My name Is Abigail S. I was a young woman expecting a baby at 19 |
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My name Is Abigail S. I was a young woman expecting a baby at 19 years old. I didn't find out my body was developing a child until I was about 4 to 5 months pregnant. It wasn't until after I started going to my doctor visits regularly and taking my prenatal vitamins did I feel fine. I thought to myself, "Man this pregnancy is going to be a walk in the park." I, like many other young mothers did not know anything about preeclampsia and was concerned and worried when I started to gain at least ten pounds a month. Along with the weight gain I developed high blood pressure which I thought was just something genetic since my mother also has high blood pressure. My body also started to swell very badly. My feet, hands, and face were severely swollen that I would hurt when someone so much as touched me. Around my seventh month I had one headache that wouldn't go away. My doctor asked me if I was having any headaches. I said yes to him and he told me I was going to have to collect my urine for 24 hours. I have to be honest I wasn't thrilled about that especially since I knew I was using the restroom frequently since I got pregnant. I did the 24 hour collection and returned it on time. A few days later I was back in my doctor's office and he told me that I had developed a disease called preeclampsia and the only way to cure it was childbirth. Still being a month until my due date (Aug. 8th 2009) I started to get very nervous and scared for my baby. I still remember that day like yesterday. It was a Tuesday and my doctor told me I was already at a level 8 and I would have to have my baby as early as possible. He explained to me what preeclampsia was and that it develops into eclampsia which both are very dangerous to the mother and the baby. He told me that he would have to call the hospital and see when the earliest time was that they could take me. It was that following Thursday at 5 o'clock in the morning. I asked if my baby would be okay and if she would be ready to come into the world. He told me that there could be some complications because like me she wasn't ready for the world yet. She still had a whole month to go. My doctor put me on bed rest until Thursday. I could just stay at home doing nothing and I would get depressed just sitting there and would cry because I would think about my baby and would hope everything would be okay. I would also think "What if I were not okay? What would I do if something bad happens to my baby? What would she do not growing up with me in her life? Would everything go wrong or would everything be okay?" I would cry and worry which was causing my high blood pressure to rise even more. I also had to get all my last minute preparations together because I thought I was still going to have a month to get everything for her. But I only had 2 days. I needed a car seat, a bed, diapers and wipes. All I had were some clothes from mine and my sister's double baby shower since we were pregnant at the same time, both expecting girls. So sorry doctor. I know I was suppose to be on bed rest but I just couldn't. I was "FREAKING OUT!." Thursday came and at 5 in the morning. I was there at the hospital getting induced to have my baby girl. And boy let me tell you that was hard. I was in labor for 29 hours and had trouble trying to push her out. She came out she came into the world a month early on June 10, 2009 at 6 pounds 7 ounces. Now that's a big premie. At first I thought that everything was fine and that I would be able to see her soon and just get to hold her and examine her. That's not the way it happened. My baby's lungs hadn't finished developing and she was rushed into the NICU where she was going to be in a fish bowl type thing where she would be given 100% oxygen so that her lungs could finish closing up. I could only see her in that fish bowl and could hold her or play with her. I felt crushed. But on the bright side at least we both made it 29 hours later. She was in the NICU for a week and the day that I had to leave the hospital to go home with out her was the most horrible day in my life. On the day that she was going to come home I had to learn how to do CPR on her and how to work her car seat and just basic things about her and things I should not give her. But the only thing I could think about was finally taking my baby out of that hospital and taking her home with me. Ever since the only time you will see her or me is if we were together. She's my best friend and the light of my life. ALEXUS. |
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