preemie-l Zoë

Kyle Ellars (lrz@indy.net)
Tue, 04 Jun 1996 15:35:36 -0700


My name is Amy & my husband is Kyle.  I was sick throughout my whole 
pregnancy.  During the first trimester I was losing 1lb a day and was 
put on bed rest for a week.  The naseau and stomach problems got a 
little better and I went back to work.  My blood pressure was going up 
and down from week 16 on.  At my regular monthly visit(about week 24)on 
April 22nd,  I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and low amniotic fluid.  
I was put on bed rest until I had the baby.  I also found we were having 
a baby girl!  The doctor visits and ultrasounds were now at least 
weekly and my blood pressure was increasing.  I began bleeding on May 
7th @ 21:00.  We rushed to the hospital and were told I wouldn't be 
going home pregnant.  The doctors gave me the two doses of celestone 
for her lungs.

I had Zoë on May 9th @ 15:06 via C-section.  She weighed 1 lb 12 oz and 
was 13 1/2 inches.  She had a honeymoon period for the first two weeks.  
So far she's had PDA and a variety of lung problems.  

Her lung problems are scaring us to death.  Both of  Zoë's lungs have 
collasped and right now she has pneumonia.  She is on an oscillating 
ventilator @ 35-60% Oxygen.  The doctors have said she has chronic lung 
disease and don't have any idea of when she'll be coming off the 
ventilator.  

She'll be four weeks old on this Thursday.  I just want my baby to be 
healthy and happy.  I don't think that is too much to ask.  She is so 
beautiful and delicate.  I have faith and hope in the doctors but they're 
being guardedly optimistic at this point, and some am I.