By Althea Erickson, Mobile Alabama US
PROM at 19 weeks + 5 days. Delivery at 19 weeks + 5 days.
Story added: 2004-03-01

Thanks for joining to read my story! I was 19wks pregnant with no complication up until this point. I began to have intense cramping. I made a trip to the ER on Valentine's Day 2004. The dr's told me that the baby looked fine and that I had a urinary tract infection and that I was having Braxton Hicks Contrations. I was sent home with a prescription of antibiotics to treat the infection. That Wednesday I called my OB office to inform them that I was still having contrations. They told me to drink plenty of fluids and stay off of my feet. Friday around 5:30pm after my husband arrived home from work I was lying in my bed and felt my water break! We called 911 for the medics to pick me up. They arrrived and took me to the hospital. Where we were told that indeed my water had broken, but I hadn't dilated any. We were given all the bad news of a survival at this early stage of pregnancy. We were told that there was some fluid still around our son. He still had a heartbeat! We were told that they would induce labor with no survival. Or we could stay in the hospital for about 4wks and try to carry the baby to a more full term with a chance of survival. We decided to stay in the hospital to make a go of it. I was given demoral for pain(which didnt help at all)! Needless to say I felt like I had to push. I was rushed to L&D and our son was born that same night at 10:32pm. I got to hold him in my arms and share my last moments with him. My husband and mother both held him. He weighed 9oz and he was 11in long. He looked like any other normal baby but was very tiny. It has only been a little over a week and I still cry a lot. Having his funeral was very hard for me. We had his funeral Sat Feb 28 2004. This was our second loss. Our first child we lost in the first 7wks with no heartbeat that was in 2000. That was a natural conception. With our son we were taking Clomid(infertility medication)I know the pain of all mothers who have experienced this same thing. I know that pain! So, for those of you who would like to talk about your loss please email me. I check my mail daily and would love to talk with you. Thanks for reading my story!
Althea Erickson

George Hiram Lee Erickson Jr.
Born Feb 20 2004
Died Feb 20 2004