FO4UR Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 dd arrived 12-12-12. I was induced due to pre-eclampsia. Though pitocin was the very last thing I wanted (I wanted a homebirth, widwife, no medical interventions, no cutting.), it turned out to be the beginning of miraculous intervention. Labor progressed slowly. At one point the Dr checked me and thought he felt placenta over my cervix so he brought in a specialist and the ultrasound lady. The placenta was nice and high and baby looked good. We decided to break my water to move labor along. My ctx were fairly mild so I didn't have an pain meds...they were joking with me about my high pain tolerance. I was resting in bed when the Dr and nurse came in (dh says they were hustling, getting gloves on as they walked). All I heard was "There is blood. Get Dr. _____" (He is the specialist who came to check me earlier.) He was there within the minute and took one look at me and told my dh I was having a c/s and ordered the nurses to get me to the OR. That was at 4:06. My cord was prolapsing so the nurses were holding dd's head up off of my pelvis. (ouch!!!) The blood was my placenta abrupting. They wheeled me into the OR on the same bed I had been on all day. The Dr. was rubbing my belly with the solution stuff they put on before surgeries, and ordering- SHOUTING - SCALPEL - NOW!!!! GET HER OUT! NOW!!!! I saw the scalpel in his hand over my belly and cried "Get me out. Get me out!" (I know he was cutting asap whether I was out or not! I was freaking out and at perfect peace all in one moment.) And then the next thing I remember, I woke up back in my room in the worst pain imaginable, asking for my baby. She had been born at 4:11 and life-flighted to a NICU an hour away. She was not breathing at birth, and it took 4 minutes of CPR to get her going. By the time I woke up from the anesthesia, she had already had her first blood transfusion and was placed on a cooling protocol, which is a blanket that kept her body temperature several degrees lower than normal in order to slow her body down giving her brain time to heal from the loss of oxygen. She was intubated, fed via IV...completely supported by machines. I was stuck in recovery an hour away. My c/s was done in 30 seconds so my incision goes from hip-to-hip and is jagged. Pain pain pain...but I was determined to get out of bed so they would let me go be with dd in the NICU. She was born on a Wed and I was able to leave on Friday. Meanwhile, she had 2 more blood transfusions and lots of testing to check for brain bleeds and seizure activity. All the testing came back perfect. (miracle!!!) But the big test, the MRI, had to wait until she was off of cooling protocol for so long. I sat at her side, pumped milk, and prayed. They took her off of the cooling blanket and then off of each machine, one-by-one. I watched the team extubate her from outside of her room and exhaled when they looked out and gave me the thumbs-up and a smile. She needed a little help from the little tube they put in the nose, but we were forward moving. She went from IV feeds to tube feeds...she was getting my milk finally. The Dr's began preparing us for the MRI results, giving us the talk about variable outcomes, etc... I was prepared for the worst. She may never walk, talk, hear, see, etc... When the results came back, I could NOT believe it! She has very minimal brain damage and the spots that were damaged will likely be "rerouted" as the Dr. explained. it. There were no known "problems" that could be seen at that time. Dh and I couldn't believe it! We were prepared for the worst...so we kept asking...what kinds of things should we be looking for/doing/etc... The Dr. finally said, "I can't predict what grades she'll get in calculus or how far she'll compete in gymnastics, but....." and dh and I both breathed. The next days were simply a matter of weaning her off of tube feeding and onto bottle feeding. She apsirated in a swallow test so we had to give her thickened breastmilk. It was 10 short days from her birth until the day we took her home, Christmas Eve. :crying: I birthed a 0 apgar baby on the 12th and took home a perfectly healthy baby on the 24th. What a miracle!!! She has gone from 100% bottle-feeding to 100% breastfeeding since. Another miracle! And - she has been checked several times for developmental delays and has had absolutely NO problems whatsoever! :hurray: That's my update. I survived. Now I'm back to the forum, preparing for next school year and catching up on the gossip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Oh, I'm crying! Welcome Baby Girl! Don't EVER scare your mama and dada like that again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Wow, Paula -- what an ordeal!!! :eek: I am so happy to hear that your baby was truly a Christmas miracle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Yikes! Congratulations!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 What unsinkable said! Congrats on the new baby and surviving the horror that you went through! How scary and what an amazing ending! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 :hurray: :grouphug: :hurray: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoseInABook Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Whoa Nelly. I'm glad that she's okay. Your birth story has me shaking like a leaf over here after four pre-eclamptic pregnancies of my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Oh, I'm so thankful that you're both okay. Thank God for your Christmas miracle! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 :grouphug: Wow. :grouphug: I am so happy for such a happy outcome, and for the serendipitous events that put you in the right place, at the right time, with the right medical folks. :grouphug: Enjoy your very special baby. Congratulations :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in SC Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 I'm overflowing with joy from reading the story of your miracle baby! Welcome to your precious baby girl, and congratulations to you and your family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 I know a family with this exact story, down to being told their child would be brain damaged, who now has a 2 year old doing great! I really think the new cooling protocol is something else! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Welcomes to the Hive, Little One! Paula, I'm so glad that you had your miracle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Paula, I think the mods would indulge you with a name change! : ) Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Paula, I think the mods would indulge you with a name change! : ) Congrats! We can change our own names now. 4blessingmom sounds good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdownie Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Awww, I have tears welling up in my eyes reading your story. What a beautiful miracle!! Welcome to being a mom of 4. I joined the ranks just a month ahead of you, and it is fabulous. Congratulations!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 I am in tears, What a moving story Congratulations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 I know a family with this exact story, down to being told their child would be brain damaged, who now has a 2 year old doing great! I really think the new cooling protocol is something else! Congratulations! Several therapists have told me similar stories about the cooling protocol. I like to tell my story b/c it gave me such hope to hear of other babies who are growing up with little to no delays. That said, I've never been more at peace with facing special needs as when we were waiting for that MRI. It's an odd thing, and maybe b/c at 4mo we are very bonded and I look at her smile and my hope for her soars....but when I was thinking severe cp was a possibility there was a greater calm. I am watching those milestones like a hawk, which is not normally like me. (Maybe I'm waiting for the bad news still???) Anyway, on to change my username....and mapping out her entire education from tot-school to college. (It's my momma-love-language. :001_wub: :w00t: ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnTeaching Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 She sounds like a fighter! Hang on Mom and Dad, she's going to grab life by the tail and take you with her!! What a blessing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Paula, what an amazing story. Sounds like there are great things in store for this little one. Congrats! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Wow! What a wonderful ending to a terrifying situation. Congratulations, and big hugs for your little one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Oh my goodness - no words to add to what has already been said - tears - truly a miracle. Very happy for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckles Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: Congratulations on your new baby and her miraculous entry into this world. I wish you a speedy recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabeline Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Wow, what a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing it with us. I am so happy your baby is doing so well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations! I'm glad your precious one is doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations :) I felt chills reading your story----which never happens to me. Wow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Hearty congratulations! What a miracle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 :hurray: :grouphug: :hurray: :grouphug: :hurray: :grouphug: :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlmiraGulch Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations! And what a cool birthday for her, too. (I also have a 12/12 baby, although not 12/12/12!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Wow..your story gave me major goosebumps! I'm so thankful that everything has turned out well for you and your little blessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations! I'm so glad to hear she is doing well. :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alef Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender's green Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 What an amazing story! And what an ordeal for you guys to go through! :grouphug: I'm so glad it all worked out. Wow, wow, wow. Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlessedMom Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations on your precious baby girl!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tress Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations, Paula! What a miracle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 What an amazing story. Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Congratulations!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Wow, what an arrival! So glad everything turned out fine. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 I got goosebumps all over. Congratulations, and I'm happy to hear you've come out of this ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Wow, what a miracle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnTeaching Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 Hey! You changed your name! You now "officially" have 4 little blessings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 Truly amazing story! I am so happy that all turned out so wonderfully! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butterflymommy Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 That is an incredible story! I am so happy for you and baby!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne115 Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 Wow, that is an awesome story! I'm so glad everything turned out so well. Congratulations! Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kbug Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 Congrats. When my dd was born at 28 weeks all the NICU nurses told me to thank my lucky stars I had a girl. They say the girls tend to do better than the boys. We haven't looked back. I full consider my dd my miracle baby and I'm glad you got yours too. Kbug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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