Birth story: 31 week baby

It’s taken me long enough to get around to this but NICU life has had me busy. Here is the story of my little girl, Mirella Jo.

Mirella is my third baby. My first was born at 39 weeks, my second I had preterm labor at 34 weeks but made it to the “safe” 36 weeks. With the last baby being somewhat early I started this pregnancy off with receiving weekly progesterone shots (ouch by the way !) and weekly ultrasounds to keep an eye on my cervix length. And all was well. I was a very healthy momma and baby was always looking good. My cervix never shortened and I was sure I would make it to or over my due date. August 3rd at 30 weeks I started loosing chunks of my mucous plug. Which yes can regrow but was a for sure sign of impending labor with my last 2. Baby dropped very low the 4th and I started spotting . So I scheduled an appointment for the following day just to reassure myself . Monday August 5th I went in and due to my symptoms doctor wanted to check me . I was dilated to a 3 and spotting so he admitted me for observation after a positive fFn test. When I got to L&D I didn’t even realize it but I was having contractions after contractions ! They gave me procardia all afternoon till everything stopped and I got to go home. With all that they had started me on the steroid shots for the babies lungs to develop. I had to return the next day (Tuesday) for the second shot . Tuesday the 6th marked 31 weeks ! When I got there the doctor asked to check me again and I was dilated to a 4 and 50% effaced . So I was admitted again with consistent contractions . I was pumped full of magnesium and fluids (the mag was horrible 😭) things finally came to a halt on Thursday and I was discharged with instructions to take it easy. I went home and had a normal and relaxing day Friday. Saturday the 10th I woke up at 5am and had severe diarrhea (they had given me stool softeners so I attributed it to that not thinking) I was feeling super cramped up and decided to take a bath. I got out and was standing at my bathroom sink when I had a huge gush...my water had broke ! I yelled to my husband (he thought I had peed on the floor 😂) and we got a sitter for our kids and our bags in the car and headed off to the hospital . At this point I wasn’t contracting and was calm. I got to the hospital and the ambulance was called to transfer me to a hospital with a NICU. Half way to the hospital ( 1hr 20mjn away) I started contracting every 1 1/2 minutes , so the rest of the ride was lights and sirens . I got to the hospital and once again...everything stopped. Doctor said he would try and keep me flat on my back till 34/35 weeks where I would be induced . It was a 50/50 chance I would deliver that day and a 90% chance I would that week. This was about 10am and I laid in bed all day with nothing ! 11pm I started feeling some very painful contractions laying on my side. I called the nurse in but apparently they weren’t picking them up and she told me I needed to calm down and relax I was so mad 😆 my mom who is also a doula felt my belly during a contraction and told me to roll on my back within 5 minutes the nurse came running in and calling the doctor . From there it was a whirlwind . I got rushed over to the delivery room and the contractions got hard and strong and closer. I progressed fast I went from a 6 to a 10 in 20 minutes and was told to start pushing . I was determined to have a med free birth (and I did) but it so painful ! I pushed 5 times and my 3lb 31week girl literally flew out.

I was expecting a much smaller baby (my full term babies are 4lb babes) and I was expecting her to be rushed off but she defied all odds and I got to hold her right then and there .

She is now 33 going on 34 weeks and we are still in the NICU. She hasn’t needed any oxygen support and finally made it to 4lb. She is a trooper and a hard fighter . She is on a feeding tube for now and needs to learn how to eat and maintain body temp before we can go home .

The NICU journey has been an emotional journey that maybe someday I can share too.

I have so much to be thankful for and can’t wait to take my Peanut home