A Milestone!
Yesterday we reached a milestone on our journey with this pregnancy! We are now done seeing the high-risk pregnancy doctor, Dr. Drake in Des Moines! Since we are now 29 weeks along and everything has stayed stable, it is no longer necessary for me to see the high-risk doctor. I am still in a rather precarious situation with being dilated and "ready to go", but I'm already doing everything that I can do to keep labor at bay; there is no more that she can suggest for me to do differently. So I just continue to stay down and inactive, and hopefully I will reach that 35 week mark that the doctors would like to see me reach, which would be April 1st.
We had another ultrasound yesterday when we saw Dr. Drake. Our little boy still looks great! This week he was due for a growth assessment. We found out that he is 3 pounds 2 ounces! That places him in the 53rd percentile, so he's right about average, if not just ahead. All his bones are measuring well and things seem to be just great! He is still breach, but has still got some time to turn, hopefully.
Dr. Drake also did another fetal fibronectin test yesterday to determine whether I am at risk to deliver within the next two weeks. That test came back negative, so we praise the Lord for that news! God continues to hold everything together and keep things stable! Because the test came back negative, I do not have to get more steroid shots for the baby. If the test were to come back positive, they would have given me a series of two steroid shots that would help the baby's lungs develop more quickly. I already received a couple of those shots last month when I was admitted into the hospital and they thought I was going into labor.
This last week I learned that I have gestational diabetes. This is not fun news and could possibly be more of a problem for me and the baby since I am on bedrest. Ordinarilly with moms who develop gestational diabetes, they encourage diet change and exercise. I can change my diet, but I can't exercise. Dr. Drake strongly encouraged me to do the best I can to manage this new diagnosis adequately through diet, otherwise I might have to start insulin supplementation. They would rather that I not start on insulin due to the fact that it raises my chances of developing Type 2 diabetes later on. Today is my first day starting the new diet and monitoring my blood sugar. Things are going well so far! Please pray that this is able to stay under control so that I don't have to start on insulin.
As far as other ways you can pray, please pray for me as the baby gets heavier and my amniotic fluid continues to increase. This extra weight on my cervix will only make it weaker, so please pray that I will be able to hold off on labor until at least April! After a busy day yesterday with the long doctor's appointment, I feel sore and uncomfortable today. Please pray that things will stay stable and that I will not start having contractions or dilating more. Please also pray for my spirits while I'm on bedrest. Sometimes I feel lonely and secluded and I get to the point where I just want the baby to come now so I can get back to normal activities! I need to remember that it is still best for him to be inside me growing, not outside. Pray for Andy as he is doing everything around the house and caring for me. It can seem overwhelming for him at times to have so much to do. He is also traveling for our deputation meetings on the weekends. Please pray for him as he goes to do presentations "alone, with the Lord" as our mission agency president told us. We are thankful for our families and church family who have been bringing in meals during the week and staying with me when Andy is away.
Thank you for your prayers, emails and notes! We are encouraged to hear from you and to know you are in prayer for us and the baby!
Love,
Andy & Elizabeth
We had another ultrasound yesterday when we saw Dr. Drake. Our little boy still looks great! This week he was due for a growth assessment. We found out that he is 3 pounds 2 ounces! That places him in the 53rd percentile, so he's right about average, if not just ahead. All his bones are measuring well and things seem to be just great! He is still breach, but has still got some time to turn, hopefully.
Dr. Drake also did another fetal fibronectin test yesterday to determine whether I am at risk to deliver within the next two weeks. That test came back negative, so we praise the Lord for that news! God continues to hold everything together and keep things stable! Because the test came back negative, I do not have to get more steroid shots for the baby. If the test were to come back positive, they would have given me a series of two steroid shots that would help the baby's lungs develop more quickly. I already received a couple of those shots last month when I was admitted into the hospital and they thought I was going into labor.
This last week I learned that I have gestational diabetes. This is not fun news and could possibly be more of a problem for me and the baby since I am on bedrest. Ordinarilly with moms who develop gestational diabetes, they encourage diet change and exercise. I can change my diet, but I can't exercise. Dr. Drake strongly encouraged me to do the best I can to manage this new diagnosis adequately through diet, otherwise I might have to start insulin supplementation. They would rather that I not start on insulin due to the fact that it raises my chances of developing Type 2 diabetes later on. Today is my first day starting the new diet and monitoring my blood sugar. Things are going well so far! Please pray that this is able to stay under control so that I don't have to start on insulin.
As far as other ways you can pray, please pray for me as the baby gets heavier and my amniotic fluid continues to increase. This extra weight on my cervix will only make it weaker, so please pray that I will be able to hold off on labor until at least April! After a busy day yesterday with the long doctor's appointment, I feel sore and uncomfortable today. Please pray that things will stay stable and that I will not start having contractions or dilating more. Please also pray for my spirits while I'm on bedrest. Sometimes I feel lonely and secluded and I get to the point where I just want the baby to come now so I can get back to normal activities! I need to remember that it is still best for him to be inside me growing, not outside. Pray for Andy as he is doing everything around the house and caring for me. It can seem overwhelming for him at times to have so much to do. He is also traveling for our deputation meetings on the weekends. Please pray for him as he goes to do presentations "alone, with the Lord" as our mission agency president told us. We are thankful for our families and church family who have been bringing in meals during the week and staying with me when Andy is away.
Thank you for your prayers, emails and notes! We are encouraged to hear from you and to know you are in prayer for us and the baby!
Love,
Andy & Elizabeth
That is wonderful news! At least that is one less apppointment each week. And remember that April is not that far away!! Congrats are things going so well.
And best of luck with the GD. My friend has had that with each of her four pregnancies. She was not on bedrest but did manage. You will too.
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Andy & Elizabeth, We continue to pray for you and your little one. God's creation process is just awesome. Praise the Lord for the doctors and knowledge they have. Continue to know that we are praying for you and wish we could do more. God bless you and your ministry!
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