Today I am wearing purple. I wear purple to bring awareness to prematurity. Each passing year prematurity effects more and more families. I personally know many, too many, friends who have experinced premature births, with no explanatation as to why. I am one of those families. Our story turned out well, about as well as a premature birth story goes. So I will share a little with you about my first child, Aiden Quinn Smith, who joined us at 33 weeks, 6lbs, 4.5oz.
Aiden came so early that we hadn't even done our labor and birth classes yet...only the first one, the intro. class. So I had NO idea what to look for or watch for. In hindsight, I had ALL the symptoms of premature labor, and had no idea thats what it was. I just felt odd, had pains, GI issues, nothing out of the norm for being pregnant, I just figured it was more pregnancy stuff, and nothing to worry about. I woke with some very rhythmic low back pain, but just thought it was my growing belly putting pressure on my back muscles and they were complaining. After about 2 days of odd symptoms, and the back pain, I finally prayed. I asked God to give me a sign if there was something I should be concerned about. I told him that I wasn't planning on calling the doctor for these little things, so if I should call, I need a better sign. Well, thenext morning I woke up with spotting. I still got dressed for work, thinking I'd call my doctor and bump my appt. from friday to thursday (it was Wenesday at this point) Well, I got sent right to the hospital. My mom and husband met me there, where they told me I was having contractions, but everything seemed ok. They ran a couple tests, and while we were waiting for the results, I was still debating about going into work (I was a dedicated employee!!!) The doctor came in, told me I was leaking amniotic fluid and this baby was coming early. I got transfered to Lehigh Valley Hospital via ambulance, and was put on bed rest. They gave me steroids to help develope the baby's lungs. I had ultrsounds every 4 hours, and we finally found out we were having a boy. That saturday night I went into full labor and by lunchtime sunday we had a baby boy. He was breathing on his own, and all was well. He spent two weeks in the NICU until he learned to suck, swallow, breathe and gained enough weight to be allowed to use a car seat.
Everytime I use hospital soap, it brings back memories of him in that incubator.......having to leave him each night to go home. Its so unatural to leave the hospital without your baby. It was an extrememly emotional time for us, and yet, our story had a happy ending. He does have asthma and many allergies, lots of lung issue I attribute to him being premature...but all in all, hes perfect. And we were blessed.
My heart breaks for those who have not been so blessed. For the babies that come home with sleep apnea, or are blind, or who dont' make it at all. My heart breaks for those parents in such a way, its hard to put into words. You see, even though things went so well with Aiden, we were given no guarentee's that he would make it. I remember the feeling of not knowing what tomorrow would hold. With that knowledge that each time we left could be the last time we'd see him. I truly can't imagine how hard it would have been for things to turn out that way.
I hope by sharing my story, its helped you to be aware of what a growing problem this is in our country. Please, if you can, dontate to March of Dimes, take the time to do so, because they do so much for families going through this struggle.
Here are some picture of my Aiden. Please forgive the quality, I do not have the office today and had to take phone pictures of the albumn ILO scanning them in.
My little miracle.
Just like Daddy
cutie pie
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