By Marie Cloutier Segura, Santo Domingo Dominican Republic
PROM at 26 weeks + 5 days. Delivery at 27 weeks + 1 days.
Story added: 2010-08-06

This was a long awaited pregnancy, everything we ever wanted.
The pregnancy was without problem, I did not suffer any of the traditional
Inconveniences. Our nightmare started on Saturday June 19th, 2010, like every Saturday morning, I was at work finishing reports when my membrane broke. At that time, I did not know what happened, the first lost of amniotic fluid was not that much, I had been told that as the baby gets big and he will put more pressure on the bladder, accident was possible. But 30 minutes later I lost got more important. My colleagues contacted my dr.
The Dr said that I needed to come in right away.

I was not explained much as we waited for my Dr to arrive. They did blood test, Echo …
When my dr arrived the bad news, my membrane broke, I lost liquid, and I had to be hospitalized, strict best rest. Everything happened so fast; I did not understand how could this happened to me? I was filled with worries for my baby. The Dr said that they will try to prolong the pregnancy has long as they could. They started antibiotic treatment, injection to develop the baby’s lung and very close monitoring.

On the following Monday, my dr came in with the devastating news; He needed to do an emergency c-section right away. The reason, lack of amniotic fluid. My world stopped. I was in a panic. No one would give me more information, statistics, risk. The information was always vague. I called my mom (back in Canada) to explain what was happening. I could not believe it. I made my husband promise to go with the baby as soon as he was born, to never leave his side. 30 minutes later I was on the operating room, again no one was talking to me. I knew my son was born, because I heard the nurse say “Samuel Cloutier Segura, time of birth 5:50 pm”.

After the operation, they took me back to my room. I was not allowed to see my baby until the next morning. It was the worst night of my life, I could not sleep, and I wanted to see my baby. My husband told me he was little but strong and so beautiful.

First thing in the morning, I was at the NICU to see my son for the first time. Nothing could have prepared me for this. He was so little, 2 pounds 2 ounces, the incubator, breathing tub, IV… I was afraid and hurt. Why did this happen? I did not understand.
For the next 7 days, I spent all my time with him, talking; signing him songs, holding is little hand. He got more lung medication, antibiotics. Every day was a new victory, he was breathing well, getting stronger. I had started pumping milk; the dr said that by Sunday they could start feeding him. I was filled with hope; I knew that he would get bigger and stronger when he would start feeding. Saturday June 26th, the dr said he needed a blood transfusion; luckily his daddy was a perfect match. I sat with him during the procedure. He was such a good boy, a fighter. He never cried. Ever procedure made me feel more confident.
Sunday morning I arrived at the hospital early, like always. The nurses where uncomfortable, they asked me where was my husband. I explained that he had to go back to work, that I was alone and I wanted to see my son. The dr arrived, serious looking, he also asked where my husband was… Again, I explained. He sat in front of me, I knew something was wrong. I was scared. And then he said the words; “I am very sorry, your son died at 5:10 this morning. We tried everything but he was too little, too weak”
At that moment my heart stop, I did not hear anything else he said. I got up, walk to the NICU and asked the nurse if I could hold him for a little while. 6 weeks later, I still don’t understand, I still have a million questions. I still do all the if… And I still wonder what I could have done differently. I feel guilty, that I could not do more for him. That I was not wore educated on the subject, that I did not ask enough questions.

This website as been a salvation.

thank you
Marie C Segura