Last week I made a joke about Grahame trying to “Kool Aid Man” his way out of my tummy - he is a very active baby. His big sister had gentle, graceful moves…he is all punches and kicks! It’s been a long road bringing him into the world with four years of prayer and countless heartbreaks. This long awaited pregnancy has been full of interesting challenges that have required a much bigger team of doctors than we had when Charlotte was born.
On Thursday I got up after a sleepless night of contractions at 33+5 weeks. I’m one of those lucky ladies who has full on contractions for a month before delivery. Same thing happened with Charlotte, so I thought nothing of it. I had yet another doctor’s appointment that morning at the Methodist Maternal Fetal Medicine office. I woke up with enough energy to actually put on some makeup and wiggle into a dress. Was definitely feeling good about my effort as I left the house that morning.
I hoisted myself up on the ultrasound table for a growth scan, when I felt this weird sensation. I looked at the ultrasound tech in horror…Had I just peed myself? How many further indignities must I face in this pregnancy?? Since I can no longer see what’s happening down there, she looked and it was blood. A lot of it. I was hemorrhaging. Then the contractions came back and they were very strong. She quickly checked baby on ultrasound and his heartbeat was strong. No signs of distress. The doc and nurses put me in a wheelchair and rolled me over to labor & delivery at Methodist Women’s Hospital. How thankful I was to be in the right place at exactly the right time. There are no coincidences in life!
On the way over all I could think was “Oh no…they are never going to let us out of here with this baby. We don’t even have a car seat for him!! Literally NOTHING is ready. What kind of parents are we?” Next thought, “We don’t have the champagne ready to celebrate…” Then, “Oh my God! This means I’m gonna be able to drink champagne soon!”
Contractions were coming every 2 minutes, I could barely hold a conversation through them. Doctors determined I had a partial placental abruption, meaning the placenta (baby’s life support in my body) was tearing away from my womb. They began prepping me for delivery - rhogam shots, steroid shots, antibiotics, many bags of fluid, a visit from the NICU team, all the paperwork.
By the afternoon, I was still contracting but bleeding had slowed and I was only at 1 cm. The fluids had helped slow things down dramatically and I was not in active labor. They kept me and baby on continuous monitoring for 24 hours in labor & delivery and eventually moved me up to the high risk floor. I stayed in hospital for three nights with contractions and bleeding, but things eventually reached a point of stability this morning. Through the entire process, Grahame was never in distress which is such a blessing. What a strong boy!
We met with the docs and came up with a set of plans for various scenarios. With that, I felt confident enough to be discharged today. There is a chance the abruption could get worse, so I am on bed rest until baby arrives. Even a short walk causes the bleeding to increase, and the contractions are ever present.
Through this whole thing, I have felt so much love and support from Nick, my parents, the medical team and an amazing circle of AWESOME friends who have lifted us in prayer, brought me chocolate and checked in on us. Whether we have needed a babysitter, a meal, a word of encouragement, a prayer - our village has been there. We are beyond thankful. It has taught me to be more vulnerable, how to accept help and love…and most importantly, that I am not the one in control here. I have to surrender my need to perfectly plan every aspect of my life.
So for now, I will be gestating a baby and planning Omaha Fashion Week from my bed. Taking it one day at a time. Both shows will go on, just maybe not exactly how I had planned it. It’ll be how God has planned it. I hope to have this sweet boy in my arms when OFW starts on August 26. Please pray for us as we finish these final weeks of a very monumental time in our lives!