Fifth's Disease~

It sounds bad, but it's really just a simple, usually harmless virus...unless you're pregnant.

And I'm pregnant...and I have the virus currently active in my system.  Thankfully, the risk to Gracia is very low at this stage in my pregnancy, but it has been a couple of interesting days around here.

About a month ago, Bella ran a low grade fever for just a day or two.  I didn't even have to treat the fever b/c it was so mild.  Then a few days later, I noticed a mild rash on her torso after a bath.  It was gone by the morning, so again, I wasn't worried.  A few days later it was Sophia's turn to have a fever...very mild and she didn't need medicine either.  A few days after her fever was gone, she woke up in the middle of the night with aching ankles.  They hurt so badly that she woke up crying.  We gave her some pain meds, she went back to sleep, and they didn't bother her again.  I never even suspected that her ankle pain and fever were related...I figured it must have just been growing pains or b/c she had been outside playing hard that day.  I also never suspected that Bella's rash and Sophia's ankle pain were related ...the symptoms were random and spread out over the course of weeks.

About a week later, I had a day that I just felt extra run down.  I felt like maybe I was fighting something, but never had a fever.  I just rested a lot that day and then I was fine again.  

Fast forward another week.  Our friend's child had an appointment with his allergist and learned that the "sunburn" on his face was possibly Fifth's Disease.  The virus is really not a big deal, but the allergist let them know to notify any pregnant friends b/c it can cause problems (although rare) for a growing baby.  My friend let me know and I began researching the symptoms of this virus...and learned that the odd, seemingly unrelated symptoms my girls had had a couple of weeks before matched up with some of the symptoms for Fifth's.  So I called their doctor and talked to a nurse.  She wasn't too worried, agreed that it sounded like Fifth's, said my risk for complications was low, but recommended that I be in touch with my midwives.

I called the birth center and they sent me to have blood work to check to see if I already have immunity or if I had been infected.  While we waited for those results, Bella finally developed the typical face rash for Fifth's.  That was just this past Sunday; weeks after her original fever.  And then Sophia looked like she had a mild sunburn for a day or two.  

The results from my blood work came back just a few days ago (Thursday, April 21).  I currently have the virus active in my system.  We all knew that risk to the baby was low, but after consulting with a Maternal/Fetal specialist, they decided that I should see the specialist and have an ultrasound to check on Gracia.  I talked to one of my midwives on Friday morning to see what we needed to do.

And then things began moving very quickly...and that kind of made me nervous.


They were rearranging schedules to fit me in.  I got a call that they would see me the following week, and then an hour later I got another call that I needed to be at the hospital in an hour because the perinatologist wanted an ultrasound immediately to check Gracia's bloodflow.  Suddenly, everything felt dangerous...it was unsettling.  Yes, I had a few moments of panic and tears...and in all honesty, remembering what it was like to be rushed to a perinatologist for Elijah.  I called Steve...he got on the train to meet me at the hospital.  I called my dear friend, Susan, and she was able to keep the girls.  


And God swooped in and calmed my heart.  He has had me reading the Psalms lately and I was able to recall many verses of comfort and truth about our Lord.  He helped keep my mind from dwelling in the past or dark places.  Yes, I was fearful and worried, but He was with me.  He reminded me that emotions are normal, but His truth is with me.  And he reminded me of the words He spoke to Gideon when he was preparing him for battle...it might be a strange place to find comfort b/c our situations were so very different...but they did bring comfort.  


"That same night the LORD said to him, 'Arise, go down against the camp for I have given it into your hand.  But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant.  And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hand shall be strengthened...Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost..."  Judges 7: 9-10


Ultimately, Gideon is obedient and God makes him victorious.  When Gideon and Purah went down to the camp, they heard the telling of a dream and it's interpretation that he, Gideon, and his men would be victorious in the battle.  This tidbit of news greatly encouraged Gideon and his men...they were hugely outnumbered for this fight, but God was with them.  They trusted and believed and were victorious.  

I simply LOVE (love, love, love!) God's words to Gideon here...But if you are afraid.  The Lord knows our human nature; He knows our human hearts are prone to fear.  Things come up or happen and we get scared.  God knows this and He understands...He even acknowledges this in His Word.  However, we are not to dwell in fear; we are not to believe the things that fear whispers to us.  How we respond to the fear is the important thing...at least that's how it seems to me.  I am so thankful for this seemingly little phrase that God spoke to Gideon and preserved in scripture.

And right now, Gracia looks great!  Obviously we are so thankful.  Any risk to our little daughter remains low b/c I am so far along in the pregnancy, but they will now check her weekly to make sure her blood flow continues to be normal.  This virus can cause fluid build-up for the baby and cause blood problems.  In rare cases, it could cause her red blood cells to break down which in turn would cause lack of oxygen and then a risk of stillbirth.  I will be seeing the perinatologist weekly from here on out so they can monitor Gracia's blood flow to her brain.  If it decreases, then I would be induced and Gracia would be treated via a blood transfusion.  Again, the risk is low.  I even asked the doctor if all this was necessary.  Her response is that while the risk is low, we have the medical technology to easily monitor the baby, so we should.  Treating her, if she were to get sick, is fairly simple and safe.  She has seen a few rare cases of a baby not making it b/c no one was aware that the mom had the virus or it was discovered too late.  Since we know that I do, there is no reason not to be careful.  

And that's the plan for now.  Steve and I have so much peace for this situation.  And while we are very thankful for the medical technology that is very helpful for our baby, we know that the peace we have is from our Lord.  Our trust is not in medicine, or rare statistics, or in simply hoping for the best...our trust is in Him.


We pray you have a beautiful Easter weekend~


Rach