I want to share my story to support and
encourage parents of preemies who go
through the ups and downs of the NICU.
My pregnancy was exciting yet uneventful
until PROM. My water broke at 30 weeks
and 1 day. It being my first pregnancy,
I had no idea what happened when I felt
a little leakage. I called my OB and
spoke to a wonderful on call MD who
recommended I go in to get checked out.
I told her it might just be urine and
she wisely told me not to worry, some of
the smartest women she knew went in for
things like that.
I arrive at the hospital at 230 AM and
was treated wonderfully and sensitively
in the womens triage. It turned out
that it was indeed amniotic fluid. I
was admitted and watched closely for
infection. I recieve the steroid for
lung development. Four days later,
early in the morning I showed signs of
infection so I was induced. 15 hours
later our 3lb 15 oz miracle arrived.
There were no complications until he was
7 days old. A head ultrasound showed a
grade 1 IVH. Not to worry everyone
said, it is common. So we din't worry
until the follow up ultrasound at 14
days old. It showed a progression to a
grade 3 IVH. Our world collapsed. They
told us of the complications, mainly CP.
We prayed and our family and friends
prayed and people we didn't even know
prayed. He appeared so healthy except
occasional apnea spells and difficulty
learning to bottle feed. After two
follow up ultrasounds it appeared that
the IVH was starting to resolve and we
were overjoyed. The NICU doctors and
RNs were happy but continued to warn us
of the side affects of the bleed, CP,
may not show signs until months or years
down the road. I did not care, I just
wanted our baby home.
So after 5 weeks in the NICU, mostly
learning to bottle feed. We took our
baby home. Almost 6 lbs by then. Our
pediatrician, the birth to 3 program and
the follow up clinic at the NICU have
been keeping an eye on our little boy.
Almost a year old now, he weighs 27
lbs!!! Obviously, no more feeding
issues. We have been told his is
developing normally and his skills
range from his gestational age to his
birth age, catching up to his peers. He
crawls, pulls up on and cruises the
furniture, babbles constantly, points to
things and waves. We may have obstacle
to overcome in the future, but we will
deal with whatever comes. God has truly
blessed him and us.
So all you parents of preemies with a
grade 3 IVH, all babies are a blessing
no matter their outcome. Have hope,
faith, and love that baby with
everything in you. The best advice came
from one of the NICU RNs, "Don't wait to
see if the next milestone will be
reached, enjoy what his doing right now,
because if you are always looking ahead
you will miss out on your baby's life."
I followed her advice and didn't miss a
thing.
Thank you for listening, all of your
babies are in my prayers every night.
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