Today is a very special day for our family. We celebrate our sweet little Emilee's fourth birthday! This is a special posting for me. Read back through our amazing journey of getting Emilee here. Be sure to look through all of these as there are photos at the end of the birth story. (note: This birth story is a copy of what we had written four years ago)
Here is a quick (or maybe not) highlight (or story) of how our 32 weeker, Emilee MiKayla came into the world.
Welcoming Miss Emilee MiKayla
Born on May 2, 2003 at 1:15 pm
Weighing 4lb 4.6oz and measuring 17 1/4 inches long.
Our story started many months ago...but one of the last few chapters began on Tuesday April 29, 2003. I was online at about 10:30pm and noticed what I thought was fluid leaking. I wasn't too concerned but was feeling mildly crampy. My contraction strip only showed a few (less than 4) contractions within the hour. I decided to go in the shower and see if that relieved my crampiness & backache. It didn't. I was in about 5 minutes before I found it hard to stand up in the shower and just wanted to rest. I got out of the shower and noticed some leaking as I picked up my clothes. I first thought it was from the shower...but then there was no more mistaking it. My water broke!
I finished getting dressed, went in the bedroom and stood by the bedside. I leaned over and kept asking dh if he was awake. Each time I'd ask, he'd look at me and his eyes opened wider and wider...yet he never spoke a word. I wasn't sure if he truly was awake or not. I asked him if he wanted to come with me to the hospital to make sure it wasn't my water that had broken...but that I was pretty sure that it was. He finally climbed out of bed, I called my mom & grandma and we loaded the kids into the van as we headed out in the darkness. It was about 11:45pm. We dropped the kids off at my Grandmas and headed out to the hospital that I had planned on delivering at. On the way there I felt a few mild contractions but I think it was more to being up and around than anything. We arrived at our hospital, was admitted, checked to be sure it was my water and then told that they would have to transport me to another facility that can handle premature (and possible ventilator) babies. If I had been 1-2 more weeks farther along, I wouldn't have been transferred. We finally agreed on the hospital of choice (they wanted to ship to one that was farther away than what we wanted). At 3am they loaded me into the ambulance and off we went.
We arrived at the other hospital and was admitted near the 4am hour. This was Wednesday April 30th. They told us upon arrival that they wouldn't stop my labor nor would they do anything to help it along either at this point. They wanted to do an amnio to check for an infection in the fluid and to check for Fetal Lung Maturity. They also ran the routine tests to make sure it was my water that had broken, a sterile spec exam to see how the cerclage was holding up & to check for dialation. They then prepped me for the amnio after doing an ultrasound. Once prepped they discovered that our lil girl had moved and that there wasn't a pocket of fluid to get to safely. They estimated a 30% chance that they could get fluid from one of the two pockets they found and combining that with the risk of going thru the placenta to get to it...they decided not to go ahead with the amnio at that time. Instead, I was put in the "heads down-feet up" position to keep what water I did have left inside. If I had to use the bathroom...I had to use a bedpan. After the first experience of that...I requested a cath. They attempted a total of 3 amnio's on Wednesday...each with no luck of finding a fluid pocket big enough. So, I was watched all Wednesday, continued on antibiotics, monitored and continued to stay "heads down". I was cathed and was on continous fetal monitoring. They also put me in the stockings that promote circulation (they pump up like a blood pressure cuff). I felt extremely restricted. I began having alot of lower stomach cramping, extremely tender lower abdomen & lower back and was treated with Nubaine every 3 hours. I was able to "sleep" the day away for the most part.
On Thursday, May 1, 2003 I woke up to the doctors and nurses greeting me. They had scheduled me to have an amnio done across the road by a perinatologist. "He can get blood from a stone", I was told. Now my anxiety was high just knowing that I was going to have it done. I knew it had to be done...but I was very afraid of the procedure itself. I was still having alot of the tenderness in the lower belly & back and they felt that it could be an indication of an infection going on that my body wasn't showing signs of yet (with a fever and such). My white counts were coming back normal. So, at 2pm were were off. We had the amnio about 2:30pm. They gave me a local however, Miss Emilee decided she'd move at the last minute so they ended up sticking the needle thru somewhere other than where the local was. They asked prior to doing it...asking me if I wanted to have another local or to just "do it". I just told them to do it and get it over with. After 5 tubes, they were done! It did hurt....but the answers were soon to be found. After the amnio, I was returned to my room, given meds for the pain and cramping and the cath & fetal monitors were removed! Ahhhh...relief! It felt so good to actually get up and move around a little bit without the restrictions of belts, straps, tubes, etc.
We waited, hour by hour...hoping to get the results back of the amnio. They told us that the results for infection should be back in about 1.5 hrs as well as the first test for fetal lung maturity. Finally, the first test for maturity came back....immature lungs! I felt the world fall around my feet. I knew that INSIDE was the right place for her...and I felt selfish for wanting her to be outside...but I was hurting SO badly and just wanted relief. It sounds selfish...I know. Again...we wait.
At 9:30pm on Thurday May 1, 2003 the doctor came in my room. I knew something was up because you don't typically see a doctor at that time of the night. He told me that the things they look at in the amniotic fluid to check for infections were looking to be all normal...until they looked at the white blood count. If it was over 30, they were alarmed. My count was 190. Combining that with the fetal lung maturity test (the LS ratio came back mature)...they felt it was best to induce my labor.
At 9:40pm, Thursday May 1, 2003 they started me on prostagladin suppositorities. After the first one disolved, I was able to get up & move around. I walked for less than 30 minutes and I was in so much pain I had to go lay down. I was 1cm. I finally asked for more meds and I was again given Nubain as needed (about every 3-4 hours). I had 3 prostaglandins and was moved to Labor & Delivery just prior to 9am on Friday May 2. By 9:15am, I had my epidural placed and felt so much comfort. I was 2-3 cm. I tried to sleep as much as I could during the next few hours. I did have her check me near the 11 0'clock hour and I was only a 3. About 12:30 I was a 3-4 and at 1pm I was 4-5 and 100% with a real stretchy cervix. She told me she'd go out and call the doctor, NICU team, and nurses and be right back. As she walked out...I felt Emilee move down and I told her it was time. She came back in and the whole crew arrived. They checked me at 1:10pm...I was complete and Emilee was near crowning.
Emilee was born at 1:15pm. Boy did she have some mature lungs on her
As of today, May 3, 2003...Emilee MiKayla is doing well. She was taken off her O2 this morning and I was able to hold her for about an hour. She is doing well. They expect to continue her on antibiotics for the next week as well as gavage feedings for another week. She's developed jaundice (4.5-4.9 less than 24 hrs old) so they anticipate she'll be going on photo therapy tomorrow. Tonight, she weighed 4lb 4.9oz.
5-13-03 UPDATE::::: Miss Emilee was released to come home earlier than expected. She was released on May 10th weighing 4lb 4.9 oz. Two days later, she was 4 lb 5.0 oz. She's eating 35 ccs of EBM every 3 hours and all is fine with her. She's not on any type of meds, monitors or such...and it's heaven!!
For all of you...I've been praying that all is well. Congrats to those that delivered. For those facing the NICU...I'll pray that it doesn't happen. For those that have NICU babies...I'm here if you need an ear. It's an "awful" place to be, emotionally... Keep your chin held high, reach out to those around you and remember that you're in my as well as many others' prayers.
Blessings,
Becky
Happy Birthday, my sweet baby. You have provided me with so much joy over the past four years. You're beautiful, wonderful, amazing, and so many other things. We love you, lil angel.
Love,
Mommy & Daddy
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