By NENA, Tallahassee, FL USA
PROM at 22 weeks + 2 days. Delivery at 22 weeks + 5 days.
Story added: 2006-07-11

I found out that I was pregnant February 2006 and my boyfriend and I were thrilled. This was the first child for both of us, and also the first grandchild for both my parents and his parents. I scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician that same week. She referred me out to an OB/GYN, and prescribed me prenatal vitamins. We had our first prenatal visit on March 9th, and found out that we were 8 weeks pregnant and had a due date of October 20, 2006. Luckily, I did not have any morning sickness, my boyfriend, on the other hand, had plenty of it. I did have really bad headaches though, which is also a side effect of pregnancy. Everyone told me that I had a glow, I was just so happy to be carrying our first child. I made sure that I took my prenatal vitamins everynight, I maintained a healthy diet, and attended all of my prenatal visits. All of my labwork came out well, and my doctor told me that I was perfect canidate for having a baby. He said that it was "Amazing how healthy I was". We had our 1st sonogram on April 12th and they advised me that I was 13 weeks pregnant, and I was given a new due date of October 29, 2006. We found out that we were having a boy on June 22, 2006 I was 21 weeks pregnant. That following Monday I started to spot, I was told that this is normal. I woke up to use the restroom and I found that I had a light pink discharge that was flowing, I immediately woke my boyfriend and went to the emergency room. I was seen by a nurse in the natal care unit, the first question that she asked me was "did you have sex today?" I told her yes I had. She said that sometimes this sex irritates the cervix and causes it to bleed. She checked the babies heartbeat, and contacted my doctor. The heartbeat was nice and strong, and she told me that the doctor said that I could be released and that I could come in for an appointment the following day at his office. The next morning I was bleeding a lot, as if I was having my cycle, my thighs were crampy but I did not have abdominal cramping. When I went into the doctors office he did a ultrasound and found that my baby was breech, and that I also had medial placenta previa. When the doctor did my pelvic exam, I knew that there was something wrong. He told me that part of my membrane was in my vagina and that I had dialated 1.5 cm, he immediately called an ambulance to transport me to the hospital. I was placed into a position where my head was lower than my legs, in order to keep my water from breaking. They also gave me a cocktail of drugs, including antibiotics to keep me from going into labor. I was so sad, b/c the doctor advised me that there was chance of them saving the baby, they said that they could attempt to give me a surclage (pushing the membrane back up and stiching the cervix closed)However there was a chance that the membrane could break during the surgery or I could go 2 more weeks and they would save the baby, but he would be severly handicapped. I prayed that God help me to make a decision, b/c I didn't know if I should sit there and let my water break or get the surgery to try to save my baby. My surgery was pushed back about 3 times, and my water ended up breaking on June 29th, and I was given pitocin to speed up my labor. The entire time I continued to feel my baby move and he still had a strong heartbeat. His lower half was in my vagina, but his upper body was still above my cervix. I prayed that he would just hold on long enough for us to meet him, and he did. I delivered Sean Michael vaginally at 12:24 am. He was so beautiful, he looked just like a baby doll version of his father. His toes looked exactly like mine. His eyes were fused shut, he was 1 lb 4.1 ozs, and 10.5 inches long. His father and I held him and talked to him, and took pictures. I was just so blessed to be able to see and hold him while he was alive. He expired about an hour later. The hospital took pictures and created a memory box with his footprints, clothing, and receiving blanket. We had a memorial service in the chapel. We made arrangements to have him cremated. We currently have his irn and pictures on our nightstand. I know that God does everything for a reason, he probably forseen something that we did not. We will continue to pray everyday and I know that Sean Michael is a little angel that is looking down on us. Hopefully, he can be with me throughout my next pregnancy, b/c I don't think that I can enduring a tragic outcome again. Anyone that needs to chat can contact me at my email. God bless you all.