Friday, May 15, 2009

Nikolas Andrew




I guess it is time I update the blog...it is long overdue. I went into preterm labor on the weekend of April 18th. I was put on bedrest and on terbutiline to stop contractions. It seemed to work for the most part, although I would still have them just not as consistent. My high risk doctor put me on procardia because terbutiline makes you feel all funny and I didnt like it. The procardia didnt do anything. I was in and out of the hospital those two and a half weeks getting different types of things to make my contractions stop. On top of all of this I was spotting which I kept being told was normal. On May 1st I woke up with a lot more than spotting and went directly to labor and delivery. I was not dilating anymore but the contractions were consistent and hurt like heck! I was placed on magnesium sulfate around 630 that morning and had to be on there for 48 hours. My contractions immediately stopped. Magnesium sulfate is not a fun drug either! I was pulled off the magnesium sulfate around 830 on sunday morning and my contractions immediately registered on the monitor but I wasnt feeling much. I was discharged from the hospital on May 3rd a little after lunch and 1.5cm dilated. As soon as we got in the car and on our way home they started to be a little painful but still not very consistent. I was told on discharge to call if they got consistent and I could start to feel them. I called around 3:00 in the morning after an awful attempt at trying to sleep. I was told to take 2 terbutaline and a procardia all at the same time and call back if it didnt work. I think they got a little more spaced out cause I fell asleep for about two hours but woke up again to some very painful consistent contractions, like 4 minutes apart! I waited until the doctors office opened at 8 called in and I was sent back to the hospital. They checked me and I was 5.5cm dilated. There was no stopping him cause a half hour later they checked again and I was 6.5cm. I was in for the long haul at this point. I was not given an epidural until I was almost 8cm because the doctor had given me three shots of terbutaline to try and get the contrations to stop. All that did was make them a little inconsistent but they still hurt really bad! I was given two doses of stadal to take the edge off which is stupid and doesnt work except make you dizzy and completely out of it. I finally got an epidural and felt relief. I pushed three easy times and he was out crying! Everyone was so impressed. On May 4th at 6:17 pm, just 32 weeks, Nikolas Andrew was born weighing 4 lbs 15oz and was 17 inches long. He is doing very good except there was a minor setback last weekend when he got an infection and was having some blood in his stool. They put him on antibiotics and he started to get better, but they stopped his feeds which seems to be the biggest issue at this point. That has since stopped and he is doing much better. They started his feeds back up yesterday and he seemed to tolerate them pretty well, it is just a slow process. Patience are not my best quality and I just want him home now! I am tired a living the NICU life and I have only been there for 2 weeks. By no means is he very sick I just want to take him home. I feel like I have to ask permission to hold my own child and do anything with him and it sucks! I will stop complaining now!




3 comments:

Fer said...

Oh I am so sorry about all the drugs, but I am happy that Nikolas is here now. I hope you can take him home soon!

Vicki Jensen said...

Hang in there. The NICU is stressful and frustrating but Nikolas will be home soon. He is so cute! I can't wait to visit him again.

Jimmie's Auntie Amber said...

Thank you so much for your comment on Jimmie's blog. We have not yet experimented with different formulas mostly because he is now back on mostly breast milk. That is moving through him quicker and he is not puking much anymore. He is still refluxing and refusing to eat though...

I am so sad to see you lost your precious Andrew. And then had Nikolas early. It's awesome that he is home and doing well. Thank you for your care and support!