Daniel was born asleep on
November 10, 1991 at 24 weeks gestation. My membranes rupture when I
was only 16 weeks pregnant. I was hospitalised at that time and
everyone expected me to go into labour and deliver the baby within the
next few days. Daniel, however, had other ideas and he hung on for 8
weeks! This was a very difficult time for both my husband and
myself. To begin with there was no hope given for the baby and we
were basically waiting for labour.
As the time went on the
focus began to change. I was still being regularly tested for any
signs of infection and on total bed rest. When we made it to 20
weeks we started to hope and pray that maybe we could wait long enough for
the baby to survive.
An exciting time came when we reached 24 weeks
and the estimated weight of the baby was more than 400g. This meant
the specialist hospital in our capital city would accept me. I was
airlifted to the hospital and upon arrival underwent a barrage of
testing. Sadly after having an ultrasound done it was decided that I
didn't have enough amniotic fluid left for the baby to develop lungs.
After we received this devastating news we asked if we could go
back to the hospital in our area to "wait it out". I was airlifted
back a few days later. The next weekend my doctor decided I should
be allowed home, what a wonderful thought. I hadn't been home for 8
weeks and really missed seeing my things and cuddling my cat!
It
wasn't to last the weekend though. In the early hours of Saturday
morning I was woken with a really bad pain, not a contraction pain it was
something different. It was so bad I woke my husband and tearfully
told him he would have to take me back to hospital. When we arrived
back at the hospital we went straight back to the ward and they gave me
some medicine to help the pain and I settled back in for the
night.
The next day no heartbeat could be found and I now believe
the pain I felt was as our baby died.
Labour was induced that day
and at approximately 6pm I gave birth to a little baby boy whom we named
Daniel.
Daniel was laid to rest with his older brother
Aaron
At the time of Daniel's birth he wasn't weighed and it has
taken me 8 years to realise that his weight would have been recorded on
his autopsy report so this week I made the call to find out and yes I now
know my precious boy weighed a tiny 280g (just over 9oz). Very small
for a 24 weeker and much less than the 400g they had estimated the week
before!