They'll be viable?
I don't want just viable.
I want them to thrive.
I will never forget my 24 week sonogram. After months of cervical length checks, my husband and I knew that today's measurement was a significant drop from prior visits. And we knew we had entered the danger zone. As we waited the long wait between sono tech leaving and doctor entering, we looked at each other with expressions that left no need for words. This wasn't good news. But what did it mean?
The door opened and a doctor we hadn't seen before came walking in. Unfortunately he did not have the same excellent bedside manner as the doctors we were used to seeing.
Very matter of factly, without even making eye contact, he said: "This is a concerning change. From now on you must be on all modified activity. Nothing more than walking and driving is permitted. You must come back weekly for regular checks."
And then...
"If you make it through the weekend til Monday, the babies will be viable."
My stomach sank. My heart raced. My belly tightened around my babies.
I couldn't even begin to talk--my mouth wouldn't have kept up with my thoughts:
Viable? What do you mean viable? That sounds terrible. Ok not as bad as not viable, but not good. If I make it til Monday? Deliver at 25 weeks? How could this be? Why is this happening? Can't I keep my body from doing whatever it is doing to cause this? What are the odds of survival that early? What could be wrong with them? How long would they need to stay in the NICU? I don't want my babies to be just viable. I want them to thrive!
Wait... Oh my God...
What if I don't make it til Monday?
I barely breathed that entire weekend. Thankfully, I made it til Monday and even 7 more weeks beyond Monday. But I learned that only about 50% of babies born at 24 weeks will survive. I thank God every day that my babies didn't have to join either side of that statistic.
No pregnant mommy should have to face the possibility of her baby being merely "viable." And most certainly no pregnant mommy should be left to wonder: What if I don't make it til Monday?
I walk so babies can thrive. You've already joined our journey just by reading this. Thank you.
http://www.marchforbabies.org/
Follow me on Instagram @merrymommyblog
I don't want just viable.
I want them to thrive.
I will never forget my 24 week sonogram. After months of cervical length checks, my husband and I knew that today's measurement was a significant drop from prior visits. And we knew we had entered the danger zone. As we waited the long wait between sono tech leaving and doctor entering, we looked at each other with expressions that left no need for words. This wasn't good news. But what did it mean?
The door opened and a doctor we hadn't seen before came walking in. Unfortunately he did not have the same excellent bedside manner as the doctors we were used to seeing.
Very matter of factly, without even making eye contact, he said: "This is a concerning change. From now on you must be on all modified activity. Nothing more than walking and driving is permitted. You must come back weekly for regular checks."
And then...
"If you make it through the weekend til Monday, the babies will be viable."
My stomach sank. My heart raced. My belly tightened around my babies.
I couldn't even begin to talk--my mouth wouldn't have kept up with my thoughts:
Viable? What do you mean viable? That sounds terrible. Ok not as bad as not viable, but not good. If I make it til Monday? Deliver at 25 weeks? How could this be? Why is this happening? Can't I keep my body from doing whatever it is doing to cause this? What are the odds of survival that early? What could be wrong with them? How long would they need to stay in the NICU? I don't want my babies to be just viable. I want them to thrive!
Wait... Oh my God...
What if I don't make it til Monday?
I barely breathed that entire weekend. Thankfully, I made it til Monday and even 7 more weeks beyond Monday. But I learned that only about 50% of babies born at 24 weeks will survive. I thank God every day that my babies didn't have to join either side of that statistic.
No pregnant mommy should have to face the possibility of her baby being merely "viable." And most certainly no pregnant mommy should be left to wonder: What if I don't make it til Monday?
I walk so babies can thrive. You've already joined our journey just by reading this. Thank you.
http://www.marchforbabies.org/
Follow me on Instagram @merrymommyblog
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