Pre-term labor

Jenna

This past Tuesday I went into pre-term labor at 20 weeks and 4 days. They think I had an incompetent cervix. I went to my doctors office with complaints of abdominal cramping and mucus discharge; I was 3 cm dilated on exam. I was immediately admitted to the adjoining hospital but transferred to a hospital with a high risk fetal team and level III NICU. When we got there we were told that I had progressed to 5 cm and that my son’s feet were protruding out of my cervix. They said there was no hope for us and that I would imminently deliver that night; they said that he was too young and would die immediately. 24 hours later, nobody could explain why I had suddenly stopped having contractions with no intervention. A new high-risk doctor came to see me, repeated several exams and then included that if I had no contractions for an additional 24 hours that he might be able to do a life-saving cerclage procedure. On Thursday at 11 AM I went in for an emergent salvage cerclage. Today I was released from the hospital, with a successful cerclage, a healthy growing baby boy, and a great appreciation for the greatness of medicine and God. I am terrified of what the future holds now. I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to carry my son to term. And I have no idea what me and my husband will do for income. My work does cover disability, but only for a certain percent and at the most 15 weeks- though I’m easily looking at 20 weeks of bed rest and then no guaranteed maternity leave. Does anyone have any advice to ease my mind?