My fifth and final pregnancy đź’”
I don’t typically share much about my personal life on social media anymore, but I figured I’d make a post about what’s been going on recently.
I have been in and out of the hospital since November.
The first time, I went to the hospital after a series of episodes of lightheadedness and stumbling predominantly to my right side. After dozens of tests, an MRI and an MRV, my doctor found something called congenital hypoplasis of the jugular vein at the base of my skull, which they believe is a birth defect. Because of this, my neurologist suspects that I have a fainting disorder.
The next time, I went to the hospital after my resting heart rate reached 138 while at work. My cardiologist found a heart murmur and diagnosed me with tachycardia. After being admitted to Cedar Crest and being hooked up to tele for monitoring, they found that my heart rate was reaching the 160s while I slept.
I was discharged and tried to finish my last three shifts before going on maternity leave early, just so I could make Christmas happen for the kiddos, but not even a week later, I had to go back to the hospital for blood pressure concerns.
When I got to L&D for monitoring, my blood pressure was perfect. Until it wasn’t. I had few high readings after a while, but since my bloodwork came back okay and I didn’t have a history of preeclampsia, I was about to be discharged. That all changed when I developed a pounding headache and my blood pressure climbed to 185/120. Instead of going home, I was transported to Cedar Crest.
I remember feeling funny in the back of the ambulance. I became very weak and lost control of my hands. I dropped my belongings bag and heard it slide across the floor. I was able to get out the words, “am I low?” before hearing the medic scream to the driver to pull over. I have never heard someone scream like that in my entire life. All I can tell you is that I genuinely didn’t think I was going to make it to Cedar Crest. I couldnt help but to think on a loop, “Merry Christmas, kids. Your mom is dead”.
But honestly, those medics saved my life.
They came to check up on me the following day and it wasn’t until then that I was told that my blood pressure plummeted to 64/35.
While at Cedar Crest, I received steroid shots just in case I had to deliver the baby early, but the plan was to try to make it until 37 weeks.
I was discharged with an at-home blood pressure monitor and had to check my vitals twice a day until delivery. I also had two NSTs a week on top of weekly appointments with my OB.
I made it through exactly one week before I was called in to be delivered at 34 weeks and 2 days.
After over 12 hours of labor, a very tiny baby was born.
My very tiny baby that I got to hold for less than one minute before he was whisked away to the NICU kicking and screaming.
Don’t get me wrong. This whole experience was traumatic, but the most traumatic part of it was leaving my baby in the NICU over an hour away from my house and being expected to just continue life as it was.
Meet all 4lbs 9.2 oz of Peter.
He enjoys long naps under the heat lamp
And forgets to breathe right in front of us for fun.
He wasn’t the death of me,
But I’m sure he will be soon
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