Trevor's Birth Story
Trevor's story begins on Mother's Day 2009. After a long day at work, I came home and realized I wasn't feeling quite "right." I knew this feeling all too well. I had experienced it twice before...when I was pregnant with our daughters. I thought "surely I'm not..." But a home pregnancy test confirmed my instincts. Not one, two, three, or even four, but FIVE positive tests! Dennis (my husband) and I were so happy, but I admit, I was a little nervous. I was excited, but scared at the same time.
Fast forward to June 11th 2009- I started cramping and spotting and went to the ER. I had an ultrasound that showed a 1cm subchorionic hematoma (blood clot behind the placenta). The baby's heartbeat was beating away at 190 beats per minute. I was told that by ultrasound, I was about 8 weeks pregnant. They said I may miscarry due to the bleeding and there was nothing we could do. The ER doctor recommended bed rest and a follow-up with my OBGYN. The follow up went good, and the bleeding stopped. WHEW! I was so relieved.
June 25th- My 27th birthday. The day started out great! I was sitting at the table talking with my grandmother when all of a sudden I felt a gush. I was too scared to look, but knowing that I had to, I slowly stood up and as I seen the blood, another huge gush followed. Back to the ER. This time, I just knew there would be no heartbeat. I tried to prepare myself for the news. I kept saying the whole way there "There's just no way..." I was sent straight to the ultrasound room. As the cold gel was applied to my belly, I lost my composure. I didn't want to know. I didn't want to see. As the tech slowly slid the probe accross my belly, I was preparing for the words I did not want to hear. Much to my surprise, she said "Oh look! There's your little peanut!" I looked. There it was! I sobbed even harder watching the little bomp-bomp-bomp of it's heartbeat. My baby was still there! Then the tech showed me that the SCH had grown. It was now 3cm. The ER doctor explained I could very easily miscarry, but there was still a chance that the SCH would disappear. Back on bedrest for the next 8 weeks. It worked! As I went through the regular prentatal visits with ease, I was certain my baby was going to be just fine. The next few months were pretty uneventful.
September 2- My anatomy ultrasound! We were so excited! We couldn't wait to find out the sex of the baby. Already having two precious little girls, we were hoping for a boy. The tech confirmed our hopes. It's a boy! I was so shocked I almost fell off the table. Dennis danced around the room like a little kid! More good news followed, no SCH! It was gone! She said everything looked good and I was measuring 19weeks and 4 days. What? It didnt sound right to me, I was 21 weeks, but I figured it was no big deal. The doctor said it was totally normal at this point to have measurements a little "off." I also have complete placenta previa. I might need a c-section, and may be at risk for preterm labor if the placenta did not move. I was a little freaked out by this, but reassured everything was okay.
October 15th- My baby wasnt "acting" right. His movement had decreased and when he did move, it felt "sluggish." I happened to have a doctor's appointment that day at 2pm. I told my OBGYN about the decrease in movement. He ordered an ultrasound right away with a biophysical profile and doppler. The tech was very nice, but wouldn't answer my questions. "Is my baby okay?" "Look, there's his heartbeat" she said. "Yeah, but is he okay?" "Well, he sure is feisty!" Again my question not answered. She left out of the room to call my doctor. The door opened and she stuck her head inside and said "Dr. Dowdy wants you to come back over to his office." I knew it was bad. I walked back to his office and they brought me straight back, ahead of everyone in the waiting room. Again, I knew it was bad. Dr. Dowdy came in and sat down close to me. The next few minutes are a blur. All I heard were "baby is not growing...too small....doesn't look good....may need to deliver soon...specialist in Houston....survival rate."
October 16- I was seen in Houston by a Perinatologist (Dr. Reiter) at 9am. Another ultrasound. As I lay there, soaking the paper underneath my head with tears, the Doctor is telling me that my baby is severly growth restricted, weighs about a pound, and he does not have a good chance of being viable due to his size. My head was pounding from the sobbing and my blood pressure sky rocketed. I was admitted to The Woman's Hospital of Texas the same day. I was told they would monitor me and the baby and take the baby when he, or myself got into danger. I asked how long he would be okay inside me. The answer was 2 weeks, at best. We didn't even make it one week.
October 19- Dr. Reiter explained to me that the baby's heart rate and movement patterns indicated that he was in real danger. He needed to be deilvered soon, or he would die in utero. Because of my placenta previa, I was told I would have to have a c-section. My reaction was mixed. "I'm lost. I don't understand. Don't they know my baby is too small to be born? I'm 26 weeks and 4 days, but my baby measures 22 weeks and 4 days" I don't think I fully understood the urgentness in their voices. Looking back, I remember the solemness. They knew the chances for my baby were not great. The next thing I know, my husband came in the room, and I fell apart. It seems like just seconds later (it was a couple of hours in reality), I was being prepped in the operating room. Everything that went on in the operating room is very hard for me to remember. I was distraught, angry, and terrified. I was given medication to calm me down, twice. This is all I can remember clearly: I got an epidural. I felt them prepping my abdomen. I heard them say "We're ready." I feel tugging and pulling and I heard the doctor say "The baby doesn't look good." I started praying, begging, pleading with God to save my baby. I heard two of the tiniest cries imaginable. He cried! My baby cried! He was alive! He was whisked away. I never even seen him. Someone came into the operating room to tell us his weight and length. 1lb 1oz, 11.5 inches long. I felt like I was playing a part in a movie. There was just no way that my baby was that small!
Later, after an eternity in the recovery room, the neonatologist wheeled a little isolette up to my bedside. She said "Take a quick look, Mommy. Here's your son." All I could see was a little redish purple thing covered in tubes and lines. I touched his hand, just for a split second. Then they took him away again. A little while later Dennis came in and showed me pictures of Trevor. He looked so tiny and frail, but he was absolutely beautiful to me. I could see the fear in my husband's face, but I also seen pride. He was so proud of our son. I didn't get to see Trevor again until the next day. That was, to say the least, a bittersweet moment. I was so thankful that my baby was alive, but terrified at the same time.
The first couple of weeks home without Trevor was torture. I cried a lot, and didn't sleep much. I would look at his little bassinett and just break down. It is getting better, but it's still the worst feeling I have ever experienced. I know that this feeling will not go away until he is home. Hopefully the next couple of months will go by fast.
Click on the "Daily Update" section to view the most recent information on Trevor. Feel free to leave comments. Periodically I will post new pictures in the "pictures" section. The "Ever Wonder Why" section is an inspiring, "MUST READ" for anyone who has had a child prematurely. Please share this site with everyone you know, and please, keep Trevor in your prayers.
Love,
Melody
Fast forward to June 11th 2009- I started cramping and spotting and went to the ER. I had an ultrasound that showed a 1cm subchorionic hematoma (blood clot behind the placenta). The baby's heartbeat was beating away at 190 beats per minute. I was told that by ultrasound, I was about 8 weeks pregnant. They said I may miscarry due to the bleeding and there was nothing we could do. The ER doctor recommended bed rest and a follow-up with my OBGYN. The follow up went good, and the bleeding stopped. WHEW! I was so relieved.
June 25th- My 27th birthday. The day started out great! I was sitting at the table talking with my grandmother when all of a sudden I felt a gush. I was too scared to look, but knowing that I had to, I slowly stood up and as I seen the blood, another huge gush followed. Back to the ER. This time, I just knew there would be no heartbeat. I tried to prepare myself for the news. I kept saying the whole way there "There's just no way..." I was sent straight to the ultrasound room. As the cold gel was applied to my belly, I lost my composure. I didn't want to know. I didn't want to see. As the tech slowly slid the probe accross my belly, I was preparing for the words I did not want to hear. Much to my surprise, she said "Oh look! There's your little peanut!" I looked. There it was! I sobbed even harder watching the little bomp-bomp-bomp of it's heartbeat. My baby was still there! Then the tech showed me that the SCH had grown. It was now 3cm. The ER doctor explained I could very easily miscarry, but there was still a chance that the SCH would disappear. Back on bedrest for the next 8 weeks. It worked! As I went through the regular prentatal visits with ease, I was certain my baby was going to be just fine. The next few months were pretty uneventful.
September 2- My anatomy ultrasound! We were so excited! We couldn't wait to find out the sex of the baby. Already having two precious little girls, we were hoping for a boy. The tech confirmed our hopes. It's a boy! I was so shocked I almost fell off the table. Dennis danced around the room like a little kid! More good news followed, no SCH! It was gone! She said everything looked good and I was measuring 19weeks and 4 days. What? It didnt sound right to me, I was 21 weeks, but I figured it was no big deal. The doctor said it was totally normal at this point to have measurements a little "off." I also have complete placenta previa. I might need a c-section, and may be at risk for preterm labor if the placenta did not move. I was a little freaked out by this, but reassured everything was okay.
October 15th- My baby wasnt "acting" right. His movement had decreased and when he did move, it felt "sluggish." I happened to have a doctor's appointment that day at 2pm. I told my OBGYN about the decrease in movement. He ordered an ultrasound right away with a biophysical profile and doppler. The tech was very nice, but wouldn't answer my questions. "Is my baby okay?" "Look, there's his heartbeat" she said. "Yeah, but is he okay?" "Well, he sure is feisty!" Again my question not answered. She left out of the room to call my doctor. The door opened and she stuck her head inside and said "Dr. Dowdy wants you to come back over to his office." I knew it was bad. I walked back to his office and they brought me straight back, ahead of everyone in the waiting room. Again, I knew it was bad. Dr. Dowdy came in and sat down close to me. The next few minutes are a blur. All I heard were "baby is not growing...too small....doesn't look good....may need to deliver soon...specialist in Houston....survival rate."
October 16- I was seen in Houston by a Perinatologist (Dr. Reiter) at 9am. Another ultrasound. As I lay there, soaking the paper underneath my head with tears, the Doctor is telling me that my baby is severly growth restricted, weighs about a pound, and he does not have a good chance of being viable due to his size. My head was pounding from the sobbing and my blood pressure sky rocketed. I was admitted to The Woman's Hospital of Texas the same day. I was told they would monitor me and the baby and take the baby when he, or myself got into danger. I asked how long he would be okay inside me. The answer was 2 weeks, at best. We didn't even make it one week.
October 19- Dr. Reiter explained to me that the baby's heart rate and movement patterns indicated that he was in real danger. He needed to be deilvered soon, or he would die in utero. Because of my placenta previa, I was told I would have to have a c-section. My reaction was mixed. "I'm lost. I don't understand. Don't they know my baby is too small to be born? I'm 26 weeks and 4 days, but my baby measures 22 weeks and 4 days" I don't think I fully understood the urgentness in their voices. Looking back, I remember the solemness. They knew the chances for my baby were not great. The next thing I know, my husband came in the room, and I fell apart. It seems like just seconds later (it was a couple of hours in reality), I was being prepped in the operating room. Everything that went on in the operating room is very hard for me to remember. I was distraught, angry, and terrified. I was given medication to calm me down, twice. This is all I can remember clearly: I got an epidural. I felt them prepping my abdomen. I heard them say "We're ready." I feel tugging and pulling and I heard the doctor say "The baby doesn't look good." I started praying, begging, pleading with God to save my baby. I heard two of the tiniest cries imaginable. He cried! My baby cried! He was alive! He was whisked away. I never even seen him. Someone came into the operating room to tell us his weight and length. 1lb 1oz, 11.5 inches long. I felt like I was playing a part in a movie. There was just no way that my baby was that small!
Later, after an eternity in the recovery room, the neonatologist wheeled a little isolette up to my bedside. She said "Take a quick look, Mommy. Here's your son." All I could see was a little redish purple thing covered in tubes and lines. I touched his hand, just for a split second. Then they took him away again. A little while later Dennis came in and showed me pictures of Trevor. He looked so tiny and frail, but he was absolutely beautiful to me. I could see the fear in my husband's face, but I also seen pride. He was so proud of our son. I didn't get to see Trevor again until the next day. That was, to say the least, a bittersweet moment. I was so thankful that my baby was alive, but terrified at the same time.
The first couple of weeks home without Trevor was torture. I cried a lot, and didn't sleep much. I would look at his little bassinett and just break down. It is getting better, but it's still the worst feeling I have ever experienced. I know that this feeling will not go away until he is home. Hopefully the next couple of months will go by fast.
Click on the "Daily Update" section to view the most recent information on Trevor. Feel free to leave comments. Periodically I will post new pictures in the "pictures" section. The "Ever Wonder Why" section is an inspiring, "MUST READ" for anyone who has had a child prematurely. Please share this site with everyone you know, and please, keep Trevor in your prayers.
Love,
Melody