What we want Renee to have, a beautiful sleeping healthy child like this one

I’m still pregnant, hooray!  Amniotic fluid levels according to this week’s ultrasound is in the high-normal range.  No signs of infection.  I’m IV free, I have “outside privileges” (a.k.a. I can go into the “yard.”)  Baby is approximately 2.2 lbs and I am 27 weeks.

On Friday, I was told I could go home on Sunday as long as all goes well.  I may be in that small 10% of the 3% of women with pPROM  (preterm premature rupture of membranes, a.k.a, your water breaks prior to 37 weeks)  that heal.  Friday night, I start leaking again.  Saturday night, complete rupture.  Amniotic fluid levels are now 4-5, much below normal.  Baby is now in the head down position, ready to be born.  I’m dilated 2-3.  With pPROM, they won’t do a traditional exam because it ups the risk of infection so the rough estimate is the best they can give me.  Since I’m not having contractions, and the risk of infection is much worse than not knowing an exact figure, I’m not worried.

So, back to square one.   I will be staying in the hospital.  I’m restricted to the 6th floor (Labor & Delivery) as the Doctor would prefer I don’t “have the baby in the cafeteria”.  No more decaf Starbucks, although, I did tell my doctor that he is now in charge of picking it up for me.  But, as long as I can keep this child cooking, it’s a good trade off.

Everyone tells me that I’m handling this well.  My goal is to give this little “booger” as we (husband, family, nursing staff and me) call the babe, the best fighting chance he can have.  As my friend Angela put it, more eloquently, I’m all he has right now.  I think back to my first pregnancy when I would talk to my two friends that have kids and ask if I was stupid to worry about this and that when the baby was not even born yet.  They both told me that becoming a Mom happens the minute the test turns positive.  They were as right then as they are now.

In my free time, I’ve found some not so cheesy sites about bed rest that are good for the entire family to read.  (Excellent sources for spouses, family, etc. who think that your “extended vacation” can’t be that bad.)  They explain the toll, mentally and physically of bed rest.  Some give ideas on how to pass the time.

I say, do what you want to do.  Read if you wish.  Yell at people who offer to buy you books if every person you know has offered that (yup, it will happen).   You don’t have to feel guilty about any emotion you are having.

What ever you do, remind yourself that this is temporary.  For me, I figure it’s the time worth putting in now, for the heath of my child for a lifetime.

What to expect with pregnancy bedrest

Coping with staying in bed while pregnant

http://fpb.case.edu/Bedrest/Families/online.shtm

http://fpb.case.edu/Bedrest/index.shtm

Photo: Hannah and her adorable binky by http://www.flickr.com/photos/eraphernalia_vintage/  See more photos by EraphernaliaVintage at http://www.flickr.com/photos/28510393@N07/3189510286/

Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.