preemie-l A newcomer's intro
D4165/Nancy Heiliger/X7047/M000000/B033 (nah@cbddo2.cb.att.com)
Sat, 1 Jun 96 14:27:30 EDT
Hello,
I've been lurking on the preemie list and thought I would go
ahead and introduce myself.
When I read your posts I really feel like you all are speaking my
languge. I've participated in the April mom's mail group for
quite a while now, but since I was one of only two people that
had a premie (of about 140 people participating), there's not
much talk about ventilators, NEC, ROP, and all that!!
My name is Nancy Heiliger and I have a 13 week-old son, Michael,
who was born at 31 weeks gestation. He's my second child. My
first is almost 4-years-old and was a normal pregnancy and full-term
delivery.
With Michael I suddenly developed severe toxemia and HELLP syndrome.
In fact, I pretty much went right into HELLP syndrome, which has to do
with elevated liver enzymes and blood problems, with no warning
signs... I never had high blood pressure, swelling, etc. My
first sign was a pain the stomach. They thought it was a
gallstone, but it was actually my liver bleeding. Michael was
induced at 31 weeks and weighed 2 lbs 8 oz. I hovered near death
for about 3 days, but here I am, thank God.
He was in the NICU for 7 weeks, vented for 7 days, had a staph
infection, a scare with NEC, and lots of trouble learning to eat.
He came home at 4 lbs 2 oz and is now about 7 lbs 3 oz at 13
weeks. We just had surgery for his double hernia this past
weekend, and all went well.
He is on an apnea monitor, although we have finally discontinued
the Theophlyne (sp?) for his heart. He is a different baby off
the medicine. It made him irritable and he had lots of trouble
sleeping. Now he sleeps constantly. Of course I worry about
that, too!
He is still so small - I get depressed at the very slow progress
he is making. I can't believe we've been at this for over 3
months and he's still just a newborn.
Nancy Heiliger
(MOM! to Stephen (almost 4 years) and Michael (Premie))