Good News

Well, we got some really good news at the doctor yesterday.  They found what they think is a cervical polyp which means we have a new diagnosis other than a placental tear (a diagnosis of exclusion).  They were even able to verify its blood supply so it is a pretty good conclusion that it is a polyp.  So, although it is still a mild complication, it is leaps and bounds better than what we thought. 

Apparently it is not uncommon for polyps to form in women who have already have had one child and they grow in response to hormones, so the bleeding can increase over the pregnancy as your hormones do.  They are almost never cancerous, so that isn’t a concern.  The biggest risks are that the bleeding and cramping associated with the polyp (the polyp is like a grape and bleeds very easily and because it doesn’t belong there the cervix will try to push it out), the body can get confused and start labor early.  So far, my cervix is totally closed and we are good to go.  They will keep watching me.  The other very small possibility is that the polyp itself grows like crazy and actually acts as a dilator on the cervix, but again they can track it and see if this is likely.

For now, I have a new lease on life and am able to occasionally pick up Logan.  This has been such a breath of fresh air for me since now Charles can have some more freedom and I am not totally useless.  I still am not going to carry him around or pick him up more than absolutely necessary.  I also need to try to manage bleeding and cramping still, which do seem to respond to movement, so that means still maintaining some activity but having it be low intensity.  I have also been instructed to use advil when I cramp to try to relax the uterus.  It can be a cycle (as I have noticed) and can be hard for the body to turn around on its own.  The nice piece is that now I don’t have to worry about progression or a catastrophic problem around any corner.  I am not much of a stresser, so I was doing pretty well before, but I feel this major weight lifted off my shoulders now. 

Long term, my polyp will either come off on its own at birth or it will be removed after I am recovered from labor.  They can bleed a lot, so when it is removed, it might need to be cauterized. 

So, keep your prayers coming, but they clearly are already working and we are so looking forward to the healthy arrival of our second baby boy in November.  I was so nervous about doing something that would result in my baby losing oxygen and having permanent problems.  I know it wouldn’t be “my fault” but I couldn’t stop picturing how that would feel.  I can rest so much easier now and just look forward to holding my sweet little dude in a few months!