At about 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 24 Mark got home just in time to drive me to the hospital. About 3 or 4 hours later, I was informed that I was totally effaced, dilated to a 2 or 3, was having regular contractions about 2 to 3 minutes apart, and my bag of waters was bulging. I was then told that I was being admitted to the hospital on complete bed rest until I delivered the baby.
I was given magnesium sulfate to stop the contractions, being warned that the medication rarely worked. If they could get the contractions to stop, I would be able to receive injections for a couple of days to help the baby's lungs to mature and receive some antibiotics to help the baby with infection since her immune system was immature. Besides making me really nauseated, the magnesium sulfate luckily worked. By Wednesday morning, my contractions had almost completely stopped. I had a couple contractions daily but it was nothing like it had been. The nurses helped my confidence to grow in the fact that it was now possible for me to be on bed rest in the hospital for a long time. I was hopeful that the baby would stay inside and continue to grow.
Everything was going fine until early Thursday morning when I felt my lungs tighten up and breathing was difficult, especially on my left side. The nurses kept telling me, "you're just nervous, just relax" while I kept trying to explain that I could barely breathe and it was making me nervous. The doctor on call ordered that a chest x-ray be done. Results came back negative for any problems. I kept having more trouble breathing and was put on oxygen. A CT scan was ordered next to be done of my chest. By this time, I was even more nervous because of the radiation effects it could have on the baby but having no other option, I proceeded to do it. The CT scan showed that I had secondary pneumonia in my left lung which was probably caused by a bad reaction to the magnesium sulfate. Although I wanted to keep the baby in for as long as I could, I didn't know how I was going to stay on hospital bed rest. With the complications, the rock hard bed, bed pans, blood draws, IVs, vital checks, bad sleep, medications, being in the same room all day, not being able to shower, the constant adjustments of the belly band keeping track of the baby's heartbeat, and not being able to lift my head higher than my stomach, I really didn't know how I was going to stand it! The only thing that was keeping me emotionally sane was having my sweet husband with me every second and getting visited by many kind friends each day. Fortunately, after the pneumonia episode, the next day was pretty calm and I got a pretty good night sleep on Friday night.
After I woke up on Saturday, Mark and I were hopeful that things were going to be okay and the baby would continue to grow. About 5 minutes after we thought that, I sat up a bit and the contractions started again, each getting more and more painful. An ultrasound was ordered which showed the baby was breech and that I had an abrupted placenta. It then became an emergency situation. They needed to do a c-section but couldn't do an epidural because they had given me a blood thinner as a result of preventive treatment with the pneumonia. They were afraid that blood would leak into my spinal cord during the epidural. The anesthesiologist didn't want to put me out through a breathing tube because it was dangerous with pneumonia. I told him they had to do something quick because I was having so much pain. Next thing I knew, I was being put out without an epidural and woke up in the ICU. Mark told me that they had to put me out again while I was waking up because I was trying to grab the breathing tube and pull it out of my throat. I remember signing the words "air" with my hands because I couldn't breathe or talk.
Mark wasn't able to be there when the baby came out but he was told that if Lucy had been inside me one second longer she would have died because of my abrupted placenta. My doctor still doesn't know what came first, the early labor or abrupted placenta, or what caused what. At this point, I am just grateful the hospital nightmare is over and that Lucy is still alive. I feel blessed and amazed that she was able to make it out and still be alive after so many complications during that week.
We have had wonderful support from our family and friends. I have been blown away at the love we have received through texts, emails, phone calls, packages, visits, and dinners. The support has made all the difference. We love you family and friends! Thanks for being there for us!
These are the first pictures Mark took of Lucy Kate Baker during her first two days.
Everything was going fine until early Thursday morning when I felt my lungs tighten up and breathing was difficult, especially on my left side. The nurses kept telling me, "you're just nervous, just relax" while I kept trying to explain that I could barely breathe and it was making me nervous. The doctor on call ordered that a chest x-ray be done. Results came back negative for any problems. I kept having more trouble breathing and was put on oxygen. A CT scan was ordered next to be done of my chest. By this time, I was even more nervous because of the radiation effects it could have on the baby but having no other option, I proceeded to do it. The CT scan showed that I had secondary pneumonia in my left lung which was probably caused by a bad reaction to the magnesium sulfate. Although I wanted to keep the baby in for as long as I could, I didn't know how I was going to stay on hospital bed rest. With the complications, the rock hard bed, bed pans, blood draws, IVs, vital checks, bad sleep, medications, being in the same room all day, not being able to shower, the constant adjustments of the belly band keeping track of the baby's heartbeat, and not being able to lift my head higher than my stomach, I really didn't know how I was going to stand it! The only thing that was keeping me emotionally sane was having my sweet husband with me every second and getting visited by many kind friends each day. Fortunately, after the pneumonia episode, the next day was pretty calm and I got a pretty good night sleep on Friday night.
After I woke up on Saturday, Mark and I were hopeful that things were going to be okay and the baby would continue to grow. About 5 minutes after we thought that, I sat up a bit and the contractions started again, each getting more and more painful. An ultrasound was ordered which showed the baby was breech and that I had an abrupted placenta. It then became an emergency situation. They needed to do a c-section but couldn't do an epidural because they had given me a blood thinner as a result of preventive treatment with the pneumonia. They were afraid that blood would leak into my spinal cord during the epidural. The anesthesiologist didn't want to put me out through a breathing tube because it was dangerous with pneumonia. I told him they had to do something quick because I was having so much pain. Next thing I knew, I was being put out without an epidural and woke up in the ICU. Mark told me that they had to put me out again while I was waking up because I was trying to grab the breathing tube and pull it out of my throat. I remember signing the words "air" with my hands because I couldn't breathe or talk.
Mark wasn't able to be there when the baby came out but he was told that if Lucy had been inside me one second longer she would have died because of my abrupted placenta. My doctor still doesn't know what came first, the early labor or abrupted placenta, or what caused what. At this point, I am just grateful the hospital nightmare is over and that Lucy is still alive. I feel blessed and amazed that she was able to make it out and still be alive after so many complications during that week.
We have had wonderful support from our family and friends. I have been blown away at the love we have received through texts, emails, phone calls, packages, visits, and dinners. The support has made all the difference. We love you family and friends! Thanks for being there for us!
These are the first pictures Mark took of Lucy Kate Baker during her first two days.
After Mark went to see Lucy, he came kept telling me how beautiful she was and how much he loved her.
I wasn't able to go see her for a bit since I was in the ICU, but was relieved that she was alive.
When I saw her the first time, I also had an overwhelming feeling of love for her.
9 comments:
Bethany, you are amazing! What a hero to survive that awful week, and stay strong enough to bring your baby into the world safely. She is absolutely beautiful, name and all. I wish so bad I was close, I would love to come visit you. I will be keeping track of this blog and praying for all to be healthy and well. Congratulations on your beautiful Lucy!
Stay strong! Still thinking about you daily! I will contact you about dinner soon. Her pacifier is SO cute and tiny!
Oh my goodness I didn't even know you were pregnant. What a miracle. Congrats and you will be in our prayers!
Congratulations on your beautiful little girl! I haven't checked blogs for a while and so I'm sorry I'm a little late in congratulating you. I am so grateful for modern day medicine and doctors and nurses. You are an amazing person with an amazing family and husband. Your family and sweet Lucy are in my prayers.
You,Mark and Lucy Kate are in our prayers. We love you.
Hey Beth... what a crazy birth story... i can't believe how early Lucy was. Did you know 26 wks is when i was born? I don't know if i ever told you that Brooklyn was emergency c-section... they had to put me out just like you and Matt couldn't watch anything just like Mark. The best thing for a c-section is to get up and get moving as much as you can. Lucy sure is precious! All that hair is so much fun! Call me if you need to talk or anything at all. Love You Girl!
Wow, Bethany! That is quite a story! You are amazing and I am sending lots of prayers and hugs your way! I love you and I hope things get better for you guys!
Oh Bethany I am crying! That is the worst having a baby story I have ever heard! You are amazing and very brave! I am so gratefull the baby and you are OK!!!! I will keep you in my prayers!!!!
Bethany, I am glad that you are all okay. We will pray for all of you. I am sorry you had to go through so much. What a fighter you are. Bless you. Lucy has two incredible parents. Take care. Love ya
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