beckie123: Parker Kenneth's Birth Story

Posted Monday, April 11, 2011 12:50 PM

"There I saw my beautiful baby with wires and IV hooked up to him.  It was so hard to see, I just wanted to hold him, and nurse him."

Gut instinct
 
When I was 25 weeks pregnant with Parker I felt like something was just not right.  I would call my Mom, go to the hospital, call my doctor, anything to get people admitted.  2 weeks later I went in for an ultrasound to check fluid level and ease my mind.  After the ultrasound I was escorted to the Mom & Baby unit for results and I knew something was up.  Turns out my cervix was short and I could have this baby at any time.  I was given the first of 2 needles to aid with lung development.  I returned the following day for the next one.  I was given strict orders to remain on bed rest.  No work, no stress, only bathroom breaks, shower every other day and make myself one meal a day. 
 
I spent 7 weeks on bed rest with weekly visits and ultrasounds to check the status of my cervix and my son.  At 33 weeks my specialist attempted to do an external cephalic version to turn baby, it was very painful and unsuccessful.  I gained 50lbs in 7 weeks.  I was swollen and breathless.  

Complications
 
On March 24th I called a friend and she was concerned that I was unable to carry a conversation because I was so breathless,  I was so swollen that in order to communicate and breath I had to tilt my head backwards to open my airways.  I called another friend who came to my house and drove me to the nearest pharmacy to check my blood pressure.  It was 169/99.  I sat still for 5 minutes then took it again, same result.  We decided a trip to the hospital was in order and I called my husband at work to tell him. 
 
Admitting was quick, I was attached to monitors and my BP was climbing.  My OB was on duty and she walked in, looked at my file and said you are having this baby tonight.   An emergency C-section was going to happen.  We awaited blood test results to tell the doctor if there was a need to do it immediately or if it could wait a few hours to allow my dinner to digest.  I was so nervous but at 35 weeks I knew that my baby had a fantastic chance.  

Time for baby!

At 3:00am I was wheeled into the OR where I was given a local and my husband joined me.  I felt the doctor reaching inside me to get out my baby, it was such a surreal experience.  At 3:33am Parker Kenneth Preston was born weighing an incredible 7lb 2oz and he was passed to my husband to hold.  He was beautiful.  I was told Daddy and Baby needed to go be weighed and I would meet up with them in recovery.  He never came. 

Change of plans...
 
I sat in recovery for a few hours and my body went into shock.  I was cold and could not stop the convulsions.  I kept asking where my baby was and they said I would see him soon. My Mom sat by my side as I cried to see him.  Jeff came to see me and tell me that Parker was in an incubator because he was having difficulties removing the fluid from his lungs.  I stayed with my Mom and Jeff went to be near Parker.  I felt so helpless.  I carried this baby for 35 weeks and now I could not even hold him. 
 
By 9am I was in my room and sitting up on the side of my bed demanding to see my baby.  The nurse helped me to a wheel chair and pushed me to the special care nursery.  There I saw my beautiful baby with wires and IV hooked up to him.  It was so hard to see, I just wanted to hold him, and nurse him.

Finally!
 
I was at the hospital for 5 days.  I would pump milk and walk to see him.  I spent hours just starting at him and putting my hand in to touch him.  It hurt when they told me not to because they didn’t want him to be over stimulized.  One of his nurses told me, we get to keep him for a few days, you get to keep him for a lifetime.  That is what kept me going.  At 30hours old I finally got to hold him for the first time.  At 5 days old I finally got to nurse him for the first time.  They still do not know exactly what was wrong but he had problems with digesting and was not keeping anything down.  They tested Parker and I for every infection possible, no conclusive results.  At 1 week old I was finally able to bring him home. 
 
Home is what this baby needed.  He flourished and grew and now I have a very active 2 year old on my hands and I am pregnant with baby #2. 

> Want to share your birth story? Email it now to Bump Eileen at echu@theknot.com.