High Risk...the waiting game!

With the week of B's birth approaching (28w1d) I can't help but feel scared Riley will come early too.

I have had this day, of B's birth, in my mind since I got pregnant. I knew this day would be tough and I really wanted her to stay in longer, even a day. 

There are no signs that she is coming which is a relief but being high risk comes with daily doubt. Will it be today? Will this week be the week we get the rug pulled out?

She has stayed put long enough to have viability and statistics on her side. Her chances of survival are reaching the 90-95% marks but we know all too well that complications can throw us loops. B's case is rare for a 28 weeker and uncommon but we speak 'special needs' fluently over here. And even a term baby can have complications which makes this game of pregnancy all too cruel and unpridictable.

So what are we looking at as far as pregnancy complications? I get asked this a lot. Since B was born 6 hours after I arrived at the hospital we had little warning and no time to prepare.

This time around we have some reassurance. My cerclage is a god send this time around. And the shots!

We are still hoping to have a full term healthy little girl but we are also aware of the risk of another preemie. And thankfully it would likely not be as sudden.

What we are looking for as signs of trouble....

Blood: this means my cerclage is tearing. Or my cervix is trying to open against the stitch. I wont feel it but I will see blood. This would put me in the hospital likely on bed rest but chances are they can control whatever is going on and keep her in longer.

Contractions: More than four in an hour and I go to the hospital. They will try and stop labor and hopefully my cerclage would hold and if successful she would stay put.

Pressure: Another sign the stitch is wanting to give way. 

So far no signs of any of these. It is entirely possible that I carry her to term but given my history and my really short cervix I have an 80% chance of having her before 32 weeks. Even though it's still early that's 4 extra weeks than B had and that's a small victory for my body.

Each week we get good news from the Dr and each week we get closer to 37 is a huge victory for us. 

Keep praying for Riley and more time in the oven...we aren't ready to meet you yet.

My goal from the day I found out I was pregnant was Aug 1 (34w). Anything after would be a gift!

And I will laugh when I'm 40 weeks, huge, hot, and miserable....LOL

27 weeks

Third Trimester!

 Dr went well this week. No change. I am having more braxton hicks so he put me back on the progesterone shot. (I stopped two weeks ago and just have been using the suppositories). So now I do both.

NST good. No activity. I will get them weekly.

She is still frank breech (butt first). Uhh...get with the program girly because I don't want a c-section! She has been low the whole time and it's getting more uncomfortable the bigger 'we' get.

Itching is still bad. Dr said take Zyrtec during the day and Benedryl at night. It does take the edge off the itching but I don't want to load up on meds while pregnant so I'm trying to take them sparingly.

Feeling scared because it is one week till Brayden was born.
(He was born at 28w1d).

My Dr is on board with my goal of Aug 1 (34w). It's do-able so we will do our best.

So one more week down...we celebrate each week!!

Rash Update

We took B to the dermatologist today and he thinks its a viral rash. If it were staph it would most likely be responding to antibiotic.

Next steps: steroid Rx cream for itching an watch it!

This is hard to hear as a mom. This rash is going to be the death of me!!

If worse or not resolving in a week we will be referred to a pediatric derm for a biopsy.

I really hope it goes away.

Any insight into nasty viral rashes?? I know they can linger around for quite some time....


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Rash from Hell

B has pretty sensitive skin but has never really had any major issues/rashes. Maybe a heat rash, spots on his chin from teething, or some mild eczema but other than that nothing. We use California Baby lotion and it's amazing for his skin! he hasn't had eczema since we started it over a year ago.

With that said about two weeks ago there was a spot on B's neck, like a red pimple thing. I thought he scratched himself, no big deal. A few days later there was another spot in his neck followed by a few small red spots. It was looking like a rash now.

Call to the Dr, use Cortizone cream. A week of that and nothing, the rash has spread to his underarms and diaper area.

Another call to Dr, it's probably fungal and we picked up a Rx cream. Used for 1.5 days and the rash is covering his back. It actually made it worse.

OK time to go and see the Dr. She thinks it's a staph infection rash and puts him on an antibiotic. Seriously? His first rash and it's a not so common one.

On the plus throughout this B has had no cold symptoms and no fever.

There are more sores like this in his armpits and diaper area.

 We are currently on day 5 (of 10) of the antibiotic and it did start to resolve then it spread again...? UH. 

We have an appointment with a dermatologist next Tue (18th) in case we need further treatment and a skin biopsy.

Teething Remedies

B has been crazy teething lately. His upper gums are super red, poor kiddo.

He typically handles teething like a champ. Mildly fussy with the occasional fussy spells.

Recently he has been a monster. I think because he is getting 100 teeth at the same time. I wasn't a fan of him living off Tylenol so I decided to try some alternatives.

I hear great things about the Amber necklaces. Even though they are controversial other moms rave by them so I finally got one!

I am nervous to put it on B's neck but it fits on his wrist wrapped twice. 

We also got some natural teething tablets. These are awesome!

I think both of these together are working well. B seems less fussy, sleeping better, and hasn't needed Tylenol.

*I got my necklace from a local baby boutique but they sell them online and Etsy. We got 11.5" length and it seems perfect.