By Lisa Paterson, West Hollywood, CA USAHi Everyone- Let me first start by saying how glad I am to see a web site like this. My hope is that my story will add to the inspiration that others here have shared.
PROM at 23 weeks + 5 days. Delivery at 26 weeks.
Story added: 2004-10-19
I had a difficult time getting pregnant. Finally after a year of trying, I found out I was. Shortly into the pregnancy I started to have problems. My hormone levels were not rising as they should. By 16 weeks I was told my baby would have trisomy 18. I had a CVS done and it came back normal, however; my hormone levels were dangerously low. By 20 weeks I started bleeding but slowed down to spotting by 22 weeks. I was on bed rest for two more weeks but by 23.5 weeks my water broke. I was admitted into the hospital running a high fever with a very high white blood cell count. My peri said I had a serious infection and that I needed to terminate the pregnancy or risk death. I took the risk because I truky believed my baby would survive as would I. I was told I had zero fluid and because of the type of rupture would not be able to keep any in me. The peri said that if I was 26 weeks it would be a different story but at 23.5 weeks the baby was not considered viable and they would not give me any drugs to stop labor. I knew I had to carry my son to 26 weeks and I was convinced I could do it. I was put on complete bed rest and put in a trandelburg postion. ( head down feet up in the air) Of course I had the traumas of D-cell heart drops with the baby and other complications due to no fluid, plus I have a heart condtion. But exactly on the first day of my 26 week I had a prolapdsed cord and an emergency crash C-section, to a crying 1 pound 13 ounce 13 inch baby boy Ethan. He never needed to even be intubated. He stayed in the NICU for 10 weeks and is now doing amazing with really no signs of being a preemie.
Please try to keep your faith, remember how strong you are, hold on to the love you have for your baby/babies. Hold on to the love you have for yourself and for GOD.
I am writing a book on this subject and am looking for other moms like myself who have miracle stories they might want to share and have published. Please email me if you would like to take part in this.
Bless all of you and your babies,
Lisa