One of A’s best friends and his wife have been trying to have a baby for a couple years now. They have experienced at least one miscarriage that we know of and we suspect they probably had several more miscarriages. Finally, finally, she got pregnant with a sticky baby and was due in late april (I think). We couldn’t have been happier for them.
Then this morning, we found out that the mom’s water broke on New Years eve. She is just a tad over 25 weeks pregnant. It is a terribly scary situation because the baby is just barely viable. Fortunately she hasn’t gone into preterm labor and is hospitalized on bedrest. Their goal right now is to keep the baby safely inside until at least 28 weeks (more if possible).
I am not usually someone who prays, but today I am. If you can find it in your heart to send some good baby-staying-inside thoughts to them, I would appreciate it. I know micro preemies this young can survive and thrive (M has a friend who was born at 25 weeks), but our friends are in for a tough road in the next days/weeks/months and can use all the help they can get.
Also, if any of you have been in this situation, I would love some advice about how we can best support them right now. They live in Cali, so we can’t just go hang out with them. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
How about a hospital care package? You could include a fluffy robe, slippers, crossword puzzles, a few good books, etc.
Sending good thoughts her way.
Can you send her some puzzles or dvds to watch to keep her from getting bored?
I hope her child stays put and that the rest of the pregnancy is safe and uneventful.
Sending good thoughts her way! No advice here, just let them know you are there for them in spirit.
I will be thinking of her and hoping she can make it at least a few more weeks.
Sending good thoughts her way.
How utterly devastating. Yeah, I’m not much of a prayer woman myself but I will offer up good thoughts to the universe for them and hope that the miracle of modern science can help them.
i will pray.
how do they keep the baby inside if her water broke? do they pump fluid in? i’m not at all educated on how they would be able to do this.
Oh man — I hope the fertility gods/goddesses smile on them somehow. I will be thinking of them.
Sending positive juju their way. If she is on bedrest at home perhaps send her a month of unlimited Netflix, a journal and a really good book.
Vibes, juju, positive thoughts….all on their way.
Amber,
Will keep her in thoughts and prayers, of course.
KJames,
Usually there’s still some fluid left, even once a pregnant woman’s water breaks. The hospital will do very frequent ultrasounds to check how much fluid the baby has. If the baby goes into distress, they’ll deliver. They also can inject fluid as needed, but that’s not a long term solution.
Prayers going up right now. Does the hospital have some type of hospitality house that the hubs is staying at? If so, how about paying for a few nights worth of his stay? My best friend delivered her daughter at 26 weeks (Scarlett who is amazingly healthy now at 9 months!) and because her husband wanted to be close in proximity paying for him to stay near was very appreciated.
thanks, paige.
i guess i was thinking it had broken in a gush… but if it broke the way it did when i had my son, i suppose there is a lot still there.
very scary situation.
I will be thinking of them and hope for the best.