Every April since our son was born...
we walk.
He was our "surprise" pregnancy. We had just gotten engaged and began planning our wedding. Then, surprise! We found out I was expecting at the same time as my sister, sister-in-law, and two cousins. My pregnancy was perfect. Slight nausea, a little tired, and I worked as a full-time preschool teacher. No real complaints. My doctors told me all the time I was a model patient.
That was until Sunday January 29, 2006. I was just 30 weeks 1 day and I began cramping every 10 minutes. Not knowing what to do, I called my sister for advice. She was pregnant with her third and an expert at being pregnant. She advised me to call our doctor and drink lots of water and lay on my left side. That is exactly what our doctor suggested and said if it didn't slow down in the next hour to head down to the hospital for a check.
It is no big deal and it happens all the time he told me. Lots of women get contractions from being dehydrated and it eventually stops. He said not to worry and he hoped he didn't see me. Well less than an hour we were headed out the door because they were getting closer not farther apart. The drive to the hospital is a blur. I know Jason said he was lucky he didn't get pulled over and the E.R. at 11 pm is interesting. I had to wait in line behind a belligerent drunk woman who did not know where she was before I could tell them my situation.
The nurse also assured me that this happens all the time and not to worry. Let's just pump some i.v.'s in you and you'll stop.
Not so much. I was now contracting every 5 minutes and could tell that they were getting nervous. Let's just do a little check to make sure you aren't dilating she said...
Well it turns out I was 6cm and in full blown labor at 30 weeks. They tried to stop my labor but Brendan had his own plan. He wanted out. The following morning at 10:01 he arrived. We were told to expect a baby that was not crying, may be blue, and will be whisked off to the N.I.C.U (neonatal intensive care unit) immediately.
The next surprise was that he was none of those things. He was pink and crying. His little lungs were allowing him to make the sweetest little preemie cries. We were all shocked. We were allowed to hold him for a minute to give him a kiss and decide his name, Brendan Paul. He was placed in an incubator for his trip to the N.I.C.U and was able to see his two grandmas waiting right outside our door.
We have no pictures of his first few hours. I had no bag packed, no camera, and my cellphone didn't even take pictures. I remember when I was settled into my room and the nurse came in the first time to check how I was and the comments she made to me. I don't think she knew how they hurt. She was trying to be friendly by saying it didn't even look like I had just had a baby and where was my tummy. I didn't have time to grow a belly my son was just born 10 weeks early.
That is why we walk. We were lucky that Brendan was so healthy and did not have one setback in the hospital. This is almost unheard of in the N.I.C.U. They always tell you one step forward and two steps back. Brendan practically marched out of that hospital after 31 days. So many parents have to leave empty handed with just the memories of their angel babies.
Even six years later I still tear up remembering our time at the hospital. Having to scrub our hands for 3 minutes with the orange soap. Having to drive 30 minutes to visit our son. Having to walk out of that hospital each night without him. I would cry as soon as I got into the elevator. We were the lucky ones. He thrived and grew and was able to come home.
This Sunday we will walk again. We will walk for all those babies we know and love that were born too soon. There are so many of them in my family. We will walk for all the babies and families in the N.I.C.U now that can't walk. We will walk for all those babies that grew wings and their parents who had to leave the hospital empty-handed. We will walk for all of them.
Team Superbaby
March of Dimes for more info about signs of preterm labor
