On Thursday, May 17th our family was in a bit of a rush. Our little 6am wake up call THE NASHAROO, would NOT wake up for his 9am preschool. Darin was late for grand rounds and I was dragging myself out of bed as well. Nash finally came around at 8:40 am just enough time for me to throw some clothes on him stuff some toast down his throat and head to preschool. I normally wouldn't worry about dropping him off late but today ironically I had a stress test doctors appointment at 9:15am. Then I needed to run errands before I picked Nash up at 11:30am to head to my friends baby shower.
When I got to the doctors office I felt a little yucky and my friend Codi had an appointment at the same time. I joked with her in the waiting room that I think I just put myself into labor with how crazy my morning was...we laughed. I did the stress test and everything looked great and I was planning out the rest of my day I was still prepping for Nash's birthday party, cleaning the house and grocery shopping for Grandma and Grandpa Willardson to come into town on Saturday during Darin's vacation.
THEN I saw the doctor to talk about the stress test and he seemed a bit concerned. Which I didn't understand because the Nurse Practitioner just told me everything looked great. What I didn't know is that my blood pressure was really high and the protein in my urine was abnormal. He listened to the babies heart beat measured me then told me that I needed to make my way to the hospital for further tests. He had me sign a paper about delivery and my body went into shock. I was only 32 weeks...did that mean I am delivering this child now???!!
Darin was doing a presentation for grand rounds so I couldn't get a hold of him. I called my friend Codi and asked her if she could help out with picking up Nash from preschool. I am sure she thought I was dying as I was a blubbering panic case! I got to the labor and delivery and they started monitoring my blood pressure and checking my urine again. At that point I started to see some stars, a headache started, my reflexes were beginning to be very rapid, and my body began to swell. Darin made it to the hospital just in time for me to receive the most OUCHY shot of steroids in my bum to speed up the babies lung development, I thought I was going to die. I feel so bad for little kids that get shots in their bum now! Maternal Fetal Medicine and OB/GYN Associates decided to admit me based on my blood pressure and protein levels so they could gather a 24 hour urine sample. Their goal was to keep me pregnant as long as possible. They decided that I would not be released from the hospital but rather keep me for a couple of days or a couple of weeks. The goal was to get the baby to week 34.
That night I developed the BIGGEST migraine ever and I had to change rooms 3 times because most of the at risk rooms had to be turned into delivery rooms because of how many babies were being delivered. It was a busy busy night! The worst part was I wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom on my own because I had to be on magnesium to keep me from having seizures with my high blood pressure. So I had to use a bed pan...such a horrible thing. When you have a baby you lose any dignity you ever had!
My vision was getting worse and my blood pressure was spiking. My face, hands and feet were beyond swollen and I was so miserable. I am so thankful for Stacia, Codi, Elaine Walls and Cindy Amorino who came to visit me during that sick time. I am sure I was a nut case especially since I had to hold an ice pack over one eye so I could focus on anyone!
I saw quite a bit of doctors, all of my OB/GYN doctors said I would be fine and keep the baby in. I started preparing for A LONG stay in the hospital. Then I saw Dr. Scorza a perinaetologist (sp) who specializes in preeclampsia. He is an awesome doctor and did a thorough check then said you will have this baby this weekend. Sure enough my protein levels came back dangerously high and they started me on Pitocin at 8pm Friday. Darin and I were pretty nervous. Darin brought Nash to see me and we called our friend Bill Lees to give me a blessing. The Lees family (along with many others) offered to take Nash for the night. Nash was so excited for his sleep over with his friend Josh he could hardly stand it. As he left my room he said "Night, night mommy!" then stalled at the door and said "close your eyes!" so I did. When I opened them he was gone. When Darin returned I was moved to a delivery room with this kind of equipment....
After the anesthesiologist left the labor team assembled and the NICU ladies were brought in as well. There were so many people in my room. I felt like it was all very surreal. My OB/GYN Dr. Michael Sheinberg who I had never seen before, but really liked him for the delivery. Dr. Sheinberg, an OB resident, my nurse and Darin all stood at my bedside. They didn't tell me to wait for a contraction they just said push when you want. So I did. Our little 3 lb 6 oz, 17 in baby came out at 9:47am with no issues. It was a very out of body experience as I felt like I watched the birth myself. The room was very relaxed and loving. The NICU nurses took Asa as he wasn't crying. They worked with him until he began and even then I did not hear him, I felt very out of it.
Asa is absolutely beautiful. He was taken to the NICU after showing him to me. Darin followed him there. After I was cleaned up and before I was taken to my new room in the Mother-Baby unit they wheeled my bed into the NICU, so I could see that Asa was safe and in good hands.
1 comment:
Yes, Asa is a beautiful, very loved little boy who has a wonderful Mommy and Daddy and special brother Nash. Thank you for the update and pictures. Love Mom
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