March 26, 2012 - 24-week appointment

We went back to the perinatal specialist for my 24-week appointment on March 26th. We had gotten smart and scheduled the appointment for late afternoon knowing that returning to work afterwards was emotionally impossible for both of us.

In the back of our minds, we both thought that maybe the first diagnosis would have been a mistake or that Lucy would have miraculous development in the past 3 weeks. However, neither was the case. Her development continued to be on course for 24 weeks, but her head was now measuring large - about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Normal ventricles are around 6 - 8 mm; Lucy's were measuring around 24 mm. This is to be expected for hydro babies - since their ventricles are enlarged, brain fluid does not drain properly and just pools in their little heads. Therefore, throughout pregnancy, their heads grow at an accelerated rate - for them, it is actually a good thing, because it gives their brain room to expand along with the fluid. It is for this reason that we expect to deliver via C-Section.

Our doctor told us that we would have to deliver at a hospital in downtown Denver that has a neonatal brain surgeon on staff so that we can be prepared to have a shunt put in shortly after Lucy's birth and not have to transport her.

We again find ourselves frustrated at the lack of information about what to expect - we don't know if she'll be in the hospital for a week or a month after she is born. We don't know if she will have normal development or if she will be delayed. We don't know if she will have hearing or sight problems, like many other babies born with hydro. Our doctor told us that it is impossible to guess at her long-term prognosis at this point. He has seen babies with severe amounts of fluid have normal or near-normal intelligence and he has seen babies with very little fluid have severe handicaps.


I am comforted knowing that although no one here on earth can tell us what to expect, God knows:

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.