Perinatologist

I finally got to see Dr. Morales today. It was a great ultrasound. They have a screen on the wall so I could actually see things and the tech explained EVERY part of what was there. That was great! I'm 19 weeks 5 days, and baby measures 21 weeks, 1 day. Bigger and bigger :-) That's the good news.

Bad news is the hematoma is NOT smaller like I had been told before. According to the tech, "It's quite possibly the largest bleed [she's] ever seen!" Seems to go from one edge of the placenta to the other. The doctor also said that fresh blood is not from the clots, it is from the placenta tearing or separating somewhere. Unfortunately, ultrasound could not tell exactly where or what's going on. Doc also said people with this will almost always deliver early. Of course, he couldn't tell me how early. I told him I was going full term! I told the doc's that same thing when I was pregnant with the boys, and technically I did. My goal this time is a 9 pounder. Why not? I gotta have something to shoot for. Doc does want me to get a blood count done so we don't get to the point where I'd need a transfusion! It all seems so dramatic.

All in all, I think I left more confused/frustrated feeling. Even if the placenta is bleeding out somewhere, WHY is the clot enormous again?!?! Is the placenta bleeding out and filling it up? So many questions. Whatever, most important is that the baby is healthy, I haven't bled to death, and that ultimately God is in control.

I need to go call USAA and get my life insurance. What if I die having this baby? Childcare for 3-4 kids would add up quick :-) Plus, Wes' new company will pay for the insurance, so why not get it? Yah, I bet you think I'm joking....but I'm NOT!

This is a fun fact: I was also told that it appeared there may be a membrane separating the baby from the blood clot. This could indicate that there were initially TWINS. Interesting since these hematomas are usually caused by something separating from the uterus!! Going through a rough pregnancy is probably much easier long-term than having another set of twins. (Although, if that were to happen it would have been fine....shocking, but fine).

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Since originally posting, my Dr. G has called and explained things MUCH better! The word "tear" is just scary. In fact, the placenta is not detaching at all, hence why nothing is seen to show this. What is meant is that there is an area at the end of the placenta (if thinking in terms of 3D, we are visualizing the depth) where there is a vein just leaking blood. Like if you had a nose bleed or something. However, usually you can put pressure on whatever is bleeding. In this case, the only thing that can stop it is the baby getting big enough to put enough pressure on it! The medical term is called placenta marginal sinuses (At least, I think that's what he said). It's much better news than I thought. The Doc said he feels quite confident that the baby will be fine now. The main concern now is just the amount of blood loss and making sure I don't end up anemic or needing a transfusion! I'm okay with either of those if we end up with a healthy baby.