Tuesday night update

Danielle was hospitalized Monday at 4 am for pre-term labor. She was 23 weeks, 6 days pregnant. Initially, the nurses and doctors were fairly well convinced that Danielle was going to be having the baby shortly after arrival. In fact, we were spoken to by a couple of different doctors regarding the impending probable loss of the baby and our need to start making decisions. Specifically, if the baby had been born Monday, this would have been 1 day shy of 24 weeks; 24 weeks is the recognized day of viability/survivability. Therefore, if Danielle had given birth yesterday (Monday), the doctors would not have attempted any resucitation or any other life-saving actions.

Thankfully, however, through the hospital's efforts, Danielle's will, and especially prayer, she is still pregnant at this time, almost 48 hours later. She is still having occasional, rare contractions, but she is no longer considered in labor. The doctors think that Danielle has had a small placental abruption (smaller version of what happened last April). The concerns right now are that she continues to have some bleeding, her cervix is dilated 3 cm or so, and some of the fetal membranes are prolapsed through her cervix. All of this puts her at risk for resumed full labor and/or for having her water break. The doctors, therefore, have her on treatment to prevent contractions and have her on bed rest. The treatment has her feeling poorly, but her spirits are good.

Our goals are very short-sighted at this time. The doctors have stressed how important each day of fetal development is in terms of survival of the baby and in terms of the probability of long-term handicap/disability. With each day that Danielle remains pregnant, there is a dramatic increase in prognosis. We hope to be here for several weeks/months to improve the baby's chance, but right now we are celebrating days. There are details that plenty of people on this email list know that I have not included, so I'm sure such information can be shared. The main reason for writing this is to request prayer. Specifically, please pray that:

1. Danielle can maintain this pregnancy for as long as is required to allow for a healthy baby.
2. The doctors and nurses.
3. Clarity and guidance if the baby is born within the next few days (a period that doctors consider a "gray area" for intervention)
4. Danielle's physical comfort