Long Overdue Update

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So, I’ve been slow getting around to it, but an update is long over due.  We had our appointment with the perinatologist.  It went fairly well.  The baby, at this point, is healthy as a any one pounder can be.  She is definitely a “she” according to the ultrasound tech, but things in that general area looked a little swollen to me.  Who knows-maybe it’s normal?  Anyways…no abnormalities with Charlotte.  There still remains a very slight risk (I mean SLIIIIIM, very slim) of a skin problem, but it’s so small that we all felt that a prenatal skin biopsy was just too risky and too painful for Charlie.  We’ll wait until she’s born.  A skin condition is no big rush, in my opinion, anyways.

A couple days later we had a follow up with my Ob/Gyn and I got to ask alot of questions and my doctor was more than willing to answer all of them with a smile.  So, here’s a list of what we’re packing:

• Extra large placenta: CHECK
• Marginal posterior placenta previa: CHECK
• High chance of IUGR (Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction)
• High chance of extra-long umbilical cord
• Elevated risk of still birth due to IUGR, cord accident, or placental abruption

So, this all sounds scary.  I was scared at first too.  So, that’s why you haven’t heard from me in awhile.  I had to take some time to collect my thoughts and collect my fears.  Just so I could organize them in my head and make some sense of them all.

My hefty placenta is the biggest worry at the moment.  It carries, with it’s bulk, some real risks.  They can’t be explained away or rationalized.  A large placenta is not something that happens to many women.  It usually signifies that the placenta, in it’s early stages, did not form properly.  So, it grew larger to make up for it’s improper formation.  This means that in the latter part of the pregnancy that it might not function as well as it is supposed to.  This can lead to the baby not getting enough nutrients and therefore leading to IUGR.  Another complication of a larger than life placenta is that the umbilical cord can also be extra long.  This can lead to knots in the umbilical cord.  The cord can become wrapped around the neck or other part of the body and cause complications.

Now, the placenta previa is something that can still resolve itself.  Although, the peri thought it was far less likely than a person with a normal placenta.  She also said because the placenta was posterior that the chances were lower that it would move as well.  This, I can deal with.  The treatment for this is a c-section instead of a vaginal birth.  Complications from previa include placental abruption and bleeding during the pregnancy.  So far, I’ve had no bleeding, which the doctors say is a good sign!

So, all in all, things could be much worse.  Things could also be better.  We’ll have more frequent monitoring.  More frequent ultrasounds as well.  They will be watching Charlotte’s growth very closely.  They’ll be watching me for pre-term labor for a couple reasons too.  One is that I have a history or pre-term labor.  Second, is that the placenta being so low can put pressure on the cervix, causing it to dilate and labor to start prematurely.

So, everything is going great so far.  Baby is healthy.  I am healthy.  I couldn’t be happier!!

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Tags: bleeding, cervix, complications, cord accident, fear, fetal abnormalities, growth restriction, IUGR, labor, marginal, monitoring, OB/GYN, perinatologist, placenta, placental abruption, premature, preterm, previa, skin condition, spotting, still birth, ultrasound