Featured Story on Mummy Pink Wellies : World Prematurity Day

K over at Mummy Pink Wellies is championing (brilliantly by the way) #WorldPrematurityDay over on her blog.  She is featuring as many stories on families that have experience with Premature Birth as possible in order to try and raise awareness of the 17 million babies born prematurely around the world.

Today she has featured myself and J1's premature birth journey.  Please follow the link HERE and check it out, along with the other posts featured recently.

If you want to know more about #WorldPrematurityDay both Mummy Pink Wellies and Not Even a Bag of Sugar blogs are a mine of information and links to organisations that can help.

World Prematurity Day - Prem Birth Story : Caroline and Sammy

Caroline and Baby Sam's story

Having a premature baby was, to me, quite a distressing experience, especially as this was nothing to do with my baby but due to a very rare and distressing condition that affected me during my pregnancy.  Basically I had severe hypotrophy of the breast, AKA Gigantomastia which meant that I had a very rapid and severe overgrowth of my breasts which resulted in me struggling to fit into an L Cup bra which was the largest cup size I could get.   As I am of a petite frame I looked completely bizarre and in fact nobody realized I was pregnant.  All I seemed to be subjected to were stares and vile comments. 

Emotionally I was a wreck and physically - by about week 26 of my pregnancy – my health was deteriorating too.  I was having trouble breathing due to the sheer weight of my top half and my legs had swollen up too.  Nobody could tell me when the growth would abate and I was told it would basically continue until the baby was born.  Most women dream about having a fuller figure but this was just ridiculous and I just wanted it to stop.  I was worrying constantly about the effects this was having on my baby, but was reassured by the top Breast Specialists in the Country that this wouldn’t cause him any problems.  However I still worried.  I also felt completely alone due to the fact that this condition was so rare and there was no-one I could speak with who could offer encouragement  and support and say “it will be fine” as there is hardly any information or case studies recorded about this.

By about week 32 my Obstetrician decided enough was enough and it was time to think about delivering our baby.  My husband and I were so frightened – a) because we knew this would be best for me but b) it wasn’t the best option for our baby.  However we knew we just could not continue much further as my health really had deteriorated rapidly by this point.

So on 5^th April 2011 we made our way to the hospital for our baby to be induced at 34 weeks + 4 days.  The whole experience was definitely frightening as our main concern was about our unborn baby.  Luckily enough we had a very supportive and sympathetic team of medical experts with us throughout who were very considerate to my feelings of anxiousness and also embarrassment, and who helped reassure us that this was for the best.  I don’t think we would have coped so well without their support and encouragement.

We had a few scares as the heartbeat of our baby kept dropping during labour which was extremely worrying and my energy levels were dropping quite low.  Eventually we were taken to theatre as the baby was lying in an awkward position and there was the possibility of my needing to have a c-section.  At this point I did have a major panic as I just wanted our baby to be born safely and I started to feel out of control.  Luckily at 6.08 pm on 6^th  April 2011 our beautiful baby boy Samuel came into the World by forcep delivery weighing 5lb 9 oz..  His weight was fantastic considering everything and when we heard him cry the relief we both felt was overwhelming.  I cried tears of joy – he was the most beautiful little thing I had ever laid eyes on. As is the norm with prem babies he was taken down to NICU virtually straight away to be checked over.  I then felt as if my right arm had been cut off and despite knowing these checks had to be done, I just wanted to hold my baby and have him by my side.

It seemed like forever before we were eventually allowed down to NICU to see him.  Both my husband and I just wanted to see, hold him and be assured that he was doing ok!  He was put in an incubator and was suffering with a little jaundice but other than that our baby boy was perfect in everyway.  We both were so happy and relieved that despite everything our son was proving to be a little fighter.

When I think back to other babies in the unit, I am still so thankful that Samuel was such a healthy weight.  He spent a total of 6 days in NICU which was nothing compared to the length of stay for some of the other little babies there.  I really felt that someone was watching out for us by delivering our baby safely after such a traumatic pregnancy.

The hardest part of it all was going back to the ward on the first night.  All the other women had their babies with them but obviously I didn’t.  It was very strange and I found that most of the other women didn’t ask where my baby was  either – I think they  just didn’t want to intrude as I was visibly upset anyway.  I got very upset when my husband went too as I just wanted to have him by my side however I must say I was so tired I did manage to get a good night’s rest despite my worries.

Going to NICU each day was draining, more so when I was discharged after 2 days but Samuel wasn’t.  Obviously it was draining emotionally but also physically my breasts still hadn’t reduced at all and my body was just dealing with the after effects of labour.  In an ideal world you would be at home just bonding with your baby and resting up but it was so much harder for me as I was away from home and constantly on the go when what I needed to do was to rest my feet up as much as possible so my body could recover from labour.   We were only there 6 days but that was enough – I just got fed up with being there and craved being at home where we should have been. That aside, when at NICU it was wonderful, especially when we were allowed to cuddle and feed Samuel and after a couple days in his incubator he was put into the nursery room so we were able to cuddle and feed him pretty much the whole day and night if we wanted to.  That was just the best thing ever.   It is heartbreaking when you see your baby covered in wires and it just takes your breath away every time you see them move or open their eyes.  This part of Samuels’ arrival into the World will stay with me forever as one of the most worrying, frightening times in my life. However the doctors and nurses in this unit were fantastic and we are eternally thankful for the help and support they provided.  They always kept us updated with Samuel’s progress and told us we could ring anytime day or night if we were unable to get there at all.  That gave us much needed peace of mind.

I did feel a little resentful of other women who were able to take their babies home straightaway and also had some tearful moments whilst at NICU but I think that was just a natural emotion to feel considering the circumstances and didn’t last long.

Samuel is now 7 months and doing wonderfully – he is eating solids and having regular development checks.  He has put weight on steadily and is just beautiful – he brings such joy into our lives!  As for me, I am still awaiting news of a reduction operation but that is another story. In the meantime we are just enjoying every second with our beautiful baby boy!

World Prematurity Day - My Prem Story : Lynsey & J1

It was a shock to find out I was pregnant.  I had done all the right things - or thought I had (I suppose I will never find that out for sure unless time travel allows me to go and review those few weeks).  I was at a mature student in my first year of my Law degree at University and for once had tried to plan out the next 5 years of my life.  Maybe that was why it happened, to teach me that you just can't plan what goes on in life!

My due date was 25th December, my little Christmas baby was nicknamed 'Santos' by my good friend and on that cold 2nd November night as I sat up on my parents sofa having just finished watching a movie with them I would never have predicted that my waters would just 'break'.  Of course I didn't realise that this had happened, I was merely laughing with my mum about the film and suddenly stopped laughing when I thought my bladder had given up on me!

Being a first time mum and completely green to what was going on, off I waddled with just my handbag and a towel wedge between my legs.  Little did I know that I would not be returning home for another 3 weeks and I would be coming back with a brand new, premature baby boy and a permanent look of shock on my face.

For three days I was monitored, I had an extra scan and was told that there was still water around the baby and if the leaking had stopped they could replenish themselves.  The baby was approx 4lb 7oz.  The doctor visited on the Wednesday morning and said if the waters continued to hold I could be discharged the next day and they would try and get me to at least 34 weeks.  I started to pack up in anticipation of going home and went and had dinner in the hospital restaurant with my cousin who had come to visit.

Then I felt the, what I now know was inevitable, happen.  My waters started leaking again.  The midwives put me straight on the big belly monitor and my brother came to visit.  Just as he was leaving I was checked again and told that they just wanted to Registrar to come and check me.  They suggested that my mum stayed.  O.k I said with no idea of what the next 24 hours would hold.

The Registrar arrived and after much being talked about and not too (very annoying) I was told I was to go to the Early Delivery Ward as the babies heart rate kept dipping.  Nothing to worry about they said but in the EDW they would be able to monitor the babies heart rate all the time at the nurses station.  I remember asking the nurse if I needed to take anything with me.  I was told, yes take everything dear.  Looking back now I should have sensed the pity in her eyes that I didn't have a clue I was imminently going to be delivering an 8 week premature baby.

On arrival at the ward I was hooked up once again to the Big Belly monitor.  The Registrar popped in several times to update me that there had been no improvement and eventually broke the news that I was going to have to deliver by emergency c-section.  Now?  I questioned.  Yes, now.  I was told the nurse would be in to prep me.  I realised at this point I really had not done my homework, I vaguely knew that a c-section meant that they were going to deliver the baby by surgery but that was about it and I had no idea what dangers having a premature baby were.  But as stated before, it was probably for the best in one way but not in another.  By that I mean I didn't question anything, I literally knew I had to put mine and my babies wellbeing in the hands of some complete stranger.  I had a strange sensation of it being like on a crashing aircraft, you just had to hope.

What seemed to be an eternity later, the fear having had time to attack, I was taken down for my emergency c-section and at 3.02am on 6th November I became a mum to a 4lb 9oz little boy.   All I saw was a grey, floppy little body being vigorously rubbed before being wrapped up and was told he had to go straight to intensive care in the NICU.  I was left shaking uncontrollably with a vision of a scrunched up little grey face flying past me, the door closing on it's soft shutter and hearing just the faintest little warble of life as the door clicked closed.  

Thus I set about my first few days as a mum in, quite frankly, complete shock.  I hadn't even chosen a name and it seemed like an enormous task to do so.  I decided I couldn't pick one until I had been to see him.  My mum warned me that when she had been to see him, he had a large mask (CPAP) covering his tiny face and not to be shocked.  But when I arrived that had gone and 13 hours after he was born I was allowed to hold him.  I remember thinking 'My god he has got big feet' they seemed huge against his little cocktail stick legs.  Little folds of skin covered him everywhere, where he had no fat!  He also didn't have nails on his fingers and toes or eyebrows.  But he was the most beautiful miracle in the world to me.

For some reason I had it in my head that at 32 weeks he would still be undeveloped facially and alien like, you don't imagine for a second that they are a perfect little baby inside of you.  I decided on a name and had visitors just like normal but it was so hard being on a ward with all the mum's and their babies while you are laying there minus the crib.  And you feel torn, having had a section I was in pain and needed to recover, but all I wanted was to be by my baby.

We had a relatively smooth run in Special Care, no unforeseen infections or problems.  I had been told not to expect him to be out until the original due date and had steeled myself for that, but he progressed quickly, gained weight and started to bottle feed along with tube feeding after two weeks (apparently he was too young to have the 'suckle' ability prior to that).  I was allowed to hold him and give 'Kangeroo Care'.  Eventually we were transferred back to our local hospital by which time I was told that I could have a private room with the view that I would be fully caring for him as I would at home, but for a few nights would have the hospital on hand should I need it. 

After successful completion of those few days we were discharged, a full month before he was even due to be born.  My tiny little scrap was all mine to love and care for.  We had no idea at the time that we would discover J1 had suffered brain damage during the last hour of the birth and that he would be diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy at 11 months, no idea of what to expect or not to expect.

Life has obviously never been the same and never will be.  He brightens every day and is packed full of character despite his physical disabilities.  Life is wonderful, as is he and I hope to be able to write about his achievements with as much glowing pride as any mother within my blogs.

World Prematurity Day is in ONE WEEK (17 November 2011)

On Thursday 17 November 2011 it will be World Prematurity Day and March of Dimes is asking all bloggers to do a post about any experience they have had with premature babies.  I will be certainly be taking part and am encouraging as many people as I can to join in and raise awareness of just how many premature babies are born into this world.

So if you have had an experience you would like to share - DO! on November 17, take a moment to visit the March of Dimes website and grab a badge, and spread the word!

March of Dimes

If you would like to post but do not have a blog or know of someone that might want to tell their story then email me on lynseythemotherduck@gmail.com and I will set up a page on my blog to feature all stories.

Me with my little Prem Miracle