So normally this is no big deal, but I had two of them - Big C and d. Chad was also positive for them, so we ended up with frequent visits to a specialist at Maternal Fetal. Every other week I had my blood drawn to see what levels the antibodies were. The opposite weeks were spent getting detailed sonograms. The main concern with these antibodies is that the baby could become anemic. If the baby becomes too anemic she is at risk for hydrops - or heart failure. She would have to receive a blood transfusion in utero if this were the case. The sonos measured the blood volume in her brain and also looked for puffiness of her body, particularly her chest - both strong indicators of anemia.
The antibodies are measured in a ratio. One of mine stayed low throughout, but the other, Big C, kept gradually increasing. At one visit, I believe somewhere around 29 weeks, Brynn's blood volume spiked over the normal level. We waited the weekend, but it was still high when I went back in. That day I had an amniocentesis done. This test - involving a stupidly large needle in my uterus - showed us that Brynn had the Big C antigen too, and her risk level for becoming anemic was in "Zone 2." Zone 1 was low risk, Zone 3 was, "we have a problem." So, no action at this point, we were bumped up to twice a week sonos and told we'd do multiple amnios to see if she was getting better or worse. At that point we were still optimistic that it wouldn't be an issue. My antibody titers (the ratio that measures the antibodies) were still relatively low at 1:128.
Then the unthinkable. Chad, Aiden and I survived an EF4 tornado by huddling in a corner of our basement. Talk about unmaking all of our plans and all of the hard work that we had put into making that house our home... But that was another blog.
I had the baby checked out the next day since I had taken a couple falls getting through the debris. Luckily, the baby seemed fine so we went about filing insurance claims and trying to rebuild our lives.
The next day, I had a sono scheduled. We went in and saw that the blood volume had again spiked. Another amino, this time one that our dr had rushed the results for. In a somber tone, he announced to Chad and I that Brynn's risk factor had jumped significantly into Zone 3. Showing us that there was definitely a problem, and that it wasn't getting better. We were told that our baby would be here within the next 10 days - we were past the point of doing a blood transfusion in utero. Another one of our worst fears had been realized. Chad and I reacted with what could only be termed, "hysterical confusion." We just laughed and shook uncontrollably - because yes, of course. It just made sense after living through a tornado two days prior that we would now have this happen.
I was admitted to the hospital that day and started on steroid shots to help develop Brynn's lungs. I got a lot of visitors, told our tornado story, even met with one of the insurance guys in the hospital, so I was productive at least. The next night I couldn't sleep. I noticed she just wasn't moving around as much as she normally was and knew she was coming soon. I told the dr that next morning - November 21, four days post tornado. He put me back on a monitor and the team quickly agreed her patterns were a bit too sleepy. One of my des from Maternal Fetal stopped by and told me we were going to labor and delivery that morning, and we were going to do a c-section because they didn't want to out the baby through the stress of labor - plus we simply didn't have the time. It wasn't technically an emergency c-section, but we did bump some people out of the way...
About 15 minutes later I was wheeled into the OR and I met Dr Teverbaugh for the first time. I was incredibly scared at this point. Scared for Brynn, and scared for me, having never been through a real surgery. I told my doctor through tears that I had already cheated death once that week. It felt like maybe this was going to be my sacrifice or my compromise to have gotten her into this world safely. Everyone knew our story and I don't think I was the only one in that room crying.
The surgery itself was bizarre. I had the spinal tap done and can still vividly remember the pulling feeling as they were getting Brynn out. She didn't cry right away. Apparently that was normal for preemies. They cleaned her up and ran their tests and she cried. Probably the greatest sound I'd ever heard. They left me snuggle her for maybe a minute before she was whisked off to the NICU. It was two days before I could hold her again.
Brynn was born at 8:49 a.m. She was 4 lbs, 15 oz and 17 1/4 inches long. Brynn immediately had a double exchange blood transfusion. The first did not take and the process was lengthy. She bathed under the blue lights for many days to reduce the jaundice she had as a result of the anemia. She had a brain scan which showed the possibility that she had not gotten enough oxygen during birth. She would be tested again upon release. She had poor circulation and problems remembering to breathe. She was on oxygen and ate a special nutrient through a feeding tube. She began clearing several hurdles - an open crib, no oxygen. Eventually she was moved to the intermediate area of the NICU and spent several weeks learning how to drink a bottle. She ended up needing another blood transfusion during which she wasn't allowed to eat for about 12 hours during.
Brynn spent 30 days in the NICU. Chad and I took turns sitting with her every day. Today, on her original due date, she is 7 lbs, 15 oz and 20.5 inches long. She's almost on a normal growth curve, and she's healthy. Her only complaint is an umbilical hernia that will hopefully go away on its own over the next year. And she's got one heck of a birth story.
To say this was the most trying time in our lives is probably an understatement. But Brynn is home in our new house now and we are starting fresh as a family of four. I don't think any of us will take each other or any thing for granted, ever. We will get comfortable again, but have a constant reminder that out of every tragedy comes a new beginning. Brynn is our new beginning.
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