In January of 2007 we found out we
were expected our second child and our
first son.
The pregnancy was a normal one we
found out we were having a boy at our
12 week appointment and were so
excited.
At 20 weeks, we found out that our son
had a single artery umbilical cord.
We had a level 3 ultra sound at 21
weeks and everything was normal and
healthy. We were told that we would
do a growth scan at 30 weeks to verify
he was still growing and should expect
a normal pregnancy.
On June 2, 2007 at about 12:30 AM, I
woke up soaking wet. It had been so
hot the day before so I assumed I had
peed the bed from lack of bladder
control. I got up to use the restroom
and noticed my bladder was full.
When I continued to leak, I told my
husband who packed up my daughter and
got us both in the car to head to the
hospital. We dropped my daughter off
on the way expecting to pick her up in
a couple of hours.
When we got to the hospital we had a
fern test. The first was
inconclusive, the second was positive
for amniotic fluid.
Within moments IVs were started for
Magnesium Sulfate, I didn't feel them,
but I was contracting every 3
minutes. I was given antibiotics, my
rogam shot (I am A-) and my first dose
of steroids.
I met with the perniatlogist and had
an ultrasound. Our son was only 23
weeks and 5 days gestation and the
ultrasound showed his weight at 14
ounces. He was also breech and I had
a fluid level of 8.8.
I was told that I would most likely
deliver in 24 hours and our son would
not make it. I was admitted to the
hospital on strict bed rest.
24 hours passed and I was still
pregnant. Then we hit 24 weeks and I
was still pregnant. I stayed that way
until I reached 33 weeks gestation.
It was a long 9 weeks in the hospital,
but we were cautious about visitors, I
was obsessed with fluids and we were
determined to have a healthy
outcome.
When I hit 30 weeks, the fluid dropped
to 3. When I hit 31 weeks, I didn't
have a single fluid pocket. My risk
of infection sky rocketed and I was
told I would deliver no later than 34
weeks.
On the morning I hit 33 weeks, I went
into full blown labor. I went from
having a closed cervix to being
completely dialated, ready to push in
2 hours. I had an emergency cesarean
and heard the soft cries of our little
boy. He weighed 4 pounds 14 ounces.
Our 9 weeks gave him 4 pounds of
weight and the chance for survival we
were told we would never have.
Matthew spent 2 days on the vent, 3 on
Cpap and 5 on oxygen. He was
discharged after 26 days in the NICU
and his doing great.
Matthew does not need oxygen,
medication of monitors. He does have
lung disease and he does have a small
hole in his heart, but he is our
perfect little prince.
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