Kiera was diagnosed with a very rare condition known as MPFD (Massive Perivillous Fibrinoid Deposition). To put it simply, it's a condition where the placenta becomes congested with blood clots and fibroids. This impairs the function of the placenta and ultimately causes it to fail as it struggles to support a growing baby.
It's more than likely due to an immune response. Kiera's immune system basically attacks her placenta (causing the clots and fibroids to form), and ultimately renders the placenta useless.
The doctor described it being similar to a body rejecting a kidney. The body's constant immune response against the placenta slowly damages the tissue.
The chance of this occurring in future pregnancies is very high. Treatment plans would involve aspirin, heparin, and possibly steroids (among other things) in order to increase the babies chance for survival. Given this diagnosis, future deliveries will likely be by c-section, but hopefully at a higher gestational age and birth-weight.
MPFD is a serious condition, and we're so lucky to have had little Arabella born alive. God has shown us such grace and mercy.
I came across this beautiful yet heartbreaking blog as I was researching today. It's a mother's story of loss (due to MPFD). If you have 5 minutes, and you're in the mood to have a good cry, please take the time to read this particular post. Check it out here.
In the future, if Kiera was to get pregnant again, she would be closely monitored at Mount Sinai's high-risk clinic. We wouldn't go anywhere else due to the high recurrence of this condition. Obviously we're not thinking about any of that yet, but it was a discussion we had to have with our doctor.
This picture was taken November 2014. I always knew Kiera was going to be a great mom.
Ever since our niece Lilianna was born, we realized just how much joy children brought us. We fell madly in love with her, and I started to envision myself one day having a little girl of my own.
I wanted a baby girl more than anything.
It took us almost 3 years for Kiera to get pregnant, and when we finally found out the good news, we were ecstatic. Then around week 16, we received news that an AFP blood test came back higher than normal. It was then that we started to realize that this might not be a typical pregnancy.
At week 20, Arabella was trending slightly lower in weight, but she was still in the 80% percentile. But by week 23, her weight had fallen off the chart so much that she found herself in only the 5% range.
Arabella basically stopped growing.
That's when the weekly ultrasounds began, until we finally made it to 27.6 weeks, with Belle weighing an estimated 470 grams.
I can't even imagine how hard it must be to deal with and overcome a pregnancy loss, yet it happens to 10-25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies.
The truth is that people don't really openly talk about things like this.
To anyone who has had to deal with a pregnancy loss, to those who have had to suffer with infertility, or an inability to conceive, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
These are the strongest people out there.
💗💗💗
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