I started writing this yeasterday and will continue to add to it over the next 2 weeks.
I was meant to write this last night, but I actually forgot which isnt such a bad thing...
Anyway Two years ago on the 10th of Feb I was 28 weeks exactly. I had a quiet day, sitting on the couch, caught a cat-nap, played cards with mum and was just generally relaxing. It was a Saturday and there wasn't much really going on anyway. My grandparents were over visiting and we were all sitting out on the verandah chatting. I needed to go to the loo and excused myself. After going I had a small leak and my thought was 'dammit I've peed myself!' I was thinking that I didn't empty my bladder fully, so I grabbed another pair of knickers went back to the loo changed and then the same thing happened... 'hmm this is strange' So this time I grabbed a pair of knickers and a pad.... I didn't even get to change... but was lucky to be on the loo went splash... 'hmmm thats not right' I put my clean knickers on with the pad and went back out and sat with my parents and grandparents, who were just about to leave anyway. I waited for them to leave and I said to mum, 'I've just leaked a heap of clear liquid' and her response was when? 'just before when I went to the loo' 'I thought you'd been in there a while, sounds like your waters' 'and that means, what exactly?' (yes I was pretty niave... ) 'well it means that your waters have gone and you will probably be in labour soon' 'but I'm only 28 weeks!' Anyway.... mum rang SDH who said get to a hospital ASAP if I am in any pain...'no shes not in pain' the reply was how far from KEMH are you and can you get there, yes we can get there but it's and hour and a half away. Start heading there, we can't see you here she's way too early. Ummm ok....
I chucked a few bits in a bag and we left, at approx 6:45pm we are only about 5 mins down the road and the phone rings, it's SDH, forgot to say that if you start to experience ANY pain at all please call in here and we'll put you in an ambulance.
At approx 8pm we arrive at KEMH emergancy dept. Mum spoke to the lady at the desk and explained that I was 28 weeks my waters have broken and SDH have referred us here. Yes yes we are expecting you, grab a wheelchair and wait there. I had only just sat down in the wheelchair and someone came out and said ok lets go. (i'm thinking where are you taking me!) We go up to the Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit (MFAU) where they have a bed waiting for me along with a dr and nurse. I'm strapped to a monitor, my BP is taken, I'm asked a whole range of questions, an iv is put in and I'm started on some drugs, including steroids. Many dr's come in to speak with me, I remember one dr in particular, the neonatologist, he was such a handsome man. He was explaining what the steroids will do ect. We stay up there until around 11pm when they move me to the ward, and mum has to go home.
Mum slept in her car outside the hospital expecting to be called back in.
11 Feb 2007
In the morning mum was there at 8am on the dot. The neonatologist came in and told me what the chances of survival where for a 28 weeker He told me that my baby had approximately 70% chance of survival and of those 70% that survive 20% will have ongoing problems such as CP, Autism, ect. I asked him a bunch of questions including how long we'd be down here for. his reply was that generally most babies are in until their due date. He left and some other dr's came in after them a social worker came in and I had a good chat with him.
I had an u/s just after lunch which showed that my baby was approximately 1108grams (funny how I never leave of the 8) my baby was doing very well despite the lack of fluids. (I didnt want to know what we were having) The baby was fully engaged and it was 'unlikely that I'd still be pregnant tomorrow' (those were the exact words).
Throughout this whole thing, I was actually quite positive only had a little cry, I really thoguht that everything would be 'normal' and that the baby would be just small, even though the drs had explained to me what might happen, I still thought, 'no that wont happen to me'. It didn't really sink in until Sunday afternoon, when my lovely midwife took me down to the SCN. She showed me the NICU, from the outside of course. I remember her pointing through the window at a little wee bub, and the words 'this baby was born at around 28 weeks'. Thats when it sunk in... thats when it hit me... all the machines... the wires... the tubes...
Needless to say I didn't sleep well that night.... and neither did my mum, who actually managed some emergancy accomodation next to the hospital.
12 Feb 2007
It's been a rather an emotional day, I'm not sure what to expect anymore, how much longer I'm actually going to be pregnant. I'm sick of being on bed rest. I'm sick of not being able to go outside. Sick of being woken up every 4 hours for OBs!
I have also now completed the round of steroids and am taken of the labour stopping drugs. The only thing I am taking now is Antibiotics, to ward off infection. Now that the steroids are on board they were going to let my baby come.
The doctors are all still amazed that I am infact still pregnant, they honestly thought that after my waters breaking my baby would be here within 24 hours, but to still be there 3 days later is awesome. My spirits were staring to get a bit higher today. I made friends with a lady in the same room as me, who had already been in hospital for 7 weeks.
By mid afternoon, the pains had started. I had mild back pain along with tightenings and just generally uncomfortable. I was now experiencing pre-labour, The midwife kept checking on me as I think she fully expected me to progress into full labour very quickly. It was the start of a VERY long 10 days.... as soon as the real pains started to get more frequent I told my midwife, she came in and could feel mild contractions. Within 20 mins or so, they stopped. At this stage I wasn't sure what was really happening and tried my best to stay calm and positive.
Okay - nice so far, but Seriously - you are killing me with such tiny bits each time!!!! It's worse than an episode of days of our lives - (how they leave you in suspense)!!
I am really interested, but I'm the kinda person who might just sneak a look at the end of the book!!!
Keep going Sally, it's great to hear another premmie baby story, guess one day soon we will have to write ours
Though with a 'newborn' in the house, time is a precious commondity, usually spent sleeping, eating or washing baby clothes
Sally, I am so glad to hear that Charlie is home!! Thats such awesome news
Ausgirl, sorry for leaving you in suspense, it's easier for me to remember things as the days pass. It's also a very emotional time for me and I'm often left unable to finish writing sometimes.
14th of Feb 2007...
Today started like it had the past few days, with Ob's done at around 6am. Breakfast comes in at around 7:30 and then the drs anywhere up to 11am. Mum is still staying down in Perth with me, she's been to Target to buy the both of us some new clothes to wear. Today one of the ladies in the room with me gets to go home, she had the window bed. I pleaded with my midwife to get moved to the window side and she allowed me to!! I now have a view of Subiaco, Subiaco Oval and the city of Perth.
Nothing much really happened today, the same pains are still there but nothing seems to be progressing.
15th Feb 2007
Again this day started like the previous had done, Obs at 6am breakfast around 7:30-8am, Dr's around by 11am. This day mum had been down to the shops and bought some cards for entertainment. I also decided that it appeared I was going to be in a while so ordered the TV. Around an hour or so after lunch is when all the fun began.... I was getting regular pains, some which were making it hard to breathe. I let my midwife know. She could feel some contractions as they were happening and I was rushed to the labour ward. Once down in the labour ward I was hooked up to the CTG, the only thing the machine picks up is my baby's heartbeat...it doesn't show the contractions! The midwife on that day said that the machine wasn't accurate and was just a guide, and that because I was labouring in my back it was harder to pick up (or something like that) After 3-4 hours, things settled down and I was sent back to the ward.
sal im in suspense hun.
as a premmie born at 24 weeks its weird to hear it from a mothers side.
you did amazing babe to cope...and sal &sal hows charlie?? whats his weight now??
sorry to highjack xxx
Thank you for sharing your story! I'm hanging for more... but will patiently read until it all unfolds... I can only imagine the pain this must relieve.
Hey rachel
Charlie is now 3.4 kilo's and is doing fantastically. We had to give up on breastfeeding though, he just couldn't suck strongly enough to get enough milk and was losing weight, but is now on formula and gaining weight at a rapid pace! He is still feeding every 3 hours, so it's a tag team effort from both his Mum's so we don't go crazy from lack of sleep but we are soooooo grateful to have him home and healthy....
Keep going Sal, loving hearing your story about Brendan!
Another day of pains and Ob's. Nothing really happened today.
17th Feb 2007
Still nothing progressing, still having pains. DP comes down to visit for an hour or so. Mum goes home to do some housework and change of clothes ect. She had been staying down with me since he previous Saturday, mostly sleeping in the car and random hotels if she was able to get a bed.
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Two years ago...Our Journey Began
which isnt such a bad thing...
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I will have to keep checking in!
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