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I found out my daughter had Gastroschisis when I was about 24
weeks pregnant. I had no idea what it was at the time and
it was VERY scary for my husband and I. However, we did a
ton of research and by the time we actually had her, I felt
very prepared for what was to come. I started having twice
weekly NST's (non-stress tests) and a once weekly ultrasound
at 27 weeks. Also once a week I would have an appointment
with the high-risk OB. While it was very reassuring to have
these, I think it really dragged out the pregnancy and made
me worry continuously between the appointments. I continued
working throughout the pregnancy and the only thing the doctors
ever really told me to do was make sure to keep hydrated because
I also had low amniotic fluid.
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Do I look good in this? |
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I started having contractions at about 32 weeks. They were
very light and came and went. They started to get more regular
around 35 weeks, but they were never very strong so they were
just seen as Braxton-Hicks contractions. Because the doctors
told me that you usually go into labor early when you have
a baby with Gastroschisis, I was constantly worried about
it. While I have heard that some doctors take the baby at
36 weeks, my doctors were going to let me go to 39. This wasn't
the case, however, as I went into labor at 36 6/7 weeks. My
labor was pretty short, so that was nice. The only bad part
was that it seemed every doctor in the hospital was in my
room. My daughter, Reagan, came out weighing 4 lbs. 14 oz.
and she was 19 1/2 in. long. The NICU team was there ready
to whisk her away as soon as she was born. I got to see her
about 3 hours later, but it would be 3 days before I got to
hold her.
No part of her intestines were damaged enough to have to
be removed, so they were able to put all of her intestines,
along with her stomach, a fallopian tube and an ovary, all
back inside her about 8 hours after she was born. They did
no cutting, just put everything back in the hole that was
already there. They used her umbilical cord as a first dressing
over the hole, and then covered it with a gauze pad and tape.
She had a ventilator, NG tube, and an IV in both arms to begin
with. It seemed like the doctors were always telling me to
expect the worst, even when things were going well. She had
a bowel movement within the first day she was born, and continued
to have one at least every other day. She was off Oxygen completely,
other than room air, within 1 week. Because the fluid they
were sucking out of her stomach had cleared up and there was
less of it, they began feeding her after about 1 1/2 weeks.
She tolerated her feeds very well. She never once spit up
and was able to eat as much as she wanted within 4 days.
She was having bowel movements, eating well, breathing well,
gaining weight, and her incision site looked great. After 2
weeks and 1 day in the NICU, we were able to go home! At the
Univeristy of Iowa Hospital, it is the earliest they have ever
sent a baby with Gastroschisis home. While we were in the hospital
they kept telling me to expect Reagan to take steps back because
things never went that well, and she never did. I just want
everyone reading this to know that you don't always have to
expect the worst. I believe that the prayers of my family and
friends, along with our optimism , are what helped Reagan to
heal so well. We never expected her to take any steps back,
rather, we cheered her on to stay strong and keep progressing
and that's exactly what she did. She is now beautiful and healthy
as can be!.
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