Our Stories
April 20, 2002 - A Recent Update from Karin The past year and a half |
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April 20, 2002 - A Recent Update from Karin The past year and a half has been sad, scary and very wonderful. I found out shortly after submitting my story that in addition to Antiphospholipid and Anticariolipin antibodies I also have Factor V Leiden and Factor II Prothrombin. Basically, I am a "super-clotter". Of course this concerned me because I wanted to try again for another baby, but at the same time I didn't want to lose another one. I spent six months after losing Elliot doing my homework regarding my health condition and speaking with doctors regarding my chances at a successful pregnancy. In addition to all of this I was still very much grieving the loss of Elliot. I will forever miss that little boy. My wonderful doctors gave me and my husband permission to start trying again last April and after 1 month of "trying" I fell pregnant. I was immediately put onto Lovenox (low molecular weight heparin injections) and baby aspirin as well as prenatals. Emotionally I was a wreck but physically the pregnancy was very normal. (As normal as a high-risk pregnancy can be I suppose.) I had monthly level II ultrasounds and once I hit 30 weeks I had weekly non-stress tests. I hit 35 weeks and had a "funky" (as my OB called it..) non-stress test and they decided to look further and found that the baby's amniotic fluid levels were low and that her (yes, HER!) abdomen had quit growing at about 33 weeks. They decided not to risk anything so I was induced the evening of December 7th, 2001 and Amelia Jane Adair Smith arrived at 10:41 a.m. on 12/8/01. She was 3 lbs. 12 oz. and 16 1/2 inches long. Teensy but feisty! She spent 24 hours in the NICU at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago and then was in the special care nursery for 7 days. She was mildly jaundiced and needed to put on a few ounces before going home. I had no signs of Preeclampsia or HELLP - but if things went further there is no saying what could have happened. I am so thankful for the wonderful care I received from my doctors at Loyola. I will forever miss Elliot but I know that my little 4 (almost 5!) month old carries his spirit with her. Thanks to the Preeclampsia foundation for supporting me early on in my darkest days after losing little Elliot. I wish there wasn't a need for such an organization - but I truly admire the work being done. Best wishes, Karin Smith |
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