Angela’s Story: Part 6

Parent Highlight

This is the last of six posts dedicated to sharing one couple’s struggle to have children and then the survival of their preemie twins plus their third preemie baby.  They are currently expecting again and are taking new steps toward achieving a full-term delivery.  This is Angela’s Story.

I immediately started having hard contractions that were very close together. By the time we got into the car and on our way to the hospital, I was feeling the urge to push. We got to the hospital and the nurse checked my progress. I was dilated to a 10 and completely effaced, and she could see the baby’s head. There was no doctor there as it was 2:30 in the morning. I was told not to push and was given a spinal tap to help me relax until the doctor could arrive. Within 15 minutes he was there and prepped. It took two pushes and James arrived. He was 6 pounds 12 ounces and 20 inches long, a big baby for a preemie. He had some trouble breathing, so he was taken immediately to the level two nursery. After I was all cleaned up, we were allowed to go see him.

It was so sad to see my baby all hooked up to monitors with an IV in his head and a nasal cannula delivering oxygen. Once again, I had to leave the hospital without him, and spent the next 10 days dividing my time between my newborn in the hospital and my two-year-old twins who didn’t understand why they couldn’t see “their” baby. We went through the process of tube feeding to bottle feeding. I wasn’t allowed to try to breastfeed while he was in the hospital because he had some issues with reflux and diarrhea. I pumped my milk to provide him the nutrition that he needed. After 10 days, we were able to bring him home and be a complete family again. Sam and Rachel fell in love immediately and smothered him with their love and attention.

Our story is not complete. I am currently halfway through another pregnancy. This time I am getting progesterone shots to hopefully avoid preterm labor and delivery. I am hoping that this time when I leave the hospital I will be able to take my baby with me.

Return to Angela’s Story:  Part 1

Angela’s Update: My boy was born in September, only one day short of being 38 weeks! He weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 inches long. The cord was wrapped around his neck tightly when he was born, and he gave us a scare, but once he recovered from that he has been the picture of good health. He is two months old now and weighs over 12 pounds.

(Please feel free to comment and share your similar experiences for Angela’s benefit, and for the rest of us.  Thank you.)

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