Hello. My name is Erin. I just wanted to share my story with ya'll and maybe get some support and encouragement. I use to frequent to pregnancy forums, so some of you may remember me. idk, anyways....
So i was due to have my first child in on Novemeber 22nd 2009. Everything seemed okay, despite some health issues of my own, my doctor was telling my eveything was okay. i had ultrasounds at 8, 10, 17 and 21 weeks and eveything looked good but i did start to swell in my my face a feet somewhat early and my swelling got pregressively worse. I was put on blood pressure meds and bed rest at 26 weeks because my swelling had gotten so bad my skin started kinda splitting open. On sept 14 2009 i went in for my 30 week u/s. My doctor was concerned that my baby girl was very small for her gestation and my blood pressure was too high, so he admitted me to the hosp for overnight observation. the next morning he advised that i needed be moved to another hosp (bigger and better) and will be seen by a high risk OB. After this point is somewhat blurry b/c of the blood pressure meds i was on. on the morning of sept 16th 2009 my new OB came in a introduced himself (only saw his residents until this point) and told me my baby needed to be delivered asap by emergency c section. a hour later i was in the OR, they put me compeletly under for the surgery and 3 hours later i finally came to in the recovery room.
My sweet baby girl was born at 10:11 am on 09/16/09 weighing 1lb 10oz and 13 in long. I named her Makenna Riley. I saw her for the first time on the 17th (Daddy was waiting outside and walked with them to the NNICU). Her premature birth was due to my pre-eclampsia and my health concerns had caused clots in my placenta. Her malnutrion from the clotting caused her to be underweight even for a preemie; she weighed in the equivalent to a 26 week old fetus.
She stayed in the NNICU for 3 months. She passed all her eye and brain scans, and was only on a respirator when she got sick due to stomache/digestive issues. Makenna finally came home December 29th weighing 4lb 11oz. She is doing well and adjusted to being home. My main concern now is her development. Her Ped said she would be abt 6 weeks behind. she still hasn't started reaching out for or grabbing things or really smiling and she hasn't learned how to keep her passy in her mouth. Sometimes i think she smiles but it could just be wincing/crying or some kinda face. i know i need to be petient and let my little fighter develop on her own but i am just so worried something maybe or could be wrong. Am i a bad mother to think that?