Our Miracle Babies

33 weeks - Thomas

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the complications with our first son Joshua we were prepared for anything when I became pregnant with Thomas.

At my first appointment with my doctor at 12 weeks I was sent off for a blood test and tested positive for toxaemia antibodies. I was advised to start taking aspirin tablets, which was designed to thin my blood and increase the blood flow to the placenta. I was on fortnightly visits with my doctor and under constant monitoring.

At about 20 weeks I started developing the severe abdominal pain, headaches and nausea and it was clear that I had developed the HELLP Syndrome again.

At about 25 weeks my liver enzymes started to elevate. At 27 weeks I was sent off to the Feto-Maternal unit for an ultrasound to do Bio-Physical Profile and Foetal Doppler. Results showed that there was a 95% resistance to the uterine and babies blood flow. I went back for another scan the following week, then the next 2 fortnights, thankfully the resistance gradually reduced to about 60%.

Unfortunately with each week that passed my liver enzymes continued to increase. I was sent off to see a liver specialist at 32 weeks, who concurred with my doctor that I would be in hospital the next weeks. They were right and 6 days later my doctor decided that he would admit me to hospital and induce my labour that night.

I had a much harder time with labour this time and it took 12hrs and 2 goes at the gel before finally I was able to be moved to the delivery suite to have my waters broken. Again, 3hrs later Thomas Samuel was born weighing 1.845kg (4lb 1oz). After a brief introduction to my new son, the Newborn Care Team immediately whisked him away to work on him.

When I next saw Thomas he was in his humidicrib struggling for breath. I was exhausted and distraught so I was taken to my room for rest. When I went back to see him several hours later he had been placed on CPAP as he had developed respiratory distress and required Level 3 care.

As I looked around the nursery I was reminded of just how precious life is and while Thomas had his own problems, I was eternally grateful he was doing ok as there were far too many babies that I saw that were far smaller and younger than him.

Thomas remained on CPAP for 4 days then was moved to level 2 care. He was started on phototherapy for Jaundice and on day 6 we were both transferred to the Private hospital where he continued his phototherapy and remained in Level 2 care for another week. At 36 weeks gestational age I was allowed to room in for a couple of days with Thomas to make sure he would do ok at home and then finally after what seemed like a lifetime, but was only 3 weeks, we were allowed to take our second precious son home.

Both of our boys have done remarkably well in their development although they have had their problems along the way, more so with Thomas than Joshua. I have not experienced any other life than that of a premmie baby mum and the frantic world you exist in and I never will as I am assured to have the same complications each and every single time. I would not have gotten through both times without the support of the hospital staff and I consider both of my boys precious little Miracle Babies!