Update on Baby Z

We had our anatomy scan on Friday, July 20th. Here is an update:

The unofficial report on my spleen scan is that it is still 9cm (HALLELUJAH). I say unofficial because the ultrasound tech is not supposed to tell me the results she sees, but I told her it was 9cm last October and she told me it still looked to be 9cm. So that's good news (should know more in a few days when the radiologist does an official analysis).

Baby is doing just fine and the anatomy scan looked good - we're having a GIRL. However, during the scan, it was discovered that my placenta has grown covering my cervix causing me to have placenta previa. Due to that we'll have to be scheduled for a C-section at around 36 weeks or earlier, which in a way, is somewhat good news -- it eliminates us having to decide how to proceed in regards to the cyst on my spleen. Since C-section is finite now, they think it would be best to go ahead and remove my spleen at the same time. And since it's not as safe to remove my spleen without having first treated the parasite, I am going to be doing the albendazole treatment to kill the parasite starting in the next few weeks and probably lasting the duration of the pregnancy.

The high-risk OBG we met with in Greenville has quelled our fears about a lot of that -- he has done medicine in other parts of the world and has treated pregnant women with the drug and says there have been no ill effects on mom or baby. I have also been researching what I can online and haven't found anything that indicates baby will be negatively affected by the treatment (everything I've found indicates that as long as it's done in the second trimester, everything seems to end up fine with mom and baby).

So we have a definite game plan, so that's good. The placenta previa is going to be cause for concern though - if I were to do anything to aggravate that condition, it could be detrimental to me and baby. 

For our praying friends and family who want to know how to specifically pray:

• Pray that the Albendazole treatment will be effective in killing the parasite and won't cause any complications to baby or to me.
• Pray that there will not be any complications with the placenta previa which could cause me to be on bed rest for weeks to months. It could also cause us to have to deliver baby earlier than 36 weeks which will cause complications in her. Pray that we are able to make it successfully to 36 weeks and that Baby Z will have her lungs developed by the time she has to be delivered.
• Pray that there will be no complications with the removal of my spleen during the C-section.

If all goes well, it sounds like Miss Baby Z will be arriving sometime in November. :)

Thankful for all of you and your prayers and support.

-Amber