Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep everyone updated in one place! We'd like to start by saying thank you for your support, prayers, and words of encouragement for our boy. They mean so much! 💛
We've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of our baby boy, who is due November 9th. On July 30th (25 weeks gestation/6 months pregnant), however, he decided he had some plans of his own! And Darrin and I learned that we'll be earning our mom and dad badge much earlier than planned.
Our midwife identified that I was experiencing symptoms of PPROM and sent me to Minneapolis to be treated. PPROM stands for "preterm premature rupture of membranes." (Quite a mouthful!) It's a rare condition in which a mama's water breaks before 37 weeks gestation and premature labor often follows. PPROM can cause health complications for babies and mamas. And so hospitalization and close monitoring are usually required from its onset until birth. Doctors also perform a daily risk/benefit analysis for PPROM patients. While each extra day in the womb greatly helps babies' development, it also increases other serious health risks for both babies and their mamas. Thankfully, we are in a top notch hospital with a high level NICU - both of which specialize in caring for PPROM patients. We really couldn't ask for more given our situation!
We have been at the Mother Baby Center at Abbott Northwestern and Children's Minnesota since July 30th. Our first 48 hours in the hospital were a whirlwind of doctors/nurses poking, prodding, and monitoring. Their swift efforts to give our boy his very best chances, should labor progress, was incredible. It takes 48 hours for IVs to deliver full doses of magnesium, corticosteroids, and antibiotics through mamas to their babies. These treatments protect babies' health and expedite their lung, brain, and nervous system development. Staying put and making it through that first 48 hours was our boy's first big victory! For those of you who prayed with us, thank you. God answered and our little man stayed snug!
After talking with doctors over the next several days, we learned the potential outcomes for our boy moving forward. He could make his big debut today or weeks from now. (About 75% of mamas deliver within 1 week of their onset of PPROM.) Ideally, doctors want him to stay put and healthy for another 2 months until he reaches 34 weeks gestation (end of September). Each extra day he stays snug is vital for his development - and means 3 days less that he will need to be in the NICU after birth. Each extra week also presents huge milestones for his long-term neurological/physical outcomes.
Our sights and prayers are set on reaching that 34 week finish line! If our boy makes it that far, doctors will induce labor on September 28th. (Risks outweigh the benefits for PPROM babies and mamas to go longer than 34 weeks pregnant. ) Once our boy is here, doctors estimate he will need to spend at least 4-6 weeks in the NICU before he is ready for the big wide world. Even so, we are already so eager for the day we get to bring him home and share him with all of you!
We have been so encouraged by all the support and prayers from friends and family. Of course, there are many unknowns ahead. But there have been just as many, if not more, affirmations that God is with us and our little boy. For those of you who have texted, called, emailed, prayed, sent flowers/food/cards, offered help...please know that we are so uplifted by your kindness and support. And truly appreciate every single gesture! 💛
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