In our meeting with the surgeon, I had many, many questions. I had my notebook ready so I could read down the list and take notes as we spoke. I was able to ask how long she thought the surgeries would take, how many surgeries our daughter might need, possible recovery times, etc. I was able to talk professionally about all of this, but then I came to one of my questions, and while trying to say it, I was hit with a flood of emotion that caught me off guard. The question was 'will she be able to be held?' I guess I did not realize how much the answer to this question mattered to me until I was asking the person who could answer it. Thank God the answer is yes, but I was having difficulty getting my composure back afterwards. Because after hearing 'yes, your baby can be held' I looked at my sister, Tammy, and my fiancé, Joe, and knew that they would be the ones holding her... Not me. I will be in the delivering hospital for 3-5 days after she is born. I won't be able to be with her at children's hospital where she is getting transferred to right after delivery. I won't be the one to hold her, even though she can be held. So even though I got the answer I wanted, I then couldn't get my mind off of the time frame that question is referring to: after she's born, when she's going in and out of surgery. That time when I'll be losing my mind because I can't be with her when I feel she needs me most.
I know Joe will be taking care of our daughter, and I know he'll be keeping me informed, so I know that she'll feel loved and that Daddy will be there to make sure she's alright. I know that my sister will be by my side helping me get through those very difficult days, it's just a time that is very hard to think about. While we really didn't learn any new information from the surgeon and representatives of the spina bifida clinic, we did get to tour the NICU and learn a little bit about how the process will go. It's just hard to imagine that we'll practically be living there in only a couple of weeks... that this is all creeping up so fast, and that the time that's so hard to think about now is just around the corner. These are the times where I thank God I'm not doing this alone. I'm so grateful that Joe, the father of my children, is the man that he is. I'm grateful that my sister, Tammy, is also my best friend. I'm grateful that my father and other family members will be taking such good care of our children, Dustin and Aryanna, while Mira is recovering so Joe and I can be there for her. I'm just very grateful I'm not in this alone and that Mira is coming into the amazing family that we have.
I'm still very hopeful, driven, and anxious, but I'm also scared. Her delivery date is coming up so fast, and the fear I have for her is difficult to ignore. I'm scared for my daughter, and I simply can't help it. I'm scared for the pain she will go through, I'm scared that she will be scared because she doesn't understand what's happening, I'm scared that she'll feel neglected because her Mommy won't be there to hold her and nurse her and bond with her right after she's separated from my body. I'm also scared for Dustin and Aryanna... I'm scared that they won't understand why Mommy and Daddy are gone, I'm scared that they'll think they're being replaced, and I'm scared that they won't understand why Mira needs so much attention and time. But again, I'm thankful I'm not doing this alone because Joe is able to combat my fears with all the right words.
Joe works a high labor job with long hours, so he got a microphone/headphone set so him and I can talk while he's at work. Knowing that he's always a phone call away helps. If I find out something new, I'm able to call and explain things to him. And when I'm scared, I'm able to call and he makes me feel better. Even when he's at work, which is a lot, I'm still able to feel how much him and I are in all of this together and that we'll get through it together, one step at a time. So even though I'm scared and I was caught off guard by how much it hurts to know that I won't be there with her, I'm still so thankful I'm not doing this alone, and that Mira will have the same amazing loved ones that I'm leaning on right now. And thank God they're not going anywhere because I'm sure I'll be getting caught off guard quite a bit from here on out.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Unexpected Contractions
On Friday the 1st of March, I went and had my weekly NST done, but I went to a different hospital to save myself from making an unnecessary trip to Pittsburgh. As I stated previously, an NST usually takes about a half an hour. However, they kept me hooked up to the monitors for an hour and a half because, unbeknownst to me, I was having very regular contractions. At 32 weeks, this is not good! The nurse was very concerned, but I honestly didn't even know I was having them. She allowed me to leave if I agreed to be on bed rest and to get to my OBs in Pittsburgh if my next NST is still revealing contractions. She also instructed that I have no caffeine (which I really haven't been drinking anyways) and that I need to be drinking water constantly with my feet up. I agreed to her conditions, and she let me go.
Joe laid down the law and made me be good all weekend. He was very helpful and attentive and allowed me to get the rest my body was telling me I apparently needed. I did feel really guilty, though. I have begun the "nesting" stage of my pregnancy. Before I went to the hospital on Friday for my NST, I was doing just that; nesting. I started cleaning and couldn't stop. I was cleaning all through the night into the morning before the NST. I went through every shred of laundry Joe and I own that morning, filling bags with clothes to donate to others, throwing garbage bags full of stuff away, lifting baskets and bins full of laundry, and just generally doing a lot of physical labor I probably shouldn't have been doing. Now I don't know if this caused the contractions, and I certainly wasn't trying to be irresponsibly harmful, but after finding out I was having regular contractions, I think that might be what I accidentally did. If I'm still having contractions this week, I could be out on bed rest for the rest of my pregnancy. I definitely do not want that to happen because I have two children outside of the womb that depend on me!
Since I really don't want to be put on bed rest, I'm going to have to redo how I'm living my life. I'm going to have to reign in my nesting urges and only do small amounts at a time. I'll have to have a glass of water on me at all times. I'll have to let my children be more independent so that Mommy isn't running back and forth for the both of them at all times. I have to learn to do all this right now, because I have to keep little Mira tucked away safely for at least another month! The thought of her coming any earlier than 37 weeks is absolutely terrifying! I feel like I just want to keep her safe in my belly forever. I want to keep her tucked away from the surgeries and the struggles, and just keep her safe in the womb where I know she is okay. But despite wanting to protect her from everything, I just can't. I can't protect my child from this, which is also a struggle my father is experiencing. My father told me he hurts because he can't protect me, his child, from facing this struggle, just as I can't protect Mira, my child, from facing this struggle. As much as I want to shield her, I can't, and it is for the best. She has to face this, and overcome it, and be allowed to live her life, just as any other child. It hurts, knowing I can't stop it or change it, but I can pray for her, and I can be here for her, and Joe and I can provide Mira, Dustin, and Aryanna with the best lives possible! That's what I need to focus on when I get angry about this.
Because sometimes I do, I get angry about this. I get angry that a baby, my baby, will face more trauma in her first month of life than any adult I personally know has faced in their entire lives. I get angry because (even though this is the most worn out phrase in all of history) it's not fair. It just not fair. It's not fair for a baby to be in pain. It's not fair for her to have to undergo these struggles when she doesn't know anything about anything yet. It's not fair for her to know pain before she knows love. It's not fair. But, the anger fades, it comes and goes, but I hope that we can love her enough that the pain will be over-ridden. I hope that while I carry her, she feels how much I love her and knows that before anything negative can touch her. I hope that while she's confined to an incubator, she'll know that Daddy is right beside her, on the other side of that plastic or glass, loving her with his entire self. So, we will pray, hope, and believe and I'll use that to overcome the anger and sadness and worry that creeps in sometimes.
Joe laid down the law and made me be good all weekend. He was very helpful and attentive and allowed me to get the rest my body was telling me I apparently needed. I did feel really guilty, though. I have begun the "nesting" stage of my pregnancy. Before I went to the hospital on Friday for my NST, I was doing just that; nesting. I started cleaning and couldn't stop. I was cleaning all through the night into the morning before the NST. I went through every shred of laundry Joe and I own that morning, filling bags with clothes to donate to others, throwing garbage bags full of stuff away, lifting baskets and bins full of laundry, and just generally doing a lot of physical labor I probably shouldn't have been doing. Now I don't know if this caused the contractions, and I certainly wasn't trying to be irresponsibly harmful, but after finding out I was having regular contractions, I think that might be what I accidentally did. If I'm still having contractions this week, I could be out on bed rest for the rest of my pregnancy. I definitely do not want that to happen because I have two children outside of the womb that depend on me!
Since I really don't want to be put on bed rest, I'm going to have to redo how I'm living my life. I'm going to have to reign in my nesting urges and only do small amounts at a time. I'll have to have a glass of water on me at all times. I'll have to let my children be more independent so that Mommy isn't running back and forth for the both of them at all times. I have to learn to do all this right now, because I have to keep little Mira tucked away safely for at least another month! The thought of her coming any earlier than 37 weeks is absolutely terrifying! I feel like I just want to keep her safe in my belly forever. I want to keep her tucked away from the surgeries and the struggles, and just keep her safe in the womb where I know she is okay. But despite wanting to protect her from everything, I just can't. I can't protect my child from this, which is also a struggle my father is experiencing. My father told me he hurts because he can't protect me, his child, from facing this struggle, just as I can't protect Mira, my child, from facing this struggle. As much as I want to shield her, I can't, and it is for the best. She has to face this, and overcome it, and be allowed to live her life, just as any other child. It hurts, knowing I can't stop it or change it, but I can pray for her, and I can be here for her, and Joe and I can provide Mira, Dustin, and Aryanna with the best lives possible! That's what I need to focus on when I get angry about this.
Because sometimes I do, I get angry about this. I get angry that a baby, my baby, will face more trauma in her first month of life than any adult I personally know has faced in their entire lives. I get angry because (even though this is the most worn out phrase in all of history) it's not fair. It just not fair. It's not fair for a baby to be in pain. It's not fair for her to have to undergo these struggles when she doesn't know anything about anything yet. It's not fair for her to know pain before she knows love. It's not fair. But, the anger fades, it comes and goes, but I hope that we can love her enough that the pain will be over-ridden. I hope that while I carry her, she feels how much I love her and knows that before anything negative can touch her. I hope that while she's confined to an incubator, she'll know that Daddy is right beside her, on the other side of that plastic or glass, loving her with his entire self. So, we will pray, hope, and believe and I'll use that to overcome the anger and sadness and worry that creeps in sometimes.
Meeting the High Risk Pregnancy OBs
The OBs were really great, but the appointment was about three hours long. They took a very extensive history, verbally and through all of my medical records (which I'm really glad I organized before the appointment). They informed me that I am to get an NST (non stress test) done weekly from now on. This is where they hook the monitors up to my belly and monitor Mira's heartbeat and movement. Each NST takes about a half an hour. Joe's Mom, Brenda, went with me to this appointment, and it went really well.
They did inform us that they intend on delivering Mira at 37 weeks. They want to start her surgeries as soon as she is fully developed, so once I'm 37 weeks, they will do an amniocentesis to be sure that her lungs are fully developed before delivery. As you all know, I was previously against an amniocentesis, but the circumstances behind it are different now. Before, they suggested to do one to simply confirm what we already knew, which is that my daughter has spina bifida. Now, the purpose of the amniocentesis is to make sure she is as healthy as possible before delivery so they can start her surgeries as soon as possible, which in turn, gives her the best odds at the best outcome. I am still really nervous about it, though. I don't see how I can refrain from being nervous about a 9-inch needle going into my baby's protected environment/through my belly. Regardless of my nerves though, I do believe this is what is best for her.
On top of a weekly NST, I will also be getting a biweekly sonogram. The sonogram every two weeks won't be a normal sonogram, which is normally intended to just measure growth, but my sonograms will be specifically for monitoring her defects, such as her hydrocephalus levels, (the spinal fluid in the ventricles of her brain). I did not have a sonogram done at this appointment, but they scheduled one for our next appointment, which will be on March 13th. We also scheduled to meet Mira's neuro surgeon that day, so we will also be getting a tour of children's hospital and the NICU protocols. I'm excited to find out what is allowed to be brought into the NICU. I would like to give her some of her own stuff during her extended stay, so if we're allowed to bring our own blankets, clothes, and hats for her, I'll be happy to make it more 'homey' in any way I can. Maybe even a stereo to play her some music and some pictures to put on her incubator so she can see her brother and sister before they'll be able to meet in person.
Lots of planning! Lots of shopping to do! Lots of terrifying excitement! Knowing I'm delivering at 37 weeks now... The date is creeping up fast. It's looking like we'll be having Mira here around April 10th. My birthday is April 17th, so I might be getting a really wonderful birthday gift this year! Yes, I'm definitely terrified and excited!
They did inform us that they intend on delivering Mira at 37 weeks. They want to start her surgeries as soon as she is fully developed, so once I'm 37 weeks, they will do an amniocentesis to be sure that her lungs are fully developed before delivery. As you all know, I was previously against an amniocentesis, but the circumstances behind it are different now. Before, they suggested to do one to simply confirm what we already knew, which is that my daughter has spina bifida. Now, the purpose of the amniocentesis is to make sure she is as healthy as possible before delivery so they can start her surgeries as soon as possible, which in turn, gives her the best odds at the best outcome. I am still really nervous about it, though. I don't see how I can refrain from being nervous about a 9-inch needle going into my baby's protected environment/through my belly. Regardless of my nerves though, I do believe this is what is best for her.
On top of a weekly NST, I will also be getting a biweekly sonogram. The sonogram every two weeks won't be a normal sonogram, which is normally intended to just measure growth, but my sonograms will be specifically for monitoring her defects, such as her hydrocephalus levels, (the spinal fluid in the ventricles of her brain). I did not have a sonogram done at this appointment, but they scheduled one for our next appointment, which will be on March 13th. We also scheduled to meet Mira's neuro surgeon that day, so we will also be getting a tour of children's hospital and the NICU protocols. I'm excited to find out what is allowed to be brought into the NICU. I would like to give her some of her own stuff during her extended stay, so if we're allowed to bring our own blankets, clothes, and hats for her, I'll be happy to make it more 'homey' in any way I can. Maybe even a stereo to play her some music and some pictures to put on her incubator so she can see her brother and sister before they'll be able to meet in person.
Lots of planning! Lots of shopping to do! Lots of terrifying excitement! Knowing I'm delivering at 37 weeks now... The date is creeping up fast. It's looking like we'll be having Mira here around April 10th. My birthday is April 17th, so I might be getting a really wonderful birthday gift this year! Yes, I'm definitely terrified and excited!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Getting Ready for Tomorrow's Appointment
In preparation for tomorrow's appointment, I finally finished sorting through and organizing my medical records from the last six years. I had to go back six years because that was when I first started receiving prenatal care for our first child, Dustin. I have no idea what all the high-risk pregnancy OB's are going to be interested in, except that the genetic counselor, Debbie, told me they definitely need all notes and records pertaining to my previous c-sections. Other than that, I am not sure what is relevant, so I sorted through all of it, organized it into an accordion file folder, and labeled it all according to date and type of record. So, I think I'm ready on the paper-work side of things, but I am a bit nervous!
Debbie also told me that the first appointment with high-risk pregnancy OB's usually takes quite a while and is very extensive. I have absolutely no idea what to expect! I don't know what type of tests they will want to run, I've never met any of them before, and I only have experience with normal OB's and prenatal care. First I have a meeting with Debbie and the genetic counselors, where they'll give me another ultrasound to monitor Mira's progress, and as soon as I'm done with that, I'll head over to the high-risk pregnancy OB's. I really hope everything goes smoothly and that I feel comfortable with them. I already miss my regular OB. She's been with me for six years, and I love her, but she was sure to let me know that this type of high-risk pregnancy is out of her area of expertise. I appreciate her honesty, but I still miss her already, and the unknown is always a bit scary! We were also originally going to meet Mira's surgeons tomorrow and get a tour of the NICU, but they had to cancel that appointment, so hopefully next time that will be arranged. Joe needs to accompany me on that appointment anyways, because he'll be the only one able to go with her right after she's born, so he needs to get acquainted with the surgeons and NICU protocols and staff before delivery. For tomorrow's appointment, Joe's Mom, Brenda, is taking me, and Joe won't be going with us now because his FMLA will only cover a day off if it's particular to Mira's care. This will apply to the appointment with the surgeons and NICU, which should probably be in about 3 weeks. So Brenda and I will be going to the OB's tomorrow, and hopefully be able to set up an appointment for next time where Joe and I can see the NICU and meet Mira's surgeons.
I am also nervous to find out the levels of Mira's hydrocephalus. I wonder if the fluid/pressure in her head has increased or not, but I'm hoping for the very best! It's very difficult for me to believe that she doesn't have function in her legs (that can't be confirmed until she's born, anyways), but I say that because, even though I can't see her or what she's doing, I can feel her! I can feel her kicking me! They don't want you to get your hopes too high, so they always let you know that she could just be hitting you, but unless she can reach my ribs and my pelvis at the same time with her arms, I'd say it's a good chance she's doing both hitting and kicking when she's stretched out. I know that I can't be sure of anything until after she's born, but I can certainly pray for the best and be hopeful, so that's what I'm doing!
Debbie also told me that the first appointment with high-risk pregnancy OB's usually takes quite a while and is very extensive. I have absolutely no idea what to expect! I don't know what type of tests they will want to run, I've never met any of them before, and I only have experience with normal OB's and prenatal care. First I have a meeting with Debbie and the genetic counselors, where they'll give me another ultrasound to monitor Mira's progress, and as soon as I'm done with that, I'll head over to the high-risk pregnancy OB's. I really hope everything goes smoothly and that I feel comfortable with them. I already miss my regular OB. She's been with me for six years, and I love her, but she was sure to let me know that this type of high-risk pregnancy is out of her area of expertise. I appreciate her honesty, but I still miss her already, and the unknown is always a bit scary! We were also originally going to meet Mira's surgeons tomorrow and get a tour of the NICU, but they had to cancel that appointment, so hopefully next time that will be arranged. Joe needs to accompany me on that appointment anyways, because he'll be the only one able to go with her right after she's born, so he needs to get acquainted with the surgeons and NICU protocols and staff before delivery. For tomorrow's appointment, Joe's Mom, Brenda, is taking me, and Joe won't be going with us now because his FMLA will only cover a day off if it's particular to Mira's care. This will apply to the appointment with the surgeons and NICU, which should probably be in about 3 weeks. So Brenda and I will be going to the OB's tomorrow, and hopefully be able to set up an appointment for next time where Joe and I can see the NICU and meet Mira's surgeons.
I am also nervous to find out the levels of Mira's hydrocephalus. I wonder if the fluid/pressure in her head has increased or not, but I'm hoping for the very best! It's very difficult for me to believe that she doesn't have function in her legs (that can't be confirmed until she's born, anyways), but I say that because, even though I can't see her or what she's doing, I can feel her! I can feel her kicking me! They don't want you to get your hopes too high, so they always let you know that she could just be hitting you, but unless she can reach my ribs and my pelvis at the same time with her arms, I'd say it's a good chance she's doing both hitting and kicking when she's stretched out. I know that I can't be sure of anything until after she's born, but I can certainly pray for the best and be hopeful, so that's what I'm doing!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Breastfeeding, Vaccines, and Placenta Encapsulation
One of my main concerns about being separated into different hospitals from Mira right after she's born (other than just not wanting to let my newborn go) is: How will I feed her? I breastfed my first child, Dustin, for 4 months; and I breastfed my second child, Aryanna, for a year. Nursing my babies has always been such a special gift during the process of becoming a mother, and Mira is going to need every healthy advantage she can get!
After a lot of research, I have discovered that there are a few things I can do to increase her odds of pulling through her surgeries.
1) Breastfeeding. Breast milk has development boosting nutrients, immune boosting antibodies, and colostrum that is designed for a newborn's gut to start running as healthily as possible. Formula introduces bacteria into the baby's gut that their digestive tract is not yet ready for. Breast milk will ensure that she will get the maximum number of nutrients without introducing any foreign bacteria that could give her problems.
Breastfeeding will be difficult, though, because she will be in a different hospital. I am going to have to pump and hand express into little cups, and family, friends, and hospital staff will have to take turns transporting the milk over to her. Joe is going to have to learn how to syringe feed her because he is the one that will be with her at all times. She'll most likely be confined to an incubator, while lying on her stomach, so bottle feeding would be pretty difficult, if not impossible, for a little while. It will be difficult, but it's not impossible!
2) No Vaccines. Mira is already going to be waging a battle against her own body and against the trauma of surgery. Vaccines are filled with toxins and chemicals that can cause many complications, and almost always cause fevers and difficulty eating. Because of the battles Mira will already be waging against her own body, she does not need to have a war going on inside her blood, as well. She also needs to have the best shot at eating when she's allowed to have nutrients, so the last thing she needs are toxins that would bring complications into an already complicated recovery.
3) I am looking into Placenta Encapsulation. I have never consumed or encapsulated my placenta before. However, after I had Aryanna, I spoke to many women that did just that; had their placenta dehydrated, put into pills, and consumed them. If you've never heard of it, it can sound pretty strange or maybe even gross. The benefits, however, are astronomical! Also, there must be a reason why every other species on the planet consumes it's placenta after birthing babies (I think the rest of God's creatures are onto something). Throughout pregnancy, you feed your hormones, proteins, and nutrients to your baby (that sounds pretty obvious), but you also feed them to your placenta. The placenta absorbs all of these wonderful nutrients and chemicals that your body loses throughout the entire pregnancy. When you get the placenta encapsulated, you then take the pills, which turns into a wonderful medicine that is already engineered from your own body that encases all of the nutrients, hormones, and chemicals that you lost during your pregnancy and delivery. As soon as you start taking these pills, your body gets back what it lost, and what it desperately needs replenished.
The benefits of taking placenta capsules include: Getting rid of the "baby blues" and postpartum depression, increasing lactation and enriches your breast milk (great advantage for Mira because then she'll be getting all of these nutrients, as well), fights off infections, increases energy, stops bleeding and aids in wound healing, natural anti-inflammatory, boosts the immune system, prevents anemia (which is very common after delivering a baby), combats stress, and releases Oxytocin (the chemical that creates happiness).
Mira will get all of these wonderful benefits from my breast milk, as well, and an increased milk supply so she can eat as much as she can! It really sounds like a win/win, and I think it's just another small step in ensuring she is in the best shape possible to bounce back from all of this!
Breastfeeding and no vaccines are crucial to her recovery, and I'm beginning to become just as passionate about placenta encapsulation, even though it is entirely new to me. I will have to arrange all of this ahead of time with my family, friends, and all the medical personnel that will be helping us to ensure that my wishes for my daughter are followed. But, just to be safe, we will make a special sign that goes on her incubator, and it will read: "Absolutely no formula or vaccines. Seriously... we will sue!"
All babies deserve the absolute best, and I will do everything I can to ensure Mira gets exactly that!
Here are some informative links about the benefits of breastfeeding and placenta encapsulation, and some risks associated with vaccines:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-breastfeeding-benefits-you-and-your-baby_8910.bc
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/10/the-benefits-of-placenta-encapsulation-for-postpartum-healing.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-risks-of-immunizations.htm
After a lot of research, I have discovered that there are a few things I can do to increase her odds of pulling through her surgeries.
1) Breastfeeding. Breast milk has development boosting nutrients, immune boosting antibodies, and colostrum that is designed for a newborn's gut to start running as healthily as possible. Formula introduces bacteria into the baby's gut that their digestive tract is not yet ready for. Breast milk will ensure that she will get the maximum number of nutrients without introducing any foreign bacteria that could give her problems.
Breastfeeding will be difficult, though, because she will be in a different hospital. I am going to have to pump and hand express into little cups, and family, friends, and hospital staff will have to take turns transporting the milk over to her. Joe is going to have to learn how to syringe feed her because he is the one that will be with her at all times. She'll most likely be confined to an incubator, while lying on her stomach, so bottle feeding would be pretty difficult, if not impossible, for a little while. It will be difficult, but it's not impossible!
2) No Vaccines. Mira is already going to be waging a battle against her own body and against the trauma of surgery. Vaccines are filled with toxins and chemicals that can cause many complications, and almost always cause fevers and difficulty eating. Because of the battles Mira will already be waging against her own body, she does not need to have a war going on inside her blood, as well. She also needs to have the best shot at eating when she's allowed to have nutrients, so the last thing she needs are toxins that would bring complications into an already complicated recovery.
3) I am looking into Placenta Encapsulation. I have never consumed or encapsulated my placenta before. However, after I had Aryanna, I spoke to many women that did just that; had their placenta dehydrated, put into pills, and consumed them. If you've never heard of it, it can sound pretty strange or maybe even gross. The benefits, however, are astronomical! Also, there must be a reason why every other species on the planet consumes it's placenta after birthing babies (I think the rest of God's creatures are onto something). Throughout pregnancy, you feed your hormones, proteins, and nutrients to your baby (that sounds pretty obvious), but you also feed them to your placenta. The placenta absorbs all of these wonderful nutrients and chemicals that your body loses throughout the entire pregnancy. When you get the placenta encapsulated, you then take the pills, which turns into a wonderful medicine that is already engineered from your own body that encases all of the nutrients, hormones, and chemicals that you lost during your pregnancy and delivery. As soon as you start taking these pills, your body gets back what it lost, and what it desperately needs replenished.
The benefits of taking placenta capsules include: Getting rid of the "baby blues" and postpartum depression, increasing lactation and enriches your breast milk (great advantage for Mira because then she'll be getting all of these nutrients, as well), fights off infections, increases energy, stops bleeding and aids in wound healing, natural anti-inflammatory, boosts the immune system, prevents anemia (which is very common after delivering a baby), combats stress, and releases Oxytocin (the chemical that creates happiness).
Mira will get all of these wonderful benefits from my breast milk, as well, and an increased milk supply so she can eat as much as she can! It really sounds like a win/win, and I think it's just another small step in ensuring she is in the best shape possible to bounce back from all of this!
Breastfeeding and no vaccines are crucial to her recovery, and I'm beginning to become just as passionate about placenta encapsulation, even though it is entirely new to me. I will have to arrange all of this ahead of time with my family, friends, and all the medical personnel that will be helping us to ensure that my wishes for my daughter are followed. But, just to be safe, we will make a special sign that goes on her incubator, and it will read: "Absolutely no formula or vaccines. Seriously... we will sue!"
All babies deserve the absolute best, and I will do everything I can to ensure Mira gets exactly that!
Here are some informative links about the benefits of breastfeeding and placenta encapsulation, and some risks associated with vaccines:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-breastfeeding-benefits-you-and-your-baby_8910.bc
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/10/the-benefits-of-placenta-encapsulation-for-postpartum-healing.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-risks-of-immunizations.htm
Meeting the Genetic Counselors
The genetic counselors were AMAZING! The lead genetic counselor's name is Debbie, and from what I have come to understand, she won't be practicing medicine in any way, but her job is to basically be my high-risk pregnancy tour guide! My sister, Tammy, went with me to the appointment because Joe had to work. It was great that she went with me because the genetic counselors needed a VERY detailed family history, and the parts I didn't know, she did!
We allowed an intern to sit in on the process, and she was also fantastic! (I have always allowed interns and students to sit in on any medical visits or procedures I have ever had; being shy is something that no longer exists after having children, and it's always a great thing to help others learn!) They mentioned the possibility of doing an amniocentesis, but agreed with me when I declined doing so because they agreed it was unnecessary to bring those risks to the baby just to confirm what we already know.
The intern also sat in during my high resolution sonogram. During the sonogram, the stenographer was also amazing!, they confirmed everything that we suspected before: The open neural tube, the myelomeningocele, the chiari malformation, and the hydrocephalus. The new information we gained from the sonogram was that her left foot is now confirmed to be a club foot, and we now know that the gap in her spine and the myelomeningocele begin at the L2 and L3 vertebrae of the spine. We also know we will not be having an in-utero surgery, which is good news to me, because as far as they can tell, we will be able to carry her full-term! Which gives little Mira the best odds of recovering from all of the battles she faces because she will be fully developed before she starts having any surgeries!
Unfortunately, many of the questions we have cannot be answered until after she is born. We know she will definitely need at least one back surgery and at least one brain surgery to have her shunt placed. However, we do not know if her other organs are compromised, or will require surgery, we do not know if her club foot will need surgery, we do not know if her chiari malformation will need operated on, and we do not know how many surgeries she will need, or how long of a period they will span across. We also do not know if she has leg function or if she has any brain damage.
What I do know, which this is very hard to swallow but I am trying, is that I will have to deliver at one hospital, and right after delivery, once Mira is stable, she will be transported to another hospital to start her care and undergo her first surgery. It is VERY VERY difficult for me to be okay with letting her go, let her leave where I am, right after I have her! I hate knowing that I won't be able to be with her during her surgery! However, I KNOW this is in her best interest, and I know this situation is necessary in order for her to receive the best possible care she can get! This is why Joe will be going with her everywhere she goes after she is born. My sister, Tammy, said Joe is going to be the baby sitter, and Tammy is going to be the mommy sitter!
Once she is born, we are going to have so many of our questions answered, so I guess this is the calm before the storm. We'll just have to enjoy the silence for now, and prepare the best we can, and then be ready to have information falling out of our ears once she is born and start getting ALL of our questions answered and then some!
I do know that from now on, all of my prenatal care will be transferred to Pittsburgh, and that my genetic counselor, Debbie, will be making sure to arrange meetings with Mira's future surgeons during these visits, and will also make sure Joe and I get to meet all the nurses that will care for Mira, along with giving us tours of where Mira will be staying. She will take us through the NICU, get us familiarized with the NICU security protocols, and let us become as comfortable as we can with all of the environments we will be put in.
I am VERY happy with the people I met, and I have a great feeling about the care Mira and I will receive there. I am feeling very positive about the way things are going, and I feel like Joe and I have a really good understanding of what we need to be preparing for. The wind is in my sails, and I am ready for this journey! I feel like Mira is going to impress us all, and that we have found a team of great people to ensure her care and future!
We allowed an intern to sit in on the process, and she was also fantastic! (I have always allowed interns and students to sit in on any medical visits or procedures I have ever had; being shy is something that no longer exists after having children, and it's always a great thing to help others learn!) They mentioned the possibility of doing an amniocentesis, but agreed with me when I declined doing so because they agreed it was unnecessary to bring those risks to the baby just to confirm what we already know.
The intern also sat in during my high resolution sonogram. During the sonogram, the stenographer was also amazing!, they confirmed everything that we suspected before: The open neural tube, the myelomeningocele, the chiari malformation, and the hydrocephalus. The new information we gained from the sonogram was that her left foot is now confirmed to be a club foot, and we now know that the gap in her spine and the myelomeningocele begin at the L2 and L3 vertebrae of the spine. We also know we will not be having an in-utero surgery, which is good news to me, because as far as they can tell, we will be able to carry her full-term! Which gives little Mira the best odds of recovering from all of the battles she faces because she will be fully developed before she starts having any surgeries!
Unfortunately, many of the questions we have cannot be answered until after she is born. We know she will definitely need at least one back surgery and at least one brain surgery to have her shunt placed. However, we do not know if her other organs are compromised, or will require surgery, we do not know if her club foot will need surgery, we do not know if her chiari malformation will need operated on, and we do not know how many surgeries she will need, or how long of a period they will span across. We also do not know if she has leg function or if she has any brain damage.
What I do know, which this is very hard to swallow but I am trying, is that I will have to deliver at one hospital, and right after delivery, once Mira is stable, she will be transported to another hospital to start her care and undergo her first surgery. It is VERY VERY difficult for me to be okay with letting her go, let her leave where I am, right after I have her! I hate knowing that I won't be able to be with her during her surgery! However, I KNOW this is in her best interest, and I know this situation is necessary in order for her to receive the best possible care she can get! This is why Joe will be going with her everywhere she goes after she is born. My sister, Tammy, said Joe is going to be the baby sitter, and Tammy is going to be the mommy sitter!
Once she is born, we are going to have so many of our questions answered, so I guess this is the calm before the storm. We'll just have to enjoy the silence for now, and prepare the best we can, and then be ready to have information falling out of our ears once she is born and start getting ALL of our questions answered and then some!
I do know that from now on, all of my prenatal care will be transferred to Pittsburgh, and that my genetic counselor, Debbie, will be making sure to arrange meetings with Mira's future surgeons during these visits, and will also make sure Joe and I get to meet all the nurses that will care for Mira, along with giving us tours of where Mira will be staying. She will take us through the NICU, get us familiarized with the NICU security protocols, and let us become as comfortable as we can with all of the environments we will be put in.
I am VERY happy with the people I met, and I have a great feeling about the care Mira and I will receive there. I am feeling very positive about the way things are going, and I feel like Joe and I have a really good understanding of what we need to be preparing for. The wind is in my sails, and I am ready for this journey! I feel like Mira is going to impress us all, and that we have found a team of great people to ensure her care and future!
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