(8-31-2013)
"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
-Psalm 139:13-14
This past Wednesday, we had our 19 week ultrasound and got to see Baby C. again! Maddie came with us and just loved it. She kept saying how beautiful the baby was and she seemed to be in awe...although she was a bit concerned that the ultrasound itself was hurting me. She was so precious the entire time.
***Disclaimer- "Medical" info below, read only if interested.
Toward the end of the ultrasound, I noticed that the tech was filling in some info on the screen that included "Placenta position- low" and "Previa- Complete." I had already been told early on that my placenta had implanted low, but that we would have to wait until I was further along to determine what that would mean for the pregnancy. Sometimes the placenta can "move" up as the uterus stretches, other times it doesn't.
Once the ultrasound was done, we met with Dr. Stroud, who then went over the difficult news that yes, in fact, I did have complete placenta previa. What does mean you ask? It means that my placenta implanted directly on my cervix, thus obstructing a natural delivery. Dr. Stroud then went on to explain that because of this, I will have a scheduled c-section no later than 36 weeks, but that often an "emergency" c-section is needed. He also explained that around 24-26 weeks, I will begin receiving steroid injections to help boost the baby's lungs to prepare for premature delivery.
As you can imagine, this is not the news that any expecting mom wants to hear. Following a previous c-section and laparoscopic surgery recovery, I was hoping for a VBAC, which would mean a shorter recovery period and the joy of delivery my own child.
God has other plans, though.
On the one hand, it is easy to be frustrated and discouraged, yet I quickly was reminded that I had been praying that God would provide financially for this baby. We have already met all of our deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses this year, but due to the way pregnancies are billed, that wasn't going to matter because the baby's due date is January 18, 2014. That meant we would have had to meet the deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket expenses for next year all within the first month. Since this baby will be here by 36 weeks, it will be a 2013 baby and will fall under this year's medical expenses! In addition, we get another tax deduction. Who would complain about that?
While it is easy to think negatively, I am choosing to remain positive because I serve a God who loves me and my family and who already knows how this story will end. I am placing my trust in Him and will choose to honor Him throughout the rest of this pregnancy because it was a result of His grace and mercy we were blessed with this baby to begin with.
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