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My pregnancy with my daughter was beautiful until the last few weeks. I was one |
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My pregnancy with my daughter was beautiful until the last few weeks. I was one of those women who "glowed" during pregnancy. I am a great believer in natural therapies working in conjunction with modern medicine, so it was important for me to provide the best possible environment for my baby. I had the best vitamins recommended by a naturopath, I exercised every day and ate the best possible diet. I was primed for pregnancy and childbirth. All my preparation went out the window... From seven months I developed severe swelling (whole body), heavy nose bleeds, frequent migraines and upper quadrant tenderness. My blood pressure and urine were perfect, so my OB wasnt concerned. When I was 9 days overdue, I woke with the most severe chest pain imaginable. I truly thought I was having a heart attack. I was vomiting uncontrollably, and I could barely breathe. My husband rushed me straight to hospital, but I was then taken by ambulance to our City's leading women's hospital when my blood pressure increased and my blood work was found to have abnormalities, which we later found was called HELLP Syndrome. I was told that normally when the blood pressure is as high as mine and with the problems I was having, a caesarian was the safest way to have a baby. My blood pressure reached 180/110. Unfortunately, it is dangerous to perform a c section when your platelets are so low (46), so this was not an option. For the next 35 hours, my horror, and my family's horror, escalated. I was given 10 different IV drugs to combat Pre-eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome, to prepare my body for a safe delivery or caesarian. I was in second stage for 3 1/2 hours, but I couldnt push my baby out. She was in the posterior position, so they tried to turn her to make her delivery easier for me. My blood pressure continued to rise. I had 6 units of blood to prepare for a caesarian. I remember repeating to my husband over and over "I cant do this anymore" "I cant do this anymore". The contractions were one on top of the other and I couldnt even have an epidural for pain. My husband and I discussed months earlier that if I was to have caesarian, he would be there. No baby of mine would be without her parents at her birth! Yeah sure! He wasnt allowed in. My baby was alone. I didnt get to see Jade until the next day. Her apgars were 4 and 7 (she had to be resusitated with drugs), but she was as healthy as an ox the following day! I spent 4 days in the Adult Special Care Unit, as I had Post Partum Heomorrage due to uterine rupture, and my blood took a while to get within safe limits. I had a repeating dream that was so vivid, even now 2 1/2 years later. I dreamnt that I was in a pristine white room, on a white hospital bed, and I was dressed in white. The room was so white it was glowing. A little girl of about 4 or 5 was standing over me. She had long, blond, curly hair and she was beautiful. She was also in white. The little girl was gently pushing my eyelids down, but I was pushing her away weakly. She began blocking my mouth, my nose and my ears with her small hands, but I continued to push her hands away. I was so weak, but strong enough to stop her. Thats where the dream ended, but I dreamnt it several times. I thought I had recovered very well, so we decided to stick to our original plan and have another baby soon. My son was born exactly 13 months later. Although I wasnt as sick this time (platelets being the only problem), my son suffered. He was born by elective caesarian at 38 weeks, but his paedatrician considered him to be a prem, as his weight was 5lb 13oz and he was in bad condition. His lungs werent developed properly so he had to be in an isolet for 5 days with oxygen, and had to be tube fed. The doctor said it wasnt unusual for a premmie, but it was unusual for 38 weeks gestation. My son is now 16 months old and has had continuing weight problems (very underweight) although he eats very well, has hypotonia which has affected his development (he as achieved each milestone behind average time - he still cant walk), but he has a smile you would not believe. |
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