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Scary Delivery

When I was pregnant with my first baby, the doctor told me that I had severe pre-eclampsia. I had major swelling and very high blood pressure. The doctor I had admitted me to the hospital but was going on vacation so didn't induce me even when he said he should. The next day I went and seen a new doctor and she wanted to induce me immediately. I got settled into labor and delivery and got induced. Two hours after the inducing started my blood pressure went very high and I went into seizures. Doctors and nurses gave me dose after dose of medicine to help stop them but they couldn't do it. They finally took me to the OR for a c-section. They got my baby out but she wasnt breathing. After 30 minutes of CPR they got her breathing on her own. While one doctor was working my beautiful baby girl, the other was trying to revive me. They stress and high blood pressure caused me to red line. Luckily I had a great team of doctors and nurses that took great care of myself and my baby. I learned most of this story from family after waking up from surgery. I have no memory of what happened. I am not expecting my second child and have a 50/50 chance of this happening again. But I keep my mind clear and think positive..

Nicki

I am pregnant! Again!

I have not had one pregnancy where I have not miscarried. This is my 6th pregnancy, I am in week 16 and it is going as good as it could be. I do have some complications but my baby girl is alive and she seems to be doing fine. I know some people chose not to find out if they are expecting a boy or a girl. We found out what sex our babies have because I come to learn that it makes the grieving process easier if we lose the baby. I wish that I would have known the sex of all the babies I have lost so I could name them and say farewell. I know I will see them in heaven one day, but every day until then they will be missed. It is hard not to worry about this pregnancy since I know too well that babies can die. Most days I keep myself busy so I don’t have to think so much, but some days I just can’t stop to think about the babies I have lost and everything that happened when I was pregnant with my son and after. I have lost 6 babies. Even when I was pregnant with my son I lost his twin. I was given progesterone when I was pregnant with him and during this pregnancy to not to go in to premature labor. I am also taking baby aspirin to thin out my blood since I’ve gotten blood clots in my uterus before. I have a problem with my immune system that causes miscarriages therefore I have to be on medication so my baby will survive.

Every miscarriage has been very heartbreaking. I felt very lonely and tried to get as much support from family and friends as I could. Most of them could not understand and said comments like “Something was wrong with the baby”, “It was for the best”, “You can make another one”. Nothing was wrong with my babies, something was wrong with me. It was not for the best and I cannot do anything to give life back to the babies I have lost. Losing a baby seems to be very hard to understand for someone who has not lost a baby and sometimes comments make the process of dealing with a miscarriage even harder. Worst of all was when we had a female visit after my son was born. She knew my history of miscarriages and one night we were talking about how heartbroken I felt about them. I told her that my doctor said that I got blood clots in my uterus every time I became pregnant and that I have to be on progesterone to not go into premature labor. The day after our visitor wanted to discuss abortion. Both me and my husband are very prolife which our visitor knew very well. She still wanted to discuss abortion which she is all for and would do if she got pregnant. She told me that doing an abortion is the same thing as having a miscarriage. According to her, the body is going to the same process. This is not true. When doing an abortion you are purposely killing your own baby, you take medication to dilate cervix so you will go into labor and either give birth to a dead baby or a baby who dies soon after being born. You can also have a D&C. When a woman is miscarrying she is not murdering her baby. Her body is not recognizing the baby as being a part of the body and the immune system goes to attack, this is not a choice a woman can make. Sometimes something is not right with the baby and he or she can’t continue to develop. Having to hear such an awful thing from our visitor even though she knew how much every miscarriage has hurt me and that I am prolife upset me very much, but it was not the only mean thing she said or did when she was here.

My son was born just when I had entered week 35. We knew from the beginning that if our baby would survive the first trimester he or she would be born early, we just didn’t know how early. This was a very stressful time for both me and my husband. We tried to prepare for a premature baby as well as we could. Since full term babies are sensitive to infections, a premature baby is even more sensitive to infections. In fact, many premature babies die from preventive diseases as common colds during their first months of life. Parents to premature babies are told to keep their babies quarantined for the first 6 months. This is heartbreaking to a couple who become parents for the first time and for grandparents who can’t wait to meet their new grandchild. When finally having a baby, after having so many miscarriages, I wanted to do nothing else but to show off my baby. Unfortunately, that could have my baby end up in a hospital or something even worse could happen to him. Since I knew about the importance of having premature babies quarantined for the first months we told our families about this early since they live far away. Unfortunately, we did not get the support we thought we would get. Our families could not understand why we would be so protective even though we did our best to explain. We had to listen to a lot of complaints and we even got laughed at. I have talked to other parents who also had to quarantine their premature babies and most of them had families who did not or did not want to understand. Everyone of these parents also suffered more stress during their pregnancies and after their babies were born because they did not feel like they got the support they wished for from their families. I was even told once that a baby born at 35 weeks gestation is not a premature baby. Every baby born before 37 weeks is premature. Our son had some typical preemie symptoms. I had to have a c-section because our baby was in a breech position. After he was born he was rushed away so I didn’t get a chance to see him until later. He had to be monitored with and ECG during his stay at the hospital and was in need of oxygen for awhile. Our son also had jaundice. He was treated with a light and when he came home we treated him with sunlight. He also had difficulties eating. I was trying to breastfeed him but he was not strong enough to suck. I was pumping so he still could be given breast milk. Before my milk production started my baby had to be on formula which I am very much against, but since the hospital didn’t have any breast milk donors there was no other choice than to give him formula. The hospital gave breast pumps to mothers of premature babies, we also were given a special bottle for preemies. After I had nursed our baby my husband would feed him breast milk from the bottle. I think this was a very sweet bonding process. Since I had some complications after the c-section it gave me some extra time to rest and it looked so cute to see my husband feeding our precious baby boy. Our son did not make any noises during the first months. He never cried not even when he was hungry so we fed him every three hours at first and he was hungry every time. The nurses at the hospital said that premature babies sometimes have a hard time to let us know when something is wrong or when they are hungry so we have to keep a closer look at them. Our son also had needed help to stay warm, he was only skin and bones when he was born and got cold very easy. Most full term babies have a startle reflex. Premature babies have a heightened startle reflex, this was the case for our baby. Even months after he was born his startle reflex was strong. It is not easy to be a first time parent and to take care of a premature baby. I think it is always difficult to take care of a premature baby. We got information from the hospital and I also have a BSN in nursing and have been working in the medical area for 9 years so I felt like I knew as much as I could.

This baby that I am carrying now was not planned. I figured out that I was pregnant when my baby refused to nurse. At first I thought that my milk production was going down so I tried to give my son pumped breast milk but he still refused to drink. I had some frozen breast milk that I thawed and gave him. Normally he doesn’t like frozen milk, but this time he drank all of it. The next day I got a pregnancy test and it was positive. My son was the first one to notice that I was pregnant. I had a feeling from the start that we were expecting a girl and last week when I had an ultrasound we knew for sure. Since this is a high risk pregnancy the doctors like to see me more often and I get to do more ultrasounds. I found out that I might give birth to my daughter even more early than I did to my son. I also have a high risk of rupturing at the end on this pregnancy. Since I didn’t feel comfortable with my OB or having to give birth at the hospital where my son was born I chose to change doctor and hospital. I did a lot of research of the doctors my insurance company let me chose from and I found one who seems to be perfect. He is specialized in high risk pregnancies and I will give birth in a hospital with a high level NICU. If my baby is premature, but is born after week 28 we will still be able to be at the same hospital and I we will be able to see her every day. Since my doctor absolutely does not want me to go into labor because the high risk of rupturing I will be scheduled for a c-section at 37 weeks gestation. My baby is due March 11, but she will be born sometime in the middle of February. Since the baby can’t chose to come out when she is ready she might have problem with her breathing after being born. This risk is nothing compared to everything that could happen to her if I go into labor and rupture. I understand that she might have to stay a couple of extra days in the hospital, but hopefully we will be able to go home together since I am going to be there for at least 4-5 days. Since I do have a history of miscarriages and a premature baby I most likely will go into labor before 37 weeks. My doctor told me that if I feel contractions or pain I have to go to the ER asap. He is worried that I will rupture. It takes us about 30 minutes to drive to the hospital but if I am in labor or in a lot of pain I was told to call 911 because they can start treatment in the ambulance and make sure an operation room is ready for me when I arrive at the hospital. I am so happy that I am a registered nurse and that I have been working as a nurse for so many years otherwise all this would scare me so much more than it already does.

Sandra

Surprise!!!!

In high school my best friend was a boy. In the years that I had known him I have never thought of him as anything more than a friend. But during the latter part of our sophmore year and that following summer we began to date every once and a while. Well, during the latter part of the summer we went farther than we had ever meant to go. When we started our junior year of cross country I wasn't feeling well at all. I was having menstral type cramps without my period, and I felt nauseous and bloated alot. At first I didn't have any clue why. But then it donned on me that I could be pregnant. We hadn't told our parents that we had done anything becasue we were ashamed, we'd been taught all our lives to wait until we are married. So I told my mom how I had been feeling and she took me to the doctor to make sure everything was alright. The doctor told me I had an ovarian cyst. He said nothing about me being pregnant (though he did do an utrasound). So the doctor told me that we would keep an eye on the ovarian cyst and if it got any larger then it would have to be removed. I was so happy that I wasn't pregnant. Or so I thought. In the convening months I gained weight as a side effect of the cyst (and my pregnancy, but I didn't know that at the time). Somehow the doctor didn't catch that I was pregnant or decided to not tell me. But somehow I made it to 33 weeks and didn't know I was pregnant. Whenever the baby moved I had thought it was pain from the ovarian cyst. One Saturday in february I was having the worst pain from the ovarian csyt than I ever thought I could have. Little did I know that I was in labor. My best friend was supposed to pick me up to go to a basketball game at our high school. I went to the game, but spent most of the time in the bathroom. At about half-time I was far enough along in labor that my water broke and all that gross stuff. I was starting to panic. I had no clue what was going on with me, I had forgotten my cell phone at home and so I couldn't call anyone. I summoned up the courage to go and find my boyfriend. When I found him I told him quietly that he needed to take me to the hospital. He knew about my ovarian cysts and that I was sometimes in pain because of it. We share everything with each other. So he took me to the hospital. By the time we got there the pain was coming and going every 5 minutes or less. When we went into the ER the doctors immediately helped me because, thank goodness, there were very few people there. I told them about my ovarian cysts. They were worried that one of the cysts might have burst. Right before they were going to start doing an ultrasound I felt the overwhelming urge to push. I didn't know why I felt the need to. At that point the doctor had figured out that I was pregnant. Ten minutes later my beautiful baby boy was born. I can't even begin to describe the shock that my boyfriend and I felt. Our parents were equally shocked. Though our little boy was only 5 lbs 5 oz, he was healthy as could be. I had only gaine about 12-14 pounds during my whole pregnancy and that is the only reason I can think of that would have kept me from realizing I was pregnant. My boyfriend and I decided to keep our baby. Over the next several months we worked out all the details and in June of that year we married. Although it was hard, I was happier than I had ever been. The next year right after we graduated we welcomed another little boy into our family. Both my husband and I are in college. Its hard to juggle 2 boys and school. My husband works so hard to provide for us. We are expecting our third child in a few months. There are some days that I can't believe I will am twenty years old and will be the mother of three beautiful boys. My husband and I don't regret having kids so fast because my ovarian cysts wrecked havoc on my ovaries and the likelihood of having more children is slim. I am grateful for a wonderful family who stood beside me even though they were disappointed in me. I am also grateful for a husband who is committed to our family and works hard to provide for us!

Jayne

VBAC compilcations

Please do not attempt a vbac. I was told it would be better for my baby and I and it ended up the worst thing I could have done for either one of us. My pregnancy was perfectly fine. It wasn't until I was induced and not watched the way I should have been during labor that something happened. My uterus was slowly ripping open all day and I was told your in labor you are going to feel some pain. I had an epidural though and should not have felt anything. Nothing was done until it was too late. I ended up with an emergency c-section and my daughter had a lack of oxygen and has severe brain damage. She is now 17 months old and mentally she is still like a newborn. Physical she is between 3-6 months old. She does not swallow so I have to suction her nose and mouth she has a g-tube. She has severe cp and we have been told not to expect much from her. The risk is too great. I put too much trust in my doctors and they failed my daughter and I. They repaired my uterus and told me I could have more children. I have since switched doctors and was told the risk for another rupture is too great. Please do not attempt a vbac unless your labor starts on its own.

Angela

my birth story

I was born three months early! But before I get to that, Let's go back to my mom's pregnancy. My mother was 19 and was in highschool when she found out she was expecting me. She told my Aunt Pat and my Aunt took my grandmother to NC ( we live in SC) and told her on Mother's day that she was to be a grandmother. Soon after that my Mother graduated highschool and got married to my Father. They moved in together and everything was fine until the night before my birthday. She started having back pains and made a Dr.s appointment for the last day of sept......at 9am. Her due date wasn't until Dec. so she thought she had a while. Her doctor checked her and she was 2-3 cm dialated. The dr. told her to go straight to the hospital. She did. When she was settled she called my dad to finish work and get a bag ready. Well, soon after she was given shots and many efforts to try and stop her labor nothing was working!!! She went to pee in a bedpan, and her water broke as soon as she set down. The nurse called the dr. and the dr checked her and checked the heartbeat of me and it was low. The dr. told my mom to push and the nurse realized my umbilicord was wrapped around my neck. The nurse held me inside my mother's womb until they got to the OR where she had an emergency C-section. As soon as I was cleaned off they rushed me to the NICU. Where they gave me a breathing tube and I was checked out. I weighed 2lbs. and 6oz. My mother wanted to spend every moment holding me and being with me. Soon after she was discharged she visited me every time she could. She never lefted my side. Every day there would be a new card with words of hope on my incubator. On my one month of being alive she told me I made it this far so I could keep fighting. That month I took a turn for the worst. I had fluid and blood around my brain. The dr.s all told my Mother that I was going to be mentally hanicaped and I that wouldn't grow hair on my head and thats if I survived the shunt that they were going to do.( A shunt is where the dr.s drill holes in the skull and put tubes in and drain the pressure off the brain.) After they did that, It worked!!! My mom came up every day and slept in the waiting room waiting on the next time to see me. The doctor got tired of her sleeping in the waiting room month after month. She finally got to take me home in Dec. I weighed 4 pounds and 5 oz. I was suposed to be 5 pounds. As I grew up, all the doctor's were proven WRONG!!! I am 17 and graduating in Dec. from highschool and I am a good student. I have a full head of hair and have asthma and drpression. Other than that I'm healthy and I have all 10 fingers and 10 toes!!!! I'm a survivor of circumstance and my mother later found out that she had an incompitie cervix but Ladies have hope, My mother's had 2 other healthy children!

Patricia