I have never had perfect health, so when I was ill for weeks on end I attributed my constant vomiting and weight loss to my IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Finally I went to the doctor fearing that my condition had progressed to something far more sinister, if someone so much as looked at me wrong I would vomit. Imagine my surprise when the doctor told me he had good news and great news. My IBS had not gotten worse (the good news); instead, I was 9 weeks pregnant (the great news).
I continued on my daily life, with the exception of always getting sick. The prospect of having a baby was not really sinking in. I was excited but not like I had imagined that I would be. I didn’t have the “glow” or even a belly to show. So I waited patiently for that excited, jump up and down feeling I had heard women experience.
The weeks turned into months and finally at 23 weeks my husband and decided to find out the gender of our baby. The ultrasound was the boost I needed. I could clearly see the shape of a tiny human, a boy! The excitement hit me in a rush. I pointed at the screen excitedly telling my mom and husband to look at the baby. Just look at how gorgeous he was, he was moving, and it was finally real for me. I was going to be a mommy!
Up until this point my husband and I had not done much planning except browsing a few pages in my pregnancy book. But now we were ready to push full steam ahead with baby preparations.
It was only two weeks after we learned we were having boy when suddenly things started going wrong. As a first time pregnant woman I was oblivious to the first warning sign, something that could have stopped the hell I and my son were about to endure. My mucus plug had fallen out, but I thought it had been discharge as the plug contained no blood as it typically does. A few days after my “discharge” I began to feel some pain in my belly but it was high up into my diaphragm, and with IBS this was a common occurrence. Except this time it was exceptionally painful. I tried to go to bed, but finally by 2am I was begging my husband to take me to the hospital.
When we arrived I was hooked up to a monitor that showed short and irregular contractions. The nurse gave me a shot of Terbutaline and told me I was experiencing Braxton Hicks, but that I should call my OB in the morning for a check up. The shot worked and the pain ceased leaving me to a long restful sleep.
The next morning the OB explained that Braxton Hicks were normal, but stop in by for a quick check up. I had no idea my life was about to be flipped upside down. I will never forget the words uttered by my OB as she examined me: “Oh no… Amber, I need to get you to the ER immediately, you’re dilated”. What?! I panicked. How could I be dilating?! I was only 25 weeks!
The trip across the street was surreal. And as panic ensued around me in a small triage room, I started sinking. I was being stabbed and assaulted by needles and fingers. After 5 attempts they finally got an IV in my arm, and slammed me with a super painful steroid shot to my butt cheek. My husband arrived just in time for us to learn that I was being rushed from our local hospital in Loveland to Denver, almost an hour away. By this time I was feeling some pain in my diaphragm again and the ambulance ride was gruelling.
When I reached Denver the chaos suddenly disappeared and I sat in quiet room waiting for my husband, and an answer to what was going to happen. At first I was treated somewhat coldly, until they ruled out that my early labor was not a result of drug use – I don’t do drugs and never had. Then I was subjected to an amniocentesis, a long needle jammed into my uterus to check for an infection in the amniotic fluid. That was also clear, and not the cause of my labor. Since there were no answers on why I was in labor they focused on how to stop my labor. A cerclage stitch was a possibility until it was discovered that I was now 2cm and my water bag was bulging. So now what?
Finally the doctor came and said the only option was inverted bed rest and prayers. In 2008, resuscitation for premature babies was 26 weeks. I was at 25 weeks and 3 days. I was terrified and the medicine was not stopping my contractions. By the end of that first day, the contractions were strong and painful.
The next four days became a living hell. I couldn’t have an epidural, because it couldn’t just sit for the length of time the doctors were going to try to keep me pregnant. And I couldn’t have regular doses of pain meds either because of the fragile state of my baby. I suffered thru each contraction with little grace and at one point asked a nurse to slip me something to kill me – I couldn’t take the pain or the thought that I would lose my son. By the fourth day of continued labor I was a zombie. Beyond exhausted and my body was shutting down. My kidneys were starting to fail, and I had begun to have seizures. Despite a drip, I was severely dehydrated. I was dying and so was my son. His heart rate stayed dangerously low and he had ceased all movement, not that I had ever got to feel him move. The doctor called a family meeting and told us that they couldn’t allow me to continue my pregnancy and that my best chance was a carefully scheduled C -section. This was also the baby’s best chance, as now I was at 26 weeks they could try to save him. My family agreed as we were told of the danger an emergency C section would pose in my current condition. Tomorrow at noon I was going to have my son.
Since being admitted my family had been by my side. Now that we knew the direction we were going I told them all to go home, get some sleep. I would need them tomorrow, because I feared my baby would die. My mom was the last reluctant person to leave as I screamed and arched with each ripping contraction. A nurse gave me some pain and sleeping medication to help me rest before my surgery. But only after a few short hours I was woken by the worst and hardest contractions. Then my water broke, I felt it gush out of me and I started screaming uncontrollably. I knew this meant an emergency C section, a risky and dangerous operation of which I may not live thru. I was alone, frightened, and wondered if I would ever see my family again. I didn’t even get the chance to call my mom to tell her I loved her.
My water broke at 1:15am and Jaydon was born viaC section at 1:35am. I was under for the operation and I thank god for that. By the time I woke up again my family was there. I was so happy that I was alive but I didn’t ask about my son. I didn’t want hear that he might be gone.
Finally the doctor came in and check my vitals. I was not out of the woods yet but doing much better and I will never forget what he said to me, “your vitals are looking better, enough that I’m comfortable letting you be transported to the NICU, would you like to meet your son?”
I was ecstatic! He was alive! I was going to get to meet him! I remember shouting, we did it, we did it, we’re alive. I learned that in the hours I was under Jaydon had begun breathing on his own and had no isolated problems outside of what’s expected for being born at 26 weeks. I barely listened to the doctors as they told me of the possibility of handicaps. I didn’t care, I loved him and I would love him no matter what. We couldn’t hold him until he was almost a month old but the wait was worth it and the good news kept coming. He was coming along nicely and would be likely to recover with little to no problems relating to his premature birth.
It took nearly three months before he could come home. That was almost five years ago. My one pound, nine ounce baby is now a happy healthy preschooler and my daily reminder that miracles are real.
We have also been blessed with a daughter with whom we finally learned that I have a weak cervix which fails causing me to go into preterm labor. My daughter was helped to full term with a cerclage stitch and 21 weeks of bed rest. She will be two this year. My cervix was not made to carry children, but I’m blessed with two beautiful, happy, healthy children: Jaydon and Morgan.
Recommended Reading
Finding Healing in a C-Section
My CBAVBAC – Cesarean Birth After VBAC
Emily’s Birth Story
Loving My Body {One Scar at a Time}
Birth Story of Ace {Homebirth Transfer to Cesarean}
A Perfect Cesarean Section, Complete with Skin-to-Skin {A First For the Hospital}- C-Section Without Fear {Baby Reaches His Hand Out from the Womb}
Compassionate Elective Cesarean Birth {Photographer’s Point of View}
A Supported TOLA2C Cesarean Birth Story 
Selah’s Birth Story
23 Comments
Kathleen Neely
Bless you, Baby’s are worth whatever it takes to have them for sure!!
Love and hugs!!
Christal Letizia
Im in tears. Your story so closely resembles mine. My daughter luved for 156 days amazing days Im grateful for!!!!
Brianna Kelley
I had a premie my son was born at 32 weeks! He’s now a perfect 7 month old 🙂 preemies hold a very special place in my heart. So amazing.
samantha
such a great story! I cried reading it…my daughter was also born at 26 1/2 weeks and shes now 2 1/2 and perfect 🙂 she weighed 2 pound 1 oz. Its so great to hear stories of others baby like mine that went threw all that trouble and now are fine! my story was a little different my water broke at 18 weeks and I was on bed rest until I went into labor at 26 and she as born 🙂 So happy you had a good outcome too! Its amazing what they can do for such small fragile babies
Kari
Such a beautiul story! Thank youf or sharing this.
Michelle Miro HIggins
I just wanted to say I love this story . I never write comments but I too have ic and have lost a child because of it. Your feels right before your c section match mine to a t. I now have a a beautiful 2yr son thanks to a cerclage and bed rest.
sarah
A beautiful and touching story. This is what medicine was made for.
kara
Awe what a beautiful story of triumph!<3
Jamie Evans
I have a incompentent cervix too. I’ve lost twins which was my first pregnancy. I have a son now and am pregnant again. Everyone told me it wasn’t worth all the pain and suffering to go through pregnancy with my condition. Babies are a gift and I’m proud of my children just as I know u r too.
J
Tracey
Your story was very heart wrenching! I’m elated that you both survived! You have a beautiful family!
Anita Pilarski
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your story. I too have a weak cervix. On July 1, 1998 I lost my first child, a boy named Kyle Paul, at only 18 weeks gestational age. Like you being a first time mom, I had no idea what the subtle clues were and by the time I figured out something was wrong, it was too late. Kyle was born at 7 ounces and only 9″ but was perfectly formed. I never got to feel him move or even hold or see him as our hospital didn’t allow that time. I was devastated. It’s sad that the doctor’s can’t tell if a woman has a weak cervix until after there is a problem in the pregnancy.
I am happy to report though that after a year of fertility treatments I have a healthy son who tried to come early, even though I had a cerclage done. He was born at 35 weeks 1 day. He is mildly autistic, but in my eyes, perfect none the less. The next year I was also given the happiest surprise of my life, I was blessed with a daughter who was born at 40 weeks, 2 days. I guess she was trying to make up for her brother.
Thank you for sharing your story. You have a beautiful family!
Danielle Donisi
I am a true believer of miracles and your story is another reason to believe. The good Lord truely works in mysterious ways. I am so happy that your family had a happy ending. Your story touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Your have a beautiful family and may God bless you all.
Larissa
Thank you for sharing your story of courage!
A few of us have been through similar situations, and I am grateful that you are willing to share the tremendous courage in your journey.
The life we carry in our womb is so precious – what a miracle and gift in your two beautiful children!
Phydroxide
God bless you. Ours was born last week at 24 weeks. So wonderful to hear your story.
may
What a very touchy stories u hv share with us. Im currently in 26weeks 6 days and admitted in our local hispital due to weak cervix problem too and 2 days ago I experience an early broke water. Now the health care try to hold my baby until reach at least 32 or 34 weeks to premature labour. I was frightened to think what will me and my baby going through next. But your story gives me inspired to move on coz everything will going better as long we keep trust, strong and depands on God for everythings. God bless your family.
Tracey
Congrats on your beautiful family
I too suffer with IC, although my story is a little untraditional in the sense that I had a completley and overdue pregnancy to begin with–no problems. I had a retained placenta that required surgery after that (which they no believe is what damaged my cervix). I lost 2 babies at 17weeks 4 days (Thomas) and 17weeks 5days (Teagan). In much the same way everyone else has described.They were physically the hardest births I have ever endured and rife with complications, in which I came incredidiby close to dying myself. It was heartwrenching and to be honest a very dark time for me and my husband. We met an amazing specialist who suggested the stitch, So we gave it a go. We had a reasonable pregnancy with the stitch being removed at 37 weeks and he arrived exactly a week later at 38. Since then we have had a further 4 children with the stitch an no complication with the earliest being born at 35 weeks 5 days. We are now expecting our last surprise (unplanned but totally welcome) and ahd the stitch inserted at 15 weeks. I am now 26 weeks and 3 days, but have been on HBR 5 hrs from my home and family for almost 2 weeks as my cervix has been shortening since 20 weeks. It is now only 7mm but the stitch seems to be holding.. It in truly inspiring and reassuring to read your story, especially given your wonderful outcome.Thankyou
Ashley
Thank you for sharing this. Your story was just what I needed to hear. My son was born at exactly 35 weeks because my water broke unexpectedly. He was in the NICU for 3 weeks for jaundice and feeding intolerance but is doing great at 4 months old. I always wanted to have more than 1 child but after our stay in the NICU I was worried I wouldn’t be able to carry to full term. I’m glad to hear you were able to do it the second time around and you’ve given me a bit of hope for the future. Thank you!
Rosalie
My son Jacob was born July 20th 2014 at 26 weeks. Also due to a weak cervix. I’m so blessed and scared at the same time. I just need to talk to moms that have gone throw this.
Elizabeth
Thank you so much for sharing your story! My sister is going through the same thing right now. Five days ago we received a phone call that my sisters water broke and she was being admitted into the hospital where she had to stay until she delivered her baby. She was hoping and praying she would be able to carry the baby until she was 34 weeks. However today we received a phone call saying she started to have really bad intense contractions and had to do an emergency c section. My niece was born weighing 1 lb 14 oz. baby came out breathing on her own, and even got feisty as the nurses were cleaning her. Reading your story and some others I have come across gives me so much hope. I know it is going to be a long road ahead, but this little girl has always shown us she is a fighter. So glad to hear you have been blessed with two beautiful healthy children. Definitely gives me hope 🙂
Marissa
What a cute little man!
Jina
Your story is beautiful and encouraging. I also delivered twin girls at 26 weeks, 4 days ago. I was just looking for stories of encouragement when I found yours. My cervix was also incompetent. First shortening by .5 cm every week. Then I walked around dilated for 2 weeks at 2 cm. I lost my plug but refused to go to hospital because I am a single Mother with three children that I had to take care of. I went into labor. The drs immediately said An emergency c section was the best option because the trauma of birth would not have positive results. So here I am 4 days later…just looking for hope that my babies are going to be alright. Thanks for your story and for hearing mines. God bless you and your family.
Sangita
My sister is going through a similar situation. Please pray for her and her baby.
Mercedes
Hi,
First time mom of identical twin girls. My placenta wasn’t doing what it was suppose to be doing and I ended up having my girls at 25 weeks 6 days. One day away from 26 weeks. Both weigh a little over 1lb and on CPAP that gives them extra oxygen over their own breathes. Taking it a day at a time and trusting in God’s Plan!