World Prematurity Day 2017

Today, and every November 17, is World Prematurity Day!

November 17 is World Prematurity Day

Many of you many not know, but Miss Pickles is a preemie! In honor of WPD, I am sharing the story of our beginning.

Miss Pickles was a surprise pregnancy. For many months before we were pregnant, my cycles were very irregular, so much so that I had planned to see a fertility specialist. I was 34 at the time, and not planning my family yet. I thought I had time, and could wait til I was “ready.” But this incident alerted me to the fact that perhaps time was not on my side.

So I was pleasantly surprised, when, without even “trying,” we were pregnant! And then the fun began… a brief pregnancy that was rough from beginning to its premature end. I was sick well into my second trimester, and at 16 weeks was put on modified bedrest. Which meant that I could be up for only a few hours each day- no more than 4. I was self-employed at that time, so I was grateful that I could at least work part time. I had oligohydramnios, which is doctor-speak for low amniotic fluid.

(not my photo)

Once diagnosed, the quest for the cause ensued. Weekly doctor’s visits with ultrasounds. More invasive studies, the scariest was the amniocentesis, where a very large needle was inserted through my abdomen and into my uterus for sampling of the fluid. Then the wait for the results… which seemed like eternity, but was only a week or so. At first I cried a lot. Mostly out of fear. The thing that I didn’t even know I wanted, a baby, my baby, was now the thing I wanted most. But then I prayed. And faith came. I knew that either one of 2 things would happen. God would either heal my child, or He would give me what I needed to care for her. It was that simple. And the tears stopped.

Preemie Moms are Super Women! (not my photo)

Fast forward, many more weeks of bedrest, gestational diabetes, and all that comes with it, and I go into labor… 8 weeks too soon. At this point, we had a working diagnosis: jejunal atresia. During her formation, her intestines didn’t form properly and without surgical correction, she would die. Of course she didn’t have the typical presentation of this disease (she’s my girl- we don’t do things the easy way).

With medications, my labor was stopped a few times… anything to buy more time and give her more time in utero. A week later, Spencer wouldn’t be held back anymore, and at 33 weeks, she entered the world!

Miss Pickles’ Birthday!

So after a brief stay at Piedmont Hospital, she was transferred to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. The next day, yes at 1 day old, she underwent surgery to repair to birth defect. We spent 30 days in the NICU… longest month of my life.

This was the first time I held my child. She was 7 days old. I had never known such love and fear at the same time. But I also had not known how deep my faith could go or how awesome God’s love could be. I guess that’s why he made me a Mom- this was how I had to learn this lesson….and I am grateful for these lessons and blessings everyday.

For some of us, our beginnings in motherhood were spent in the NICU. For those of you who are, or if you know anyone who is- tell them to be of good courage. God is in control of everything.