XP: Anna update
I'm going to make this as short and factual as possible, because i'm really upset and I don't think i can spend another day crying. Nothing is set in stone yet - but the probabilities are not in our favor.
The bad: There's no progress. Wait - there's worse than no progress... he said it might actually be a little bit worse. So, no more harness.
The
good: Well - i guess that's a good thing, because I can put her in
clothes again and she can finally wear some of the things that are in
her closet. It's also been so long since I could see her naked self
every day. I do love being able to see her belly and her feet and being
able to rub her back.
He tried her in 2 different kinds of braces.
Medieval Torture Device:
Bucket Brace:
On a baby:
This is the other brace he tried her in. A little more baby friendly. More of a PVC type material than that hard plastic and it has velcro wraps. Same deal as the first... he would try for 2 weeks, and if there were no response, move on to stage 3. He only considered this brace because the first one didn't fit.
The Worse: The problem with stage 2? Neither one of these braces can fit her. She's still too small, despite being about 7 pounds now. We tried them both on her, and they would both do much more harm than good. He had previously mentioned the possibility of custom making a brace for her, but apparently that would take longer than he's willing to wait.
So, the plan going forward.
For the next 4 weeks, our assignment is to just enjoy our baby. She's not in any brace, harness or anything. He says that putting her in something that isn't working can do more harm than good, which is probably what happened with this week's ultrasound. So, we can dress her, bathe her and just go about our business.
In 4 weeks we'll go back for another ultrasound and office visit and hope she is big enough for the 1st brace (the one with the bar). She'll live in that for 2 weeks. At that point, we'll go back and check her progress. If there's progress, yay. If she doesn't show any progress, it's plan b.
If at the end of the 4 weeks, she still isn't big enough for either brace, it's also onto plan b.
Plan B is my nightmare.
Well, plan b is my bad dream. plan C is my nightmare.
Plan B is a closed reduction of the hips. She will get put under general anesthesia, taken to the OR where dye will be injected into her hips and they will be manually placed in the sockets. She will then be placed in a full body cast for the next 3 months.
If the closed reduction doesn't work or isn't possible, we go to plan C. Where they actually open up her hips and do the reduction from the inside. Plan C wouldn't happen until she was at least 9 months old. She would still be in a full body cast for 3 months.
The cast looks like that. There's an opening for a diaper, which has to be tucked all the way inside the cast, and then a pull up goes over it on the outside. While she's in the cast, i wouldn't be able to use CDs. So, now i'm also researching which diapers have the fewest chemicals, so I know what diapers we'll have to use should we reach this point.
Before anyone tells me that she'll be fine and this is the best thing for her - i know that. It doesn't make the prospect of knowing your 7 pound baby is more than likely going to need surgery any easier to deal with. I also know she won't remember any of this and she'll come through it just fine.
But she's my perfect little baby, and knowing your little girl is going to be in pain is a very difficult thing to deal with.
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Re: XP: Anna update
4 Fresh IVF cycles + 1 FET where embies didn't survive the thaw = 2 perfect little men!
sFET 11/9/11 - Beta 11/18 BFP!
I am so sorry this is happening. I am hoping it doesn't come to Option C.
Enjoy your next few weeks and grow baby grow!!!! I hope she gets nice and chubby so she can fit into the best brace.
Of course you feel awful about this - my gosh, I would too! The only thing I can say, and I know it might not make you feel better and you've probably heard it a zillion times, is...at her age she won't know the difference. It will be so much harder on you than on her. Just look at the babies in those pictures - they both look pretty carefree and happy in spite of being so confined!
But I totally get why you're a mess about this. I would be too, no matter what anyone said to me.
I'm hoping Plan A works like a charm!
LO #1 - 1 unmedicated/self-monitored IUI w/ donor sperm.
LO #2 - 1 m/c, 2 BFNs, 4th IUI worked (unmedicated/self-monitored with new donor sperm).
Life is beautiful!
World_of_Dennifer
Bloomin'_Babies
Married/Nest_Bio
Because we're fancy like that.
Oh lady, I'm sorry you guys are dealing with this. I've worked peds ortho, (and been a patient myself) and those kids are some of the strongest most resilient kids out there. I've got to imgine that you're dealing with 7lbs of fight there, GL with this journey, and enjoy your brace break! (I wore a brace for scoliosis for 7 years, even an HOUR off was pure joy!!!)
(oddly enough, don't be surprised if she does not sleep very well at 1st, I know I didn't when I got my back brace off - I had to learn how to get comfy again!)
Gen -
I am so sorry that you all are going throught this. I hope Anna grows in the next few weeks, and I hope you don't have to go with option C.
I am so sorry Gen.
Sending tons of T&Ps to you and Anna.
(((((hugehugs)))))
Unexplained Infertility
After two Clomid cycles, three injectable IUI cycles, two IVFs, two miscarriages, and one lap surgery, IVF #2 has brought us our little boy!
TTC #2
After months of being postponed or cancelled, FET #1.3 (Natural FET) brought us twin girls!
I'm so sorry.
I am SO sorry you guys are dealing with this, I can't imagine...i hope so much she is big enough for the braces, and that you don't have to go through any surgery...
for now, i am so thankful that you get to enjoy your little girl without any braces or cast, just as a regular little love..
((hugs))
Joey, Ronnie, and Audrey,
my awesome IUI 30 week twins, and my surprise miracle
LOVE my SAIF ladies
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i am so sorry - you and little Anna are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that everything works with the least intervention........
for the the disposable diapers so far I found that the pampers sensitive brand works well for dd - she has not had any rash or anything so far and they are not super bulky....
Oh no! I so hate to see this. I'm really sorry the harness didn't help. I really hope one of the braces does the trick.
Enjoy your sweet girl over the next four weeks, and you'll be in my thoughts.