I don’t even really know how to start with this, so I guess I’ll just say it…
I’m pregnant. Currently almost 24 weeks, which is honestly amazing. I never thought I would make it this far. On Thursday, I’ll have officially reached viability. Babies born at this stage at least have a chance to survive… doctors will try to save them. Such a milestone!
Of course, nothing is ever simple for us. At 18 weeks and 5 days, three days before my birthday, I went for an anatomy scan where we found out that our baby has spina bifida. The one thing that was not even vaguely on my radar. I had been taking high dose folic acid since around 6 weeks and a normal dose for 5 years before that. So you can imagine it was a shock. I had to come back the next day for an amniocentesis, then we spent the next two weeks going to appointments and meeting with specialists. After an MRI followed by a very long discussion with a specialist in Zurich we finally decided on our next step – fetal, or in-utero surgery. So on 24th September I’ll be going into hospital and on the 27th I’ll undergo an operation so that they can repair the defect in our baby’s back before I even give birth, thus preventing even more damage to the nerves during the course of the rest of my pregnancy.
All that to say things will be pretty quiet around here for a while. Even more so than they have been anyway, that is. I will be able to respond to comments while in hospital and will probably visit other people’s blogs but it’s unlikely that I’ll attempt a post from my phone. But hey, at least I’ll have plenty of extra time to read for a couple of weeks!
Confuzzledom 
Send you lots of love
Thank you.
My love and prayers are with you all ❤️🙏❤️
Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear you are pregnant. Having followed you for a while I know how much you wanted to have a baby. I hope both you and baby will make it through surgery ok. Sending lots of love and positive vibes! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you. It’s been a difficult few years. I’m hoping for the best from the surgery.
Wonderful news, and sending all my best wishes for the next stage.
Thank you so much!
Congratulations Bev, that is huge – 24 weeks and I’m so happy for you. I hope that knowing you’ve got Zurich’s best specialists behind you during this situation is a comfort for you. All the best of luck with the procedure!
Thank you. Yes it’s definitely reassuring knowing we’re in expert hands. They were very upfront about the outcomes of their previous operations and the risks involved and I’m satisfied with how they approach everything.
Congratulations. I have been reading your blog for a few years so I have a little bit of an idea of how badly this baby is wanted. I’ll be thinking of you and your baby and wishing you the absolute best for the surgery.
Thank you! I really appreciate the good thoughts.
Wow Bev! Congratulations on your pregnancy and sorry it has come with some stress along with the joy! I am so amazed that in-utero surgery is an option for this now and I am sure you and the baby are in excellent hands. I will be thinking of you and hoping everything goes well. ❤
Thank you so much. This whole process has been nothing but stress but hopefully things will actually start to go right at some point!
Congratulations! My heart is so happy for you. I’m sorry for the stress and probably emotional challenges that have come with it. Praying for the upcoming procedure and for the remainder of the pregnancy. Sending lots of love and hugs.
Thank you. It has definitely been a stressful few weeks but I’m happy to have made a decision and know what’s happening.
Congratulations. I am so pleased for you Bev and hope things go ok. xxxx
Thank you. I hope so too 🙂
Congratulations! And all the good thoughts to you on your upcoming surgery. If I can support you from well afar in any way, please let me know.
Thank you so much. Just keep sending those good thoughts 🙂
BEV! I am so happy for you, oh my gosh the road you have travelled to get here. I have been holding hope for you as long as I’ve been reading this blog. I am thrilled, completely thrilled. I think things are going to go ok for you and the wee baby with the in-utero surgery. It’s miraculous what surgeons can do now.
Thank you. Yes, it’s been the loooongest road – and somehow the universe still wasn’t satisfied and had to throw another obstacle into the mix?! I’m in awe of what doctors/surgeons can do now. So amazing that we can get this done.
Oh my Lord, Bev & Jan!! How amazing. I hold you (all three of you) in my thoughts and prayers. With your permission I will ask my church to pray for you also. Through surgery (how fantastic it can be done) and through what follows. Sending you love and hugs and all the luck in the world. YAY!
Thank you so much. I would be honoured to have your church pray for us 💕.
Wow that’s a big update! Well, firstly big congratulations! I am delighted that you are pregnant and so far along. I’m sorry to hear about the diagnosis and the surgery sounds a bit scary.. but you will be in really good hands and it’s amazing what doctors can do these days! I’ll be thinking of you and praying everything will go great for you and the little baby xx
Thank you. Surgery is definitely a scary thought but the probable outcome is so worth it!
Hoping and praying all goes well for you
Thank you so much.
You know how amazingly happy I felt for you to be pregnant, as I said, more so than I ever have been in my entire life for anyone but at the same time, absolutely feeling for you that if only you didn’t have to have further worries about it. I know you’re not religious but I too will pray for you all and will be thinking of you all. Much, much love for Friday.xxx
Thank you lovely. I may not be religious but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate prayers 🙂
Hey, I was just reading my old blog, Fly on the wall and stumbled across all your lovely comments, do you remember us? Fay Dan Amy and Cheeky Jake? Jake is 14 now, Amy is 22.. anyway I thought I would drop by to say Hi only to see this wonderful news! congratulations!! hoping your surgery is a great success and your little one thrives. 🙂
Wow, yes I remember you! I hope you are all well.
Thank you 🙂
fingers and toes crossed friend, hope all goes well. thinking of you all the time!
Thank you my lovely x
27/09 today – thinking of you, and Jan, and Baby. I hope it all went well. xxx
Thank you. The surgery went well and baby is fine. Recovery is progressing as expected so far.
I’m keeping everything crossed that the procedure went well and you’re at home, with your feet up, recovering and taking it easy.
Xx
Hi lovely. The surgery on Monday went well. If all looks good at the end of next week I’ll be allowed home.
Keeping all three of you in my thoughts and prayers. Everything is crossed.
Bev!! ❤️❤️❤️ Sending you all my love and happiness! You’ve got this, Mama!
Thank you 💕
Hoping you are doing ok.xxx
Bev congratulations!!! It’s been such an arduous journey. I am really happy for you.
I hope your surgery goes/has gone well – I guess you had it already. And that you’re feeling good and baby is doing well. Sending you much love.