32 weeker birth story with congenital heart defect (long post 😅)

My daughter just turned two on the first and we are trying to conceive our second. I have been reading so many of your birth stories lately. I never got to share my birth story because there was so much going on but now seems like as good of a time as any. Long story because those are my favorite ♥️

I still remember the day of my daughter's birth like it was yesterday, even two years later.

My husband and I married in June 2015 and I stopped my birth control in December. I have stage 4 endometriosis and frequent ovarian cysts so we were so sure it would take forever for me to conceive if it even happened at all. Doctors always told me that it would be difficult if not impossible for me to conceive without help. I finally got my period back in February and we started trying. What neither of us expected was that I would get pregnant just two months later ♥️ I got my positive on mother's day 2016 and I could not have been more excited and surprised! This was our miracle baby ♥️

Everything with my pregnancy was going extremely well! I LOVED being pregnant. I had some nausea but was never sick and I absolutely loved my growing belly. However, at our anatomy scan, when we were so excited to find out whether we were having a boy or a girl, instead we were told the words no parents ever want to hear "there is something wrong with your baby's heart". Over the next few weeks we were given the diagnosis of tetralogy of fallot or common arterial trunk. Both are significant heart defects that require open heart surgeries to correct. We were given the option of termination but our daughter was already loved, she already had a spunky little personality on the ultrasounds, I had felt her kick and move, she was already ours. Thankfully the amniocentesis cane back with no genetic defects because those greatly increase the chance of surgical complications. We decided to continue with the pregnancy and I was transferred to MFM and cardiology for the remainder of my now high risk pregnancy.

I had my normal 32 week appointment on Monday. I had been feeling awful for the past two weeks, no energy, lots of swelling, I gained 20 lbs in 2 weeks (but blamed it on having too much to eat at my baby shower and Thanksgiving because mama loves treats 😊). However the weekend before my appointment I had a headache that just wouldn't go away. I knew something was wrong and I knew it was a possible sign of preeclampsia but I went to my appointment as normal since it was already scheduled. I didn't think it was anything too serious and drove myself over an hour to my appointment.

They took my blood pressure and it was 191/110. I also had protein in my urine. They sent me directly to labor and delivery because they were worried I was going to have a stroke from my high blood pressure. They told me I would be admitted until I delivered. I was immediately given a round of steroids to help develop my baby's lungs, blood pressure medication, and magnesium to prevent a seizure and to protect my baby's brain. They told me that they would be delivering early but that they would try to wait until 34 weeks gestation to give my daughter the best chance, especially because of her heart.

They performed an ultrasound and estimated my daughter's weight at just over 4 lbs. She was moving all around and very active, they said thankfully she didn't display any of the normal signs of a preeclampsia baby.

I called my husband but told him to stay home that night since I would be there a while and to just come after work the next day. My mom also came the following day and stayed overnight with me while my husband stayed at a friend's house nearby.

I was on the magnesium for two days and they were the WORST! I felt awful and like a zombie. I still tried to move and go for laps around the hospital to help with the swelling that had now gotten so bad that every time I took a step the tops of my feet jiggled like Jell-O. They thankfully turned off the magnesium day 3 and I started feeling like a human again.

After three days in the hospital and one more round of steroids I awoke in the early morning of December 1st with a terrible headache and chest pains. They drew labs and noticed that my liver levels were rising, a sign that the disease was progressing and my liver was starting to fail. They told me that they would be delivering my baby that day. They also turned the magnesium back on 😩 I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through labor on the magnesium. They moved me and my mom to the birthing suite and prepared for an induction as my blood pressure continued to rise. They started the Pitocin and I felt one contraction before they told me that my blood pressure was getting too high and they were no longer able to control it with medication. They said they would be taking my daughter via emergency C-section to save both of our lives. My husband arrived at the hospital just in time and my dad, brother, and in laws were en route.

They told me to prepare myself because my baby would most likely come out blue and not breathing. They said I wouldn't be able to see her because they would need to whisk her away to the NICU to save her life. As scary as it all was, I was surprisingly calm, I knew in my heart that my baby was a fighter and that she would be ok.

They wheeled me to the operating room and prepped me then my mom came in (my husband passes out at the thought of blood so having him there was a no go). When they pulled her from me, she made your presence known! She was PINK and screaming!! It was the best sound I have ever heard. I will never forget seeing my daughter for the first time through the clear draping, her tiny face protesting being taken from the womb, her tiny body cupped behind the surgeon's hand. I immediately started crying happy tears and all I could say was "she's crying! She's beautiful!" over and over again. My mom was behind me crying and taking my daughter's first pictures. Because she was breathing they were able to bring her over after assessing her and though I couldn't touch you I was able to give you a quick kiss before they wheeled her off to the NICU.

When they brought me back to my room they told me that I wouldn't be able to see my baby until my epidural wore off and I could walk and it would likely be a few hours. I immediately started attempting to wiggle my toes and within an hour was up and taking steps despite still being half numb. They allowed me to go to the NICU and I was finally able to see my daughter. She was perfect! She had so many wires, tubes, oxygen, and medications but all I could see was my beautiful baby girl! That day was the best day of my life and becoming her mommy was and is the best thing that has ever happened to me! ❤❤❤

Evelyn Marie Celeste Hartsock

Born 12/1/2016 at 32 weeks

3 lbs 12 oz and 16.7 inches (but she dropped to 3 lbs 2 oz after the preeclampsia water weight came off

We got a clear diagnosis of her heart and she was diagnosed with tetralogy of fallot pulmonary atresea mapcas (a more complicated form of tetralogy of fallot). She spent 48 days in the NICU and came home 4 days before her due date weighing over 4 lbs. She fought through NEC on Christmas but other than that she did amazingly. She had her first open heart surgery at 6 months and is doing incredible!!!! She has so much energy and is the sweetest most loving little girl and she is still spunky as ever 😊

Just born ♥️

In NICU ♥️

Seeing her for the first time ♥️

Holding her for the first time ♥️ (still very out of it from the magnesium)

Oxygen coming off! ♥️ (For a few weeks before she needed it again for her heart)

Daddy holding her for the first time ♥️

Now at 2!!!! ♥️♥️♥️