A Quick Update on Abby

I'm not really even sure where to start. We don't really have a whole lot of information as far as what the next step is for us.

We came into labor and delivery on Monday afternoon. Over the last couple of days Abby's movements have slowed down quite a bit. She is still moving, but no where near what she was. For example, on Friday I could get 10 kicks in 15 minutes. By Monday I was barely getting 10 in 2 hours. So, long story short, we headed in to the hospital. The doctors on call were not familiar with me or our history. They did a biophysical profile (ultrasound) on Abby and said she passed it with flying colors that they were sending me home and that I should follow up with my regular doctor in 2 or 3 days. However, Patrick and I were very uncomfortable with those results. Even we could see on the ultrasound that she was not moving like she has been and that they did not check the blood flow from her to I like our MFM does. We kept saying, "it's not that she isn't moving, it's that she's moving less." Finally, I got a new nurse and she actually sat down and listened to me and what I was saying. This is exactly what happened with Colin. I noticed a decrease in movements. So, she talked to the attending physician again and they agreed to monitor me overnight and then send me straight to my MFM for an ultrasound the next morning. I was already scheduled for these appointments on Tuesday anyway.

So, we stayed overnight in the hospital. Our MFM did an ultrasound this morning. Abby is now measuring about six weeks behind, instead of four. However, she has gained some weight. She was 2 pounds 12 ounces and they now estimate that she is 3 pounds 2 ounces. So, there was some growth. That's good.

The other thing that is important to check in our case is bloodflow. Our MFM is seeing an increased resistance to the bloodflow. This means that she is getting less and less blood, in other words, less oxygen and less nutrition.

Because of Abby's size and the blood flow issues our doctor feels like we are approaching delivery. In his words, "I want her to develop as much as possible, but we do not want to get greedy." So, we are still in the hospital. They are still monitoring me. Since that ultrasound with our MFM we haven't had a whole lot of communication with our doctors. However, we have seen an attending with our regular OB office. The information we received at the ultrasound and the information we received from the attending conflicted quite alot. We are very confused about what the plan is right now. The attending said we would be heading home and coming in for more frequent monitoring, but we don't have a timeline or what that means. The attending said that the goal was 36 weeks. Our MFM gave us the impression that our goal is this Friday, which would be 34 weeks, and that possibly we would be doing an amniocentesis soon to check the maturity of her lungs.

These are our biggest prayer requests right now:

* Wisdom for Patrick and I to be the best advocate for Abby that we can be, to know what she needs and when to push for it. Patrick and I both have a "gut" feeling that we have run out of time. We both believe that we are at the point that Abby is safer on the outside than inside. Yet, we are trying to balance the medical knowledge of those God has placed in our lives at this point.

* Wisdom for our doctors. Our MFM, Dr. Hanif and our OB Dr. Tom.

* For Abby's continued safety, growth, and development.

* For a clear plan. We need to know what our next step is and what our doctors are thinking, without all of the conflicting information.

* For our boys. Aiden's fifth birthday is this Sunday and we have a party planned for him. I really want to be there. Pray this situation works out for everyone's best interest.

* For the grandparents. In particular, my Mother as she is caring for the boys right now and traveling mercies for Patrick's Mom, she will be flying in on Thursday.