Some Pregnancies are Unexpected…and Some are Unexpectedly Difficult.
Some Pregnancies are Unexpected…and Some are Unexpectedly Difficult.
The words you never want to hear during your baby’s ultrasound: “It looks like there may be something wrong…”
Receiving an adverse fetal diagnosis can be an overwhelming and challenging experience. At AbbaCare Pregnancy Resource Center in Winchester, Virginia, we are here to provide families with the information, support, and compassion they need when facing an unexpected or unexpectedly difficult pregnancy.
The Ezrah program is designed to come alongside families that have received a particularly difficult prenatal diagnosis. These diagnoses could include anything from a cleft lip/palate, to Down Syndrome (trisomy 21), to a diagnosis not compatible with life.
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EMILY’S STORY
Emily* reached out to our Medical Director Liaison, Sarah, after she had an ultrasound for her pregnancy around 27 weeks gestation. Her doctor had found a very concerning brain abnormality on her ultrasound that day and she was left with lots of questions. She was able to see a specialist the very next day who confirmed the diagnosis of anencephaly. Anencephaly is the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp that occurs during fetal development. With very few exceptions, infants with this disorder do not survive longer than a few hours or days after birth. Emily and her husband were devastated by this diagnosis.
A couple of weeks after the initial diagnosis, Emily came into AbbaCare to meet with Sarah and to learn more about the Ezrah program. Sarah gave her information and local resources and answered some of the questions that she had. But most importantly, Emily received a free ultrasound to see her beautiful baby boy. She was so appreciative of the opportunity to see her baby with no pressure, no added stress, no doctor giving her bad news. It was just her sweet baby boy moving around, showing us his fingers and toes. Her other sons were able to be there and to see their baby brother moving inside their mom. It was a precious moment.
Soon after that initial appointment with AbbaCare, Emily was set up with one of our Ezrah mentor families. This sweet family had also lost a son during pregnancy. To be able to have someone to talk to who has been through the grief of losing a child before is invaluable.
A little over a month after her initial diagnosis, Emily developed symptoms and was advised by her OB/GYN to go straight to the hospital. That evening her precious baby boy was born. He lived for just a few minutes before he passed away peacefully in the arms of his mother.
The next few days for this beautiful family were a whirlwind. AbbaCare was able to provide support to Emily and her family during a time of unimaginable loss.
*Name changed to maintain client confidentiality
We know from testimonies that clients are being heavily encouraged to terminate their pregnancies when faced with an abnormal diagnosis. Some have been threatened with refusal of care by OB/GYN practices if they choose not to undergo further testing to confirm possible abnormal diagnoses.
Here at AbbaCare, we do not agree that terminating a pregnancy is a better outcome than letting these children live for the length of time God ordained their lives to be. We fully believe that women and families would have better outcomes physically and emotionally if the church community and the medical community came alongside them to support, encourage, and love them as best as we can. That is why AbbaCare created the Ezrah program.
At AbbaCare, we provide holistic spiritual and emotional care for families who have received a challenging fetal diagnosis. Our support includes information and resources to help you understand your child’s diagnosis, as well as referrals to community providers and specialists. Additionally, we connect you with families who have walked a similar journey, offering support through this difficult time.
Learn more about the Ezrah program HERE.
AbbaCare is a pregnancy resource center providing free and confidential services in Winchester, Virginia, and Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Winchester, VA (540) 665-9660
Martinsburg, WV (304) 726-6582
SOURCES
1. Social and emotional support applied to general health:
Reblin M, Uchino BN. Social and emotional support and its implication for health. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2008 Mar;21(2):201-5. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e3282f3ad89. PMID: 18332671; PMCID: PMC2729718.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/resources/citations/2729718/export/
2. Social and emotional support during pregnancy:
Traylor CS, Johnson JD, Kimmel MC, Manuck TA. Effects of psychological stress on adverse pregnancy outcomes and nonpharmacologic approaches for reduction: an expert review. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2020 Nov;2(4):100229. doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2020.100229. Epub 2020 Sep 24. PMID: 32995736; PMCID: PMC7513755.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/resources/citations/7513755/export/
3. ACOG:
Effects of psychological stress on adverse pregnancy outcomes and nonpharmacologic approaches for reduction: an expert review Traylor, Claire S. et al. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM, Volume 2, Issue 4, 10022
https://www.ajogmfm.org/article/S2589-9333%2820%2930197-X/fulltext
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