Author:  Tina

I was 29 when I had my first child.  It was an uneventful pregnancy. Not only did I not have any problems with the pregnancy, but he came at just the right time to suit my work schedule. I remarried and recently had my second child at the age of 38.  I developed pregnancy-induced hypertension which slowly progressed to preeclampsia.  I was put on modified bedrest and eventually admitted to the antepartum unit with the anticipation that I would stay at the hospital until the baby needed to be delivered...every additional day was to the baby's advantage.  I was in the antepartum unit less than 2 days when I progressed to severe preeeclampsia and went into respiratory failure.  I was quickly intubated, put on the ventilator, and rushed for emergency c-section.  My son was delivered at 32 weeks and weighed 3 lbs 15 oz.  Aside from the expected side effects of general anesthesia he was in good shape...thank goodness!  The last thing I really remember thinking before being intubated was that I hope he's healthy.  He was small and has reflux but is otherwise healthy.  I lost about 5 days of my life somewhere in there.  I spent 10 days in the ICU for respiratory issues, being treated with multiple antibiotics for pneumonia, treated for flu, getting steroids, controlling high blood pressure with multiple medictions.  I ended up being in the hospital for 2 and a half weeks.  One of our biggest concerns was that the baby might get discharged before me.  This is daddy's first baby and he had no experience with babies in the past.  Luckily that didn't happen. The baby got to come home yesterday.  I'm doing fairly well...I get tired easily and can't go nonstop like I was used to doing.  I have pains when I breathe but that's OK because my baby is worth it.  In all of this, I think the most injured party is my husband.  Sadly, I think he may be scarred for life.  He doesn't have a background in healthcare so he didn't really understand what was going on.  My sister and ex-husband are pediatricians and although terribly worried about my condition, felt relief when I was intubated because I didn't have to struggle to breathe anymore.  He sat by my side at every visitation holding my hand...one night he said goodbye.  It breaks my heart to think of how much pain he must have been in not knowing if I was going to live or die and the prospect of raising a baby on his own.  I'm glad I wasn't planning on having anymore kids because after this nightmare, I would've changed my mind.