Sam's Journey of Courage
A Tragic Tale - a true story of a life that was lost before it began
I t was February 2003 and I was three months pregnant. I went for a routine scan and was asked to return the next day for another one. As the picture flickered onto the screen the nurses face said it all, my baby was dead. I argued and cried for twenty minutes, just the day before I had heard it’s heartbeat, I couldn’t accept the truth. The nurse suggested that I ring my partner, I tried but got no answer. I went outside where my grandma and little sister were waiting for me. I burst into tears and explained what had happened.
Back at my grandmas house I rang my partner again and got through, he came straight round and we agreed to stay there over night. I was told my baby would still pass naturally. A week later we were celebrating my mum’s marriage to her partner. The day after the wedding I started bleeding and getting pains. My partner rang an ambulance and within 10 minutes I was back in hospital. The following morning it was all over and my baby was gone. It’s been almost five years now but it still hurts sometimes. I truly believe my lost child is my guardian angel.
I think it’s important that people realise pregnancy isn’t always straightforward.
Life Goes On - Sam shares another chapter of her life.
Three months after a miscarriage I found out I was pregnant again but it was no easy pregnancy. I think it’s important that people realise pregnancy isn’t always straightforward. To help create awareness I have decided to share my experience with you.
Everything was going fine until my eighth month of pregnancy when I got what I thought was Braxton Hicks (false contractions). We went to hospital and were told everything was okay. A couple of weeks later I started getting light headed and my vision would go blurry all the time. I got in touch with my midwife and she came round everyday that week. On Monday I had protein in my urine, on Tuesday I had high blood pressure, Wednesday everything was fine then on Thursday I had high blood pressure and protein in my urine. The midwife sent me back to hospital where I had a scan that showed my baby was small and the umbilical cord wasn’t getting enough nutrients to him.
I often hear people say they would prefer a caesarean to a natural birth but I have to say I would do anything to be able to have a natural birth in the future.
The baby and I were monitored over night and at 9 o’clock the next morning the doctors told me I had pre-eclampsia and needed a caesarean. I rang my partner, he was there within half an hour and I signed all the forms with him by my side. I was terrified; pre-eclampsia is a very serious condition. My partner came with me into theatre where my son was born on 23rd January, five weeks premature and weighing just 4lbs 2oz. The midwife held him by my face for a couple of seconds and then he was whisked off to the special care baby unit, we spent four weeks in hospital. I often hear people say they would prefer a caesarean to a natural birth but I have to say I would do anything to be able to have a natural birth in the future.
The staff at Hereford hospital were so patient and caring to both Cameron and I. Everything happened so fast that I didn’t realise how much I had been through and how much I had to cope with until afterwards. Cameron will be four next January and I would go through it all again if I had to.
Pre-eclampsia,The Facts.
Pre-eclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy, usually after the 20th week and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine.
Pre-eclampsia affects about one in 10 pregnancies overall and one in 50 pregnancies severely.
Pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading global cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 deaths each year. Pre-eclampsia affects about one in 10 pregnancies overall and one in 50 pregnancies severely.
For more information go to www.pre-eclampsia.co.uk and www.apec.org.uk
