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Preemies
World Prematurity Day - share your story
Today is World Prematurity Day! Did you know that 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely in the US? And the state that ranks the highest is Mississippi at 17%.
So I thought I'd share a little bit more of our story.
My water broke, at 31 weeks, while sleeping at 5 am on Wed and he was born at 12:47 pm on Friday. We were trying to keep him baking for at least another 3 weeks but his heart rate kept dropping due to no fluid around the umbilical cord. It was a tough decision for ourselves and our doctor, knowing the risks of premature delivery. But it was also a risk leaving him as he was.
There were a few times on Friday morning that it took him around 5 minutes to recover from a reduced heart rate and every time I moved, his heart rate would drop again. Our doctor came to us and explained that because it was starting to take him so long, she was concerned. She explained that we had 17 minutes to get his heart rate back up before risking serious side effects/death. So since it was starting to take so long, 5 mins, that only leaves 12 minutes for them to save him by c-section if they couldn't get it back.
That was the news we needed to proceed with the birth. Within 30 mins of that decision, he was born! And he was born crying! That was the most amazing cry I've ever heard. He was in an incubator and wheeled out of the OR within minutes, and long before I was sewed up. They wheeled him over by my head so I could see him and then off they went. He was in the NICU and stable shortly after.
I wasn't physically able to go see him until the following day but Paul went to visit him every few hours. And he brought me back pictures on my phone so I could see him too. I was discharged on Sunday but we were told Carson may be there until his due date, 2 months later.
He was in the NICU for 37 days. It felt like an eternity! He was on the ventilator overnight as a precaution and had to have oxygen through a nasal canula a few times, but usually just at room air (21%). He had a handful of Brady's (bradycardia) and every time that happened it set us back 5-7 days. He usually had to have help to recover from a Brady but near the end of his stay, he recovered on his own.
We got a call one evening from the Neonatologist telling us he might have an infection because he had developed a rash. That was heart wrenching. Carson was just a few days old at that point. The following day we thanked the Dr for calling and he told us we better get used to it, there will probably be more overnight calls. There wasn't. The results of the test came back a few days later, and there was no sign of an infection and the rash was gone.
They surprised us one day and told us to get ready because he might be discharged in a few days. He ended up having a Brady while eating so he was delayed another 5 days. It was a dance - one step forward, two steps back.
The doctors and nurses were nothing short of amazing! We learned something different from every single one of them. And they loved and cared for Carson like he was their own. We always felt like he was in the best possible care and never once doubted their decisions. Although we yearned to take him home, we wanted him to stay until we were sure he was ready.
He was discharged on Aug 4, 24 days prior to his due date.
Up until that point I had a normal, healthy pregnancy. I had trouble staying hydrated the later part but was drinking as much water as possible and my Dr wasn't too concerned about it. I loved being pregnant - what an amazing experience!
We are so blessed!!!! What a journey!!!!
So I thought I'd share a little bit more of our story.
My water broke, at 31 weeks, while sleeping at 5 am on Wed and he was born at 12:47 pm on Friday. We were trying to keep him baking for at least another 3 weeks but his heart rate kept dropping due to no fluid around the umbilical cord. It was a tough decision for ourselves and our doctor, knowing the risks of premature delivery. But it was also a risk leaving him as he was.
There were a few times on Friday morning that it took him around 5 minutes to recover from a reduced heart rate and every time I moved, his heart rate would drop again. Our doctor came to us and explained that because it was starting to take him so long, she was concerned. She explained that we had 17 minutes to get his heart rate back up before risking serious side effects/death. So since it was starting to take so long, 5 mins, that only leaves 12 minutes for them to save him by c-section if they couldn't get it back.
That was the news we needed to proceed with the birth. Within 30 mins of that decision, he was born! And he was born crying! That was the most amazing cry I've ever heard. He was in an incubator and wheeled out of the OR within minutes, and long before I was sewed up. They wheeled him over by my head so I could see him and then off they went. He was in the NICU and stable shortly after.
I wasn't physically able to go see him until the following day but Paul went to visit him every few hours. And he brought me back pictures on my phone so I could see him too. I was discharged on Sunday but we were told Carson may be there until his due date, 2 months later.
He was in the NICU for 37 days. It felt like an eternity! He was on the ventilator overnight as a precaution and had to have oxygen through a nasal canula a few times, but usually just at room air (21%). He had a handful of Brady's (bradycardia) and every time that happened it set us back 5-7 days. He usually had to have help to recover from a Brady but near the end of his stay, he recovered on his own.
We got a call one evening from the Neonatologist telling us he might have an infection because he had developed a rash. That was heart wrenching. Carson was just a few days old at that point. The following day we thanked the Dr for calling and he told us we better get used to it, there will probably be more overnight calls. There wasn't. The results of the test came back a few days later, and there was no sign of an infection and the rash was gone.
They surprised us one day and told us to get ready because he might be discharged in a few days. He ended up having a Brady while eating so he was delayed another 5 days. It was a dance - one step forward, two steps back.
The doctors and nurses were nothing short of amazing! We learned something different from every single one of them. And they loved and cared for Carson like he was their own. We always felt like he was in the best possible care and never once doubted their decisions. Although we yearned to take him home, we wanted him to stay until we were sure he was ready.
He was discharged on Aug 4, 24 days prior to his due date.
Up until that point I had a normal, healthy pregnancy. I had trouble staying hydrated the later part but was drinking as much water as possible and my Dr wasn't too concerned about it. I loved being pregnant - what an amazing experience!
We are so blessed!!!! What a journey!!!!
Pregnancy #1 EDD 1/20/13, D&C for unexplained miscarriage at 12w
Pregnancy #2 EDD 8/28/2013, Carson was born on 6/28/2013 at 31w - spent 37 days in the NICU
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Re: World Prematurity Day - share your story
I'm not new. I just hate The Bump.
Instead I started contracting every 3 minutes by the time I got to the unit, and when they checked I was 4cm with bulging membranes. I was IV'd and given antibiotics and steroids before being transferred by ambulance to the level III NICU hospital across town.
I laboured through the night, nothing really seemed to slow down the contractions for very long. Our little man Declan was born at 6:48 the next morning at 27 weeks. He weighed 2lbs11oz and needed a full resus at birth, including intubation and chest compressions.
Once he was stable in the room he was wished away to the NICU and DH went with him. After I went to postpartum and was checked there, DH and my mom took me to meet Declan! All together he spent 63 days in the NICU at two different hospitals and came home at 35+6!
He will be 3 in March and is our little rock star! Meeting all his milestones and doesn't seem to have any delays!!
A couple photos attached - sorry about the sideways one!!
Here's Emma one day old:
Preemie #2: I went to my regular dr. appt. at 31w. He immediately admitted me to the hospital when my bp was high. He was being overly cautious because of my past history. He put me on mag sulfate for 2 days and it dropped my bp, so he let me out on the evening of my 3rd day in the hospital and on a bp med. I felt OK, so I took my daughter around trick-or-treating on Halloween .... and then had a dr. appt the next morning. My bp was high again, so he admitted me yet again to the hospital. I was monitored at the hospital for about 2 hours before they came in and said they were doing an emergency c-section in an hour. So I was 31w 5d. Ozzy was born on 11/1/13 weighing 3lbs 7.5oz. Today is his 17th day in the NICU and he was weighing in at 3lbs 14.5oz last night. YAY! We're looking at this week or next for take home! WOO WOO!
Here's the Oz man:
Emma Kate - born 10.16.03 @ 29 weeks, weighed 1lb 13oz and 13.5" long.
TTC #3
July 9- I was 23/4. was at work, felt a little "off". Went to restroom and in the toilet was blood. Called my OB ASAP and she said go to L&D now. I didn't tell anyone what was going on, saw my last patient, had my mom pick me up from work and rush me to the hospital. While being triaged in, they almost brushed me off as just a pregnant lady with some aches and pains. BP was fine, temp was fine. Rapid labs/urine came back fine. Then per protocol they did a cervical check. I could see in the doctors face whatever she felt was not good. She SCREAMED for another doctor and more nurses. She looked at me and I looked at her and I started bawling. I should mention I am an RN, although my experience is not in OB. I was 2cm dilated 50% effaced and membranes bulging. Before I could blink I was hooked up to everything. Taking pills, suppositories, shots. It was nuts. I was an imminent danger of delivering my baby who was just barely viable. We have the highest level NICU where we live, thank god. I wasn't able to get up to do anything. My legs were to be closed and I was inclined feet up, head down. My OB came in and said I am not going anywhere for what they hope is a very long time. I was on the full dose of all meds, shots, IVs and what not for 48 hours. I was hooked up to an NST for 16 hours straight. i could not get up. I had a catheter and if it was anything else, I had to go in my bed. It was horrible. I made it past the crazy 48 hours without delivering. I had no contractions- so what caused the dilation/effacement?! I was sent to an antepartum floor where I laid in a bed for 37 days. I was released to go home as I was "stable". I left taking lovenox and p17 injections. Cervical check at discharge-1cm dilated, 50% effaced. I was home on strict bedrest for 11 days until I started having some serious contractions. My H rushed me to the hospital and I was now 4cm,70effaced. I was 29/5. I felt this strange calm come over me. They did everything again to stop her from coming. Nothing dropped labor. I was in the hospital in labor for 48 hours. I was given an epidural. Which made me so numb I couldn't feel anything from my belly down. I know that's the point but I couldn't even feel pressure. My water broke, I didn't know. Couldn't feel the water under me. It wasn't until I vomitted on myself and they had to change me did they see all the blood and water. I had a placenta abruption and I started to drop my O2 and was given oxygen and rushed to the OR to deliver. My OB was dragging my IVs and my bed to the OR, yelling to get the NICU team now. I was in the OR for 5 mins and 3 pushes later out came my baby. I was exactly 30w when my DD came. She came out grey. Not blue. Not white. Grey. The NICU team whisked her away. All I saw was her limp legs. They had to do chest compressions and a full resusitation with a dose of surfactant. (Even after steroid shots). 1min apgar, she got a 1. Due to the abruption my DD had lost a large percent of her blood. They couldn't find any veins. 5 min apgar, she got a 2. I remember looking thru the door to where the NICU team had her waiting to hear her cry. My h was able to go see her as I continued to push out my placenta. Once it came out my OBs jaw dropped. It looked like thin Swiss cheese. I abrupted and had valementous cord insertion. My poor dd knew she had to come out and was determined. 10min apgar, a 7! My baby was alive and crying now. They worked on her in the OR room for 45 mins until they wheeled her to the NICU. I got to touch her hand and hear her cry. I have never cried as hard as I did in the moment. She was born at 3lbs 1oz, 15.5 inches long on August 22,2013.
I knew delivering her had to happend, god knows what could have happened if she stayed in. I felt better she made it to 30w and not the almost 24w we started the journey at. She spent 52days in the NICU. She was vented for 4 hours, moved to CPAP for 11 hours and then 1/2 liter nasal cannula where she stayed on it for 15 days. My sweet, strong DD was really a grower/feeder. She spent 2 days under the bili lights, had 3 transfusions and came home on vitamin d and iron. She is now almost 13weeks actual/3adjusted. I feel extremely blessed and although I am not religious I can't help but give thanks to someone. What a journey, sorry for my novel. I think I captured it all.
I was put on mag 1pm on Tuesday and then Wed morning at 7:24am (32w3d) by csection I delivered a 3lb14oz baby girl. And thankfully due to the steroids I had over a week prior she was only on cpap for 24 hours. She did really well in the NICU, and was able to go home after 25 days. She would have gone home a week sooner (we were even spending the night with her getting ready), but her sats kept dropping. It is so devastating to go from "you can take her home tomorrow" to "we need to keep her a little longer...you two go home and get some rest"
Thankfully she didn't go home on a monitor, but we had to learn to watch her while she ate. She would go to town on the bottle and forget to breathe, so we had to count and force her to take a break.
She will be 3 months this Thursday and is up to 10 lbs
We wore purple yesterday in honor of her and other preemies around the world
~~TTC Nov 2010~~
IUI #2: 1/21/13-100mg Clomid(CD3-7)(8M post wash) + progesterone= BFP!! EDD 10/13/13
Beta #1=81.1 Beta #2=134.5 Beta #3=58.1 #4=2369 WTH?!-Not sure if its viable
2/21/13 - Went to RE expecting the worse and saw the flutter of the heart.To God be the Glory!!
5/29 - It's a Girl!!
8/21/13 - Naomi born at 32w3d by csection due to Pre-E
~~PAIF/SAIF Welcome~~
My Wonder Woman!
My husband and I had an early miscarriage then dealt with IF. We conceived our boys on our first cycle of Femara, injectables, and trigger shot with TI. Everything was picture perfect with my pregnancy, until it wasn't. I had an ultrasound cervical check at 27w3d because I had been having lots of BH and was anxious. Everything looked perfect and my MFM said I wasn't on her "worry list" and would probably end up needing to be induced at 38w (latest they let twin pregnancies go). I had my shower at 28w. At 28w1d we were at church when my contractions started. I thought they were just BH but they were enough to make me a little uncomfortable and became somewhat timeable (6 minutes, 8minutes, 4 minutes, 12 minutes, 3 minutes etc). My OB's nurse tried to tell me my uterus was just "irritable" and to rest. I went to L&D instead. We joked on the car ride over that this was a good test run. When I was checked at L&D I was 3cm dilated and actively contracting every 3 minutes, although I didn't feel most of them. I received steroids 24 hours apart and magnesium for 72 hours. At 29w3d I went back into labor and it was unstoppable. At 29w4d I delivered our twin boys at 2lbs13oz and 3lbs3oz. They were born on my husband's birthday and five years to the day since he had proposed. They spent exactly two months in the NICU. J had a pneumothorax and grade I brain bleed, S had a grade II brain bleed. They both had jaundice and reflux. They're 19.5m actual/17m adjusted now and doing wonderfully. J has an expressive speech delay but we're pretty sure his overly verbal brother is the reason versus prematurity.
These stories are making me teary! I haven't told mine in quite a while, so here it is:
I had a complete placenta previa, and had been hospitazlied twice for bleeding episodes. A few days after the second one I woke up bleeding again, and was actually pretty calm about it. I called my doc and made an appointment to go in that morning. Very luckily, it turns out, they couldn't see me at my normal office by my house, and told me to go to their other location, which is attached to the hospital. At the appointment, the doc took one look at me (and my cervix) and told me that she was admitting me to L&D. I was contracting regularly, I just wasn't feeling them all. They put me in a wheelchair and wheeled me over as I called my mom and husband. She also took away my gatorade bottle, just in case, and that is what made it really real for me.
In L&D I was put on a mag IV and a catheter. I was given one steroid shot. It was the second round for me; I had received 2 steroid shots when hospitalized previously. Instead of slowing down the contractions got stronger, and withing a couple of hours my water broke and I was dialating. My bleeding started to increase and I was losing so much blood that I had to have and emergency c-section. My doctor told me at the time that I could opt for the c-section right now, and be awake for it, or wait, which would probably result in a c-section under general anesthesia within the hour. So they rushed me to the OR.
The birth is pretty hazy for me, it went really fast and I was still being pumped full of mag during the surgery, so I felt pretty awful. I remember that they had to fast prep me and started cutting as soon as I was numb, and I remember my baby crying when they delivered her. They brought her around so I could see her, and then took her away to the NICU. I was in recovery for hours before they finally wheeled me to the NICU so I could take a look at her and then to my room. She was born at 30w4d, and 3lbs 9oz. She spent 5 weeks in the NICU, and is now an awesome 2 year old. She has a scar on her forehead from the CPAP, which is our reminder of how far she has come.
I'm not new. I just hate The Bump.
Part one: my BP had been borderline and I had protein in my urine starting at 24w. The 24hr urine came back normal and my BP stabilized within a week or so, so it was just wait and see. Around 31-32w, I started to swell and see spots/floaters with marginal BP and a slightly elevated 24hr urine. I was admitted to the hospital for a weekend, got the steroid shots, and continued to be stable. I was released, put under close watch, and left to go about my business. Everyone told me they'd take me as far as I could go before the pre-e got to the point where I'd have to have the babies. That was the end game.
Except it wasn't.
Part two: I was at work and had just finished up our last big project. It was around 445pm and I was walking back to my desk from the printer when my water broke. I had been having contrax on and off but that doesn't mean anything - hindsight is 20/20, right? I was having twice weekly NSTs and no one was concerned, so why should I have been?
Anyway, after gushing all over the hallway, the contrax started coming 7min apart almost immediately. I called MH, he had to pick up our oldest, drop him at my moms and then get down to the hospital. It was rush hour and he wasn't close so I knew it would take him a while. I had coworkers drive me to the hospital. It was 515p or so when I arrived.
There wasn't any room in triage, so I was made to wait in the waiting room while leaking fluid. That was fun. When I was finally brought back, there was zero urgency on anyone's part. I was contracting about 3min apart and had a breech baby A, so I knew I'd be having a c/s. It was happening too fast for my liking.
Finally, around 550pm, a resident came to check my cervix. When she checked me, she looked up at the monitor but didn't say anything. I asked her how far along I was. She said "you're at a six. But I can feel a cord, so I'm keeping my hand here". And then it got crazy. They called a code, the resident climbed up into bed with me, and they started wheeling me down to the OR. MH wasn't there yet. They get me into the OR and they start to lose Baby A's HR, so everything amped up even more. I didn't have time to think. It happened so fast. Then they put me under.
I woke up in recovery and MH was there. The boys were born at 604 and 605, just over an hour after my water broke. They did wonderfully - no breathing assistance at all and they were big for 34w - 5lbs and 5lbs 8oz. I'm convinced if it weren't for the steroid shots, they wouldn't have done so well.
They spent 13 days in the NICU as feeders/growers. Now at 4.5 mo, they're growing every day and are happy, smiling little babies and I couldn't be more thankful they're here and healthy
I'm late to the game, but my story is below.
I called the doctor on a Sunday as I had felt off all weekend and had extreme pain in my stomach, but it wasn't contractions. My BP was very high 195/100 so the doc told me to take another BP pill, relax and re-check on Monday morning.
I went to work on Monday and checked my BP once I had settled down from moving around. My BP was still high, so I called and they asked me to come in. I went in and peed in a cup, my urine was bright orange which was the first time I realized something was really wrong. I was a 4+ on the protein scale (the highest you can be) and my BP was still very high. I told the doc about the pain in my stomach and she told me that I would likely have the babies that day. The swelling was well above my knees and into my thighs.
I went to the hospital, met my mom and H. They drew blood and found that I was in liver and kidney failure and my platelet count was extremely low. I had severe pre-e and HELLP syndrome. They gave me mag and the steroid shots, re-drew my labs and found that they were worse. At 9:04 and 9:06 pm the babies were born, just 10 hours after my doctor appointment. They were born at 26/4 and were 1 lb. 13 oz each and 13.5" long. Quinn (baby A) was in the NICU for 88 days and Silas for 74 days. Quinn is 12.2 lbs and Silas is 13.6 lbs and neither have any health issues at all!!!
Preemie #2- I was closely monitored when I got pregnant with Caroline. I switched practices and was seen weekly starting at 16 weeks. I was on the 17p shot and had weekly bp checks. At 32 weeks my OB sent me to L&D for monitoring because my BP was high. Found out at L&D that I was contracting, measuring at 3cm and 50% effaced. I was given the steroid shots, was able to get my contractions under control with terb and procadia. I was also placed on bedrest. I made it until 34w 4d before I was admitted back to the hospital. I was given ambien and staydol to help me sleep, which basically relaxed my muscles. I ended up giving birth to Caroline at 34w 5d without an epi. She was born at 5lb 5oz and 19 inches long. I spent 14 days in the NICU. She had issues with jaundice, and A's and B's. Caroline is now a healthy and happy 20 month old.
Our story started when I started swelling around 22ish weeks, mostly in my feet. OB said to we'd monitor and I did blood work and a 24-hr urine catch--all came back normal. She said to call if my fce swelled, headaches, blurry vision, etc. Chalked it up to "unfortunate summer pregnancy". Id had some higher bps, but was always able to get them down a few minutes later.
At around 28 weeks I'd wake up with some facial swelling, but it went down by noon so I didn't think much of it. During week 29 I started vomiting again, but again, thought it was just third tri crap. At 29/3 I was up all night with a horrible stomach ache right below my breasts. I'd felt decreased movement that same day and called the dr about both reasons. They had me come in for a NST, but didn't check my bp or anything else that day. LO was fine so I went home. I didn't sleep that Weds, Thurs or Fri bc the pain was so horrible and it was starting to hurt in my shoulder. It felt like the mother of all muscle knots. On Sat, Aug 3, I was getting ready for a bachelorette party even though I felt like crap. I decided right before leaving the house to check my bp: 200/140. I called my sister to verify as she's a PA and it was the same. Called on-call and went into L&D, assuming worse case scenario would be bedrest, but anticipating a huge waste of time and leaving with meds.
Got me hooked up, took a urine sample and tried to get no down; no luck. Tried to draw blood but bc I was so swollen it was quite the chore--poked me on about 10 different spots! Did an u/s and took all measurements. Saw that cord blood was stalling and baby was measuring two weeks behind. Urine test came back with super high protein and bloodwork came back with elevated liver enzymes (back pain/stomachache), low platelets and hemolysis (HELLP syndrome dx) and dr said we had to deliver. Scariest moment of my life. They have me a steroid shot and said they were going to do another one in 24hrs. We thought this meant delivery was still a day away. We called family and told them that we were delivering the next day and we'd call with more info.
They wheeled me down to an actual room and started prepping me for surgery. I asked a nurse what our timeline was she said "well, we've called anesthesiology, so about 20min?" Ummm what!?!?! My mom walked on right as they were taking me back to surgery. I had to have a general anesthesia so DH couldn't be in there. He waited outside and went up to NICU with the baby and the team. I was on labatelol and mag from Saturday night through Monday afternoon. Only saw dd on face time and pictures grim DH. Our whole families got to see her before I did. Heartbreaking.
She weighed 2lb 3oz and was 14.5" long---3rd %ile. She was jaundiced so went back and forth with bili lights for a couple weeks. Never was intubated, but was on cpap and oxygen her whole NICU stay--she's still on o2. Had severe anemia and had a blood transfusion. Heard a murmur and had an echo that thankfully came back normal. Passed all eye and hearing exams.
She came home 10/7, six days before her due date! We've been home about six weeks and she's up to 8lb at 5wks adjusted.
Love reading all the stories!! Here's a pic of LO ready to party last night at 10pm wearing purple to support Preemie Day!!
Sorry for the book and being late lol!