Week 39, Day 4

Me and the Zoester at 39 weeks!

So, the past week has been quite the roller coaster. Why do you ask? All because of a little thing I like to call, Strep B. Strep B, otherwise known as: Mandy's arch nemesis - birth plan game over - the end of 39 week bliss.

It's an easy thing to fix, theoretically. You test positive for Strep B, you get antibiotics during labor and wah-la - mother and baby emerge triumphant. But what about if you are allergic to penicillin? And what about if your particular strand of Strep B is resistant to the ABC's back-up line of defense they use when their patients are allergic to penicillin? Well then friends, you go to erythromycin. But! What if the entirity of Austin drug manufacturers have an exhausted supply of erythromycin, and after 3 days of calling pharmacies, hospitals, warehouses, etc - said ABC is unable to get the back, back up plan? Well, then friends - you see an allergist.

Which is where I found myself today. The first office I called didn't do the test. The second had an opening for an initial consultation in 2 weeks. The third said they may have something tomorrow. I begged over the phone and used my "I am 9 months pregnant and due SUNDAY!" card. I was seen at 1pm.

Between 9a and 1p, at 11:30a I was told that a pharmacy in Austin could get the erythro and that all was taken care of. I canceled the allergist appointment because I thought I was in the clear. I however, being my sister's sister, called the pharmacy to check the story. The pharmicist herself called me back to say that there was only a 50/50% chance of getting the drug - and it was because they were going to make it themselves and were waiting to see if they could get the ingredients. I frantically called the allergist back - but from 12p-1p they don't answer phones. And so! Matt and I get into the car and rush to the allergist, where I, again, beg for my appointment back. God is good - and I got to see an allergist.

She worked her heart out for me trying to think of options! She was amazing. And here is the plan: tomorrow I will be tested for sensitivity to a branch of the pencillin family whose name I can not pronounce, nor really remember. But what I DO know is that the birthing center has it - on hand. 20% of patients who react to pencillin, don't have a reaction to this particular type. So tomorrow, I get 4 different skin tests to see if I can handle this drug. If the skin tests go well - then Thursday morning I'll take a sample dose. In the meantime - if I pass the skin tests, that is good enough for me. My reaction to penicillin was as a baby and it wasn't super severe - as in, I didn't go into anaphylactic shock - so I'm hopeful that this will be a solution.

You could pray that I don't show a reaction to the skin test tomorrow. It will be done around 2:15ish.

So, as long as my water doesn't break and I don't go into labor before tomorrow at 2:15p - things will be a bit easier.

It is sort of unnerving to feel like, "we don't have a plan!" - although, the plan would be to deliver in a hospital where they do have 15 doses on hand (although their manufactuer is also out of stock).

frus-tra-tion. But God is still good and reigning sovereignly on his throne. At the very last, Matt and I had a great day hanging out today. We watched a movie (what!?) and enjoyed being lazy, lazy, lazy after a morning full of antibiotic hecticness.

And on a completely different note: this week at HEB a lady on a loud speaker which extends over the entire meat section saw me walk by and announced, "It can't be long for you little mama! Good luck!" to wish I nodded my "oh brother" pregnancy nod and Matt pumped his fists in the air which inspired the lady to add, "that's right - go team! go team family!"

Yes, Go. Team. Family.