born too soon (Pregnancy Complications)

Member Name: anwar7

Product:	Pregnancy Complications
Date:	08/06/04 (565 review reads)
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This is not really a review more the story of my son?s traumatic arrival into the world and his subsequent fight for survival. I hope some of my experiences will be of help to other although everyone?s experience is unique.

My day had started normally enough. I had got up, showered and dressed ready to go to work. I had been feeling a little unwell for the past few days, nothing I could really put my finger on and just put it down to being pregnant. I had seen my midwife 3 weeks previously and all was well. I was now 29 weeks pregnant and looking forward to starting my maternity leave. Over the past few days I had noticed my fingers had started to swell and I had had to remove my wedding ring. My face also looked puffy; again I put this down to advancing pregnancy. I finished work early and drove home to try to rest, as I felt really tired. I turned on the T.V to help me relax but found the bright light hurt my eyes. I felt sick and my vision was blurred. My the time my husband arrived home I was beginning to panic. He phoned the midwife who said she would come round and check me over.


My lovely midwife arrived about half an hour later. She checked my blood pressure and said it was very high. She then got me to give a urine specimum, 2 pluses of protein showed. The midwife spent a long time listening to the baby?s heartbeat with her sonicade and then sat on my bed. I knew my her face that something really serious was wrong. She explained that my symptoms meant I probably had pre-eclampsia. This is a serious complication of pregnancy and is life threatening for both mother and baby. No one really knows what causes this to happen, but basically my placenta was not working properly. I was in a total panic; my husband remained calm and tried to re assure me. My midwife said I needed to go straight to hospital, as she was also worried about my baby?s slow heart rate. The ambulance arrived quickly; all I remember of that nightmare journey was my


h
usband holding my hand. I don?t think either of us spoke.

On arrival at the maternity hospital I was met by a midwife and taken straight to the delivery suit. This freaked me out and I remember telling her there was a mistake as my baby wasn?t due for another 10 weeks! I was connected to a monitor to trace my baby?s heart rate and movements. My blood pressure was constantly monitored. I remember lying on the bed and staring at a flat computer line that was the trace of my baby?s heartrate, several times it dipped and was closely watched by the midwife. I remember looking at the clock and registering it was now 9 pm! I couldn?t believe it was so late. My consultant entered my room shortly afterwards as luckily he was still in the hospital. I had met him on several occasions and had a lot of respect for him. He sat on my bed and looked at the heart trace. He told me that he thought I had pre-eclampsia and that the trace showed my baby was not coping well. He wanted to have my condition monitored closely overnight. I was moved to the intensive care unit where I had numerous blood tests. And was given tablets to reduce my dangerously high blood pressure. It was explained to me that I was in danger of having a fit and it was therefore crucial that my blood pressure was lowered. The tablets made my head throb and I started to be sick. The staff were kind and my husband sat with me all night but I have never felt so desperate in my life.

In the morning I was seen by several doctors. My blood results showed I had advanced pre-eclamsia; my liver function was giving cause for concern. I was asked to do a 24-hour urine collection, this literally means all wee is collected and poured into a plastic container over a 24-hour period. I was told that my baby would have to be delivered very soon as this was the only cure for this disease. The baby felt small for my dates so a scan was ordered to check the growth. Pre-eclampsia means the placenta
doesn
?t fu
nction
properly and therefore the baby is starved of essential nutrients. The doctors wanted to let the pregnancy continue for as long as possible to allow the baby to mature, I was given steroid injections to help mature my baby?s lungs. The scan showed my baby was very small and was not moving much.

At this point I remember burying my head into my pillow and sobbing. I could not believe this was happening. I was told delivery would have to be by caesarean section as the baby was so small and early and I was in no fit state to go through labour. The decision was taken that my baby would have to be delivered that day. I was only 29 weeks pregnant and had nothing prepared. The thought that he might not survive terrified me. I was taken to the operating theatre and given a general anaesthetic. My son was born a few minutes later and immediately had to be resuscitated. He was tiny and weighed only 2 lbs but was perfectly formed.


The first time I saw my tiny son he was surrounded by tubes and monitors. He was ventilated, as his lungs were too immature. The next few days were a nightmare. His condition would improve only to worsen again. Although I was feeling a lot better I found going to see him really hard. With hindsight I think I was frightened to get to love him too much in case he didn?t survive. Premature babies have so many potential problems to face our son seemed to suffer most of them. His lung punctured meaning he needed a chest drain, his heart stopped on several occasions and he contracted a serious stomach bug due to his immature immune system. We were lucky that he didn?t have any bleeding into his brain, which can cause brain damage. He remained in special care for 3 months until the magic day came when we were finally allowed to take him home.


All this happened 6 years ago. Our son is now a fit and healthy child who lives life to the full! Frequent anti natal checks are really important
to spot e
arly sympt
oms of pre-e
clampsia. I really wish I had known what the symptoms of pre eclampsia were and could have sought help more quickly.

Most premature babies survive now days with fewer complications as technology improves. I was closely monitored with my second child and when although problems occurred it was at a much later stage.

If you are pregnant and concerned about pre-eclampsia then in addition to talking to your doctor or mid wife, I suggest you look on the internet for addresses of various support groups.

Most neo-natal units have support groups attached and can offer practical help,like lifts to the hospital,in addition to a listening ear. I would urge anyone with a premature baby to take full advantage of help on offer. It really does help to talk! I felt full of guilt and responsible for my complications. I also felt guilty for hating my visits to the baby unit. I thought I was the only one who felt like this,but having talked my feelings through with others from the support group,who had been through a similar experiance I realised that my feelings were normal.

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