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Our story begins when I reached my third trimester. Up until this point I had an extremely easy pregnancy. Alex and I traveled multiple times and even went hiking at altitude in Colorado. I felt great! I was eating healthy, working out, and doing yoga. My pregnancy progressed well and my OBGYN released me to give birth at a local birthing center. One of the birthing centers requirements was to see the overlying OB and get one last ultrasound. We showed up thinking this is the last time we were going to see this guy and we would be in and out. Well, we were wrong. I found out that I had placenta previa. My original OB completely missed it. I was immediately sent to get my diagnosis confirmed by a perinatal specialist. We waited around the hospital all afternoon to get the daunting news. No more birthing center and no more natural birth due to a high risk of hemorrhage. I was mortified. My perfect birth plan was very quickly shattered. We quickly transferred care to my new OB.
As my third trimester continued, I began having painful contractions. I was put on at home bedrest. If you know me, I cannot sit at home and just be content watching tv. I am a high school physics teacher. I needed to work, but unfortunately was forced to quit my job due to my complications and too short unpaid maternity leave. I continued with this plan for almost 3 weeks. During this time I had a lot of anxiety I was working through. Luckily I had the support of my parents and my wonderful husband. Well near the end of the 3rd week, my contractions were so severe I was told to come in and get a nonstress test. It showed major and consistent contractions. I was immediately put on ProCardia. After 4 doses, I definitely saw a reduction in my contractions but then started suffering a severe drop in blood pressure and a spike in my heart rate. I just didn't feel right. We called the doctor and I was sent immediately to Labor and Delivery. I got checked in and they stopped my medication. When they did this my contractions of course came back. The ProCardia also gave me an intense migraine. My doc decided to keep me overnight to get some meds for the migraine and he was going to send me home the next day. Well right after he decided to keep me, part of my placenta had lifted and caused me to have a bleed. This was the start to my hospital stay.
The next day I was transferred to the antepartum ward in the hospital. This is where women stay long term until they have their babies. I was put on strict bedrest and was monitored twice a day. Quickly I was allowed shower and wheelchair privileges (30 mins outside). This made bedrest more bearable. I quickly missed the outdoors and my warm cozy bed at home. I ended up making my room nice and cozy with essential oils, lamps, plants, and family photos. This helped me stay sane the next 4 weeks.
Several days into my stay I began having stronger contractions. I would get shot after shot of a medicine called Terbutaline. It was awful! We called it the Terb. It makes your heart race and feel completely nauseous. Baby was still safe though and thriving, so I just put up with constantly being prodded and jabbed.
At 32 weeks I needed to get steroid shots to improve baby's lung delveopment in case she needed to be delivered early. Now I am happy I got the shots since she ended up actually being early! This was a pain in my rear, literally. Lol
Our goal was to reach 34 weeks! Baby would have a good outcome if I could make it that far (and I did!!). However, at 33 weeks, baby gave us a scare one morning. She didn't pass her nonstress test. She wasn't moving. I was completely terrified. I hadn't felt her move for over 12 hours. Our baby was very active in the womb and this was not normal behavior. Again, I got sent to labor and delivery. The doc was waiting to see if we were having a baby that night. If she didn't improve, he had to deliver. Turns out she was pushing on her cord and cutting off her oxygen supply. As I transferred rooms for 12 hours of continuous monitoring, she moved off of her cord and her stats drastically improved. We were so relieved!
At 35 weeks, I started feeling different. I felt sick. Literally throwing up everything I ate or drank. I received multiple medications to help with the nausea. Nothing seemed to shake it. They thought I may have a stomach bug. Then I started having a pain in my pelvic region. An ultrasound showed that baby was perfect and there was nothing to worry about. They blew it off as a UTI. They started me on antibiotics and quickly realized that was not the case. They couldn't explain my pain, let alone the severe vomiting.
One night I woke up and asked for some nausea meds. . After fighting the nausea l ended up finally falling asleep at 2am. Alex was staying the night that night, but had to wake up at 4am to drive uber. He left and I went back to sleep. At 630am I woke up feeling the urge to pee. I kept holding it because I was SO tired. Finally I got up because I couldn't hold it anymore. I got out of bed and felt wet. I stumbled my way to the bathroom without my glasses on. I peed and then walked back to my bed to get my glasses. I thought my water had broke!! Nope, I was bleeding... everywhere. I desperately called the nurse. She came in a realized that I needed to go to labor and delivery. There was just so much, I couldn't be wheeled over in a wheelchair. I was wheeled in my hospital bed. I knew it was time. I was hemorrhaging. I called Alex over and over. I couldn't get ahold of him. He was in the middle of a ride. I was so scared. I finally got ahold my dad. I was having a baby around 930am! Finally I got ahold of Alex too and he arrived an hour later. I was prepped for an emergency csection. I got a shot of Terb to stop contractions and it failed miserably. I was in preterm labor. Once Alex walked in I went to the restroom. When I walked back into bed I felt as if I just had my baby. Something plopped. It was a clot the size of a softball. No turning back now.
It was time! I did amazing through my csection. She did great too! Turns out she was breech in my heart shaped uterus. She was nice and plump for a 35 weeker (6lbs 12 oz)! Though within 10 minutes she went into respiratory distress. She didn't cry coming out, just a quiet little whimper. She had a team of neonatal specialists and respiratory therapists treating her. They quickly wheeled her away to the NICU with a CPAP on. I never got to hold my baby. I saw her for 2 seconds with machines hooked up to her as they wheeled her away from me. I made Alex go with her. I didn't want our baby to be alone. I would be fine.
Shortly after the csection I got wheeled to recovery. It was there where I really began to hemorrhage. I was passing more and more clots. They couldn't stop the bleeding. 3 medications later and 6 hours later, they were able to slow down the bleeding. I was scared and alone for half of that time. I ended up losing a liter and a half of blood. They were considering blood transfusion. Luckily I was stable enough not to need it. After those 6 hours, they wheeled me to finally see my baby. She was just so precious. I didn't see her again until I was able to get in a wheelchair. This was hard because I was weak and dizzy from low platelet count and my large volume of blood I lost. I didn't see her again until the next day. This broke my heart.
I ended up recovering fairly quickly and was discharged 4 days later, without my baby. I still hadn't even held her until this point and it was truly the hardest day of my life. Ella continued to fight every day in the NICU. She battled high bilirubin counts, low glucose, tube feeding, extreme diaper rash, and continuous oxygen therapy. We had good days and bad days. Finally after 2 1/2 weeks, we were able to take our sweet girl home.
After 4 days with her we had her first pediatrician appointment. Her lungs looked great! She's a fighter. 15 percentile for weight, 50 for length, and 87 for head circumference. However the doc had concerning news. He found a hemangioma cluster near her spine. This can be indication of tethered cord, which is a genetic disease that is incurable. It can cause problems with walking, urinating, and defecating. There is a surgery but it seems only 18% effective for relieving symptoms. If she does have this condition, she would need surgery at 2 months old. We will need to confirm or deny the diagnosis with an ultrasound at Cooks Children's this week. This is devastating news for us. However, Ella is strong and is a fighter. God is her savior and healer. We trust in his plan for her. She already is so loved due to her easy going and sweet nature. She's a fighter! She is fierce!
This is hard for me to ask for support for her and my medical bills, but it has taken a huge toll on us emotionally and financially. With me having to quit my job due to my bedrest (both at home and in the hospital) and Alex being in job transition since his recent graduation, it's been tough. With rent, student loans, insurance, and costly medical bills rolling in, I don't know how we will make it. I am putting my faith in God to provide. I am also putting my pride aside to try to provide and care for my daughter. I never thought someone so little and new can already add such joy and an overwhelming sense of love to our lives this soon. She is the best thing that's happened to us, and she deserves the best care. Anything helps! Thanks for your continuous prayers and support.
Expected medical bills:
4 week antepartum stay (~$40,000)
2 1/2 week NICU stay (~$54,000)
Csection/Postpartum stay (~$14,000)
Anesthesiologist (~$1800 after insurance)
OBGYN fee (~$3,000 after insurance)
Perinatal Specialist fee (Still unknown)
Neonatologist fee (Still unknown)
Respiratory Therapist fee (Still unknown)
$600 insurance/month
Ultrasound at Cooks (~$500)
Possible spinal surgery (????)
(To clarify: With both Ella's and my own insurance, we will be hitting the out of pocket max for both. Also our specialists are all considered out of network (not covered by insurance) and we will be hitting that out of pocket max as well. Having two separate plans with multiple (4) out of pocket maxes, you can see how fast it adds up.)

As my third trimester continued, I began having painful contractions. I was put on at home bedrest. If you know me, I cannot sit at home and just be content watching tv. I am a high school physics teacher. I needed to work, but unfortunately was forced to quit my job due to my complications and too short unpaid maternity leave. I continued with this plan for almost 3 weeks. During this time I had a lot of anxiety I was working through. Luckily I had the support of my parents and my wonderful husband. Well near the end of the 3rd week, my contractions were so severe I was told to come in and get a nonstress test. It showed major and consistent contractions. I was immediately put on ProCardia. After 4 doses, I definitely saw a reduction in my contractions but then started suffering a severe drop in blood pressure and a spike in my heart rate. I just didn't feel right. We called the doctor and I was sent immediately to Labor and Delivery. I got checked in and they stopped my medication. When they did this my contractions of course came back. The ProCardia also gave me an intense migraine. My doc decided to keep me overnight to get some meds for the migraine and he was going to send me home the next day. Well right after he decided to keep me, part of my placenta had lifted and caused me to have a bleed. This was the start to my hospital stay.
The next day I was transferred to the antepartum ward in the hospital. This is where women stay long term until they have their babies. I was put on strict bedrest and was monitored twice a day. Quickly I was allowed shower and wheelchair privileges (30 mins outside). This made bedrest more bearable. I quickly missed the outdoors and my warm cozy bed at home. I ended up making my room nice and cozy with essential oils, lamps, plants, and family photos. This helped me stay sane the next 4 weeks.
Several days into my stay I began having stronger contractions. I would get shot after shot of a medicine called Terbutaline. It was awful! We called it the Terb. It makes your heart race and feel completely nauseous. Baby was still safe though and thriving, so I just put up with constantly being prodded and jabbed.
At 32 weeks I needed to get steroid shots to improve baby's lung delveopment in case she needed to be delivered early. Now I am happy I got the shots since she ended up actually being early! This was a pain in my rear, literally. Lol
Our goal was to reach 34 weeks! Baby would have a good outcome if I could make it that far (and I did!!). However, at 33 weeks, baby gave us a scare one morning. She didn't pass her nonstress test. She wasn't moving. I was completely terrified. I hadn't felt her move for over 12 hours. Our baby was very active in the womb and this was not normal behavior. Again, I got sent to labor and delivery. The doc was waiting to see if we were having a baby that night. If she didn't improve, he had to deliver. Turns out she was pushing on her cord and cutting off her oxygen supply. As I transferred rooms for 12 hours of continuous monitoring, she moved off of her cord and her stats drastically improved. We were so relieved!
At 35 weeks, I started feeling different. I felt sick. Literally throwing up everything I ate or drank. I received multiple medications to help with the nausea. Nothing seemed to shake it. They thought I may have a stomach bug. Then I started having a pain in my pelvic region. An ultrasound showed that baby was perfect and there was nothing to worry about. They blew it off as a UTI. They started me on antibiotics and quickly realized that was not the case. They couldn't explain my pain, let alone the severe vomiting.
One night I woke up and asked for some nausea meds. . After fighting the nausea l ended up finally falling asleep at 2am. Alex was staying the night that night, but had to wake up at 4am to drive uber. He left and I went back to sleep. At 630am I woke up feeling the urge to pee. I kept holding it because I was SO tired. Finally I got up because I couldn't hold it anymore. I got out of bed and felt wet. I stumbled my way to the bathroom without my glasses on. I peed and then walked back to my bed to get my glasses. I thought my water had broke!! Nope, I was bleeding... everywhere. I desperately called the nurse. She came in a realized that I needed to go to labor and delivery. There was just so much, I couldn't be wheeled over in a wheelchair. I was wheeled in my hospital bed. I knew it was time. I was hemorrhaging. I called Alex over and over. I couldn't get ahold of him. He was in the middle of a ride. I was so scared. I finally got ahold my dad. I was having a baby around 930am! Finally I got ahold of Alex too and he arrived an hour later. I was prepped for an emergency csection. I got a shot of Terb to stop contractions and it failed miserably. I was in preterm labor. Once Alex walked in I went to the restroom. When I walked back into bed I felt as if I just had my baby. Something plopped. It was a clot the size of a softball. No turning back now.
It was time! I did amazing through my csection. She did great too! Turns out she was breech in my heart shaped uterus. She was nice and plump for a 35 weeker (6lbs 12 oz)! Though within 10 minutes she went into respiratory distress. She didn't cry coming out, just a quiet little whimper. She had a team of neonatal specialists and respiratory therapists treating her. They quickly wheeled her away to the NICU with a CPAP on. I never got to hold my baby. I saw her for 2 seconds with machines hooked up to her as they wheeled her away from me. I made Alex go with her. I didn't want our baby to be alone. I would be fine.
Shortly after the csection I got wheeled to recovery. It was there where I really began to hemorrhage. I was passing more and more clots. They couldn't stop the bleeding. 3 medications later and 6 hours later, they were able to slow down the bleeding. I was scared and alone for half of that time. I ended up losing a liter and a half of blood. They were considering blood transfusion. Luckily I was stable enough not to need it. After those 6 hours, they wheeled me to finally see my baby. She was just so precious. I didn't see her again until I was able to get in a wheelchair. This was hard because I was weak and dizzy from low platelet count and my large volume of blood I lost. I didn't see her again until the next day. This broke my heart.
I ended up recovering fairly quickly and was discharged 4 days later, without my baby. I still hadn't even held her until this point and it was truly the hardest day of my life. Ella continued to fight every day in the NICU. She battled high bilirubin counts, low glucose, tube feeding, extreme diaper rash, and continuous oxygen therapy. We had good days and bad days. Finally after 2 1/2 weeks, we were able to take our sweet girl home.
After 4 days with her we had her first pediatrician appointment. Her lungs looked great! She's a fighter. 15 percentile for weight, 50 for length, and 87 for head circumference. However the doc had concerning news. He found a hemangioma cluster near her spine. This can be indication of tethered cord, which is a genetic disease that is incurable. It can cause problems with walking, urinating, and defecating. There is a surgery but it seems only 18% effective for relieving symptoms. If she does have this condition, she would need surgery at 2 months old. We will need to confirm or deny the diagnosis with an ultrasound at Cooks Children's this week. This is devastating news for us. However, Ella is strong and is a fighter. God is her savior and healer. We trust in his plan for her. She already is so loved due to her easy going and sweet nature. She's a fighter! She is fierce!
This is hard for me to ask for support for her and my medical bills, but it has taken a huge toll on us emotionally and financially. With me having to quit my job due to my bedrest (both at home and in the hospital) and Alex being in job transition since his recent graduation, it's been tough. With rent, student loans, insurance, and costly medical bills rolling in, I don't know how we will make it. I am putting my faith in God to provide. I am also putting my pride aside to try to provide and care for my daughter. I never thought someone so little and new can already add such joy and an overwhelming sense of love to our lives this soon. She is the best thing that's happened to us, and she deserves the best care. Anything helps! Thanks for your continuous prayers and support.
Expected medical bills:
4 week antepartum stay (~$40,000)
2 1/2 week NICU stay (~$54,000)
Csection/Postpartum stay (~$14,000)
Anesthesiologist (~$1800 after insurance)
OBGYN fee (~$3,000 after insurance)
Perinatal Specialist fee (Still unknown)
Neonatologist fee (Still unknown)
Respiratory Therapist fee (Still unknown)
$600 insurance/month
Ultrasound at Cooks (~$500)
Possible spinal surgery (????)
(To clarify: With both Ella's and my own insurance, we will be hitting the out of pocket max for both. Also our specialists are all considered out of network (not covered by insurance) and we will be hitting that out of pocket max as well. Having two separate plans with multiple (4) out of pocket maxes, you can see how fast it adds up.)