid level.) Everything is holding steady at 12 cm, which is awesome. My doctor still believes that the rupture has resealed, but I am still on complete bedrest, which is just fine with me--I have no need to take any unnecessary risks.

While everything is looking very promising regarding the cerclage and the ruptured membrane, we did become aware of another problem with this pregnancy. (Please bear with me--I'm not a doctor and I'm explaining this the way I understand it.) About a month ago, we learned that I had tested positive for the jka antibody. We assumed that Isobel had not carried the antigen, that Caden had sensitized me to the antibody, and that Scott was a heterozygote--meaning that our children had a 50/50 chance of being positive for the antigen. To make sure, Scott had his blood tested. Yesterday we learned that in fact Scott is a homozygote, meaning that our children have a 100% chance of carrying the antigen. What this means for our baby is that if the titers in my blood increase, my body will attack the baby's red blood cells, causing hemolytic problems such as jaundice and anemia. Currently the titers in my blood are very low, which is good news. If they increase to a certain amount, my doctors will begin to monitor the baby for signs of distress. If it becomes apparent that the baby has developed anemia, one of two things will happen: If it's early in the pregnancy, the baby will receive a blood transfusion while still in utero. The doctors say they have done this and it's "a pretty cool procedure." If it's later in the pregnancy, they will likely induce me and treat the baby after he or she is born. No matter what, the baby will need to be treated for jaundice after birth. After she gave us this information, our doctor (whom we love) said, "what this means is that I believe we'll get you through this current problem, and then we'll be dealing with the antibody issue."

So...we need your prayers again. This is not an insurmountable obstacle, and there is a treatment path if the titers in my blood increase. But it is another challenge for an already challenging pregnancy. So far we've had the original incompetent cervix (cerclage), PPROM (membranes appear to have resealed), staph infection(healed), and now the jka antibody. To be honest it is a little overwhelming. But we continue to rest on our faith: We've seen God do some amazing things, and we are so thankful that we have gotten this far. Please continue to lift us up in prayer.

One additional factor is that with each subsequent pregnancy, the level of jka antibodies will increase. This means that if we were to decide to have another baby after this one, he or she would be even more at risk.  After Isobel's birth we were told that subsequent pregnancies would likely be successful after a cerclage was in place, but that the doctors would encourage me to stop having children after three cerclage pregnancies. Now our doctor is saying that we'll need to wait and see how this pregnancy progresses, but it's likely that they will encourage us to stop having children after this one is born.  I am struggling with this a little bit. I had always hoped for a large family (and had hoped I could get Scott to agree with me!), and I feel as though my body is failing me. Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful for Caden. He brings me more joy than I could have ever imagined. Yes, more trials, too, but even in those I am thankful that I was called to be his mother. And I have not stopped giving thanks for the baby in my belly. He or she is a miracle in so many ways, and I love him or her so much more than I can even explain. Since we are faced with the very real possibility that God is perhaps telling us that this is our last biological child, I am grieving a life that I had hoped for.  Which is not to say that I won't give thanks and praise for the life and the children I have--God has been very good to me.

After all is said and done, we've seen some incredible things in the past 14 days. Two weeks ago I went in for a routine cerclage, two weeks ago my water broke, and two weeks ago I thought I wouldn't remain pregnant for two more hours, let alone two weeks. Praise the Lord, we've made it two weeks. I will continue to sit with Him by my side--day by day, week by week--until this baby is born.