Aaaaahhhh... Baby Charlie

After a weekend of feeling crampy and some decent contractions, I woke up June 2nd with a definite sign that labor had begun (I won't go into detail, trust me, it's better that way!). I called Brian at work and before I could finish explaining, he said he was on his way.


Next I called to Brandy to see if she could take Kailyn. Then I broke down. We have no NICU here in Valdez, and at 27 weeks, my baby would most certainly need one. I was hoping for a home birth... this had not been in the picture I had imagined. Between contractions, my thoughts wandered to articles I had read, websites I had visited.... how early had I ever heard of a baby making it? I couldn't remember, but it didn't seem like too much before 27 weeks. I was scared for my baby, and that is a feeling that I imagine I will have again, but wish that I won't.


When Brian got home, my contractions were a little less than 10 minuts apart. At full term, this is probably when I would have taken a shower and gotten my bags packed for the hospital, but this early, that's pretty close together!


Once we got to the hospital, it all went kind of fast. I was dilated to a 2, 60% effaced, and now contracting about every 3-7 minutes. Dr. Cullen was great at calming my nerves - he explained that babies survive all the time even younger than Charlie. As a matter of fact, he said, Charlie would probably be fine even if he was born in Valdez, but of course, we weren't going to risk it. Medevac was on it's way... did Brian want to ride with me to Anchorage? I wanted him, but I also wanted my daughter to come to Anchorage. And we would need a car and a change (or five) of clothes.


I think now that I should have know that I would be going to Anchorage, but I guess it hadn't really sank in. Little did I know that I would not see my daughter in Valdez again, my house, my garden, my job... everything would be put on hold until... sometime. Who knows when? Then, while making my list for Brian to pack, Merreley called and said she would get Kailyn and drive the six hours to Anchorage with her 1 year old son in my car. We truly have the best of friends in the entire universe. This meant Brian could fly with me and be by my side through the whole ordeal (lucky him!).

They started the myriad of drugs that I would be given over the course of the next five days, including steroids to strengthen his little lungs in case the drugs to stop the labor didn't work. Then, before I knew it, the Life Flight crew was there with the Valdez Fire Dept to prep me for the worst flight of my life. Still contracting, they had to strap me to the gurney (that's kind of like your seat belt), and I was loaded onto the plane, head back to the tail. Take off was not so fun, but then neither was contracting in that position. Amazingly, we made it, and I am really appreciative of the flight crew for the safe flight, Matt & Tasha specifically.


Once in Anchorage, the drugs continued, and Dr. Isada came in to check me out. Things were looking better - the contractions had slowed - but unless my cervix went back I was probably going to be having a baby within a few days. He assured me that it could change (WHO KNEW??) if we caught it in time, and we were going to at least try to hold labor off for 48 hours so the steroids could kick in. Then, if we made it there, our goal was to be 30 weeks, since that makes all the NICU docs really happy. Next would be 32 weeks, and he said he wants a Christmas card if we make it to there. But our big goal would of course be full term - 37 weeks.


And then he dropped the big bomb. Bed rest until I have a baby. Whoa.... what??? When did he think I would have a baby? So, it looks like we'll be here, in Anchorage, until I have a baby. Did I mention I have an almost 3-year old, run my own business, and hadn't planted my flowers? These are serious things!


Luckily, my mom had gotten on the next flight to Alaska, and Brian's family lives here in Anchorage, so I was allowed to leave the hospital on Friday to finish my sentence in a more comfortable environment.


But I have to say, the story has an anticlimax. For all the scare - things are going great right now. It seems that my placenta began to detach, probably from trauma, and that is what caused the labor to begin. And it looks like that has healed. I am now 30 weeks, and have been allowed to start increasing my activity slowly (I've interpreted that loosely). My body seems to have returned to normal, at least for a pregnant lady, and I have to say that I have a really good feeling that this little guy is going to stay in there for a while longer and be just fine. He's got a great heartbeat and all of his organs are very nicely developed. I can attest that his little arms and legs are just fine - he's kicking me pretty hard these days (and I love it!!!). Tom & Peggy have moved into their travel trailer so that Brian and I can sleep in their room, and overall, I have to admit that it's not as bad as I can only imagine visiting your newborn in NICU would be. And it's nice to be out of the hospital, though I was really digging the cafeteria food!


Soooo..... here I am. We are trying to keep busy - after all, we are in the city for a while with lots of options of things to do. I am not a huge fan of Anchorage, but I am trying to stay positive when I can and take advantage of whatever opportunities being here will allow. It's going to be a long couple of months, but I think that we will all be just fine!