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Our little Cate

Triple8Cate - 05:30am Jan 19, 2012 EST

Our daughter Catherine Elizabeth was born via emergency c-section at 30 weeks weighing 2lbs 4 oz. At 28 weeks I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and was put on bed rest for two weeks, while my OB monitored my BP and protein and my liver enzymes. My OB ordered steroid shots to develop Catherine's lungs, in case of early delivery. All my levels kept getting worse despite the bed rest and after an ultrasound I was admitted to labor and delivery and had my daughter that night. She was taken to the NICU and put on a cpap machine for a week and a feeding tube for 4 weeks. She came home weighing 4 lbs and has been very healthy and perfectly developed ever since!! We are so blessed that Cate has been so healthy with no complications at all, she is such a smart little 3 year old!
I would love to have another baby, but I am very afraid that the same complications will happen except earlier. I will be 37 in a few months. Some people say I should definitely try to get pregnant again soon, and some people say that I should not get pregnant and should be happy with one healthy daughter. I want to at least see a high risk OB to have pre-conception counseling.

Any similar stories or words of advice?

(older msg: 1)

stacyat - Jan 19, 2012 3:56 pm (#2 Total: 9)

Mom to Emilyn and Hailey (our 20 week angels) and Elim (our 38 week, full term miracle)!

Hello and welcome to Share! I'm so sorry for all that happened with your pregnancy with Catherine. I think you are on the right track with making an appointment for pre-conception counseling with a high risk OB. They'll be able to tell you all of the possibilities and what the chances are of it occurring again. Hugs, and keep us posted what you find out!
Stacy

lvazquez - Jan 19, 2012 6:29 pm (#3 Total: 9)

Mom to Donovyn (32 weeker), Tristyn (34 weeker), and Naethyn (30 weeker born sleeping)

Welcome to Share! Congratulations on your little girl! I'm so glad to know that after her early start, Cate is doing well and is a healthy 3 year old:) I had preeclampsia too. I would definitely recommend seeing a perinatologist for a consult. Is your OB experienced with high-risk patients? I believe that communication between peri and OB is key and a plan in place can make all the difference. Your OB may want you to come in more frequently for visits and have you do weekly NSTs and ultrasounds as well as 24-hour protein screenings at 26 weeks or earlier.

Wishing you all the best,

Lindsay

KHolley - Jan 20, 2012 5:15 pm (#4 Total: 9)

Welcome to Share! I love hearing stories about little ones that are doing well!

Katie

Evan0409 - Jan 20, 2012 8:46 pm (#5 Total: 9)

As a Mom of a 30 week preemie, I totally understand your worries. Will it happen again.. very scary. Babies are such blessings though and what joy they bring. You are still young enough to give your child a sibling..I bet with the monitoring of a high risk OB your journey just may turn out differently this time. Good luck

Triple8Cate - Jan 22, 2012 1:43 am (#6 Total: 9)

Thank you for the nice welcome to Share! I appreciate the advice and support....I am going to make an appointment to see a perinatologist soon and if they advise me not to get pregnant then I can accept that, but if I don't go now I would always regret not knowing if I could have another child.

stacyat - Jan 22, 2012 2:06 am (#7 Total: 9)

Mom to Emilyn and Hailey (our 20 week angels) and Elim (our 38 week, full term miracle)!

I'm glad that you're going to go in and get seen! I know the biggest help for me when I went in was knowing what the plan would be for any subsequent pregnancies, what the extra monitoring would be, and things like that. Let us know what they say, I hope that you get good news!
Stacy

brookeg - Jan 22, 2012 2:44 am (#8 Total: 9)

I'm glad that you are going in to be seen. I will put your mind at ease knowing the results. Keep us updated!
Brooke

HOLLYK108 - Jan 23, 2012 8:58 pm (#9 Total: 9)

You are right to seek out advice. I am in a very similar situation my son was taken via c-section at 29 weeks, almost thirty. I also had severe pre-e but mine stared at 26 weeks. Now my husband and I want another. We are wieghing the options. I would be happy enough to try and adopt but my husband isn't really into it unless the doctor says no. The others are right a high risk peri is probably best route they can advise you better and track your pregnancy more carefully.

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