Birth Story of Jalesa
Submitted by costa2324
When I found out that I was pregnant in Sept 2009, I was not the happiest. I already had Shaela who was 9 at the time and Darrius who is 7 year and I wasn't happy about starting all over.
Every ultrasound would bring me closer to Jalesa. At 20 weeks, I developed PIH and it was downhill from there. At 23 weeks, it turned into severe preeclampsia. How scary!
I was instantly put on bedrest... in the HOSPITAL! The doctor thought that it would help with my 220/140 blood pressure, along with the two oral bp medicines, nothing helped. When I hit 25 weeks, my OB felt that it would be best to move me to OU, a hospital that deals with high risk pregnancies and has a NICU. It was so scary riding in the ambulance knowing that I was going to have a preemie, and possibly that very night. I couldn't sleep at all and all I could do was think.
A voice in the back of my mind said, "give her the middle name of Faith, because you will need your faith to get you through this", with that, I knew what her name would be. With the help of magnesium and 2 oral bp medicines, my bp went down and I was able to move to a regular, although still high risk room. They did daily ultrasounds and prepared me by explaining that she could come anyday. They were "pushing the envelope" because I would not give up trying to make it as close to 28 weeks as I could.
The preeclampsia started getting worse. I was off of the magnesium, but I was now on 3 oral meds and IV meds when the oral ones weren't working, which was all of the time! Finally, on Feb 17th, my liver started to fail. I still held out even though the docs warned against it.
Bright and early Feb 18th, I woke up and told the nurse that today was the day. Sure enough, we did my morning ultrasound and my placenta wasn't getting enough oxygen and blood flow! Since the other two kids were by c-section, she would be too. I was warned that she probably would not cry, since she would be too little, so when she came out crying, which she sounded more like a kitty, I was sooo overjoyed! She was the smallest thing I ever put my heart into, 1.8 pounds and 13.5 inches. She didn't have to be put on the vent at that point, but she was soo small. Only 3 layers of skin. Wow!
She did develop an infection in her lungs at 1 month and had to be put on the vent, it was so scary, I couldn't lose my baby and it was not a guarantee that she was going to make it. 5.5 months later, she is as feisty as she was when she came out. She came home on oxygen, but has been weaned to a lower amount, she weighs 8 pounds and despite being 2 months old (adjusted) she does some of the same things a 5 month old baby does! And besides the oxygen, everything else is fine.
She has a big sister and brother who love her dearly also. I am so happy and blessed that she chose me as her mommy! I wouldn't have it any other way!
Every ultrasound would bring me closer to Jalesa. At 20 weeks, I developed PIH and it was downhill from there. At 23 weeks, it turned into severe preeclampsia. How scary!
I was instantly put on bedrest... in the HOSPITAL! The doctor thought that it would help with my 220/140 blood pressure, along with the two oral bp medicines, nothing helped. When I hit 25 weeks, my OB felt that it would be best to move me to OU, a hospital that deals with high risk pregnancies and has a NICU. It was so scary riding in the ambulance knowing that I was going to have a preemie, and possibly that very night. I couldn't sleep at all and all I could do was think.
A voice in the back of my mind said, "give her the middle name of Faith, because you will need your faith to get you through this", with that, I knew what her name would be. With the help of magnesium and 2 oral bp medicines, my bp went down and I was able to move to a regular, although still high risk room. They did daily ultrasounds and prepared me by explaining that she could come anyday. They were "pushing the envelope" because I would not give up trying to make it as close to 28 weeks as I could.
The preeclampsia started getting worse. I was off of the magnesium, but I was now on 3 oral meds and IV meds when the oral ones weren't working, which was all of the time! Finally, on Feb 17th, my liver started to fail. I still held out even though the docs warned against it.
Bright and early Feb 18th, I woke up and told the nurse that today was the day. Sure enough, we did my morning ultrasound and my placenta wasn't getting enough oxygen and blood flow! Since the other two kids were by c-section, she would be too. I was warned that she probably would not cry, since she would be too little, so when she came out crying, which she sounded more like a kitty, I was sooo overjoyed! She was the smallest thing I ever put my heart into, 1.8 pounds and 13.5 inches. She didn't have to be put on the vent at that point, but she was soo small. Only 3 layers of skin. Wow!
She did develop an infection in her lungs at 1 month and had to be put on the vent, it was so scary, I couldn't lose my baby and it was not a guarantee that she was going to make it. 5.5 months later, she is as feisty as she was when she came out. She came home on oxygen, but has been weaned to a lower amount, she weighs 8 pounds and despite being 2 months old (adjusted) she does some of the same things a 5 month old baby does! And besides the oxygen, everything else is fine.
She has a big sister and brother who love her dearly also. I am so happy and blessed that she chose me as her mommy! I wouldn't have it any other way!
Submit!
