not to us

Here is a more detailed update on the medical specifics, for those of you who are interested.  :)

I still feel like I'm leaking.  I am definitely having a leakage of fluid of some sort.  It could simply be cervical fluid, or it could be amniotic fluid.  There is no way for us to know, because they can't test.  The test would be too big of a risk of introducing bacteria and infection to my body.  Therefore, we can only make the safe assumption that it's amniotic fluid I'm feeling. However, Dr. Harrison feels very encouraged by what she's seeing with my amniotic fluid levels.  Of course, the u/s is only a guess, but a 3cm increase indicates that, at the very least, I am maintaining amniotic fluid.

Dr. Harrison thinks it's possible that the bag has sealed over, or it's possible that the leak is simply a very small tear and a very slow leak.  The increase in my fluid intake is helping my body to regenerate amniotic fluid faster.  All in all, things are very, very good right now.

I have to stay on bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy for several reasons:

1.  If the bag has not sealed over and is simply leaking very slowly, extra movement or abdominal exhertion could cause the tear to grow and the leak to increase in speed.  Also, if the bag is still open, my body and Burke are both at very high risk for infection.  Even if the amniotic fluid levels stayed high, infection could kill him.  I have to take extra precaution to be as clean and sanitary as humanly possible.

2.  If the bag has sealed over, there is absolutely no guarantee that the seal will hold until 40 weeks.  In fact, given my obstetric history, it is most likely that the bag will, indeed, break again at some point before 40 weeks.  It's simply a question of when.  We would like for that "when" to be as far away from now as possible.  To lower the risk of breaking the bag again, strict bedrest and careful movements of the core muscles in my abdomen are important.

Also, as Burke grows, he will be come bigger and stronger.  These changes will naturally put more stress on the amniotic sac and on the seal that has formed over the original tear.  If I keep myself still, it's our hope that the amniotic sac will continue to hold out for Burke, even with his growth and strength.

A lot of the rest of this journey is situationally dependent.  It is possible that I will have to go on hospital bedrest at some point.  It depends on a lot of different factors.  If I make it to 24 weeks, we will administer the lung steroid shots at that point, to give Burke's lungs an extra developmental boost.  

Dr. Harrison said that, generally, after 26 weeks, they will make an attempt to sustain life for all babies, unless it is obvious and apparent that the baby cannot live.

Between 24 and 26 weeks, they quickly assess the baby to see if the baby is making any attempt at life.  If Burke is a big boy (for his gestation), tries to cry out, or takes a big deep breath on his own, they will most likely try to sustain life.  If Burke is small and making no life actions, then they probably will not try.  It wouldn't be fair to him, and it would steal our precious time with him.

Some specific prayer requests:

1. Pray that Burke stays in the womb until he gets the steroid shots.  Ruby got the steroid shots, and she wasn't born until 34 weeks, and she still had quite a bit of trouble breathing at the beginning.  I shudder to think what her first moments might have been like without the steroids.

2. Pray that, if he is born before 26 weeks, he is a big strong boy who tries very hard to take his first breaths and gives the doctors every excuse in the world to fight with him for his life.

3. Pray that, if he is born after 26 weeks, he is a strong fighter.  Premature boys generally do a little bit worse in the NICU than premature girls, so I'm a little worried about that.

4. Above all, pray that Burke comes when God wants him to come, and that we are prepared to handle whatever comes along with his arrival.  :)  Remember to praise God for all of these wonderful and amazing things that have happened.  Don't be afraid to ask Him for continued miracles with Burke.  :)  In the same vein, be prepared to praise Him for whatever He decides to do!!  He is good, all the time, and He knows what is best, all the time.  :)