I’ve always read birth stories and got excited thinking about how I can’t wait to tell you guys my birth story in the next months. Little did I know, I’d be telling my birth story super early. This will be a long story so go get yourself a drink and get comfy lol.

I’ve always been considered high risk during my pregnancy because I have chronic high blood pressure, so I was seeing MFM my whole pregnancy. Believe it or not my blood pressure has never been this controlled (pregnancy did me well.) So it all started on April 14th while I was at work I felt a small gushing of fluid I thought to myself maybe it’s a little pee 🤷🏽‍♀️ didn’t happen again but my back felt tight ( I’m a ER Nurse) I sat down took it easy and I felt better. I had a appointment with my MFM on 4/17 so I didn’t feel any urgency to call before. I get to my appt and the ultrasound tech is measuring my lovely huge fibroids and I can see her go back to my cervix 3 times. She asked me if I was having any contractions any fluid loss etc I said no... then I remembered Sunday the small gushing. She leaves the room and calls the doctor and when she returns she says she’d like to do a vaginal ultrasound. Immediately I ask her if she couldn’t measure my cervix and she paused and said she couldn’t get a good measure.

we finish up with the ultrasound and it’s just my husband me in the room and I immediately burst into tears, he’s confused and I already knew this wasn’t going to be good. So my doctor comes in and sits down with me and says to us that she needs me to go to L&D and get put on the monitor and get checked to see if I’m dilated because they cannot measure my cervix and they aren’t sure if it’s open and thinned. I again burst into tears and everyone in the room is trying to calm me down, my doctor asks me what do I do for a living and I yell I’m a ER nurse!! She goes okay you know too much and that’s why you’re panicking, she reassured me that I’m far along and baby boy weighs enough that if he does decide to come he wouldn’t have to go to Orlando. I calmed down got my blood pressure checked and had my husband get me over to the hospital. I get there and they are waiting for me, they get me undressed and punt on the monitor. The doctor comes in and tells me I will get some shots to help baby lungs and he wants to check me to see if I’m dilated.

I was having contractions but not feeling anything and they calmed down after a hour of being there. I was told my cervix is CLOSED but I’m 50% effaced I think to myself I’m 27w6d okay I’m getting close. I was put on bedrest and told absolutely NO SEX.

Fast forward to May 5th now 31w3d I’m at lunch with my husband and in laws for their birthday and I went to the bathroom I came back sat down and felt like I was peeing myself... thankfully everyone was eating desserts so I knew we’d be leaving soon. We get into the car and I tell my husband not to panic but I’m pretty sure my water just broke. Of course he panics and I call my doctor and tell him to head To L&D.

I get there and as I’m signing myself in I felt eater trickling down my legs 😩😳.

I get out into a room and immediately checked to make sure it’s my water that broke and put on the monitor. The doctor and nurses come back together and tell me yes my water has ruptured and I will have to stay until baby is delivered to get antibiotics and continuous monitoring because I am having contractions. I tell them I can’t feel anything I have no pain I’m just leaking fluids.

I get two more shots to help baby lungs and magnesium to help his brain and bleeding if he were to come. Now I’m 1cm and 50% effaced.

All the doctors nicu and respiratory discussed with me all the risks and what to expect if baby boy decided to come before 33 weeks. So at this point I canceled my maternity pics and my baby shower preparing myself to have a preemie at this point.

I have ultrasounds every 3 days and labs drawn every 3 days as well. Baby was doing great 8/8 results, labs look great no infection etc. all until 5/17.

They watched baby on the monitor in the morning on 5/17 baby was great beautiful heart rate no contractions.

Later at 7pm the night shift nurse comes in and says the doctor wants to see how we are doing put me on the monitor now and let’s watch for 30 minutes. At 7:45pm my nurse comes in and tells me to lay on my right side. I go to the right and wait 15 minutes then I see his heart rate at 184 and going to 190. The hospitalist comes in and tells me he’s ordering fluids and blood work and he’d like me on oxygen to see if that can help my little guys heart rate go down.

At 9pm nothing works and baby heart rate is still in the 180s to 190s. I have a repeat ultrasound and baby gets a 4/8 and the doctor comes back at. 9:45pm and tells us baby has to come soon we aren’t sure what’s wrong. He explains to me that if bled a lot (if my fibroid is hit) I’d most likely end up having a hysterectomy. I cried and said whatever you have to do to make sure my baby is healthy and here. At 10:01pm I’m wheeled to the OR.

My beautiful baby boy was born May 17th at 11:05pm via csection weighing 4.3lbs and I heard the most beautiful music to my heart his scream I knew he’d be okay. He spent 8 days in NICU exceeding all expectations praise God. He’s been home with us for 2 weeks now. Recovery hasn’t been easy but he is 1000% worth all of this 💙