Our Stories
My story is two-fold really, my unborn child had health issues and then I developedPosted On Friday, September 20, 2002 by Melanie |
|
My story is two-fold really, my unborn child had health issues and then I developed preeclampsia. My son's issues were severe, not many babies with them survive - he was one of the first that some of his nurses had ever seen make it despite the odds. On Octoboer 4, 2000, I went into my OB, accompanied by a good friend, for a check-up at 30 weeks. Even though the outlook for my son was grave, we continued on as if all was fine. I never went to appointments alone, it was too hard to be alone considering the circumstances. Well, my bp was 200/something, there was a lot of protein in my urine and I had a lot of swelling. Three strikes and I was out, I was put into the hospital immediately ... my OB's office is in a building connected to the hospital so it was a matter of minutes. The hospital was told of the odds of my son's survival, 2%. My OB and I had a serious discussion after I was admitted and my husband notified. He told me that at Sparrow Hospital they either give 110% or give 0%, and in his mind 2% was enough to merit giving it all they had if I was willing. I sure was willing. I don't remember about the LFTs or too many other details, except for the headaches I started to have. I was put on Mag Sulfate and told that if we could stop the preeclampsia things might turn out okay. My son was giving a steroid shot for his lungs - as they were not developed enough to sustain his life. On October 5, an ultrasound revealed my son was in breech position and we had to deliver soon in order to have a chance at saving him and to save me from getting much sicker. I talked to my OB a few weeks later and he said I was a "very sick" person by that time. We decided to deliver my son via c-section, best chance for him to survive in his critical and fragile state. At 3:43 pm on October 5, 2000 Scott made his arrival and was quickly whisked away to the NICU where those doctors thought he might make the weekend. The mag sulfate did its job, it kept me from developing eclampsia, but it was still 24 hours before I could see my son and a few days before I was really over the preeclampsia. My son made it through that first weekend and then the next weekend and then the next weekend. He was in the hospital 98 long days, and was discharged exactly 3 months after I was. He is almost 2 years old now, and is still overcoming the tailend of his remaining preemie problems. Having preeclampsia opened my eyes and before we try to have another child, we're going to make sure my body is up to it. We know there is a chance I could develop preeclampsia again. We're going to do what we can to make sure we have a healthy child. |
|
|
Please login to write comment
Featured Story
.jpg)
I hadn’t been feeling well for a few days. I decided I would go in to work super early and give directions to the staff and then go home and go to the doctor. I got home and lay on the couch un...
Read more
Featured
Make a Difference
Help us continue our vital research, education and advocacy programs.
Join Our Mailing List
Copyright © 2013 Preeclampsia
Foundation. All rights reserved.