Being born premature carries risks, heartache, upsets, joy and about a million other emotions and the end is not always the beginning you dreamt of.
This is the story of my amazing son Ollie. Born at 29 weeks gestation.
Like any other parent to be the prospects of having a baby are filled with joy and happiness. Being a mum of 4 already, we had nothing to worry about. Or so we thought.
Although already having 1 preemie in the family we were told there was no real risk of it happening again but staying on the side of caution i was closely monitored. Everything was fine. At 12 weeks we found out we were having a little boy, thus began the task of fighting over names. As the weeks went on the check and scans were perfect, our little boy was growing well.
At 23 weeks i began to have a little pain. We dismissed the usual problems that come with pregnancy and we advised to make our way to the Mat Unit. Due to protocol we were advised that if i was to go into labour, nothing would be done. We were both devastated and pray there was a simple fix. Thankfully i was diagnosed with nothing more that a UTI, given anti-biotics and sent on our way.
Life way great again, symptoms went and it was life as normal.
At 24 week i became ill with what we though was the flu. Though i wasn't gravely ill it was unpleasant but able to carry on day to day tasks. Early one afternoon whilst all the other children were at school and Matt was out i took one of my millionth trips to the toilet. Nothing strange there. What was worrying was the blood!
At just before 25 week i had my first APH (antepartum hemorrhage) but i also suspected my waters had gone.
Mass panic and hysteria struck. I was home alone! Que mass phone calls, child care sorted,husband on the way home, hospital notified.
Once at the hospital i was hooked up to the monitors, baby was fine but tests and scans showed my waters had indeed gone. Steroid shots given and I was prepped for transfer to another hospital better able to deal with such premature babies.
After 4 day of no dramas i was allowed home on bed rest with baby still tucked up nicely in my belly.
27 weeks. My second APH. Same routine as previous.Childcare, husband, hospital, monitors, meds and prep for transfer. Only this time they had changed there minds about my waters even though tests had proven they had gone.
Again 4 days later i was aloud home.
Almost 29 weeks. My third and final APH. This time it was different and it was accompanied with pain and what was left of my waters went with and almighty gush on the kitchen floor. So usual rigmarole. Childcare, husband, hospital, monitors, meds. I was actually in labour but didn't realise...... then the arguments started. They wanted to send me to a hospital over 150 miles away! This in it self would have taken me to breaking point, let alone the prospects of given birth to a very premature baby! after discussion and phone calls i was able to get a bed back in the first hospital we were transferred too and a NICU cot was on hold for our baby.
It was Saturday evening when the ambulance arrived to take me. My husband followed in his car.
On arrival at the hospital i was given drug to stop the labour. After a few hour it was noticed that although baby was fine, i wasn't! My temperature sky rocketed and i was feeling extremely ill. After a few test it was apparent i had a massive infection and the choice to establish labour was made. Sunday morning came and went as did the afternoon and evening. Baby was still fine I on the other hand was finding thing very hard. Late Sunday evening i was given and epidural so i was able to rest and it also meant Matt was able to get a little peace too.
By Monday morning it was starting to wear off.
On the 30th November Ollie was born weighing 2lb 12oz.
This is the story of my amazing son Ollie. Born at 29 weeks gestation.
Like any other parent to be the prospects of having a baby are filled with joy and happiness. Being a mum of 4 already, we had nothing to worry about. Or so we thought.
Although already having 1 preemie in the family we were told there was no real risk of it happening again but staying on the side of caution i was closely monitored. Everything was fine. At 12 weeks we found out we were having a little boy, thus began the task of fighting over names. As the weeks went on the check and scans were perfect, our little boy was growing well.
At 23 weeks i began to have a little pain. We dismissed the usual problems that come with pregnancy and we advised to make our way to the Mat Unit. Due to protocol we were advised that if i was to go into labour, nothing would be done. We were both devastated and pray there was a simple fix. Thankfully i was diagnosed with nothing more that a UTI, given anti-biotics and sent on our way.
Life way great again, symptoms went and it was life as normal.
At 24 week i became ill with what we though was the flu. Though i wasn't gravely ill it was unpleasant but able to carry on day to day tasks. Early one afternoon whilst all the other children were at school and Matt was out i took one of my millionth trips to the toilet. Nothing strange there. What was worrying was the blood!
At just before 25 week i had my first APH (antepartum hemorrhage) but i also suspected my waters had gone.
Mass panic and hysteria struck. I was home alone! Que mass phone calls, child care sorted,husband on the way home, hospital notified.
Once at the hospital i was hooked up to the monitors, baby was fine but tests and scans showed my waters had indeed gone. Steroid shots given and I was prepped for transfer to another hospital better able to deal with such premature babies.
After 4 day of no dramas i was allowed home on bed rest with baby still tucked up nicely in my belly.
27 weeks. My second APH. Same routine as previous.Childcare, husband, hospital, monitors, meds and prep for transfer. Only this time they had changed there minds about my waters even though tests had proven they had gone.
Again 4 days later i was aloud home.
Almost 29 weeks. My third and final APH. This time it was different and it was accompanied with pain and what was left of my waters went with and almighty gush on the kitchen floor. So usual rigmarole. Childcare, husband, hospital, monitors, meds. I was actually in labour but didn't realise...... then the arguments started. They wanted to send me to a hospital over 150 miles away! This in it self would have taken me to breaking point, let alone the prospects of given birth to a very premature baby! after discussion and phone calls i was able to get a bed back in the first hospital we were transferred too and a NICU cot was on hold for our baby.
It was Saturday evening when the ambulance arrived to take me. My husband followed in his car.
On arrival at the hospital i was given drug to stop the labour. After a few hour it was noticed that although baby was fine, i wasn't! My temperature sky rocketed and i was feeling extremely ill. After a few test it was apparent i had a massive infection and the choice to establish labour was made. Sunday morning came and went as did the afternoon and evening. Baby was still fine I on the other hand was finding thing very hard. Late Sunday evening i was given and epidural so i was able to rest and it also meant Matt was able to get a little peace too.
By Monday morning it was starting to wear off.
On the 30th November Ollie was born weighing 2lb 12oz.
Ollie was in excellent condition for a baby of his gestation. Both Matt
and my self and actually all the staff were so excited because although
he need ventilating for a few mins he began breathing on his own and
even cried. Now if you have ever wondered what a 29 week baby sounds
like, he sounded like a tiny kitten.
So Ollie was taken to NICU. Matt saw to me that i was ok and made his way home to be with the other children and i took a few moments to rest.
Just under an hour later i woke in extreme pain and i mean worse than the labour! The midwife took a look and i had had a massive PPH (postpartum hemorrhage). If i though all hell had broken lose in my room at this point i was wrong! After a couple of hours, I'd say it was getting on for early evening things had calmed down. Or at least we all though they had.
1 sneeze! That's all it took! The bleeding was worse than before, i was being given blood and fluids like it was going out of fashion. It was soon realized that a piece if the placenta had come away and was stuck. After the consultant tried to manually remove the piece something went horribly wrong ending up with me having a seizure and stopping breathing. This is when all hell broke lose! I vaguely remember about 20 people in the room shouting and rushing about. Me being asked to sign consent form being told not to worry when i wake!!!
I was rushed to theater where they removed a massive fist size piece of placenta and managed to stop the bleeding. I woke 24 hours later. It was late Tuesday evening. I didn't know how my son was, if he was still breathing on his own, if he was still alive!
So finally after 5 transfusion, emergency surgery, 24hr in ICU, i was able to see my son for a few mins
So Ollie was taken to NICU. Matt saw to me that i was ok and made his way home to be with the other children and i took a few moments to rest.
Just under an hour later i woke in extreme pain and i mean worse than the labour! The midwife took a look and i had had a massive PPH (postpartum hemorrhage). If i though all hell had broken lose in my room at this point i was wrong! After a couple of hours, I'd say it was getting on for early evening things had calmed down. Or at least we all though they had.
1 sneeze! That's all it took! The bleeding was worse than before, i was being given blood and fluids like it was going out of fashion. It was soon realized that a piece if the placenta had come away and was stuck. After the consultant tried to manually remove the piece something went horribly wrong ending up with me having a seizure and stopping breathing. This is when all hell broke lose! I vaguely remember about 20 people in the room shouting and rushing about. Me being asked to sign consent form being told not to worry when i wake!!!
I was rushed to theater where they removed a massive fist size piece of placenta and managed to stop the bleeding. I woke 24 hours later. It was late Tuesday evening. I didn't know how my son was, if he was still breathing on his own, if he was still alive!
So finally after 5 transfusion, emergency surgery, 24hr in ICU, i was able to see my son for a few mins