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I recently found out I was pregnant, (am 5wks) and my last pregnancy was a roller-coaster. I had my first bleed at 5wks, for about 48 hours, started out strong, but got lighter as time pa__sed, I was very scared, this was my 2nd pregnancy and my first had been textbook-perfect. The bleed began about 1/2 hour after my husband and I had s_x, and I had had an orgasm, I was convinced that the orgasm had triggered the bleed, since your uterus contracts when you have one. My doctor said to lay on my left side, feet elevated, but this was more to make me feel like I was doing something than for any effect it would have on the pregnancy. I went to my doctor and she monitored my HCG levels to see if they would go up, and at 6-1/2 weeks, I had my first ultrasound (v____al) which showed an empty sac.I was crushed, but my doctor called later that day and said my blood HCG from the day before showed that my HCG was continuing to rise, and she did not believe the u/s technicians diagnosis. She wanted me to go for another HCG and u/s in 3 more days. I went back for another HCG blood level and u/s and it showed a rising HCG and the u/s showed a baby in the sac with a strong heartbeat, but no definition for the bleed. My doctor told me to relax, take it easy and no s_x, and let things continue and that was all that could be done, if I was going to have a miscarriage, there was nothing they could do about it. At 9wks, I pa__sed a large blood clot, but no bleeding. I went for another ultrasound, and everything looked fine, the u/s tech could see where the bleed came from, she could see some old blood behind the placenta, and this is when I was diagnosed with subchorionic hematoma. I was told to take it easy, and I would have another u/s at end of 1st trimester (4 more weeks) Then, on Dec. 30th, 2003, I was getting ready to go for my 1st pregnancy appt with my ob/gyn (Up until now, I was "threatened abortion" a noxious term) I was stepping out of the shower and a drop of blood fell to the floor, then another. I rushed over to the toilet (not sure why) and as I sat down, sorry this is graphic, I "pa__sed" large and small blood clots, tissue, lots of bright red blood, it just kept falling out of me, I felt woozy from the blood loss, it was an amazing amount of blood. I can't even describe my emotional state of mind. I called my doctor, and she said to save what I could from what I had pa__sed, and bring it to her office ASAP. Can you imagine. I had to put on gloves and put everything into a sterile container, I thought I was pulling my child out of the toilet, it was horrific, devastating, I can't even tell you. I have never seen so much blood. My husband came home and we drove to the doctors office, where thankfully we were taken directly to a room. The doctor went to examine what we had brought in, but then she came in and said there was no fetal matter,just blood clot material and maternal tissue and blood. She tried the fetal doppler to see if we could hear anything, and there was a heartbeat, strong and steady. I can't begin to tell you the disbelief I felt! It was awe-inspiring, that all of that blood, etc. could be lost and my baby still be alive. I could tell my doctor was still concerned. She sent me for an u/s right then, and it showed the hematoma, and that it had burst, the u/s tech said later she had NEVER seen one that large result in a viable pregnancy. My doctor put me on bedrest to give the hematoma the best chance to heal and reserve as much nutrients, energy and oxygen to pa__s to the baby as it could. After 8 weeks of bedrest, my 19wk u/s showed a healthy baby, correct size etc. for dates and the hematoma had healed. I had stayed on bedrest religiously only getting up to go to the bathroom. My husband works from home, so that was a big help. I was able to come off bedrest and resume light activity, still no s_x. The only medicine I took was prenatal vitamins, extra iron (ferrous sulfate) and stool softeners, so as not to strain. My hemorrage at 11 weeks slowed and stopped after about 3 weeks, it tapered off to brownish spotting at the end. For Christmas, my husband had bought me my own fetal doppler, and around 13wks, I was able to hear the baby's heartbeat at home, and could listen whenever I wanted. (It was a huge relief, it kept anxiety at bay during those long days and nights "strapped" to the couch in my living room.) At 28 wks, I woke up in the middle of the night and the bed was soaked, I knew my water had broken, I felt another gush as I got out of bed, and we called my ob and went into the hospital, where she met us after I was admitted. My water had broken, but no contractions, so I was hooked up to moniters, and IV started, antibiotics administered and steroids given. They did an U/S and everything looked fine, the fetal monitors were continuous and showed the baby's heartbeat and any uterine activity. I was scared, but glad that I was at 28 weeks, I knew what the statistics were, and I hoped that everything would be as good as could be. Somehow, I did not go into labor, even though I periodically gushed water. I was constantly monitored and kept on bedrest in the hospital for 3 weeks, with u/s every 5-6 days. I was on antibiotics for the first 1 week, and checked every 4 hours for temp and blood pressure. I had a white cell count every morning. I never showed any signs of infection, so my doctor was just "sitting" on me, the baby had non-stress tests 2-3 times a day, and I had my fetal doppler with me and counted movements every hour. I kept to that bedrest, I only got up to have a bm. (I had a catheter, so I didn't have to get up to pee, my own request.) It was the safest, cleanest enviroment you could imagine, the staff was VERY strict about everything, I didn't mind, every day I was in the hospital meant less time for this baby in the NICU. At 31-1/2 weeks, I went into labor on my own at 11:45pm. I had the baby via v____al birth at 5:55am on May 18th, 2004. I had had an epidural, but it only worked on half my body, and I spiked a fever during labor and the baby's heartrate started to decel occasionally. I was on oxygen, and the doctor and a huge staff was in the labor room with me. At one point the baby was coming face first, and no matter how I pushed, there was no movement down the birth ca___l. Somehow the doctor was able to guide the head into the right position. She told me I had one chance to push this baby out, it was getting to risky for her and she was going to put me to sleep and do a stat C-section if this baby wasn't born like RIGHT NOW. I was able to have him, (Noah Alexander, our beautiful second son) and he seemed so amazing. I only saw him for a second, but I heard him and I just kept crying and saying "I can hear him, I can hear him" over and over. After everything, all this long pregnancy, to hear his little voice was the closest to God I have ever been in my life. He was 9 weeks early, 3lbs 9.5oz and 16 inches long. He was taken more or less right to the NICU, and they worked on him for a few hours. My husband and I were on such a high, but again it came crashing down, he was far from stable, the doctor was going to arrange for a life flight via helicopter to a level 4 NICU, at Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. His NICU stay is another long story, but he came home at the end of July (His original due date) and although he had chronic lung disease (BPD, a common subsequence of babies on ventilators for long periods of time) and came home on medicines, a heart monitor and supplemental oxygen for 7 months, he did come home. Right now he is taking his afternoon nap, and I am working on the final details for his birthday party that we are having this weekend, for family, friends, our ob, the NICU staff and his neonatologist, who got him (and us!) through this last year. I feel blessed, and althrough the dark days I had through late 2003 and into 2004, (and I did have many) are in my mind as I contemplate this new pregnancy, I will just have to put those aside as best I can, and hope for the best outcome. I hope to report good news, and hear all of you do the same. Sorry so long, if you got through this epic, but it was also cathartic to put it down, and share it with others who are going through the same. I felt so alone during my pregnancy, I didn't really know anyone who had had problems, I didn't have a computer at the time, so no internet community or research, and only my doctor and husband to share and talk with.
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