I am joining in the Fight for Preemies today along with many other bloggers and the March of Dimes by raising awareness of the crisis of premature birth.
You can see the alarming statistics about premature birth by visiting the March of Dimes website and I would urge you to do that, but sometimes putting a personal story to a national crisis does more to raise awareness. So, I have decided to share our story of the premature birth of my twin girls.
I am so thankful for the March of Dimes for their contribution to this problem. Without their research and their advocacy, without their help and personal support, I don’t want to even think of where we would be.
If you’re visiting for the first time, you may want to read the first part of our story here.
The week before I reached the 30 week mark in my pregnancy with my twins my mom came to visit me. I was still working at the time and I had a terribly busy week at work preparing for upcoming IEP meetings for my special education students and gearing up for our school’s March of Dimes campaign. Yes, I was involved in our school’s campaign before I knew it would touch our lives so personally. Although I was at work during the day, I was thankful for my mom’s help when I came home exhausted and swollen at the end of each day. All I could do upon coming home was sit in a chair with my feet propped up until time to go to bed.
The weekend before turning 30 weeks, my Sunday School class had a baby shower for me. It was wonderful to see all of my friends, but at this point I was completely miserable. My mother in law noticed this and suggested that I move in with them the next day.
I had a routine doctor’s appointment the following Monday, the day that I turned 30 weeks. I was so miserable at work that day, I had in mind that I would probably be put on bed rest very soon. My only hope was to make it through the IEP meetings that were scheduled for later that week. Little did I know that I would never step inside my classroom to teach again.
My mother in law took me to the appointment and sat in the waiting room while I went in for my check-up. The nurse showed some concern when she took my blood pressure. It was very high….I’m not good at remember numbers, so I can’t tell you exactly what it was, but it was high.
My doctor walked in, sat down, and asked me to be honest with her about how I was feeling. I said, “honestly, I’m pretty miserable.” It was a hard admission for me….I don’t like to show weakness or to be a “complainer”, but she needed honestly and that’s what I gave, maybe for the first time in weeks.
She said, “yes, I know”. And then she told me that I wasn’t going to like it but I had to go straight to the hospital to be admitted because my blood pressure was so high and I had gained 8 lbs. of pure fluid since my last visit, only a week earlier. My first thought was, “I can’t do this…I’m all alone.” I asked her to find my mother in law in the waiting room to let her know what was happening.
I called my husband on or way to the hospital and left a message. It was so hard to be away from him at such a scary time. He called to talk a little later, unaware of what was going on because he didn’t get the message and I had to let him know that I was admitted to the hospital and that I would let him know more when I knew. They were going to run tests to figure out what was going on with me. I thought that I would possibly be on bed rest a few days and go home. Again, I was completely wrong.
The hospital immediately began running blood work and other tests and I waited.
I waited and I prayed.
I held on to one scripture…Psalm 121:5 “The Lord himself watches over you.”
And I had an undeniable sense of peace.
The next day (Tuesday) a friend from Sunday School stopped by with lunch and while we were visiting, a nurse came in to take me for an ultrasound. They wanted to get measurements for the babies and to see if they were “practice breathing” in the uterus. The nurse stepped out of the room for just a minute while I went to the restroom and when I walked out my doctor was in the room to talk with me.
He said that the tests and my blood work came back showing that I had a severe form of pre-eclampsia called HELLP. They would give me steroid injections to develop the babies lungs immediately and that our first immediate goal was for me to make it through the next 48 hours for the steroids to take effect.
He left the room and the nurse came in to wheel me away for the ultrasound.
I think that may have been one of the loneliest moments I’ve ever experienced. My husband was miles away training to be a chaplain in the Army. I felt completely lost and helpless.
My mother in law decided to come stay with me at the hospital that night and she stayed by my side for the next couple of days. Blood work and urine analysis were being done on a continual basis to judge the seriousness of my health. The babies were being monitored continuously as well. And I began seeing Maternal-Fetal Medicine (high-risk) doctors. They worked with my OBs to determine exactly when the delivery should take place. We also received a visit from a NICU doctor who gave us information about the risks of a premature birth and what we could expect with a delivery at this point.
Each morning we would ask the nurse if she knew how the blood work from the previous night was and each day her answer was the same….that things were getting worse. Just two days, or exactly 48 hours after my inital diagnosis, the decision was made that it was time. The babies seemed to be healthy enough, but my health was going downhill rather quickly.
They were aware that my husband was at Ft. Jackson, almost two hours away from the hospital, so they told me to call him and they would perform a c-section when he arrived.
Most people are ecstatic and overjoyed to learn that it is time to welcome their first baby into the world.
But I wasn’t.
I was scared.
I knew the odds that we were facing, and I didn’t want to face them.
I had no idea what to expect.
But I had to trust.
I had to trust that God had a plan.
I had to trust that my doctors knew what was best.
And I had to trust that the NICU would be able to take care of my babies who were coming into the world way too soon.
This is taking me longer to write than I anticipated. I think it is the first time I’ve ever written it out. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share this time with you.
Those babies that were born too soon are now healthy, active four-year olds that are up from quiet time and demanding my attention. I will continue this story with their actual birth and NICU stay….so check back for more.
bridget {bake at 350} says
Your story sounds similar to mine. I love that you are sharing it here.
I had my son 10 weeks early while out-of-town! I had been to my dr. just days before and she was unconcerned about my fluid retention and “spilling proteins.” My mom, who happened to be having surgery and was the reason I was out-of-town, took one look at me and said, “you don’t look right.” Her nurse took my blood pressure…sky high…Pre-eclampsia. I was admitted to the hospital immediately and 30 hours later, our son was born. 2 lbs. 13 ounces.
10 years later, I still consider him a miracle and thank God that my mom had the wisdom to see that something wasn’t right.
Erin @ Closing Time says
It is incredible to read the story of EA and MC’s birth, and to hear how God carried all of your through it. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I look forward to reading more! 🙂
.-= Erin @ Closing Time´s last blog ..Party Planning Panic! =-.
Cara says
Thank you so much for sharing your story! My son was born at 36 weeks, and spent 10 days in the NICU. I was induced due to low amniotic fluid and because he stopped growing, and wound up having an emergency c-section. Both the birth and the time in the NICU were very scary experiences, and the March of Dimes now holds a special place in my heart.
.-= Cara´s last blog ..Apple Picks =-.
LifeAtTheCircus says
Monica, thank you for sharing your family’s story. I am quite captivated as I read it and so thankful that I know the outcome… how precious to be able to take this time to reflect on all God has brought you through and how he has cared for your family.
.-= LifeAtTheCircus´s last blog ..Ordinary Miracle =-.
MoDBev says
Just dashed over to read part 2. Thank you for your story. I’ll be back.
.-= MoDBev´s last blog ..United States Scores a big fat “D†=-.
Gregg says
God Bless you and your husband, Monica. I was over 400 miles away in Jumpmaster School having dropped Hallee in the ICU on my way to report for duty. Monday of week 2 I got the call. I don’t think all four wheels touched the road at the same time the entire trip. Still, I didn’t make it in time.
You are quite brave to share your story. Every day for over a month through NICU and PICU when the nurses and doctors would predict such terrible events — and none of it came to be. Prayers lifted our son and God’s hand comforted my wife. Hallee says that the time 3 years ago might have tested her faith. Instead, it affirmed and validated it.
Traveling mercies and Godspeed.
Gregg B. (Hallee’s adoring hubby in Afghanistan)
.-= Gregg´s last blog ..Non-Refried “Refried†Black and Pinto Beans Bean Dip =-.
Hallee says
I look forward to reading the rest of your story. My 30-weeker was born when my husband was at Jumpmasters school. Looks like the Army was good for us both to learn how to face such a situation completely alone and rely fully on God. I’ve blogged about it a few times through different March of Dimes awareness. http://www.halleethehomemaker.com/tag/march-of-dimes/
Hallee
.-= Hallee´s last blog ..Non-Refried “Refried†Black and Pinto Beans Bean Dip =-.
Gregg says
Hello oh gorgeous one.
.-= Gregg´s last blog ..Blessings from Above =-.
Nancy M. says
I can imagine how scared you were! My last one was only 2 weeks early, but I had to have an emergency c-section and my husband barely made it. I was scared too, but I know you had to be so much more so than me since it was your first time and they were coming so early. It’s wonderful to know how healthy they are now!
.-= Nancy M.´s last blog ..Book Review- Curse Of The Spider King =-.
Sweetmumma says
Hi!
What an amazing story, thanks for sharing.
Glad I found it today… it’s my daughters first birthday! She was born 12 weeks too early and survived a whole heap of complications (including meningitis). That time was so incredibly difficult, we were carried by God and the prayers of our church family. But we survived and those days make today even sweeter!
x
ps. if you’re interested, I’ve blogged about my little girl’s crazy start in life (Sweetiepie’s Story)and all that God did for us at: http://www.viewfromtheplaypen.wordpress.com
.-= Sweetmumma´s last blog ..A Letter to my Sweetiepie =-.