Babies Update, 26 Weeks

Here is an update about our babies for everyone who has asked.

Thank you so much for asking and for continuing to pray for us.

Tom and I had a long, hard day at Johns Hopkins on Thursday but it was well worth it. The update is we got to meet with a chaplain and a neonatologist, who answered so many questions for both of us about what to expect for babies with limb body wall complex.

We take a selfie every appointment we go to together, which might be strange but it’s one way of documenting everything and each appointment is one step closer to meeting these precious babies.

Our prognosis is the same. The doctors expect both babies to pass soon after birth.  We sat in a conference room and a doctor explained step by step how our babies will be born (via c-section) and how each of the expected limitations may complicate their survival. She started with breathing- each baby may have trouble breathing as soon as they are born. She detailed what the doctors will or will not do to assist them at each step.

It was strange because the conference room was so normal and our conversation was comfortable and yet sitting there all I could think is, this is the hardest thing we will ever do, this is the hardest thing we will ever do.

All of it- of course. 

But we are doing it. By God’s grace we are doing it. We are able to fully accept what the doctor told us. God’s grace y’all. Any time you can use the term perinatal hospice and not be a complete mess- you know God’s got you. He gets all of the glory.

The doctor and chaplain were so kind, in a way that I’ve gotten used to and not even mad at. I wept as the neonatologist told me she is so sorry but I absolutely believe her when she told me she would do everything she can to help us.

I asked her how many people will be in the room when I delivered. She said, thirty. 

Thirty people in the operating room. I was shocked.

I had joked with my OB that morning that I hoped whoever was doing my c-section knew what they were doing since things were “a little complicated”. Now the look she gave me makes total sense.

Thirty people are going to help us deliver these precious babies who are not expected to survive.

What I won’t say out loud during all of this but think of all the time is: are we doing everything we can. Should we go to a different hospital, get a second opinion, choose a different birth plan, google more, ask different questions. Definitely not google more.

I know God has the answers to the things we do not know and His ultimate plan is greater than ours. But these doctors, wow these doctors.  They are so good to us.

So are all of you! Please keep our precious babies in your prayers. It’s the hardest thing we may ever walk through and we are doing it fully aware of God’s great love for us, the strength He gives us and all of your prayers.

Thanks you guys. Lots of love.

-Emily & Tom