Will my baby live?

When I got that news that Mabel had low fluid, I truly understood that the prognosis was bad, but it was hard to really wrap my head around the idea that she might actually die. Part of the difficulty was that no one would actually say she was going to die. Obstetrics would hint, very strongly at it, but couldn’t tell me with certainty. Pediatric specialists wouldn’t comment at all- they all simply said we’d have to see when she came out.

At one point we met with a neonatologist that was finally a bit helpful in that respect. I had been getting weekly ultrasounds for several weeks when we saw him- had had one that day even, which at that point had shown anhydramnios, or no fluid at all. When he heard that, his expression became very serious. He too couldn’t tell us for sure our baby would die, but he was able to get across the point that he was not optimistic for our child. It’s possible he told me nothing new, and after several weeks I was finally able to really hear someone tell me bad news. But I think it was also helpful that he dealt with babies like Mabel. Before him, those giving me the dire prognosis were in OB- they didn’t deal with the baby when she came out, so I didn’t give them as much credit as I should have.

Despite my better understanding of her poor chances, I still remained hopeful. Perhaps it would have been easier if someone could have just told me she would die- her condition was incompatible with life. Then I might have reframed my pregnancy differently.

Later, when I was hospitalized, my midwives came by daily to check in on me. I had many visitors, and everyone tried to remain upbeat. I was pretty positive myself, finally feeling “safe” on continuous monitoring. But I had my moments too- I often just wished I knew what was going to happen (so I could prepare- I thought.)

One day when one of my midwives was visiting, we were having a more serious conversation- about the what ifs. Of all my care team, I talked to her most about the what ifs- what if my baby died? How do I be a midwife? How do I answer when asked if I have kids? She had given me the book “An Exact Replica of a Figment of my Imagination” that just felt so powerful and helpful at the time. For some reason, I could talk to her most easily about the hard stuff. Maybe because others would say- “don’t think like that!” or “no! Miracles happen! Babies surprise us!” or “you don’t know what’s going to happen, why plan for the worst?” But she wouldn’t. I suppose she was the perfect example of empathy. She would stop and really think about what it must be like to be facing such an unknown reality. On one of our visits in the hospital, I asked her “Can I ask you something honestly? Do you think my baby is going to live?”

“No,” she said softly.

And at that time, it was helpful. Partly because I had been asking- not simply being told. Partly because it was her- she wasn’t trying to get me to understand, she was simply imagining it for herself.

I recently saw her for a concern of mine- one that got me super nervous.   Leading up to my appointment I was calm, pushing away bad thoughts- but once I got there, I couldn’t hold back the tears. At the end of the visit, one she basically spent reassuring me, I stopped her and said,

“When I was pregnant with Mabel, I asked you if you thought she would live. You were honest with me. That was really important to me. Today, what do you think- will I be ok??”

“Yes,” she said softly, in that same tone of voice she used with Mabel.

And I believe her.

Do you have someone you trust to tell you the truth? Someone you can hear the truth from? Is there someone you look to for reassurance that everything will be ok?