Josie Balka is 34 weeks pregnant with her fourth baby. She has antibodies that attack the baby's blood and for that reason has had extra monitoring from a high risk doctor throughout her pregnancy to make sure the baby is healthy and is not becoming anemic. Josie had a scan a few days ago that showed the baby's numbers to be elevated. She had a second scan the following day that showed lower numbers, in the intermediate level.
Josie will have another scan soon. She and Kelton are praising God for his provision and are praying that their baby stays healthy. As long as he or she is doing well, it would be ideal to wait a little longer to deliver, in order to optimize growth and development. Baby Balka will join three older siblings. Willow Balka turned six in July, Hazel Balka turned four in June, and Miles Balka turns two in February.
This means Josie is rh negative and baby is rh positive. The baby has a chance of developing hemolytic anemia. Josie should be getting shots of immune globulin.
ReplyDeleteWho knows what is actually going on. Seems a big risk just to have a 4th child.
DeleteIt seems many of these Bates women have pregnancy problems. Maybe they should consider an alternative to having so many babies. No, it's not just up to your doctor to tell you if it's OK or not. Of course they'll say it's OK. They're trained to try (TRY) to deal with the problems if they crop up later. But that doesn't mean there will be successful outcomes. There could be devastating consequences. It's up to the parents to take responsibility and not risk lives, born or unborn. At some point you have to say enough is enough for everyone's sake.
ReplyDeleteWow- so aggressive!!
DeleteThat's true, we all need to be responsible with our health and not always expect doctors to straighten out the messes we put ourselves into. Why do you think they advocate for healthy habits? Then people ignore that and eat donuts and french fries anyway. Same thing with many other preventable health conditions.
DeletePrayers sent for everything to go according to schedule and Mom and baby stay safe. 💕
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that. Do they think that the baby will be premature if Josie has to be induced early? Prayers for a safe delivery if that happens. Babies who are born with different blood type than mom usually have to get a blood transfusion right after they are born to replace the blood that's causing the anemia.
ReplyDeleteNo not for different blood type. Just if the mom is rh negative and baby is rh positive.
DeleteThat is not true. I also had positive antibodies during my pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby at 37 weeks. Praise God. Baby needs interventions only if there are signs of anemia.
DeleteI want the baby to come at 38 weeks. Another boy and Jack is my guess.
DeleteSame with me!
DeleteWow. That's very nerve racking and stressful.
ReplyDeleteGosh. Another pregnancy “health scare”. I lost my baby in the 8th month. I promise the last thing on my mind was having cameras set up to film my husband praying over me, me hooked up to medical devices, or having any kind of financial payout. Erin, Carlin, Josie, Lydia, Tiffany…every single one cashing out. It’s becoming very twisted.
ReplyDeleteI am older and had my children years ago, however, the thought of having cameras on me in the middle of issues within the pregnancy is quite foreign and rather disturbing.
DeleteWhy do the Bates women with reproductive-related problems continue to get pregnant? Heaven forbid anything would happen to one of the babies, but how can you claim to be pro-life yet endanger babies like that?
ReplyDeleteI agree. This was a high risk pregnancy for the baby from the get go.
DeleteBecause with modern medicine the babies are able to be carried safely?? Would you rather they not have kids at all
Delete@10:26 "Modern medicine" can't cure or help everything. There are too many stories of high risk pregnancies with the Bates. They are trying to defeat the odds each time. How long will that plan be successful? At what point do you stop taking risks, for the sake of everyone involved?
DeleteI don't understand why women in this family have baby after baby despite known health risks to themselves and/or to the unborn baby. A tragedy could easily result. IMO they should reethink their priorities.
ReplyDeleteTo the women freaking out and calling her irresponsible, I don't believe this is something that has happened to Josie before so how could she have known it was a possibility? Also having a scare is bad enough but I don't think a bunch of strangers passing judgment helps. I don't know why any of them share these medical issues publicly, for this very reason. Judgment is a guarantee, especially on this website. I wish her and the baby well. 🩷🩷
ReplyDeleteGreat points
DeleteShe had the antibodies when she was pregnant with Hazel too. Hazel ended up in the NICU for awhile due to it. She did know. She was high risk before due to the antibodies.
DeleteAt some point in time it might be considered wisdom to be grateful for the healthy children and Mom that are here versus pushing the health boundaries with well known established risks.
ReplyDeleteYou would think that after losing his mother during delivery, kelton would stop getting josie pregnant. Her first delivery she kept passing out or something and it supposedly was similar to what happened to his mother.
ReplyDelete6:15. I’m fairly certain Josie was a participant in the “keep getting pregnant” situation.
DeleteI don't think that's a factor in their choice to have more children.
DeleteYou all are such an inspiration in a world that doesn't value life and motherhood. Stay positive and don't listen to the negativity. Keep loving Jesus and keep Him in first place.
ReplyDeleteYou can value life and motherhood AND use wisdom.
Delete@12:26 Saying that the world doesn't value life and motherhood is offensive.
Delete