Christmas Day 2013

"Everything will happen really fast... ....the next time you go home, 
you won't be pregnant and you won't have your baby."  - A.F. Nurse




Christmas Day was really nice and Low-Key.

-Breakfast with John and Trudy VanCott in the morning.

-3pm Dinner at my Grandparents house with my Dad's family.

-Stopped by the VanCotts at 7pm to see all 50+ of them.

Home by 8pm.



This is when I noticed something was going on. I sat down on the couch to write up a few emails and realized my stomach was tightening for about 20 seconds here and there. I finally realized I was having contractions. I was so confused because they didn't hurt or cause any discomfort.  I had to keep my hands on my belly to actually track when they were happening.
Thank goodness for phone Apps! I downloaded a contraction counter and saw that they were 8 minutes apart.
I told Joseph, making sure not to panic him. Also, I told him about a clear fluid that I was leaking since 2pm. It was so little that I didn't see it as any issue. C'MON! Pregnancy is weird and there are plenty of unexplainable things that happen. Because these 2 things were happening at once, we started "googling" it for an explanation. Everything we read pointed to Amniotic fluid and Premature Labor.
I called my mom, who was in AZ for Christmas, and filled her in on what was happening. Of course I explained it as calmly as possible trying to reassure her that everything was fine and I was just going to relax. From the sound of her voice, she didn't seem convinced.

I just kept thinking that I wanted to go to bed and deal with it in the morning.
My sweet sister-in-law and niece stopped by after their movie to see what was going on. At this point my contractions were 7 minutes apart. We called Joseph's parents over for a blessing around 11:45pm.

Following the blessing Joseph looked over to me and said, "should we go to sleep and go in in the morning?" That is EXACTLY what I wanted to do, but felt that we shouldn't risk it.
Joseph grabbed a backpack for me with my toothbrush and contacts case and we made our way to the American Fork Hospital. It was a very quiet car ride. We were both tired and afraid of what we would soon find out.
2 minutes away from the Hospital my mom texted me, "Are you at the Hospital?" Again, Thank goodness for Apps. My family uses the fun little tracker App to stalk each other. I highly recommend it.

They took me to a room where after changing into a hospital gown, 2 nurses came in and gave me a quick run-down as they started attaching me to monitors. "We are going to do 2 tests on the fluid you are leaking to confirm whether or not it is Amniotic Fluid. Now, I want to warn you, if it comes back positive, everything will happen really fast."
The quiet nurse had just finished putting 2 monitors on my stomach to track the baby's heart rate and my contractions. Seeing that my contractions were 6 minutes apart, she gave me an oral pill to stop them.
She continued, "With positive results we will call for an ambulance to transport you to Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. You can't go by car and we can't keep you here because your 26 week old baby will be too young for us to help her. We will give you a steroid shot for your babies lungs...."

I was quiet and confused, thinking, "Yes, my baby will be too young for you to help her. She is too young for Anyone to help her! 26 weeks is too little! There is no way she can come tonight!"
I was now suddenly hooked up to an IV.

As I sat there in complete disbelief, the nurse finished, "If they can delay the baby from coming tonight, you can expect to be in the Hospital for the next 2 months. The next time you go home, you won't be pregnant and you won't have your baby."
I just stared at her quietly. I was tired. This nurse was telling me crazy things! It was 2am and I just wanted to wake up.
I looked over and Joseph, poor guy, and he looked like he had lost control of his life. He really needed a hug. I just wanted to go home and go to bed.
Well...

The Test = Positive for Amniotic Fluid (my water had "broken")
I was quickly being strapped to a gurney and pushed into an Ambulance.

I watched Joseph's headlights follow right behind. I sat there quietly feeling confused and angry. "I can't have this baby tonight..."

They brought me to my room and started hooking me up to machines again. Baby heart rate and contraction monitor and IVs with Antibiotics as well.
I have to say, I am very grateful I had Joseph with me and that he understands me so well. Every time I was asked a question he wouldn't hesitate to answer for me. When the sweet paramedic was trying to cheer me up with small talk he did all of the courtesy laughs and talking.
I am not sure why, but I retreat inside myself. I become very serious and quiet and only want to hear facts and what I need to hear. No sugar coating.
I remember Joseph asking me one question, "What are you feeling? Do you think the baby will make it?" I didn't know what to say... I didn't feel strongly one way or the other. I didn't want to scare him, I just felt like it will be ok. Whatever does happen, will happen for a reason and I felt reassured.

The Dr. came in at 5am and sat down to talk with us. "The first 72 hours after going into premature labor are the riskiest. If we can keep your little girl in for the next 72 hours we are much more likely to keep her in for the next 8 weeks."
Adding 8 weeks to my current 26 weeks doesn't really add up to full term, 40 weeks. Right? I just waited to hear more.
He continued, "We would like to keep you pregnant until 34 weeks. At 34 weeks the risk of infection begins to outweigh your babies developmental complications. So!" My Dr. looked around my room, "I am glad they got you a nice room, but I am sorry, in the next 8 weeks of you being here on bed rest, it will really start to feel like prison."

It was 5:30am and they were going to let us sleep.
7am we were awake again with new antibiotics in my IV and a scheduled ultrasound to check on the baby, which, thankfully, went much better than I expected.
They checked 3 important things.
1. Cervix - Closed and not dilated. (GOOD)
2. Amniotic Fluid Levels - Normal Levels!
3. Babys weight - 1lb. 14 oz.  (SO LITTLE)

The fact that the Amniotic Fluid levels were so high made our dr. question whether or not it was actually amniotic fluid that I was losing. She decided to do a 3rd test and you could tell she was doing her best to not get our hopes up, but she did explain, "If the test is negative and you are losing a different type of fluid, we can send you home."

Our excitement at the prospect of being able to go home was short-lived.  She let us know that having normal amniotic fluid levels meant that the baby would have an easier time developing, but the fact that there was any of the fluid leaking meant that we would be here for the duration of the Pregnancy.

After we got to our hospital room the Neonatologist stopped in to discuss our baby. "If your baby was  born today at 26 weeks she would have a 90% chance of survival. Of the 90% that survive, there is a 90% chance that they wont have any long lasting complications."
He was very thorough and went through each individual system to explain what to expect.
Her lungs are the least developed system and this is why I have received a steroid shot and would received one 24 hours later.
There is a 25% chance of a brain hemorrhage.....
He was really great about answering all of our questions and made it clear that the best thing for the baby is to stay PUT!
For every day she has to develop inside of me, counts as 3 days in the NICU.
Also, if she was born today (26 weeks) she would likely be in the NICU for 3-5 months.

He ended our conversation very positive and said that he looked forward to meeting with us next week to talk about what to expect at 27 weeks. "Every week the news gets extremely better, so I look forward to coming to see you."

We are almost to 27 Weeks! Yes, every Wednesday, please do a little celebration dance for us and realize we made it another week!

Thank you for all of the text messages and calls! We feel very loved and supported and hope you all have a wonderful New Year!