Feb 20, 2010 11:40 pm - End of Day 1 Update

Feb 20, 2010 11:40 pm - Update

Posting an update before I go to bed. Still no change with the baby. Alicia is slowly improving.

He was 5 lbs 5 oz, 19 1/4 inches. (LONG BABY for 4 weeks early!)

Feb 20, 2010 6:00 am - Jayden is on ECMO

(From CaringBridge Page)
Feb 20, 2010 6:00 am - Update on Jayden & Alicia

The procedure started a little later than anticipated so they did not get Jayden on ECMO until about 5:00 am but the good news is that his levels all came up to a very good range almost immediately so hopefully he will only need the support for a few days. Alicia should be able to see him within the hour.

Feb 20, 2010 3:20 am - Not Good...

(From CaringBridge Page)

The doctors came in about 2:00 am & said although his carbon dioxide numbers are better, his oxygen numbers are falling too much & they are going to ECMO (heart lung bypass). They are doing it as I write.

Alicia is very upset & to make it harder her migraine returned with a vengeance, but she is working hard to knock it down so she can see him when the surgery is done.

They were honest in that his chances of survival are down to 40% at best but he has continued to fight hard & so will we.

Feb 19, 2010 8:50 pm - Jayden at almost 3 hrs old

Feb 19, 2010 8:50 pm - Jayden at almost 3 hrs old

(From Grandma's FB Page)

Jayden is still hanging on. We had a big concern before he was born that his lung could get the oxygen in, but not get the carbon dioxide out. They did a test 5 weeks ago that would give us a better idea of his ability and the results looked hopeful. Unfortunately that is one of the biggest problems he is fighting tonight. The doctor did come in about 7:00 pm and said he was starting to show a LITTLE improvement and that is good but he is still very critically ill.

Alicia is resting & I'm gonna have to lay down too as I have averaged 3-1/2 hours a night in the last 2 days. I will update as I get them.... 

Feb 19, 2010 - 36 wks 1 day - Jayden is Here!

Friday, Feb 19, 2010 - 36 wks 1 day - Jayden is Here! 

(From Grandma's FB Page)

Jayden Scott Gilbert was born at 4:03 pm today.
Alicia did fantastic but the baby is doing very poorly.
Please pray hard for little Jayden.

Addendum:
We did not find out until weeks later that he coded in resuscitation & they had to fight to get him back...  :-(

Feb 18, 2010 - 36 wks - Water Broke... Here We GO!

Feb 18, 2010 - Jayden's Water Broke... Here We GO!

Mom Alicia's water broke with a slow but steady leak. Since it was not a big break she didn't recognize it as the water breaking so it was late in the day after mentioning it to her childbirth coach before anyone realized what was going on. Her coach strongly suggested getting it checked, so right after class we headed once more to the hospital not expecting it to be anything serious. Once we went up, it was confirmed as water break & she was kept in the hospital.

Feb 13, 2010 - 35 Weeks 2 Days... Premature Labor again

Feb 13, 2010 - 35 Weeks 2 Days... Premature Labor again

 

Mom is back in for monitoring for pre-term labor. This one stopped quickly...

Feb 11, 2010 - 35 weeks!

Feb 11, 2010 - 35 weeks!

 

(Posting on Grandma's FB page)

Alicia made it to 35 weeks today. She has a non-stress test for the baby tomorrow. Hopefully we can etch out another 2-3 weeks!

Feb 9, 2010 - 34 Wks 5 Days - 4D Pictures

Feb 9, 2010 - 34 Wks 5 Days - 4D Pictures

 

First GOOD look at Jayden's face & last pictures before delivery. He is SO handsome!

 

 

 

Feb 5, 2010 - 34 weeks 1 day

Feb 5, 2010 - (Posting on Grandma's FB page)

Alicia made it to 34 weeks yesterday (Yea!). The baby's estimated weight on ultrasound is about 4-1/2 lbs. Things are quiet for now. Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers & well wishes!

Jan 30, 2010 - Playing the Waiting Game...

(Posting on Grandma's FB page)

It's Sat morning. Alicia is resting & still contracting but intermittently. We had a VERY good visit with the baby's surgeon (Dr. Bliss) on Thurs & he seems to be very optimistic of a good outcome, but with a healthy amount of caution.

Although we would still like her to make it to Thurs, he still feels they can still do what they need to if he goes now. We continue to get good news but all prayers / well wishes are still appreciated!

Jan 29, 2010 - 33 Weeks - Family Get Together

Jan 29, 2010 - 33 Weeks - Family Get Together

Baby is Getting BIG!

 

Jan 27, 2010 - 32 wks 5 days - Heart ECHO & Transitioning Care to Emanuel

Jan 27, 2010 - 32 wks 5 days - Heart ECHO & Transitioning Care to Emanuel

 

Mom got an urgent ECHO done due to threatened preterm labor to make sure the aorta was still stable. Thank goodness it had held rock solid all through the pregnancy at 3.8 cm which meant she could still try a natural delivery. A progression to 4.0 cm would have required a C Section. Also started transitioning care to Emanuel.

Jan 26, 2010 - 32 wks 5 days - Home From Hospital!

(Posting from CaringBridge Page)

After some significant effacement they managed to get labor to stop with the hopes of buying just a few more weeks. They had already said that ECMO would not have been available before 34 weeks if he came early.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Posting on Grandma's FB page)

Alicia has come home from the hospital & will have a visit with her high risk OB Dr tomorrow. We will get a better idea of how much longer she can expect to hold off labor. 

Please pray that we can at least get 9 more days so the baby will have the ECMO option available if he needs it.

Jan 25, 2010 - Step Down From High Monitoring...

Jan 25, 2010 - Step Down From High Monitoring...

(Posting on Grandma's FB page)

Alicia moved from the high monitoring area this today to the regular maternity floor. Her Gitelman's syndrome may be part of the problem as her magnesium & sodium levels were below normal & potassium was at the bottom end of normal.

She may go home tomorrow, depending on how her levels look & of course what the contractions do. She has hit station zero & is engaged so we likely will hold it off for only so long....

{Addendum: The Gitelman's diagnosis was reversed months later as she tested negative, but she still has some unnamed variation of Gitelman's with the same issues.}

Jan 24, 2010 - Update on Pre-Term Labor

January 24, 2010 - (Posting from Mom's FB Page)

Back in the hospital from pre-term labor. They stopped it once but it started again today, so they had to give more stopping meds. It seems 2 be working for now.Please pray for us that it stops and I go home. Will post more as I get it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jan 24, 2010 - Labor Has Stopped...

(Posting on Grandma's FB page)

Alicia has had a few breakthrough contractions but for now the labor seems have to stopped. Because they had to give steroids to accelerate the lung growth they still have to keep her until mid-day tomorrow anyway but hopeful that will be all.

Jan 23, 2010 - 32 Wks 2 days - Preterm Labor!

(Posting on Grandma's FB page)

It's Sat evening & I writing this from OHSU Hospital as Alicia is in threatened pre-term (premature) labor. 

 

Mom was contracting every 6-7 minutes at 2 cm dilated 60% effacement and 0 station. They gave her medication to stop the labor & steroids to help advance Jayden's lung maturity in case he did come early.

 

Please pray they can get the contractions to stop as 32 weeks is too early as a whole & ECMO will not be available if a ventilator is not enough.
 

Jan 20, 2010 - 31 Wks 6 Days - Hyperoxygenation Test

Jan 20, 2010 - 31 Wks 6 Day

Critical Ultrasound - Hyperoxygenation Test to Assess Right Lung Function

Fetal Weight Estimate: 1828 gm, 4 lbs, 0 oz. Wt is 52% for 31.9 wks.

Through all the prior ultrasounds the doctors had been very worried about Jayden's lung function as they had not seen clear indication of blood flow pattern in the right pulmonary artery. We had been told that if he was going to have a chance to survive, he would have to have good results off this test.

Results: 

Left CDH with cardiac displacement towards the right chest wall, no significant liver herniation.

LHR is 1.1. 

Kidneys appear echogenic.

Positive hyperoxygenation test with diastolic blood flow pattern in the right pulmonary artery!

Jan 12, 2010 - Getting Everything Ready...

(Posting on Grandma's FB page)

The last specialists are scheduled for Alicia & Jayden's delivery. The next few weeks will be a whirlwind of appointments in preparation for this very special delivery. All in all she is doing her best to push through it. We’ll get a very important update next week on how well Jayden’s lung is developing. Please keep them both in your prayers.

Jan 1, 2010 - The Start of a New Year...At HOME!

(Posting on Grandma's FB page)

Alicia just got home on Thurs after 5 days in the hospital. Jayden did just fine all week & an ultrasound yesterday showed some additional lung growth (yea!). Mom will be on blood thinner shots twice a day until after delivery & new blood pressure medicine to keep her condition from worsening. Please keep both her & Jayden in your prayers!