Post by Butterfly Momma on Jul 28, 2015 2:36:22 GMT
I was a long term lurker on the NBSR board - I've been trying to lurk less here 
I have mentioned on a couple of threads that our fourth baby, Abigail, died this past November. Her complete kidney system never developed and therefore she had minimal amniotic fluid. Her autopsy showed that her sweet body was perfect in every way, except for that, and we were given the green light to try for another baby.
I honestly had no intentions of ever trying for another baby - we have three sweet boys who make my world turn. But as I sat at that meeting with my medical team, I actually was pregnant, however I didn't know yet.
We found out on Mother's Day that I was indeed pregnant again and on Father's Day we received the news that everything to that date was perfect with our baby. My nerves come into play because of tomorrow.
I am going in for an ultrasound tomorrow to measure our baby's fluid levels, as I am now 17 weeks, and Baby should be largely taking over production of its own amniotic fluid if everything is okay with its kidneys.
My husband is currently on the other side of the continent, for the week, for work and the ultrasound has to be done this week for many reasons. And then today when I was looking at "on this day" on Facebook, I realized with a jolt that tomorrow is exactly one year to the date when we had the ultrasound that gave us Abigail's initial diagnosis. I am trying my best to keep myself calm.
I guess this post is because I just need to get this out. To see it in print and remind myself that I am strong enough to do this tomorrow. I would love any prayers or positive thoughts that you have to spare tonight / tomorrow! Thanks for being my "listening ear"
(Semi) Update 7/28 @ 12:30 pm
So the ultrasound is complete. I actually had the same technician who did my 15 week ultrasound, which was nice since I didn't have to re-explain everything.
So good news first - Baby is a boy Now the other news ... The technician was willing to tell me that based on her calculations my fluid levels are below normal, but are not dangerously low. My midwife will have the formal results later today or tomorrow and I should have a bit more information then.
Thanks for all of your prayers and positive thoughts - they definitely helped me stay calm this morning. At this point it is wait and see until 20 weeks when it would be completely evident, one way or another, about my fluid levels.
Update - results from ultrasound
My midwife called just after I posted above with the formal results. Things are not good. My fluid levels are in the 2.5 percentile, kidneys were not well seen but appear to be present. Bladder was not seen. Appears to be fluid around the bowel. And edema (swelling from build up of fluid) at the base of Baby's neck. The next step is that I will be sent to the high risk doctors that followed Abigail. I was finally able to get ahold of my DH. We are both hurting but determined to see this through together. I would appreciate your prayers for my husband, our boys, myself and of course, our sweet baby Boy.
UPDATE 8/11/15
I posted this on the thread that Elaine started but wanted to update here as well ...
Unfortunately the news I was given today was that Baby Sebastian doesn't have any kidneys or arterial support. So he will become an angel with our Abigail. My DH is in Costa Rica and it was hard to give him the news over email. We told our boys last night so that we could tell them together. At this point it feels like the worst case of deja-vu possible but I am also acutely aware of the beautiful life that I have. Life doesn't always turn out the way that we hope and dream. But it still has much beauty in it.
I so appreciate your concern and support ... it means so much. I showed this thread to my DH and he was very touched by all of your concern for us. Thank you.
I have mentioned on a couple of threads that our fourth baby, Abigail, died this past November. Her complete kidney system never developed and therefore she had minimal amniotic fluid. Her autopsy showed that her sweet body was perfect in every way, except for that, and we were given the green light to try for another baby. I honestly had no intentions of ever trying for another baby - we have three sweet boys who make my world turn. But as I sat at that meeting with my medical team, I actually was pregnant, however I didn't know yet.
We found out on Mother's Day that I was indeed pregnant again and on Father's Day we received the news that everything to that date was perfect with our baby. My nerves come into play because of tomorrow.
I am going in for an ultrasound tomorrow to measure our baby's fluid levels, as I am now 17 weeks, and Baby should be largely taking over production of its own amniotic fluid if everything is okay with its kidneys.
My husband is currently on the other side of the continent, for the week, for work and the ultrasound has to be done this week for many reasons. And then today when I was looking at "on this day" on Facebook, I realized with a jolt that tomorrow is exactly one year to the date when we had the ultrasound that gave us Abigail's initial diagnosis. I am trying my best to keep myself calm.
I guess this post is because I just need to get this out. To see it in print and remind myself that I am strong enough to do this tomorrow. I would love any prayers or positive thoughts that you have to spare tonight / tomorrow! Thanks for being my "listening ear"
(Semi) Update 7/28 @ 12:30 pm
So the ultrasound is complete. I actually had the same technician who did my 15 week ultrasound, which was nice since I didn't have to re-explain everything.
So good news first - Baby is a boy
Now the other news ... The technician was willing to tell me that based on her calculations my fluid levels are below normal, but are not dangerously low. My midwife will have the formal results later today or tomorrow and I should have a bit more information then. Thanks for all of your prayers and positive thoughts - they definitely helped me stay calm this morning. At this point it is wait and see until 20 weeks when it would be completely evident, one way or another, about my fluid levels.
Update - results from ultrasound
My midwife called just after I posted above with the formal results. Things are not good. My fluid levels are in the 2.5 percentile, kidneys were not well seen but appear to be present. Bladder was not seen. Appears to be fluid around the bowel. And edema (swelling from build up of fluid) at the base of Baby's neck. The next step is that I will be sent to the high risk doctors that followed Abigail. I was finally able to get ahold of my DH. We are both hurting but determined to see this through together. I would appreciate your prayers for my husband, our boys, myself and of course, our sweet baby Boy.
UPDATE 8/11/15
I posted this on the thread that Elaine started but wanted to update here as well ...
Unfortunately the news I was given today was that Baby Sebastian doesn't have any kidneys or arterial support. So he will become an angel with our Abigail. My DH is in Costa Rica and it was hard to give him the news over email. We told our boys last night so that we could tell them together. At this point it feels like the worst case of deja-vu possible but I am also acutely aware of the beautiful life that I have. Life doesn't always turn out the way that we hope and dream. But it still has much beauty in it.
I so appreciate your concern and support ... it means so much. I showed this thread to my DH and he was very touched by all of your concern for us. Thank you.
