Lots of info from today’s OB appointment
I’m 33 weeks, 2 days today. The OB reports everything looks good. I’ll have another ultrasound with the perinatologist next week. If we have a miracle and the placenta has entirely cleared the cervix, then I can proceed normally with this pregnancy to term; and perhaps I’d have a nice, natural delivery like I did with Agent Murphy. But no one is really hopeful of that…
More likely the placenta will still be covering the cervix, fully or partially. In that case, I will have an amniocetesis the morning of June 28 (to check the baby’s lung maturity) with C-section delivery scheduled for bright and early on Tuesday, June 29. (Happy Birthday, Garbanzo Bean!) After having had the anesthesiology consult during my hospital stay, doing some research, talking with Mr. Tldz, and some more with my doctor today, I’ve decided to have the C-section under general anesthesia.
The epidural scares the bejeezus out of me, given potential neurological complications from its interacting with my CP. I know there are risks with general anesthesia, and those risks are somewhat greater during pregnancy than during some other surgery; but those risks are well known and every anesthesiologist knows how to handle them. On the other hand, no one can really assess the neurological risk for me or do anything about it if I have an issue. All they can say is, “Oops – we’re sorry you can’t walk after surgery. We hope you’ll be able to again soon.” (And then there’s the fact that the anesthesiologist who spoke with me matter-of-factly said, “Well, you’re a good candidate for general anyway [aside from my fears about the epidural] since given your diagnosis you may well have a major blood loss in the OR. You’ll be a lot more comfortable if you’re asleep for that.”) So my doctor is fine with just going ahead with general anesthesia, even if we get to do this delivery on a scheduled basis rather than as an emergent situation.
We should be able to come home on Saturday, July 3 or Sunday, July 4. What is still unknown in all of this is how Garbanzo Bean will fare, and whether baby will need to be admitted to the NICU or get to come home with us.
Tags: pregnancy and childbirth