OB Check-up

Today Melanie went to the OB doctor for a checkup. She didn't lose any weight, not did she gain any. She's only gained a total of 18 pounds...she's all baby. The doctor told her that her blood levels are low...mostly iron....could be why she's been so tired lately. She has to be at the hospital about 5 PM Sunday night. Since she is 3weeks early, and nothing has started, they are going to give her some Cervadill to help get labor started. Then Monday morning about 6 AM they will start her on Pitocin. Because she's early and still pretty high, the doctor thinks it's going to be a long, hard labor. Melanie wants to avoid a c-section, since there isn't going to be much of a recovery time before she starts chemo. So the doctor said that was fine as long as neither one of them is in distress.

The doctor gave her a Cord Blood Collection Kit to take to the hospital. These kits are use to collect umbilical cord blood and to bank it. Why is this important you ask, because stored Stem Cells can later be used to treat many different blood disorders and cancers. These kits run about $2k, and Melanie's insurance doesn't cover the cost... The doctor just GAVE it to her....for FREE! What a blessing! Melanie has always liked this doctor and obviously she has become attached to Melanie as well.

Since Hodgkin Lymphoma is a blood cancer, there is a small chance that it will be passed onto Tyler. So once he's born, they will test the placenta for it and for the blood type. If the placenta is her blood type, they will test his blood for the cancer. If it's Aaron's blood type, then all is well and no testing needs to be done.