Hi! It's been a long time, but here's my update. I've missed you all!
I cannot believe it is already February! I have been trying to get caught up on the last month of activities here at DIJ and am just thrilled to read all the birth stories and see all our beautiful little babies. Congratulations to all of you for making it to this point and on bringing such amazing new lives into the world.
Benjamin Miles was born December 19th at 7:30pm by c-section at 34 weeks and 1 day. His info:
Weight: 4 lbs 14 oz
Length: 17 inches
Here's our story:
I had my 34 week appointment on Monday, December 17th with the midwife I was hoping would be available to deliver me. It was the usual kind of appt...pee in a cup, take my blood pressure, listen to the baby's heartbeat, measure fundal height. Everything was uneventful and the appt was quick as usual. I scheduled my next appt and went on my way. When I left, I looked at my paperwork from the appt which shows baby's heartrate, my blood pressure, weight, fundal height, and urine dip. I noticed that I had 4+ protein in my urine. I thought it was unusual since I hadn't had any proteinuria before, but my blood pressure was only 124/80. Two weeks prior, my blood pressure had been 112/70. I wasn't worried, but I mentioned it to the doctor I was working with and she was more concerned. She had me do a urine dip on myself at the office and I still had 4+ protein.
During the pregnancy, I had gained seven pounds as of my 30 week appointment. I was working in surgery at that time and getting my butt kicked. At my 32 week appointment, I had gained an additional seven pounds. I was so upset! I was very careful with my diet, but this was all fluid. The swelling I had in my legs was much worse and went to my knees. It wouldn't go away even after I would lay down with my legs elevated. My hands were swelling and I had developed tendonitis and carpal tunnel. My face was swelling, but I didn't think it was too severe. By my 34 week appointment, I felt like things had stabilized. The swelling didn't improve, but I only gained one pound in that two week period.
I decided to call the office on Wednesday, Dec 19th and ask about the proteinuria. I was concerned that there was so much protein and asked if I should be worried or doing something about it. The nurse told me that she wanted me to get some labwork done and said I should have someone check my blood pressure. She added, "call me if it's high, okay?" I agreed and went back to work. Again, the doctor I was working with felt concerned about it all and wanted me to check my pressure immediately. I wasn't concerned about it because I was feeling great and I had just had a normal blood pressure at my appointment two days earlier. She pushed the issue and I gave in. The nurse checked my blood pressure. She looked surprised and then rechecked it. She said it was 180/100. The doctor had me lay down on my left side and relax. She came in to check my blood pressure again. Now it was 190/104. I called my OB office and they asked me to come into the office. The nurse then said, "why don't you just go to L&D so we can get your labwork done and check your blood pressure all at once?"
I left work and drove an hour to the hospital. I parked on the third floor of the parking garage and then walked two blocks to the hospital. I told my DH that I was going to L&D and told him not to come meet me, that I would be home later...probably with some blood pressure medication. I felt fine! When I arrived at L&D, they began monitoring baby and my blood pressure. It was still high and stayed up. The nurse started an IV and did labwork. My blood pressure was being checked every 5 minutes and I knew it was high because it kept setting off an alarm. My numbers were ranging from 160/100 to 200/118. Crazy.
My DH surprised me by leaving work early and showing up at L&D. I was really thankful because the hours were passing and I was lonely, bored, and getting a little scared. The nurse said we were waiting for the doctor on call to finish her office hours so she could come check me out. The nurse comes in and asks me when my last meal was and says that sometimes they do c-sections to resolve pre-eclampsia. DH got big eyes, but I said "don't worry about, we're not going to be having the baby. She's just being cautious." About 4 hours after my arrival, I was still waiting on the doc to arrive. The nurse comes in and starts IV fluids just as a "precaution" and tells me that the doc can stop them once she arrives if they aren't necessary.
DH and I were still waiting for the doctor....it had been about 5 hours. A new nurse comes into the room and introduces herself. She then asks, "Have you ever had a c-section before?" I replied that I had not and that I wasn't planning on having one because I was going to do a natural birth. I was going to do a waterbirth. I had already taken the waterbirth and the childbirth classes. She tells me "You're having a c-section today. I'm here to take you upstairs and get your prepped." I was then handed a bunch of consent forms to sign.
Let me tell you, I FREAKED out. I started crying hysterically. I told the nurses I needed a few minutes. I turned to DH and told him "These are consent forms for surgery and anesthesia....if I sign these that means they're going to do it." I refused to sign. The nurses were getting nervous about my blood pressures and wanted me to calm down and sign everything so they could start medications. One of the nurses (an angel) came in and sat on the bed to talk to me. Here were my concerns: It's too early, the baby is too early! I'm not ready yet! I still have to finish the baby's rooom! The house isn't clean! I haven't packed my bag yet! I'm supposed to have a waterbirth! I don't want surgery! I want my family to be here! I don't have a camera! We haven't picked out a name! I didn't buy the baby any My First Christmas outfits because he wasn't supposed to be here until January! I'm supposed to have six more weeks!
The nurse talked me through it all and even loaned me her digital camera so we could get picks. I asked for a few more minutes so I could just breathe. They gave me about two minutes. I quickly called my sister and my Mom and told them what was happening. The nurse said it was time, so I signed the consents and we started moving upstairs.
The doctor finally arrived as we were going through the hallway. I said, "These people think I'm going for a c-section. Tell them they're wrong." She replies, "I ordered the c-section." I replied back, "I liked you before you ordered the c-section!" She laughed. I wasn't really joking, though!
When we arrived upstairs, they started me on magnesium sulfate which isn't fun. It's like a hot flash in an IV. A few minutes later, I was shaved and DH was dressed for the operating room. I was given a spinal and a catheter and DH was brought into the room. My blood pressure started to improve due to the anesthesia. I was really scared, but finally resigned that this was going to happen. A lot of pressure later, and my son entered the world. Anesthesia announced that it was a boy. A nurse quickly showed me the baby and then the NICU team took him.
After the surgery, I was wheeled on the bed into the nicu and saw my sweet little boy for about five minutes. Then I was wheeled out of the nicu so they could try to stabilize my blood pressure which had started going up again. I didn't see the baby for two more days. I wasn't allowed to pump breast milk. I was stuck in bed on mag sulfate for two full days. My blood pressure just wasn't improving. Baby blues came on hard. I missed being pregnant, I was upset because I wasn't prepared to have the baby so soon. I had plans for Christmas with my family and I was stuck in the hospital. I was stuck on bed. I wanted a shower. A nurse gave me a sponge bath and popsicles. That helped a little.
DH visited the baby a lot and took pictures for me. We agreed to name the baby Benjamin. DH put the pics on my computer and set it up as a slide show so I could see the little guy. Two of the nicu nurses sneaked the baby out of nicu dressed in a Chrismas hat, booties, and a onesie that said "Mommy and Daddy's greatest Christmas gift". They put him in a stocking and brought him to me to help me feel better. It was amazing holding my baby for the first time. Absolutely amazing!
I was started on two oral blood pressure medications and discharged on the fourth day. Ben was initially struggling with his breathing and needed CPAP. He was having trouble with feeding and maintaining his weight. He had a heart murmur and needed an echocardiogram. He was jaundiced. He struggled with maintaining his temp. Ben needed to stay in nicu so I did extended stay to be close to him. I was finally pumping, but Ben was being supplemented with formula.
The experience in nicu was good, the nurses were fantastic. I only had a problem with one of them. I was trying to breastfeed Ben (it was a real struggle to get him to latch and suck). Ben would often suck, but forget to swallow. If he forgot to swallow, he often forgot to breathe. The breastfeeding didn't go well this day and the nurse came over and started manhandling my boob just minutes after I started trying. Ben was crying. She suddenly said "this isn't working" and came back with a bottle of formula. I started feeding Ben the formula and he forgot to swallow/breathe. His oxygen level came down and the nurse snatched him from me to start stimulating him and admonished me. "His oxygen level dropped. You need to pay attention!" I started crying and felt like the worst Mom in the world. I started pumping and gave up trying to breastfeed.
Finally, Ben was cleared to come home and we left the hospital together. It was a great thing. We were finally going to leave the hospital setting and go home as a family. I would be able to take care of my baby without having to ask permission to do anything. I would be able to bathe him for the first time. I would be able to spend more than a half hour with him at a time.
Things were hectic with out doctor's appointments. He had to see the pediatrician, cardiologist, and pulmonologist. I had to see my OB a LOT to keep track of my blood pressure. About four weeks after the c-section, I was able to come off of the blood pressure medications. I just had my six week postpartum appointment and everything has returned to normal for me.
Ben is doing great. He is gaining weight and has reached full term size. He's a beautiful and amazing little boy. I'm madly in love with him! He's a healthy kiddo. I could not ask for more. Yesterday, he smiled a real smile at me for the first time. It was the most awesome moment I've had with him. I can't believe how blessed I am.
I was upset for a while about the unexpected nature of things, but I have been told a LOT that my blood pressures were high enough that I could have had a seizure, a stroke, or have died. They also tell me that I could have easily lost the baby if I had a seizure or due to placental abruption. I'm thankful to God for keeping both me and the baby healthy. I'm very happy now!
Thank you to my due date buddy, Sandra, for sharing news of my delivery. I really owe you!
Birthday:
In NICU:
Our first meeting:
Content and quiet in NICU:
At home:
Bath time:
Growing up fast:
Hey, SheKnows Guest - we need you! The SheKnows TTC boards aren't going anywhere - but perhaps you'd consider helping us grow our 
My (unexpected) birth story...long/pics (XPOST)
! He was the same size as Owen when he was born. And believe me, they grow fast! 
7-22-00 
#3starting soon
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