There's no place I'd rather be

Things are still going great - the procardia is working as well as it did two weeks ago and things have stabilized. I am still on cloud nine and in Happyville, USA! A few people have asked about our little one's name or weight or the plan with things. Well, when we first went in last week, my OB asked if we had a name for our little girl. He said maybe we would be getting to "meet her" soon. While that thankfully has not been the case by some grace of God, we did decide on the name Brynn Cecilia. So since that time, my husband and I have been calling her that. I guess we can still change our minds, but it's looking like that might be our name for our little girl. Although I do still affectionately call her Spot from time to time, LOL! As far as her weight - she is 28 wks 3 days and 1 pound 14 oz from the closest estimate. But that said - the weights can always be off by quite a bit on ultrasound. I'm trying not to focus too much on stuff.

As far as the plan goes - I am going to be going home!!!!!!!!!!! I will stay on my procardia, be seen frequently at the office, have NSTs (non stress tests) as an outpatient, and hope things continue to go well. One big reason that my doctors are okay with being at home is that the baby has never showed any signs of distress with 24 hour monitoring the week I've been in - whether I was contracting, on Mag, or at anytime. We'll continue the NSTs to continue monitoring her. Also, I've become very accustomed to what to watch for as far as the beginning of full blown labor. I can tell when my contractions are escalating and when they're not. I know to look for spotting (which means I'm dilating further and my cerclage stitch is being pulled on from one end) or any other number of things that we've seen women come in with over the years. Basically, when you begin to dilate more fully with a cerclage in place - you usually just don't rip it open in seconds like you do an envelope or tearing a seam on a pair of pants. One end of the stitch begins to get tension on it and it slowly pulls on one end causing spotting or bleeding. You'll also feel some internal discomfort so you'll know it's happening. Then it will continue to pull, but you have some time before it progresses if you notice this happening. It's not like I'll just stand up and rip my whole cervix from end to end because the cerclage totally spontaneously tore, you know? They then snip the one end of the stitch and pull it out to remove it, and let you progress in labor ideally without any damage or scarring to the cervix.

I guess the only good thing about working around laboring women and sections for years as a nurse and now being involved on the epidural/spinal pain management side of things over the last few years - is that it's made my doctors a little more comfortable with that fact that they know I'll watch for any little detail that something might be wrong and get my butt back in asap. What I haven't told them is that in addition to that, I'm now probably a little more paranoid and watchful than I was even two weeks ago - and believe me...I'll definitely be on the watchout for any thing out of the ordinary, LOL! The last thing I will do is drag my feet with going back in to the hospital if I feel uncomfortable about something. I'd rather play it safe than sorry. Also, my doctor and I have just agreed to keep in close contact for the remainder of my time at home - and we know we can get a hold of each other whenever if need be - or if I have a question. If it requires a 11PM phone call or text, he has said that is fine. (I've never done that in all the years I've known him, don't worry!)

Other good reasons for me being at home is that hopefully - even if it's a short stay, it's way better than being at the hospital. Hopefully I can start to regain a little ground I lost while I was in and NPO and vomiting on Mag. I'm down about 7 pounds and hopefully with some home cooked food it'll be easier to make up for lost time. I know I'll rest better at home as well - which should help with both our little girl's growth and my health as well. I asked my OB how long he forsaw things going or me staying home - but it's kind of a crap shoot for better words. He said it's even more critical for me to stay pregnant as long as possible than some other women for a couple of reasons.

First of all, because I have a unicornuate uterus (UU) and it has not stretched as much or as easily as my RE, peri, or OB thought it would - the more it stretches now will make it easier for me to carry another pregnancy further towards term without as much problems hopefully. Not that I have even began to think of doing this again anytime soon, or if we'll ever do it again - it's something to keep in mind. There is a mindset that the first pregnancy with a unicornuate uterus is the trickiest, and that following pregnancies do better. Originally my doctors felt that my uterus was half the size of a normal uterus. But it has stretched with the growth during the pregnancy as if acts like it is more like a third the normal size. With the UU both starting size of the uterus and how well it stretches play into part on how far you can carry a pregnancy without problems (like cervical changes, contractions, and preterm labor). So for me, the stretching part has kind of been a problem they feel. Even if we don't think of having another child for several years, each week further I can carry this one might influence and seal the fate of further pregnancies some what. So that's why I really hope things hang out for a bit more. Plus, although 28 weeks is fabulous - 29 weeks is even better especially if we can get Spot above the 2 pound mark :-) Not to sound greedy or anything, LOL!

Enough of the boring details though. What I am sure of is that I am so delighted that we are where we are today. I fell pretty darn fortunate that well over a week has passed since we went in. I truly believe that the combo of good doctors, lots of support of family and friends - the good thoughts and prayers from each of you, and some positive thinking has made us be where we are. I know I keep saying it - but I wish that there was something else I could do to show my appreciation and thanks to each of you who have left kind comments, or said a prayer, or a nice card. You have touched us when we needed it most - and hopefully one day I can return the favor.