My first two pregnancies were fairly
uneventful and ended in two healthy
babies- one boy born at 37 weeks, 1
day and a girl at 40 weeks, 1 day.
In hindsight, I had been having alot
of contractions throughout the entire
pregnancy. I began feeling them at 6
weeks but chalked it up to running
after two active kids, my third baby
and being so much thinner at the
beginning of the pg. I had changed
doctors for this baby, in part to
deliver at a hospital close to home. I
recieved midwifery care (OB/MW
practice) and was very pleased with my
45 minute appointments! Beginning at
10 weeks, I had an enlarged uterus. At
first we thought that it was because I
had my babies close together (number 3
was my third birth in 4.5 years) but
when I measured a month ahead for a
second time, they sent me for an u/s,
thinking twins or fibroids. Nothing
was wrong and I was having a healthy
baby boy, measuring right on track!
At 32 weeks, the amount of cervical
fluid I was leaking kept increasing. I
had to wear and change panty liners
often. I went to my MW, who found not
anmotic fluid but an infection. Saying
the infection could lead to preterm
labor, she put me on antibiotics and,
then those were finished, probiotics.
At 35 weeks, 0 days I was pretty
miserable. I was having what I thought
were braxton-hicks contractions and my
pelvic pain was so severe, I could
hardly walk up the stairs. I called my
husband home from work and told him I
was so tired and couldn't take it
anymore. He took the kids out on an
errand and I laid in the recliner,
wishing the contractions would go away!
I finally mustered up the courage to
waddle into the bathroom for a bath
when I felt a sudden wetness. My first
thought was, "Oh, crap, that's alot of
mucus!" Then, "I peed me pants!"
Then, "Uh-oh!" I sat on the toliet-
more fluid. It was clear. I put on a
pad, grabbed the phone and called my
dr, and my doula. The dr called me
back telling me to get to the hospital
as soon as I had child care for my
other children. I called my husband,
my mother and my mother-in-law.
An hour after I saw the fluid, I went
to the hospital. I was leaking so much
that, when I changed into my gown, I
leaked all over the floor! The nurse
actually used the fluid I dripped on
the floor to confirm that it was my
amnotic fluid.
When my OB arrived, she explained that
the risk of infection was greater than
the risk of prematurity. I had wanted
a natural,unmedicated birth like I had
with my other children. This was
possible, but with compromises. I had
external monitoring but the monitor
was portable. I had an IV with
pitocin, fluids and antibiotics. They
started the pit very low and dripped
the abxs in slowly so they did not
burn.
Labor progressed well and I was
allowed to walk the hall, use the tubs
and change positions. My doula was
wonderful and encouraging and the
nurses were respectful and
helpful.
My son was born at 3:33 am, at 35+1,
ten hours after my water broke and six
hours after pitocin was started. He
was big (6 pounds, 8 ounces!) and able
to breathe on his own. However, he
soon became grunty and went to the
nursery for oxygen. Our beloved family
practice doctor said that although he
was the size of a 38 weeker, he was
indeed 35 weeks due to his lungs.
Due to his ever-increasing need for
oxygen, the NICU team was called. He
was ventalated, given surfactant and
transferred. He remained in the NICU
for nine days, a week shorter than
they expected. He recieved 2 doses of
surfactant, a ventalator, bili lights,
and an nG tube.
He came home nursing from the breast
but failed to gain weight for the
first month. I sought help from LLL
and heavily supplemented with
expressed milk. He finally began
gaining weight around his orginal due
date.
Leaving the hospital WITHOUT my baby
was the worst experience of my life. I
am so, so thankful our stay was "easy
and short" but it was still difficult.
I have alot of mommy guilt over what
happened to him. Of course, I am
TERRIFIED that it could happen again
and sooner if we had another! However,
I am thankful every day for all my
children and their health.
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