The Saga Continues...

I was almost admitted tonight. My OB and the fab MFM were chatting FOUR times on the phone about me during my NST visit.

My appt. was at 2:30 and I just got home at 5:20 (but am just publishing this now because I have a demanding toddler whom I'm so freaking thankful for). I saw both the OB and drove to the hospital (next door), valeted my car and saw the MFM. I had three ultrasounds. Not exactly a simple NST.

First, there is some good news. Let's start with: SHE IS ALIVE. Also, my bile acid levels have lowered considerably (but are still considered high) to 55. From 132 to 55? I think the drug and my diet are both magic. I shall continue all of those until delivery. My liver panel was elevated but not with alarming numbers. My bilirubin came back in the red, but also mild.

Now here's the play-by-play:

On the way to the OB, she was moving decent. I was happy, but knew once they hooked up that stupid machine, it would lull her to sleep. And it did. She seriously moved like once in 30 minutes. I had juice and a lollipop and hoped that would make things happen. She ended up having 3-4 great accelerations in 10 minutes following. Not the best, but she's never been the best.

My OB did the Strep B and told me she wants me admitted Monday night and to deliver me Tuesday now at exactly 36w. Then she checked me to see if I was dilated and could not feel the baby at all. Her positioning was odd and she told me to get dressed and meet her in for an ultrasound.

Ultrasound time (#1) and she is still head-down, but not engaged. Fluid looked great and she was concerned about the cord blood flow because of how she was positioned in relation to the cord. Said she wanted to have the MFM ultrasound me and told me to sit tight.

Various calls with the MFM later (to which I heard much of these conversations) and my amazing OB told me that the MFM told her to just find a reason to admit me tonight and deliver because we just seem to be hitting so many issues. But, they couldn't find a clear reason unless there is a cord issue. Fluid is good, she is reactive, my numbers dropped considerably... so it's not good enough reason to induce earlier than 36w.

Before I left for the MFM, my phone kept updating me with scheduled appointments to Labor & Delivery for NSTs. I will be having an NST tomorrow (Saturday) at noon and Sunday at noon. On Monday night, I will be admitted at 6 p.m. to get some rest before my Tuesday induction. I was grateful to hear all of this, but a little nervous about not being admitted for round-the-clock monitoring until she is born. However, with the news that the numbers have improved, I was thankful for at least that.

I headed over to the MFM at this point and had an ultrasound with the technician and then another one when the MFM came in. She showed me cord blood flow and positioning of the cord no where near her head or neck-- near the placenta actually. Yes, there was a lot there, but the blood flow was good.

I'll be monitored every 24-30 hours until she is safely delivered. However she comes, let's just hope she's alive. Like so many of you wise and wonderful people have said, NICU is just a stepping stone. We'll get through this.

While I slept maybe 3 hours last night and will likely not sleep until Monday night when I'm admitted, I'm feeling more confident about the frequent monitoring. Of course I'll be doing kick counts in between these L&D visits, but at least we had some good news.