This pregnancy had always been an
eventful one from the very start.
Intermittant bleeding/spotting (plus a
history of recurrent miscarriages)
caused me to have an early scan in
which the sonographer initially
thought i had a blighted ovum as no
embryo could be seen at almost 7 weeks
but right at the last minute while she
checked other measurements we spotted
him down in the corner with a good
strong heartbeat pumping away! I
suffered with dreadful nausea up until
16 weeks morning noon and night,
sometimes unable to tolerate sips of
water and a heavyish bleed at about 10
weeks was reassured with another scan
and then a nuchal scan gave us much
more reassurance, the consultant
advising that i had a subchorionic
haemorrhage but baby looked good and
strong along with the placenta
etc.
My waters broke at 18 weeks and a day,
no gush just a trickle that for a few
hours i thought maybe urinary
incontinence. My worst fears were
confirmed at hospital and following a
couple of scans we were given the
worst prognosis. My husband and i
truly believed it was all over that
day and i fully expected to go into
labour that night, but i didn't.
Weekly blood tests, low vaginal swabs
and a scan gave me a milestone each
week to get through (i insisted on the
scans my consultant didn't want to
scan me until i reached 28 weeks!)He
also said i could return to work and
didn't advise rest as it wouldn't
change the outcome! I luckily have a
very supportive family who helped with
childcare and housework etc which
enabled me to take it easy (not
bedrest though) and my gp signed me
off work . At 27 weeks i had steroid
injections but the day after the 2nd
injection i didn't feel particularly
well and following the night in
hospital and some blood tests it was
obvious i had an infection. My son was
born 2 days later, ventilated and
taken to intensive care. By the
evening he was extubated and put on
cpap and is currently doing pretty
well in the HDU 3 weeks later. He is
stable and now putting on weight,
tolerates being off cpap for 4 hours
at a time, has had a few problems
tolerating increased milk feeds but is
alert and absolutely beautiful. I can
honestly say that the people who gave
me hope were the sonographers who each
week told me how good he looked on the
scan and told me to remain positive as
there is always hope no matter how bad
it seems.The doctors never made me
feel that giving birth to a live baby
was achievable although the consultant
did say it was possible in fairness to
him but i never saw that belief in his
eyes.
Dont give up hope, i used a bit of
common sense and took life a bit
easier, took a multivitamin, ate and
drank well and kept myself as clean as
possible. It may or may not have
helped but i now have my 2nd gorgeous
son all be it in special care so i
have to assume it all helped to get
him to a reasonable gestation.
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