22 Days & Holding

Twenty-two days ago when I was admitted to the hospital, I never imagined that I’d be in the same bed this many days later! However, the fact that I AM in the same bed 22 days later is an incredible blessing.

Today, as my new jello-like bedrest body was feeling achy and I was having trouble getting comfortable in the bed (imagine that…), David & my mom reminded me that whether I deliver tomorrow or a few weeks from now, I’ve already won the fight. The baby is already in much better shape than when we first got to the hospital. I truly don’t know how people without faith carry on in tough situations. It’s an understatement to say that being able to place this matter in God’s hands is a relief. I can’t say that each day has been filled with unicorns and rainbows, but I CAN say that each day I feel God’s presence helping me persevere. I also see God in the people that are helping me daily….okay minutely….but that’s a whole other blog post!

My main purpose in this post is to give a little update on the past few days. Perhaps our best news came last Wednesday when the doctor scanned me (apparently up here they refer to ultrasounds as scans). I can’t explain the warm feeling that came from seeing our little girl looking happy & healthy & doing some leg kicks. We got to watch her do a set of 5 that were straight from a Jane Fonda video, except she’s a little less modest & has no need for leg warmers and leotards. Yes, the fetus inside me is clearly getting significantly more exercise than me these days! We also saw the best view of her face we’ve ever seen. We got to watch her open her eyes & blink, and she even opened & shut her mouth while we were watching. David & I have already decided she’s pretty much the cutest baby we’ve ever seen.

I’ll resist giving more ultrasound play-by-play...But the point is that we got a wonderful report from the doctor that the baby has grown & gained weight over the past 22 days, & that everything going on in the womb implies that she’s happy & healthy & continuing to develop. There’s no word on if I’ve dilated any more (nobody is going to check that w/a 10-foot pole for fear of really kicking labor into gear), but all amniotic fluid, etc is present in the womb, so nothing TOO major has happened.

My monitoring sessions, now decreased to only 30minutes 3times/day, show that I have anywhere from 0 to 3 contractions in that 30minute time slot. I’m usually not feeling them, though, so I’m told that is an optimistic sign that nothing is really happening to my cervix with each contraction. I’ve been given the list of symptoms that warrant calling the nurse because it may be “time.”

Each morning a doctor visits my room. I’m happy to say that I’ve graduated from bedside chats during which the latest decisions regarding my care are shared with me, my questions are answered, and possibly tears are shed (we’ll blame those crazy pregnancy hormones!)….to the doctor peeking inside my door, asking if everything’s still going okay, then telling me to have a good day.

We’re operating on the “no news is good news” principle at this point. I’m going to keep reminding myself that I’ve already won the fight, keep thanking God for what he’s doing in me and what he’s shown me through the wonderful family and friends that surround me, and try for another 22 days…one day at a time.