Sunday, January 12, 2014

Welcoming baby girl at 27 weeks

My baby girl was born at 27 weeks and 2 days. She is what we call a micro baby.

We are told that we are lucky as she weight a whooping 1.12kg. We were also told before her birth that if for whatever reasons she needs to come out before 28 weeks, South Africa does not resuscitate babies born before 28 weeks. Our baby was born in terrible conditions, but she showed signs of life and was trying to breath by herself - this saved her life.

Following a few days in pain, I was admitted to hospital to stop the contractions that was experiencing.
It turned out, the contractions were triggered by an infection - likely a bladder infection - which in fact was an infection of my amniotic pouch. When they removed my baby from my uterus, a nasty smell took over the entire room, it smelled like death.
I just had the chance to catch a quick glimpse of my tiny baby before she was rushed into the neonatal ICU unit. She was in a bad state - She has pneumonia and septicemia.

Following her birth at 16.47pm, I was kind of left there to wait for a room to be available. Unfortunately, the staff change time didn't help and I was becoming to be in a lot of pain as soon as the spinal block wore off. I wonder what was worst in terms of pain.. the contractions or this.

Finally after moaning for what felt like days, I reached my room by nearly 8pm.

To be honest, I don't remember much, I was drugged and in such a state of denial. My friends told me that I didn't even know that I had given birth, yet I was screaming in worry for my tiny little girl.

They took me to a room with 3 other mothers - who had with them 3 full term healthy babies. I cannot understand why nurses would do such thing to mothers like me, who, not only have not yet seen their baby but also do not know yet whether their baby will make it. It is such a slap in the face. All I could do is cry, cry so deep and uncontrollably, and I am sure the "Healthy mothers" couldn't stand my constant crying and moaning.

I am stuck in a bed, have not yet seen my little baby. I long to see and hold her right now. Trying to keep positive and just trying to stop crying!




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