Timeline

I now live in a hospital.



This morning I packed my suitcase, left my home, and moved into a private room at Indiana University Hospital. At some point I hope to go back and fill in the details of the past week, but for now I will jot down a time line before more excitement washes away my thoughts today.



17 wks - I have a small bleed. I am diagnosed with placenta previa. But assured that 90% of these move and therefore don't cause a problem. We also have a scare of a shortened cervix and a uterine hematoma. I'm put on bedrest for a week.



The shortened cervix was never actually short, and the hematoma was absorbed over time. But my placenta previa persisted.



22 wks - our baby's heart gave us a very big scare by slowing down repeatedly. I was told to seek out a high risk OB (MFM - Maternal Health Medicine) before I get to Indianapolis.



A specialist took a closer look at my baby's perfect little heart, and pronounced it absolutely healthy.



We sigh with relief, but my placenta previa held on.




23 wks - my first ultrasound in Indy not only reveals a placenta that is not going to move from its position right over my cervix, but it also looks suspicious that I have placenta accreta. Placenta accreta is an invasion of the wall of my uterus by the placenta. This would mean a hysterectomy for me.


I'm warned that if I'm going to bleed, it will likely occur around 28 to 30 weeks. I earnestly start seeking out new friends in Indianapolis so my kids will have someone to care for them if I do have a sudden bleed.

My OB predicts that I will either sail through this smoothly with no bleeding, or be a "complete, bloody mess." We start praying for smooth sailing.


27 wks - another ultrasound confirms suspicion of placenta accreta. It is highly unlikely that I will get to keep my uterus after delivering Tatu.

I cry for the loss of kiddo #4 that I'd wanted, but will never have. New in town for less than a month, it is my next door neighbor, practically a stranger to me, who comforts me while I cry.

27 wks + 2 days, 5 days short of the 28 weeks of freedom that I anticipated, and exactly 1 month after our move in Indy, I start to bleed.

Blood loss was very little, but I'm admitted to the OBICU overnight for observation. Too many scary possibilities are discussed by doctors. I sign away consent to deliver my baby and remove my uterus whenever the bleeding is too heavy.

I go home. But I'm warned that if I bleed again, they won't let me go back home. We start gathering names of friends willing to fly in to watch our kids in case I'm stuck in the hospital. We try to plan out enough care to cover us if I am hospitalized at 30 weeks.

28 wks, I bleed again. And I'm in for good.