By Mary Bonner, Lansing KS USI am writing this story on behalf of my daughter, who does not have a computer. She would like to share her experience with others.
PROM at 20 weeks + 3 days. Delivery at 34 weeks + 2 days.
Story added: 2006-11-08
In August 2003, she lost a baby to stillbirth for unknown reasons at 7 months gestation. She was devastated. It took 2 years before she felt strong enough to try again. She consulted a doctor who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. In January 2006, she became pregnant again, but miscarried about 6 weeks later. The doctor said that her hormone levels were never high enough and that it was never a normal pregnancy.
In March 2006 she surprisingly became pregnant again. All was going smoothly until the ultrasound at 22 weeks disclosed that she had very low amniotic fluid. She had been leaking slowly for about 2 weeks at that time. The doctor put her on bed rest immediately, but did not admit her to the hospital until 2 weeks later (Labor Day, 4 September), because the fetus was not considered viable until that time.
She was sent to a hospital with a level III NICU, so the baby would have a high level of care. They gave her 2 steroid shots and an IV antibiotic. She was told that in the unlikely event that she could avoid infection or pre-term labor, she would have a C- section to deliver the baby at 34 weeks. No one thought she had a chance. Every day, a different doctor (there were 7 in all!) would come in with another gloom and doom story. Either the baby’s lungs would not work, or the baby would have Down’s syndrome, or there would be kidney or heart failure. Then, 2 weeks after she was admitted, it was determined that she also had gestational diabetes, which posed even greater risk for the baby and for my daughter. There did not seem to be much hope. Even the social workers and chaplains counseled her to accept another tragedy. She was in tears every day.
Meanwhile, the fetal heart monitor every 8 hours showed a very strong heartbeat that gave us hope. I wrote the word “BELIEVE” in huge letters on the dry erase board in her room. We talked to the baby constantly and refused to give up. We told the baby she had to wait until at least Halloween before she could come out (the doctors all agreed that the baby was a girl based on the ultrasound, but they were not 100% sure).
Halloween (my daughter’s favorite holiday) came and went, and still the baby showed a strong heartbeat and good growth on the ultrasounds. Still negativity on the part of the doctors, especially with regard to the lungs. The date of 6 November was set for the C-section.
We are here to tell everyone that miracles happen, and Michael Mason Bonner (surprise, a boy!), born at 8:06 am on November 6, 2006, is one of them. He weighed 3 pounds 6 ounces, and was 16 inches long. On the Apgar scale of 1 to 10 – with 10 being the highest score, and a score of 8 or higher being good for survival – our little Michael scored 8.9! He is on an oxygen cannula and the bili-rubin light for jaundice, but other than that, he is doing great.
It seems there was a small pocket of fluid that helped him develop his lungs and allowed him to move about, avoiding orthopedic problems as well. As soon as he can breathe on his own, take food on his own, and maintain his body temperature, he will be allowed to go home. They are estimating about 2-3 weeks. His mother will be going home in a few days, as soon as they are sure her blood sugar is okay (it’s fine so far).
We have prayed to every God under the sun – God, Jesus Christ, Allah, Buddha, Krishna, Great Spirit, the Universe – you name it! Someone was listening, and our little Michael is a fighter. If you are having problems, or if you have suffered the grief of losing a baby, please don’t give up. God is good, and there is always hope. Find good doctors, especially perinatologist specialists and a good high level NICU. We are praying for everyone on the PPROM list and for everyone who has submitted stories. May God bless you all.