Chapter 10
Less than an hour later, we sit across from Dr. Patel, a neonatologist, for a frank conversation about what to expect with preterm birth.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Dr. Patel gestures to a couch in her office. “Dr. Sharp explained the urgency to begin chemotherapy, and I’ve had a chance to look over your medical record. Before I begin, what is your most pressing question?”
“Will our baby survive?” I jump right in. That’s my first, most pressing thought.
“The short answer is yes,” she says. “Survival at this gestational age has steadily increased over the past several decades. Nearly all of our babies delivered at twenty-eight weeks survive, and less than five percent will have long-term disabilities due to being born prematurely.”
I like her voice. It’s soothing and calm. Already, the pounding in my chest is less than before.
“This is a stressful situation. I like to acknowledge that upfront, but I’ll do my best to help you understand what might happen if your baby is born at twenty-nine weeks.”
“Dr. Sharp said twenty-eight weeks.”
“He’s anxious to begin chemotherapy, but the first thing we want is to accelerate lung maturity. Your OB will give you two shots over two days, and we’ll deliver after that. Looking at your dates, that will put your baby right at twenty-nine weeks. At this point in development, every day matters.”
I swallow, nodding. Her kindness is a balm against my fear.
“Now, let me tell you a bit about what to expect. Your baby will be small and need a special incubator.”
I blink, trying to picture my baby, so tiny and vulnerable.
“Lung maturity is the most immediate challenge. At twenty-nine weeks, the lungs aren’t fully developed. The steroid injection helps, but your baby may still need assistance.” She goes on to explain a host of things to consider. Dr. Patel is frank and straightforward, answering all our questions.
Tears prick at my eyes, but I force them back.
“Your baby will need to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, until he or she is strong enough to go home.”
There’s more. Dr. Patel tells us about an increased risk of infection, feeding problems, and vision and hearing loss—but she explains it all with such care, such empathy that it’s bearable.
Finally, she reaches out to squeeze my hand. “I know this is a lot to process, but while it’s important to understand potential risks, it’s equally important to remember many babies born at this gestational age do very well. Medicine has come a long way.”
Her words are a lifeline, and I cling to them. “Thank you, Dr. Patel,” I whisper, steeling myself for the path ahead. “I want to do what’s best for my baby.” I turn to Noodles, needing his input.
“We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us, and have a much better understanding of what to expect.” He turns to me. “What do you think?”
“I’m scared, but not nearly as much as before.” I turn to Dr. Patel. “What do we do now?”
“I’ll speak to Dr. Johnson. She’ll arrange for you to come in for the steroid injections and arrange for an early delivery. My team will be right there.”
We spend another twenty minutes asking questions. I feel a little more in control, knowing what to expect. As for delivering early, we make the decision to proceed.