This is a cause very close to me and to home. At the age of 35 I discovered that I was pregnant. At first I was in two minds about it but soon got very excited. We have been married for almost nine years and well, it was time.
The pregnancy went rather well, I had a little bit of morning sickness in the beginning but nothing major. In my sixth month I discovered my feet started to swell. It did not bother me as I knew this was one of the drawbacks of being pregnant. I went for my usual monthly appointment at the gynaecologist and she informed me my blood pressure was a little bit higher but we would keep an eye on it.
During my pregnancy I kept working and it was a rather busy time at work for us. Finally an opportunity for a weekend break appeared and we decided to make a family get together out of it. We went to a game farm called Dikhololo. The drive was not far but still I realized I had swollen feet. The week before that it felt as if I had heart palpitations. Because I never got sick I brushed it off as a bit of stress.
The weekend was a huge success and we came home on the Sunday evening after a long drive having to pick up the dogs at my parents place as well. I did not feel well and went to lie down a bit. Then my stomach cramps started, or rather it felt like severe stomach cramps. At 2 0' clock in the morning I could not stand the pain anymore and asked my husband Innes to take me to the emergency unit at Unitas hospital. When I got there they took my blood pressure and admitted me in the maternity ward where after some blood tests they informed me I had pre-eclampsia and that the baby must be taken out with an emergency Ceaserean. My liver started failing too. Early in my pregnancy I saw something about pre-eclampsia but did not read further as I never had high blood pressure. Within 2 hours my baby boy Rinus was born at 29 weeks gestation on the 4th of May 2009. He weighed a mere 1.18kgs.
I went into shock as I did not realise what exactly was happening to me,and I did not think the baby would survive. The first week was as if in a dream and then I realised I needed to be strong for my baby. He was in Neo-natal ICU for a period of 9 weeks. It was a life changing experience. you could not believe how many babies were born prematurely and how they fought to survive.
We went to hospital twice a day and after I started working again 3 times daily. Every day was different. As premature babies immunity is very low, Rinus contracted a virus after a month or so and they had to stop his milk. After that they gradually gave him more milk. I kept on extracting although emotionally drained.
After 9 weeks we heard the good news that he could come home. On the day of his discharge we went to hospital only to find him back on the ventilation machines. The previous day he received a Synagis injection which is given to premature babies to protect them in winter times against flu etc. Apparently it was this injection that gave him a setback. He stayed for another week and then the day finally came that we could bring our little miracle home.
Since then he had some flu symptoms and we also ended up in the pediatrics ward with Gastro for a week. Apart from that it is a true blessing to see my baby grow stronger. His development milestones is that of a 4 month old baby although he is 6 and a half months now. I am confident that he will go from strength to strength.
To all moms out there with premature babies, just know that you are not alone. Our little miracles have been given to us for a reason and I believe the bond between us and our babies are unbreakable because of everything we endure together. Being a mother of a premature bay is not easy but it gives you unknown strength and provides you with endless gratitude that life cannot be taken for granted. It is a true gift.
Thank you for sharing your story about such a frightening time. It's so important to remind people to fight for preemies because they, and their families, need all the help they can get.
ReplyDeleteYou put a comment on my Veterans blog so I followed a link to your blog and read your story. I was moved to tears. This is a issue true to my heart as well. First let me say, I thank the Lord that your story had a happy ending. So many don't. In 1973 I delivered a 6/12 month old little boy, Roman. In those days they couldn't do what they can today. He lived 48 days on the ventilator. A couple days before he died he came off it and I got to hold him. They were trying to help him gain weight and feeding him through a tube. They gave him too much and he asperated, his little lungs couldn't take it. I have cried almost everyday since for the little baby I never got to keep. I was finally blessed with a daughter but that was to be my only one. She now has given me my first Grandchild, a little girl, Rylee. I feel so blessed.
ReplyDeleteI really connected to those pictures you posted. We really have to be thankful to God for giving doctors the skills to help premies. I am so very happy your little one is home and growing. I will tune in every so often to check on him.
I am from Minnesota but as my daughter lives in Florida I have moved here to be near my Grand baby. I take care of her everyday.
God Bless.
Wow! What a powerful story. Rinus sounds like a fighter. I'm so glad that he's making progress everyday This is when the expression "take baby steps" really has true meaning and inspiration. Enjoy your holiday as a family.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I used to work at a parenting magazine, where I was responsible for getting PSA ads. I was a big supporter of March of Dimes and always pushed to have their PSAs placed in the magazine. They are an incredible organization. At BlogCatalog, there is a link somewhere to help support March of Dimes.