Colin was my third pregnancy, but my first viable pregnancy. After being closely monitored throughout, I was placed on bed rest at 31 weeks due to edema (excess swelling) and what looked like the beginning of preeclampsia (high blood pressure). I went to the emergency room the day before he was born because I started to experience a tingling sensation in my wrists and ankles. I didn’t know my blood pressure was elevated until I was examined. My diastolic (bottom) number was over 100. I was admitted to Labor and Delivery for monitoring. The next morning my doctor reviewed my chart and we discussed all the options. My doctor wanted to deliver Colin as quickly as possible because she was scared that she could lose us both. We decided on a C-section delivery. While being prepped for surgery, I met the NICU Nurse Practitioner, who told me what would be going on during and after delivery.
Colin was born on March 27, 2015 at 9:12AM, a scant 10 minutes after the start of the procedure. He weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces and was 18 inches long. He was born at 34 weeks and 5 days gestation. I heard him scream one short scream, and it was the best sound I ever heard. I was able to hold him just long enough to get our first family picture together. Then he was taken to the NICU for a full evaluation. He needed oxygen for a little while to help inflate his lungs to full capacity. He also had an IV because his blood sugar was too low. He was put into a warming incubator because he had trouble regulating his temperature. He spent a good bit of his NICU time under the lights because he was jaundiced. My husband got to visit him in the NICU after he was stabilized and while I was back in my room recovering from the surgery. I finally got to see him in his incubator around midnight. I didn’t get to hold him until he was over 24 hours old. It was truly surreal holding him for the first time.
In the TGMC NICU, Colin was under the care of the best group of doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners that I could have ever wished for. They cried with us, celebrated with us, and joked with us. Due to my husband’s job, we visited the NICU at all kinds of hours. The staff was always welcoming, whether it was 3AM or 9PM. They never hesitated to explain things or offer suggestions on things we could do. They were able to put my mind at ease so many times. I don’t know how we would have coped without any of them. The hardest thing is to leave the hospital without your child, but the TGMC NICU staff made it bearable.
On April 10, 2015 Colin was discharged after 14 days in the NICU. He came home 24 days before his due date. Colin is currently a second-grade student who is very active and plays four recreation sports. He wants to be a librarian when he grows up.