Well its taken me a little while to do this, as my little girl was born in Dec, but better late than never.
Where to start...two weeks after getting out of an abusive relationship, i found myself pregnant and alone at the age of 39. I have two sons, aged 12 and 9.
For me, everything happens for a reason and i was meant to have this baby. The pregnancy went well, some severe morning sickness but peanut was growing well, and her due date was 21/1/13. I was doing shared care and the Dr was pleased with how i was progressing in the pregnancy and warned me that this would be another 9lb plus baby...my reaction (just once, id like a wee little bub)... At my 20 week scan, i was told that i was having a little girl, My younger son was with me and he did the happy dance right in the ultrasound room, although he was convinced all along he was getting a sister, he shed a little tear as did i.
When i rang to make my 36 week appoingment at the hospital they gave me an appoinment at 38 weeks because of the christmas and new year holidays, i didnt question it. But when i went to see my dr the next week she encouraged me to ring and change it as they would normally do my ellective C-section at 38 weeks. The hospital said i had a choice of 35 weeks or leaving it at 38 weeks, little did i know that the choice i made there would determine wether i ever saw my baby or not. I chose to to go at 35 weeks.
At 34 weeks i went to my normal gp appoinment - all was well
at 35 i attended my hospital appointment and my world was turned upside down.
From the moment the OB felt my stomach, he was very concerned, he said this was not the size of a 35 weeker, so i was sent downstairs for a million test and ultrasounds. The outcome was not so good, my baby had stopped growing at 31 weeks, she was very little and was not getting enough blood/oxygen and nutrients through the placenta. Had i decided to not chance my hospital date, my little princess would not have made it. So how's Friday for you he says? I was in a state of shock and still didnt really understand what was going on "Friday for what i asked"? "To have a baby" he tells me.
The next two days where spent getting steriod injections for babies lungs, and making sure baby was not forgotten on Christmas day - a christmas stocking for baby, a christmas bauble with her name on it, and presents....all while knowing my baby would be in Special Care for christmas.
The Birth
On Friday 21 December, my mum and i arrived at 7am at the Redlands Hospital for our C-section..We were first up and the OB said he wanted me on the table by 8.30am and assured me that the Peadiatric team were ready and waiting to care for my little girl.
At 8.15 the emergency alarm went off, amongst everyone running around, someone yelled at me that i would be put back a bit...fair enough i though..someone is in trouble and my little one is hanging in there.
By 11am i was imformed that another 2 c-sections had to be done and that the Peadiactric team were stretched to their limits and couldnt care for my baby properly now and the only option they had was to send me to another hospital as my baby HAD to be delivered that day..now im getting a little worked up and upset.
So after a short wait i was told i was being sent to Logan Hospital and they would be performing the C-section and the Peadiactric team there would be able to care for bub and they will send us back when she is ready to be moved...So while we were waiting for all the paper work to be done up a nurse comes in and tells me that my "taxi" is waiting...i looked at my mum confused hoping they got it wrong and meant Ambulance but she really did mean Taxi...so in my theatre gear, canular and paper undies, mum and i got in a taxi and went to Logan.
At logan i was processed very swiftly, and on the table by 2.30pm...
The spinal worked well and my mum held my hand while they struggled to get her out, she finally came out and i heard a few gasps from the nurses and this very muffled faint cry...that was my baby girl, at least she was still fighting. I didnt really get to see her, they put her on CPAP and rushed her off...mum followed her as they rushed her to Special Care.
The next 40 minutes were spent watching (yes they lowered the curtain for me, so i could watch) while they stiched me back up. I was then taken straight to Special Care, were i could see my princess.
When i arrived at Special Care they placed her on my bare chest and i couldnt help but cry...Indiana Kym Morley was born at 2.54pm weighing 1860g (4lb 1oz), she required CPAP for only a few minutes and was then breathing on her own. She was perfect in every way...there was not a thing wrong with her except she was little.
By that afternoon i was expressing colostrum for her, and they gave it to her through a nasal tube. I didnt get to see her again until lunch time the next day but they took photo's for me.
By day 3 she was being completly breast fed, she took to it so well.. I was dishchared christmas eve but was allowed to stay in a room not far from special care for the next few days so i could continue to feed her. Christmas day was spent in special care with her brothers getting to hold her and give her some presents.
On day 7 we were sent to Redlands Special Care (by ambulance this time), her weight had dropped to 1700g and we stayed there for another 3 days, then she was discharged.
I took my little girl home weighing 1782g, she was so tiny and now she is 13 weeks old and she still only weighs 3.9kg but she is healthy and im so very blessed that she is here with us.
