Noah Ryan, 26 week preemie

Posted On Sunday, May 29, 2011  by lauren

My boyfriend Ryan and I were already going though a hard time, with him losing his job and then trying to find a new place to live, when I found out I got pregnant on birth control. But none the less we started preparing for this new bundle that was coming..

At 5'6 and 115 pounds, my weight slowly increased, and by the time I was 5 months, I had only gained about 8 pounds. Nobody knew I was pregnant, and I didn't feel pregnant either. No morning sickness, tiredness or any problems, so I planned on the perfect pregnancy. By my 23th week I noticed a slight increase in my blood pressure, but nothing to freak out about, but the doctor asked I came in again in two weeks . At my 25rd week, I went back and it increased AGAIN.. Making the doctor even more worried. I set up 24 hour urine analysis as requested. Thinking nothing could happen...

The doctor called back right after I turned in my urine at the medical center, saying I needed to come back right away!! My blood pressure was 186/120, I had gained 30 pounds of water weight (weighing 150) and my urine had a protein count of 3000, (Normal is less than 300). EVERYONE was freaking out and I sat there calmly, wondering why everyone was running around turning off lights. I was sent to one hospital, then again transferred to another as a high risk pregnancy with severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. I was hooked up to fetal monitors, bp cuffs, IV's.. ..given countless amounts of injections, steroid shots, magnesium sulfate drips, and different medications... After a whole week everything went downhill. My liver started failing... my kidneys started failing... my whole entire body started giving up... and I wondered why me?

I begged my amazing boyfriend to spend the night with me, because I didn't know if I could take it anymore. I sobbed... thinking I failed as a person, and if by wanting the pain to stop made me a bad mother... I prayed... and begged God not to take my son from me yet... just one more month! One more week! One more day!!! PLEASE!

I made the final choice as my boyfriend slept at my side to call for my nurse, blood pressure still high, my liver was throbbing, and I just couldn't take it anymore... on May 26th 2011, 26 weeks pregnant. I had no choice but to deliver my son.

The emergency c-section was traumatizing since I didn't want my son to come out yet, but I knew I just couldn't hang on any longer. With Ryan at my side, the whole operation in itself was fast; My son was delivered 15 mins after I entered the operation room, and it took another 25 minutes to sew me up. I might have acted calmly but I wanted to be screaming the whole entire time.

At only one pound and 6 oz, Noah Ryan came out with a soft kitten cry. (Meaning his lungs are working...) I didn't even know babies could survive that young... He is currently at the NICU... Stable... and shocking a ton of doctors and nurses who call him the “firecracker.” He has had to have a few blood transfusions, is receiving nutrition though an IV, be under a bilirubin light due to jaundice and is hooked up to oxygen for extra support, but other than that is ”OK” and has been my little miracle.

As for me my condition seemed to worsen after delivery; my platelets seems to keep going down. (I have platelet and blood transfusions on standby). It's the third day (5-29)... the huge doses of medication is FINALLY making my blood pressure come down... I'm on completely bed rest, and can hardly move my very, very weak body. The disease, along with the major surgery really has taken its toll on me. Today was the first time I had enough strength to actually use my laptop, and slightly put my feet on the floor.

It's hard to keep hearing awful stories of preeclampsia, I always looked for a good story and so far mine turned out to be fair. I still have my son, who has been an amazing fighter and no matter what happens couldn’t be more proud of him. If you have this disease you will see how many people really love you, and will be there for you! Take it... Cry... laugh... smile and be proud. You are loved and strong!! One thing Ryan said to me as I sobbed into his arms one night was: “If we can get though this, we can get though anything.”