This blog will follow Miles' progress in the NICU at CPMC in San Francisco and is intended for our friends and family. We have been overwhelmed with the love and support from all of you since his birth on November 25. For those of you, we haven't been in touch with recently, here is a quick recap of how Miles came to be born at 29 weeks, 6 days gestation - over 10 weeks before his due date on February 4, 2009, after a nearly uneventful and easy two first trimesters.
It started on November 16 when I went into the hospital with some bleeding. Blame it on the hospital making you sick but I was diagnosed with contractions and low amniotic fluid and earned myself a night in the maternity ward. They released me the next day after shots of steroids to help develop the baby's lungs (just in case) and with a prescription for Nefadepine to stop contractions and instructions to stay on bedrest for a minimum of a week.
And for five days, Miles behaved. On Friday night, November 21, the contractions returned and this time were far from minor. I understood the need for drugs during labor though I wasnt ready for my own. Back to CPMC,this time it was much more serious. I had started dialating so was immediatley hooked up to an IV, wheeled on a gurney to the maternity ward and put on magnesium, a much stronger drug to stop contractions. And with side effects. I spent the night surrounding by ice and woke up the next morning, still contracting. The specialist put me on Indocine (sp) - the only drug specifically designed to stop contractions but has the unfortunate side effect of decreasing amniotic fluid. But it worked and I promised to stop working and lay on my side for as many weeks as it took to deliver a full term baby.
On Sunday, I was moved to the Antepartum floor for ongoing monitoring until I was allowed to go home. All seemed under control as long as I was on the Indocine. Dave and I fell into a routine and planned for the weeks ahead, promising to take it a day at a time. Then the ultrasound showed the all too expected result of the Indocin....very low amniotic fluid. I was switched back to Nefadepine and given an extended hospital stay until my fluids went back up. That was Monday night.
Hours later, I awoke in contractions worse than any I'd experienced before. I called the nurse. Then Dave, three times until he answered. Something was wrong and I needed him. And for once, my dear procrastinating husband, got his ass in gear in minutes without the luxury of his morning coffee.
Fortunately my doctor was on call and was there within 20 minutes. After a quick check, she verbalized what we both knew. My water broke and this baby was coming now. There was no point, in trying to hold him/her back anymore. Within minutes, I was rushed up to the OR, given a spinal, Dave was at my side and my stomach opened. Fifteen minutes later, I heard a faint cry and Dave cry out, "its a boy." I'd called Dave just an hour and 17 minutes before.
The NICU doctors took over, letting me kiss my son quickly before rushing him out of the room. Dave followed, leaving me to lie back and begin to come to grips with our new reality.
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