8/19/09
Two years ago ..............
two years ago I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter. I was very excited to have my 5th child. I had planned a home birth. I was ready for her to be part of our family. My birth kit had arrived and everything was in place. I was tired of being pregnant and sick of the comments about how big I was and I looked like I was ready to go any day. As ready as my body was my mind knew I still had nearly 2 months to go, I hope to have her in 6 weeks though.
2 years and one day ago on August 18th 2007 I was admitted to the hospital because my water had broken at only 32 weeks. I was in shock and disbelief !! I was in contact with my midwife who told me I was in the best place. they had stopped my labor, but I was on the fence on what I wanted to happen next.
My children we starting school soon. I wanted to meet all the new teachers get pictures of them see them off to the first day of school. I didn't want my baby to be born now. I still wanted my home birth. I hadn't giving up all hope. I asked many questions about holding the baby inside me with a broken water. they told me it was fine and as long as they can keep me from contracting they would keep her inside and as long as there were no signs of infection or distress in the baby. I was hopeful that maybe that would happen, but they told me it doesn't happen often usually the baby come with in a few days to a week. They told me I would stay in the hospital until the baby came. They thought of being stuck there for days or even weeks made me feel sick. I wanted to be with my family but I still hopped I could get to a "safe" point and go home and have my baby. I also thought if she going to be a premature baby I wanted to just get it over with and deal with the hand we been delt so I can be with my other children.
At 4am on August 19th my contractions started back up and there was no stopping my baby now. My midwife headed to the hospital to be with me and help me fight off this staff who couldn't agree how dilated I was. they were also being very stick on how I could move about what I could do treating me like a first time teen mother. My husband was scared that my midwife and I were going to get us kicked out cause we called there bluff as they threaten c/sections and precautions if I didn't lay how they wanted me too, not move and listen to there orders instead my own body.
at 10:47am on August 19th 2007 Emmaleigh Claire was born at only 32 weeks. She was 4lbs 8oz and breathing on her own !!!! I got to see her for a few minutes before she was rushed to the NICU where she spent the next 8 days and I lived a very difficult 8 days.
I was discharged when she was a few days old and that was one of the hardest things I ever had to do was to leave my baby as I went home. It might have been easier if I believed she was sick and needed to be there, but I didn't. I still don't. Yes she was tiny ! She breast feed with in the first few hours of life and did wonderful !! she was young and needed time to be with me and learn how to nurse, but she had Jaundice which a lot of newborn preemie and full term babies have. the hospital didn't have a billi blanket only the lights so I was stuck just watching her and I couldn't hold her, but 30 minutes every 6 hours. That isn't enough time for a new baby to learn how to nurse. Once I called the right people and lit a flame under there butts and I was allowed to do what I knew I need to do she got better at nursing and everything they expected of her to do to go home she did it. No set backs what so ever ! * days after her birth she was sent home. We had some struggles with nursing and her being a preemie but she did wonderful !!
Today is her 2nd birthday !! She is still tiny doesn't look like a 2 year old more like a 1 year old, but she is doing wonderful and still nursing and I feel like even with her rough starts she is going to be a bright little girl who was out to surprise the world with what she can do they way she did when she was born at only 32 weeks doing things most 32 weekers couldn't do and coming so close to death when we learned my placenta was coming detached and waiting the weeks as the doctors had hoped for would have killed her. We feel blessed and lucky to have such a remarkable specially little girl in our life Emmaleigh is our angel !!
Emmaleigh had a wonderful 2nd birthday. She is the youngest of 5 children so doesn't get mom and dad alone much so that was her gift today. while the kids were in school we found a baby sister and took her to the parenting center to play and then out to eat lunch. After the kids got home we went to gran's house had dinner and cake and Emmaleigh loved the cake mix !! She is now passed out as her 2nd Birthday comes to a end and we look forward to her birthday on Sunday !!
Happy Birthday Emmaleigh !!! I love watching you grow and learning and getting to know the little person you are becoming and I so proud of everything you have done to overcome your hard entrance in this world !! I couldn't imagine my life with our you. you have brought so much to our family !